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Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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There's still time for households in your community to respond to the Census and your library can still help.
With the deadline extended from July 31st, 2020 to October 31st, 2020 and libraries opening to provide curbside pickup and access to the stacks and computers, trusted organizations like libraries, have a role to play to encourage people to respond to the Census. Responding to the Census is safe, and responses mean more funding for services in your community. The rack cards, postcards and fliers distributed earlier in the year as part of the New York State Census Equity Fund can be used for in-person interactions with library patrons, and the social media and digital resources at
midhudson.org/census
can be used to promote the importance of the Census online and to all areas served by the library.
After a halt in operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Census has restarted field operations and reports that they have delivered internet choice packets to 96% of households targeted by this phase of the operation. These packets include instructions for completing the Census questionnaire by email and by phone and a paper questionnaire, which can be completed by mail. The Census has also announced there will be an additional self-response reminder postcard sent to households that have not completed the Census. Sample postcards are available
here
. These postcards are scheduled to arrive between July 22nd and July 28th, and will be the last reminder from the Census to households that have not completed the Census before Census takers begin visiting nonresponding households on August 11th, 2020.
More Census Resources:
- Empire State Library Network & Charles H. Revson Foundation Grant: Reimbursable Cash grants from $500-$2,000 to New York libraries and Library Systems to fund complete count work including marketing materials, traveling hotspots, educational campaigns, Census face masks, mobile kiosks and more. Access the application.
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MHLS Announcements
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The MHLS COVID-19 Resources page
has new marketing resources to help you spread the word about curbside service, the return of system-wide holds and how to stay safe as libraries begin to welcome the community back into the building. Here are a few samples:
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MHLS member library directors are invited to join Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich on Thursday, July 9th at 2:00pm for an online information session about The Resiliency Hub Project. This session will provide an introduction to the idea of building "Resiliency Hubs" in area libraries through a partnership between the Mid-Hudson Library System and The Boatbuilders
, a collective of motivated advocates who are looking for ways to strengthen the resilience of communities in the Hudson Valley.
In 2020 The Boatbuilders will launch the pilot year of this program and are looking for three libraries to join them on this journey. This session will provide an overview of the project, details on how to apply and a question and answer period.
The pandemic impacting us all is laying bare the
fragility and inequity of our global economy. When coupled with climate change, and ecological destruction, we must now realize that continuing to live as we do now is, in short, untenable for humans and all other living beings with whom we share the planet. While this is understandably cause for alarm and despair, it is also an opportunity- an invitation to come together in our communities and do what is needed to restore our places and reconnect to ourselves, one another, and the Earth. There is hope for a more convivial, healthy, and sustainable future, but only if we, as David Orr enjoined us, view hope as a 'verb with its shirtsleeves rolled up' and get to work building it. To that end, The Resiliency Hub Project is a new initiative from The Boatbuilders that will, in partnership with the Mid-Hudson Library System, build and share collections of essential wisdom, know-how, and tools for self-sufficiency and community resilience. It will also offer a robust roster of optional educational events and workshops. Dependent upon community interest, the program could also help to develop and support a mutual aid program to unlock human capital to support the implementation of resiliency projects.
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 The Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC) is partnering with the Columbia County Library Association and others to install StoryWalks on publicly accessible land.
CLC is installing StoryWalks at several Public Conservation Areas: Drowned Lands, Greenport, Hand Hollow, High Falls, and Siegel-Kline Kill, and is working with partners who are creating StoryWalks along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, at the Roe Jan Park , in the Village of Philmont, along Warren Street in Hudson, and at PS21. A StoryWalk is an opportunity for kids and their families to enjoy an outdoor adventure while reading a good book. "While we can't get together in person for programs this summer, CLC and our partners felt it was important to provide our community with ways to enjoy the outdoors and cultivate a love of reading," says Heidi Bock, Conservation Education Manager. "We're looking forward to hearing more about people enjoying the trails while they're falling in love with a great book." Visit
clctrust.org/storywalk
for more information and to view an interactive map of StoryWalk sites.
