REMINDER: MHLS is closed Today, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. There will be no deliveries and the MHLS ticket system will not be monitored.

The Millbrook Library launched the Millbrook Community Fridge at the end of May. The library, in partnership with the Millbrook Rotary, has been working on this project to bring food to people in need in their community. The fridge is for anyone who needs food, no questions asked, and no paperwork is needed. It is open during regular library hours. The fridge was purchased with funds from a Mid-Hudson Library System Outreach Mini-Grant.

Photo courtesy of the Millbrook Library.

Join Nina Acosta, MHLS Data Operations Supervisor, and Kerri Carpenter, MHLS Cataloging Specialist for Sierra data entry: How brief is too brief? on Tuesday, July 11th, 2023, at 10:00am. This webinar is intended for any staff responsible for entering brief bibliographic or item records into Sierra. Nina Acosta and Kerri Carpenter of the MHLS cataloging department will describe the information to include in each field, and how that information may differ depending on the type of material being cataloged. 

The NOVELny program and its online resources (currently from Gale and Britannica) will discontinue on June 30, 2024. This NYS Library pilot program, which has provided a variety of databases since 1999, is no longer sustainable with the NYS Library’s current funding sources. The Cultural Education fund has not received any recent increases, staff and database costs are rising, and federal funding has only increased moderately. This has led to the difficult decision to cut the NOVELny program.

The NYS Library will continue to support its goals as stated in the New York State Library Services and Technology Act Five-Year Plan (FFY 2023-2027) submitted to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Provided by the New York State Library, NOVELny is a Statewide Internet Library connecting New Yorkers to 21st century information. NOVELny is supported with Federal Library Service and Technology funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The NOVELny e-resources cost $2,654,778 for 2022-2023 and are supported fully with IMLS funds.

Librarians get ready – there are two Solar Eclipses coming to North America! An Annular Eclipse in 2023 and a Total Eclipse in 2024. Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries (SEAL) will support your eclipse efforts by providing eclipse glasses and training. Remember, whenever any part of the Sun’s surface is showing, you will need protective glasses or filters!

• Annular Eclipse, Saturday, October 14, 2023. Find out if your specific location is on the 2023 path using Eclipse Simulator.

• Total Eclipse, Monday, April 8, 2024. Find out if your specific location is on the 2024 path using Eclipse Simulator.

The STAR Library Education Networks SEAL initiative (with major funding support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation) is distributing approximately 5 million solar eclipse viewing glasses to libraries in all 50 states and all US territories and protectorates. Register now to receive free eclipse glasses for your public library. 

Visit the American Astronomical Society site about safe eclipse viewing for reliable information.

For library’s that have trustee terms which begin on July 1st this is an important reminder that New York State Public Officer's Law §10 requires all public library trustees (but not association library trustees) to take and file an oath of office within 30 days of beginning their term of office. Public library trustees are public officers, and the oath of office is required to officially undertake and perform the duties of a public library trustee. If a public library trustee does not properly complete and file an oath of office, the trustee’s position may be deemed vacant. 

For more information about how and why the oath of office is administered, and where to properly file an oath of office, please see the Oaths of Office FAQ on the New York State Library website. 

Library Director, East Fishkill Public Library District

The Board of Trustees of the East Fishkill Public Library District (EFPLD) is seeking its next Library Director--a proven, visionary leader with a passion for community collaboration who is able to skillfully lead and manage library staff (14.06 FTE, 7 of whom are full-time), effectively communicate and partner with a nine-member library board, volunteers, school districts, civic groups, and local businesses, and manage an annual budget in excess of $1MM. The East Fishkill Community Library (EFCL) is the forward-facing name that the library district retained after the successful effort to convert from an association library to a district library in 2006. 

The successful candidate will have the ability to expand and strengthen library services to meet the needs of the community’s residents; will have the experience to manage the maintenance of the library’s building and grounds as well as related capital projects; will have the capacity to responsibly advocate for and manage the budgeting needs of the East Fishkill Public Library District (EFPLD), will successfully implement short and long-range strategic planning goals. 

Our Library

The mission of the EFPLD is to provide residents of East Fishkill access to information and knowledge nourished by ever-improving collections, technology, and programming and a helpful, knowledgeable staff in order to enhance the cultural, social and economic vitality of the community. Organized in 1938, the library is now in its third location in the town. In 2006 the community voted to approve the formation of the EFPLD creating a stable funding platform to ensure the Library’s future.

The EFPLD is a district library chartered to service a population of 29,707 and is a member of the five-county Mid-Hudson Library System. 

Minimum Qualifications

A master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program, a New York State Librarian professional certificate, as well as four years of professional experience with demonstrated management expertise is required. Essential competencies include, but are not limited to, strong people management and communication skills, the ability to build dynamic relationships and promote collaborative partnerships and the talent to develop new and innovative library services to meet the diverse needs of the community.  

Compensation and Benefits 

Competitive salary from $70,000/year for a candidate meeting minimum qualifications, negotiable upward for more experienced candidates. A competitive benefits package is offered, including three weeks vacation, 10 sick days (with a maximum carryover of 30 days), three personal days and 10 paid holidays.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references (references will not be contacted without approval) to careers@eflibrary.org. Subject heading should say “Library Director Position”. Please note that our expectation is that the successful candidate must be reachable on the civil service list. Review of applications will be ongoing until further notice. 

MHLS Calendar