Digital Navigator Program |
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MHLS member libraries have the opportunity to build their capacity to support their communities through the Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley (DNHV) program. The DNHV program will prepare library workers and staff at community-based organizations with new skills and resources to perform the duties of a Digital Navigator, who will connect community members to affordable internet and tech options and provide basic digital literacy support. Libraries that complete the DNHV program will receive $900 to support the work of a Digital Navigator.
Digital Navigators will connect patrons and community members to resources and services to secure affordable broadband, computers, and devices, and provide basic digital literacy training and support in completing necessary paperwork and applications. As part of the program, Digital Navigators will receive training in identifying local resources and services, understanding learner needs, and collecting data. Digital Navigators will also attend two (2) calls each month where they'll receive coaching and share their experiences in implementing their training and connecting with and helping people in their community. The DNHV program also include a publicity campaign to call attention to the effort of libraries in this area, and professionally designed marketing materials libraries can use in their promotional efforts.
Program Requirements:
- Complete the DNHV Application by January 21st
- Attend each of the four (4) ninety-minute online training sessions from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm on the dates below:
- February 8th
- February 9th
- February 10th
- February 11th
- Attend two (2) support calls each month
- March - June
- Use the tools and strategies from the DNHV program to assess and help a minimum of five (5) clients before June 15th, 2022
- The $900 investment incentive to support the library's Digital Navigator work will be distributed upon completion of the program and submission of the necessary paperwork.
Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley Application
Libraries interested in participating in the program should complete the DNHV Application by January 21 st, 2022.
Online Information Session: Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley | Friday, January 7 th, 2022 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am (this session will be recorded for later viewing) | Register
This session will include an introduction to the Hudson Valley program as well as time for questions about the program and application process. The Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley program will train up to 100 participants from libraries and community-based organizations to become trusted guides who assist community members in accessing and using technology. The training will provide the resources necessary for participants to perform new services that include assistance with affordable internet access, device acquisition, technical skills, and application support.
If you have any questions, contact MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator, Casey Conlin.
Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley is supported with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to the New York State Library by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
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Annual Report Workshop for New Directors | January 28 th | 10:00 am – 11:30 am | Register
The MHLS Annual Report Workshop for New Directors is designed for member library Directors who are new to submitting the NYS Annual Report with Bibliostat software but is open to all. This event will take place online. The workshop will cover:
- Logging in to the software
- Entering your data
- Dealing with “Edit Checks”
- Writing “Notes”
- Submitting your report
Annual Report Update
Upcoming changes to the Annual Report to the state will help more accurately reflect the work of public libraries. In 2022, libraries will report on their work for the previous year, including new questions and definitions as outlined below. Please note, in 2021, libraries may not have been collecting the data necessary to answer the new questions in the report. In this case, libraries should answer the questions to the best of their ability given the data they have, and plan to collect data in 2022 that will allow them to answer these questions.
The following updates and additions will be part of Library Programs, Policies, and Services, Section 3 of the 2021 Annual Report:
Programs – New Wording
What was previously called Programs is now called Synchronous Programs. Programs happening live, (which are all in-person programs and some virtual programs) are now referred to as Synchronous Program Sessions. Since the definition of a library program already included all in-person programs and live virtual programs, this revision does not change the method in which the data was previously collected.
Programs and Pre-recorded Program Sessions – Virtual
There will be four virtual program categories beginning in the 2021 annual report:
- Synchronous Virtual Program Sessions (live streaming)
- Synchronous Virtual Program Attendance
- Asynchronous Virtual Program Sessions (pre-recorded)
- Asynchronous Virtual Program Views in First 7 Days After Posting (pre-recorded)
Programs – Definition of Children’s
Previously the definition of children’s programs encompassed those offered for ages 0-11. Children’s programming is being further broken out by age. Beginning in the 2021 Annual Report, there will be separate questions for ages 0-5, and ages 6-11
- These categories will appear in the 2021 Annual Report for Public and Association libraries. However, for 2021, there will also still be questions for the ages 0-11 category as libraries have not been instructed to collect data in categories broken down by age.
- The questions for Number of Children’s Programs and Children’s Program Attendance are being retained for one more cycle to ease the transition to this new set of data elements for synchronous programs.
- Libraries should start tracking children’s programs using the 0-5 and 6-11 categories as of January 2022 or as close to then as possible.
Programs – Location
There will be two new questions breaking out total program sessions between in-library and off-site. These will not be subdivided by age groups, and there will not be questions on attendance.
More information will be shared about the Annual Report as it becomes available. For questions about the Annual Report, please contact MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator, Casey Conlin.
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The Catskill Public Library is partnering with the Greene County Department of Human Services Meals on Wheels to bring library materials directly to community members. Catskill residents who receive Meals on Wheels deliveries can now receive borrowed library materials with their Meals on Wheels delivery. Items can also be returned via the delivery driver. The library offers three items per patron for a four-week loan period including books, audiobooks, magazines, music CDs, DVDs, iPads and Kindles. The devices are preloaded with books and audiobooks for community members without internet access.
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Resource Sharing & Sierra |
REMINDER: During the third week in January the MHLS Cataloging Team will delete patron records whose cards have been expired for 3+ years with fines less than $10. This information will be exported to an Excel spreadsheet and stored. |
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Register today for the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 on January 12th at 1:00 pm. This webinar is a celebration of the 20 th anniversary of Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18, formerly the Amelia Bloomer Project. Each year, the Rise committee puts together a booklist of the best feminist books for young readers, ages birth through 18; the committee is a part of the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association.
The webinar will consider the evolution of the booklist (and feminism) over two decades, share reflections from previous committee members, and consider the still necessary work of getting feminist books to young readers.
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Annual evaluation of the library director and the library board are key ingredients to a healthy organization. Evaluating the director without a companion evaluation of the board can create a lopsided evaluation strategy of the governance and management of the organization so be sure to plan for both, each year. For tips and sample forms visit http://midhudson.org/topics/trustees/
Trustee responsibilities are small in number but broad in scope. This monthly Bulletin feature is designed to remind, reinforce, or introduce tips that are helpful to member library trustees.
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Administration & Management |
The Funding Year (FY) 2022 FCC Form 471 application filing window will open on Wednesday, January 12th, 2022, at noon and will close on Tuesday, March 22 nd, 2022, at 11:59 pm. The E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) Administrative Window will close January 10 th, 2022. Update your EPC profile by January 10 th, to ensure a smoother filing process and more timely review of your applications. You will not be able to make changes to your EPC profile after that date. View the EPC Administrative Window webinar on the Webinars page, which includes information about establishing accounts and user rights for EPC.
The E-Rate section of USAC's website provides resources for new applicants or applicants continuing to participate in the program. |
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Governor Hochul extended the NYS "mask or vax" mandate from January 15th to February 1st, 2022. The new measure, part of the Winter Surge Plan 2.0, is intended to bring added layers of mitigation following the holidays when more time is spent indoors shopping, gathering, and visiting holiday-themed destinations. New Yorkers are encouraged to upgrade to KN-95 masks, and 5 million KN-95 masks have been distributed by the state with more being distributed through state legislators. |
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