 Phoenicia Library
and Morton Memorial Library in Pine Hill are partnering with the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley to provide weekly bags of groceries for kids 18 and under and their families. The free groceries include pantry staples, fresh vegetables, frozen basics, fresh eggs, milk and cheese as well as vouchers for milk and eggs redeemable at the local Stewarts Shop. Community members contact the libraries directly to enroll and arrange pickup.
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Looking to plan a staff, board or public book discussion about anti-racism?
Try out one, or more of these titles:
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Resource Sharing & Sierra
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Join MHLS ILP Operations Supervisor, Thomas O'Connell for the latest series of Sierra Lunchtime Webinars.
All events begin at noon.
Please register for any of these events through the
MHLS Calendar
.
 To help further serve the needs of the diverse reading community provided by public libraries, the user interface of OverDrive's Libby reading app now supports 9 additional languages.
All the helpful information and guides can be updated to the patron's native language to simplify their experience. Patrons can browse collections, search for specific titles, get help, and more in the following languages:
- English
- Spanish
- French (Canada)
- Simplified Chinese
- Traditional Chinese
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Russian
- Swedish
If a user's device is set to one of these languages, Libby will automatically display in that language. Please note, the eBooks and audiobooks themselves will continue to be available in the language in which they were purchased; libraries looking for electronic materials can find eBooks and audiobooks in over 100 languages in the OverDrive Marketplace. For more information, visit
https://company.overdrive.com/
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The New York Library Association (NYLA) is asking all library advocates to speak up! As of May, the Governor projected an additional 20% decrease in state aid from the enacted budget; however, has claimed that federal assistance could lower that figure. With the conclusion of the second budget measurement period and inaction by the federal government - libraries and systems are unsure how to plan for their future. Let your representative know that the library community needs to know how much aid they will be receiving in FY2021 and that they cannot have their budgets slashed again this year.
Use
NYLA's Online Advocacy Center
to send a message to your local legislators today.
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Reference & Collection Development
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The Poughkeepsie Public Library District has put together a resource guide for all ages and backgrounds, to learn more about racial justice and what we can all do to advance equality in America. The Antiracist Starter Kit
for Kids, Teens, Adults, Parents, and Educators can be accessed at
poklib.org
.
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The American Library Association (ALA) invites library workers to apply to be part of Resilient Communities: Libraries Respond to Climate Change
, a pilot program to help public and academic libraries engage their communities in programs and conversations that address the climate change crisis. The project will fund in-person and virtual film screenings, community dialogues and related events based on local interest in 25 public and academic libraries, and it will provide instruction and support for those libraries to be centers for community education and support during extreme weather events. Applications will be accepted from July 1st to August 28th, 2020. Participating libraries will be selected through a peer-reviewed, competitive application process managed by ALA's Public Programs Office. Learn more about Resilient Communities and apply online:
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Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services For New York (DHPSNY) is teaming up with the New York Council of Non-Profits (NYCON) to present a board governance webinar series
that will cover a new topic every Tuesday in July. These presentations are intended to provide overviews of the types of issues boards may find relevant to focus on in the current environment. The DHPSNY webinars are presented free of charge. To learn more and register, visit
dhpsny.org/webinars
.
Webinar topics:
- July 7th | 12:00-1:15pm: Recruitment
- July 14th | 5:00-6:15pm: Fund Development for Boards
- July 21st | 12:00-1:15pm: Membership Program Revitalization
- July 28th | 5:00-6:15pm: Committee Infrastructure
Adjustments to Open Meetings Law are extended until August 5th. This has been confirmed with the Committee on Open Government. Please remember online meetings must be recorded and transcribed and that the public has a right to attend. Minutes will still need to be taken even with the recording.
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Administration & Management
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The US Justice Department (USDOJ) has issued an alert about fraudulent face mask cards.
The cards state they are issued by the "Freedom to Breathe Agency" (FTBA); state that wearing a mask will incur mental or physical risk for the holder; and claims the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not permit them to be questioned about the use of mask. The card also threatens financial penalties if a business "violates the ADA" and that the business will be reported to the FTBA (which is not a federal or state agency). USDOJ makes it clear these cards (below) are not issued by their department and are not endorsed by the department.
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