In 2021, President Biden signed into law Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, S. 475, creating a federal holiday to commemorate Juneteenth. This is the first federal holiday approved since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. In recognition of this important day in American history the Mid-Hudson Library System has added Juneteenth to the list of paid holidays for MHLS staff.
“The MHLS Board and staff have adopted a core value of equity, diversity, and inclusion,” said MHLS Board President Richard Swierat, “Including Juneteenth in our annual calendar is an important step in showing our values in action.”
A brief history of Juneteenth: “Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth," by the newly freed people in Texas.”
MHLS will be closed on June 20th in observance of Juneteenth (6/19). There will be no deliveries and the MHLS ticket system will not be monitored.
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MHLS Tech Support Specialist, Isaac Barbee (pictured), visited the Desmond-Fish Public Library to install new equipment from the Beyond The Library Wi-Fi Access Project. Desmond-Fish patrons and guests have access to the internet while enjoying the surrounding gardens or from the parking lot. The ARPA grant funds have been allocated for projects aimed at "advancing digital inclusion in collaboration with public library systems and public libraries". |
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Starr Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Jaclyn Savolainen (pictured) as the library’s new director, effective July 1st. Jaclyn will replace Stephen Cook, who is retiring from his position as director at the end of June after 18 years of dedicated service.
Originally from New Mexico, Savolainen attended Yale University and worked as a management consultant and freelance artist before discovering her calling to be a librarian at Starr in 2010. As Starr’s part-time adult programmer for four years, she describes her time working alongside Stephen Cook as an “apprenticeship,” in which she learned all she could about public library management while completing her Master of Library and Information Science Degree from SUNY-Buffalo online.
“As retiring director, it pleases me greatly to turn over the management of Starr Library to Jaclyn,” Cook said. “Having begun as colleagues, and developing a friendship over many years, I know that Starr will be in good hands. It is clear that many bright days are ahead for our organization.”
For her part, Savolainen is delighted to be returning to the place where her career as a librarian began. “Rhinebeck is such a special place with engaged citizens, fantastic resources, charm and beauty, and a rich history,” she said. “I look forward to many years of serving the public through this vital part of our community.”
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The New York Library Association (NYLA) is looking for webinar proposals from you! NYLA is constantly on the lookout for great topics and speakers. Pitch your own idea or recommend someone you'd like to see on the schedule!
These programs provide professional development opportunities to members through web-based informational sessions, 1 hour in length.
Although NYLA will accept proposals throughout the year on a rolling basis, priority will be given to applications that submit on or before the fourth quarter deadline on June 30th. The next quarter deadline will be Sept 30th. To submit a professional development proposal, please complete the Workshop Proposal Form. All programs must be reviewed and approved by the NYLA Continuing Education Committee. |
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Resource Sharing & Sierra |
REMINDER: In the third week of June the MHLS cataloging department will suppress all items that have a status of 'Lost & Paid', 'Discard' or 'Claims Returned', which have not been updated for 3 months. The items will not be deleted. Changing the annual report code to "w - MHLS staff suppress", simply keeps them from displaying in the public catalog. |
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Final New York Electoral Maps Released by Court: A court-appointed special master has issued final New York Congressional and State Senate maps after a draft set was released for public comment. The new districts as well as previous districts can be viewed on the Redistricting & You for New York State interactive map from the Center for Urban Research (CUR) at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). Users of the interactive map can search by address or select a district on the map to see how a district changed, by moving an interactive slider between past and future district boundaries. |
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Reference & Collection Development |
MHLS Data Operations Supervisor, Nina Acosta has put together a curated collection of eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive to focus on Pride Month. The collection is pinned to the front page of https://mhls.overdrive.com/ and will be up throughout June to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. |
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about the NYS Library's Personal History Initiative (PHI). The experiences of all New Yorkers, from Long Island to Plattsburgh and from Albany to Buffalo, make up the foundation of our state's history. To record and preserve that history, the NYS Library's Manuscripts and Special Collections (MSC) unit invites all New Yorkers to share their stories through this exciting statewide initiative that provides a way for everyday people to participate directly in adding to the historical record.
In this webinar, participants will learn about the project, including ways to collect, share, and preserve personal histories for future generations. Participating libraries will have access to a toolkit that includes templates for dynamic public programs, social media and marketing posts, press release templates, and more. |
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One of the primary responsibilities of a library trustee is to secure adequate funding for the library. This requires both an honest assessment of the true costs to run a viable, vital, and visible library as well as a strong understanding of the legal funding mechanisms for libraries in New York State. At this session we will provide an overview of key areas impacting library budgets as well as introduce the new toolkit released this year from the New York State Library, the Public Library District Toolkit: Strategies to Assure Your Library’s Legal and Financial Stability.
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Administration & Management |
The New Directors Forum will take place online at 12:30 pm after the Directors Association Meeting on June 14th. Topic: Toward Gigabit Libraries toolkit and Broadband Improvement Plan. This event is recommended for library directors that have been in their position for 3 years or less.
The Toward Gigabit Libraries toolkit and Broadband Improvement Plan is a powerful, free tool to help libraries learn about and improve their current broadband infrastructure and internal information technology (IT) environment. Using the Toward Gigabit Libraries toolkit and Broadband Improvement Plan, librarians will be better equipped to improve their broadband services and become stronger advocates for their libraries’ broadband infrastructure needs. Mid-Hudson is here to help you navigate the process! Laurie Shedrick and Gerry Formby will demystify the process, break down what is required of you to complete the process and explain what the outcomes of the work will be and why they will change the game for you moving forward.
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Library Director, Putnam Valley Library
Putnam Valley Library, an association library serving a semi-rural community of 12,000 individuals in Putnam Valley, NY, seeks a creative and dynamic Library Director with a passion for community service to oversee all activities and operations of the library.
Essential Responsibilities:
Staff and Operations:
- Supervise all library services, operations, staff, facilities, and programs
- Select, train, and evaluate personnel to maintain a strong team environment
- Develop and maintain the library’s collection in accordance with collection policies and best practices
- Control expenditures of funds and maintain accurate financial records
- Supervise the purchase and maintenance of technology to enhance library services
- Prepare and distribute public relations and marketing materials
- Prepare annual reports to the state and the community
- Work on grant writing and facilitate grant award funding
Board of Trustees:
- Work with the Board in ongoing planning to identify and meet community needs
- Make policy recommendations to the Board and implement adopted policies
- Prepare annual budget recommendations for Board approval
Essential Traits:
- Ability to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for staff and library patrons
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders
- A commitment to social justice and fostering an equitable community
- Knowledge of current trends and developments in the library profession
- Proficiency with computers, library software, internet and digital communications
Minimum Qualifications: A master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program and experience in library administration. Salary: $63K-$68K. The position includes generous PTO and paid holidays. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to: trustees@putnamvalleylibrary.org
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