Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro recently announced the first and second round of grant awards totaling $629,881 through the County’s Learn, Play, Create: Supporting Our Kids grant program to fund projects to local non-profit organizations that directly benefit children and families. Almost half of the Dutchess County public libraries were awarded funds in the first two application cycles. 

Youth Services and S.T.E.M. programming expansion – Flexible use program furniture, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (S.T.E.M.) equipment and supplies, laptops for coding and S.T.E.M. related activities, S.T.E.M. related books and e-books. 

Mobile Shelving for Children’s Books – Purchase mobile shelving, mobile makerspace trolley, and mobile reference desk.  

Collaboratory/Maker’s Space – Creation of a "Maker's Space," including a 3-D printer, a printer capable of printing double-sided broad-sheets, and a computer equipped with editing software, sound equipment for recording podcasts, and cameras. 

Library Youth Improvements – Purchase new furniture for library’s youth space, new technology for its youth space, new S.T.E.A.M.-related programming equipment and supplies, updated books for its collection, and one-time programming expenses over the course of the grant period. 

Creating Innovators with the Mobile Library and Makerspace Project – Purchase a book bike to build a mobile library and makerspace to use at events off-site; also purchase portable seating, two 3-D printers, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) and robotics kits, and other supplies for pop-up science events on-site and off-site. 

Pleasant Valley Free Library, $50,000 

Dedicated Furniture and Technology for the Youth of Pleasant Valley – One-time purchase of children's and teen furniture, such as bookcases of various heights, comfortable furniture for children and grandparents to learn together; and technology, such as laptops for teens to create and learn. 

Branching Out for a Better Future – Purchase fixtures, furnishings, and equipment (shelving, tables, chairs, PCs) for the library district’s new branch library location at the Family Partnership Center, as well as other leasehold improvements such as new flooring. The new location will focus on literacy and education-gap recovery services and programs for youth. 

Octagon Kids Connection – Purchase supplies, equipment, furnishings, books, audiobooks and toys for the Children’s Library; Teen Room will get updated computers, a table with chairs and books. 

Creation Station – Purchase furniture and supplies; transform an underutilized room into a flexible space that will support a greater variety of youth programs and gatherings.  

Science Technology Engineering Art and Mathematics Lab – The district will offer a Science Technology Engineering Art and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) Lab program for children and purchase educational equipment that will allow participants to learn how to edit digital media, code robots and explore scientific and engineering principles.  

Announced in June as part of “Dutchess Invests,” the County Executive’s initiative to direct $57 million in one-time funding allocated to Dutchess County through the Federal Government’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) to areas the community has recognized as priorities, the Learn, Play, Create grant program provides $3 million in one-time grants to local non-profit youth organizations in the categories of expanded learning – arts, libraries and athletics – that were deprived of a year of fundraising or participation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To provide the name of a potential panelist or share your library’s online readers’ advisory portal please use this form.  

Reserve your seat now for Sierra Materials Booking on Wednesday, August 18^th at 11:00 am with MHLS Assistant Director / Technology Operations Manager Laurie Shedrick. The Materials Booking feature will allow patrons to “book” (reserve) library materials for future use. Unlike holds, where a patron's request is placed and supplied as quickly as possible, Materials Booking requests provide a way for patrons to reserve an item to be used at a specified time, established at the time of booking the item. This webinar will introduce Materials Booking, how to make items "bookable" and the process for booking items. 

The New York State Library, in partnership with the Regent’s Advisory Council on Libraries, has begun the process to create a new Vision and Plan for New York’s Libraries. The project is in its first phase in which they are identifying and describing the current and known future needs within the New York State library community.  

Input from the New York library community is critical to the success of this project. To share your perspective on libraries and library services within New York State please register for a virtual community meeting. 

Register for your preferred session at: https://forms.gle/AdkyscdzobdSX1Ej8 

The COVID-19 pandemic took the life of over 50,000 New Yorkers in a year. These were their darkest hours, and Our Darkest Hours: New York County Leadership and the COVID Pandemic gathers stories of leadership in the face of the chaotic and disjointed response from the state and federal government. This title features contributions from Dutchess County Executive, Marcus J. Molinaro, Putnam County Executive, MaryEllen Odell, and Ulster County Executive, Patrick K. Ryan. Our Darkest Hours is available for purchase from Archway Publishing and Amazon. All proceeds from the book will be donated to Feeding New York State, which supports the ten regional food banks that have been feeding the hardest hit New Yorkers. 

REMINDER: The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program application filing window closes on August 13^th. ECF will provide funding for schools and libraries to purchase laptops and mobile hotspots, among other devices and services for use by students and library patrons who would otherwise lack connected devices and/or broadband connections sufficient to fully engage in remote learning. 

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State Education Commissioner, Betty A. Rosa, announced $6.2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are available to help libraries and other cultural institutions across the state address the digital divide, increase access to the state’s cultural history and expand student access to digital learning materials. More than $5.5 million will be allocated to regional Reference and Research Library Resources Councils to implement three priority programs in their regions: advancing digital inclusion, encouraging library/museum partnerships, and expanding student access to digital resources. Each library council will be required to submit an application to the State Library demonstrating accordance with IMLS ARPA guidelines, and the State Library anticipates issuing detailed guidance, including a timetable and application instructions to the nine regional library councils, by early September 2021. The regional library councils will collaborate with public library systems, school library systems and other libraries, museums and cultural repositories to address New York’s three priority programs and meet federal and state goals. Visit the State Library’s website for more information including allocations for each regional library council. The State Library, State Museum and State Archives will also use $700,000 to improve and expand access to the Office of Cultural Education’s services for all New Yorkers through a range of collaborative initiatives including: building upon the 2021 Digital Equity Summit recommendations by providing expertise, training and tools to support implementation of collaborative Digital Inclusion solutions statewide; partnering with public library systems and libraries to conduct a broadband infrastructure needs assessment for small and rural public libraries in New York (MHLS is part of the pilot program for this effort); collaborating with organizations across the state to create a diversity, equity and inclusion framework and toolkit for libraries, museums and cultural institutions; and expanding and improving the State’s online summer reading program tools. 

The Julia L. Butterfield Library in Cold Spring seeks a Part-Time Library Clerk, 5 to 8 hours a week, including evenings and weekends. Requirements include strong communication and customer service skills, the ability to multi-task, computer proficiency, and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds. Must have a good sense of humor and be able to function independently and as part of a library team. Starting rate is $12.50 per hour, with paid vacation, sick leave and personal time. Please send your résumé to johannar@butterfieldlibrary.org. 

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The Rosendale Library is seeking a friendly, tech-savvy Part-Time Circulation Clerk, 17 hours per week. Must have a high school degree, be proficient with computers and other peripherals such as scanning and photocopying, MS Office Suite, be courteous, service-oriented, and able to work with the public at a busy circulation desk, capable of multi-tasking and answering phones while performing other duties. Spanish-speaking ability would also be helpful. 

Schedule includes work on Tuesday and Wednesdays during the day and Thursday afternoon to evening. Ability to fill in during other times is also helpful. 

Starting salary of $14.50 to $15.50 per hour, with paid vacation and sick leave. Participation in the NY state retirement system is optional. The library requires all employees to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Please email your résumé and cover letter in PDF format to director@rosendalelibrary.org and include Clerk in subject line.