The Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) had a good showing at Advocacy Day earlier this month that helped deliver our message and our budget requests to all legislators. Our team joined 600+ library advocates from around New York state! | |
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Caption: MHLS Trustee Barbara Swanson from Greene County with local library director Jaqueline Elmo-Emel: "We Came, We Saw, We Advocated."
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We are thankful for the support of the following Friends groups that provided financial support for the buses that took library supporters to Albany.
- Howland Public Library, Beacon
- Friends of the Beekman Library
- Friends of the Chatham Public Library, Inc.
- Friends of the Catskill Public Library and Palenville Branch, Inc.
- Friends of the Dover Plains Library Inc.
- Friends of the Town of Esopus Library
- Friends of the Greenville Public Library
- Friends of the Highland Public Library
- Friends of the Hudson Area Library
- Friends of the Kingston Library
- Friends of the Marlboro Free Library
- Friends of the Mahopac Library
- Millbrook Library
- Phoenicia Library Association
- Friends of the Pine Plains Free Library
- Friends of Plattekill Public Library
- Friends of Pleasant Valley Library
- Friends of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District, Inc.
- Friends of Saugerties Public Library
- Friends of the Staatsburg Library
- Friends of the Library (Mountain Top Library, Tannersville)
- Friends of the Library at Woodstock NY
Keep the momentum going!
The Chairs of the New York State Senate and Assembly's library committees are working on their budget letters to leadership which is the starting spot for how the legislature will respond to the Executive Budget's proposal for library aid and library construction aid.
Now is the time to show off how many library stakeholders are lined up behind the people that came to see them on Advocacy Day. Please ask your trustees, Friends, and library patrons to help with this effort by responding to the New York Library Association's latest Call to Action, found here.
You can help motivate more patrons to join this by sharing how much money they are saving by using your library:
- You can add a “You just saved” dollar amount on receipts
- Add the Library Use Value Calculator from Syracuse University to your library’s website, social media, and enewsletters, with photos of patrons who have calculated their amount for inspiration.
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Please call your State Senators and Assemblymembers!
They need to hear from you that MHLS Services make a difference to your library and therefore their constituents.
Scheduling legislators to come and visit your library or host their office hours and town halls at your libraries is a great way to connect with them as well.
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New Member Library Benefit: Free Amazon Business Prime Accounts
Join us for an informational webinar to take advantage of the new benefit to member libraries to receive a free premium Amazon Business Prime Account. Please register for this event to learn more and have your existing account upgraded to learn how to establish an account.
Amazon Business Free Prime Program - Mid-Hudson Library System | Friday, March 21 | 2 – 3 PM | Online | REGISTER
The Mid-Hudson Library System has partnered with Amazon Business to provide FREE premium Amazon Business Prime to all member libraries. Member libraries with existing Amazon Business accounts will keep all their existing account details and log-ins. All new and existing accounts will be upgraded to include the following Amazon Business Prime benefits at no charge:
- Free Business Prime membership ($1,299 value)
- Pay by Invoice
- $10,000 line of credit
- Up to 100 users per account
- 25% off on select products
- Office supplies and IT peripherals
- Tax exemption on all orders
- Dedicated Customer Advisory
This session will review this opportunity and the enrollment process. Presenter: Tessa Sullivan, Customer Advisor, Amazon Business for Government.
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The West Point Band performed a winter concert at the Howland Public Library on February 8! The program included Renaissance, romantic, and contemporary pieces. It was a well-attended concert with 50 audience members including musicians from the local community. Photo by Cancha Stanley. | |
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Youth Services Staff Meet Up | March 10 | 12 – 1 PM | Howland Public Library, 313 Main Street Beacon
The monthly Youth Services Rendezvous is open to all MHLS member library youth services staff who work with birth to teen. Find out what others are doing for programming, outreach, collection development, ask questions of your peers and share things that have worked for you. Topic: Collection Organization - When and why to stray from the norm.
This event is organized by member library staff. For more information about these events please email Christine Pacuk, cpacuk@saugertiespubliclibrary.org or call 845-246-4317 ext. 5.
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The Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) has opened this in-person session to Mid-Hudson Library System members.
Join Jen Park, RCLS Government Relations Specialist, and Joanna Goldfarb, RCLS Sustainability Innovation Consultant for BaFa' BaFa': Cross-Cultural Competency Training on Thursday, March 27, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
BaFa' BaFa' is a learning simulation designed to improve participants' cross-cultural competence by helping them understand the impact of culture on the behavior of people and organizations. This is a hands-on workshop that involves moving and communicating with others, and includes discussions about cultural values, behaviors, and more.
This is an in-person workshop and will not be recorded. All attendees are expected to fully participate and stay for the entire session. Participants will earn 3 continuing education credit hours. Not applicable for Trustee Education credit.
Register for this session here.
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Resource Sharing & Sierra | |
REMINDER: Sierra Circulation Reports | March 6 | 10 AM – 12 PM | Online | REGISTER
There are several resources for reporting circulation statistics. We will begin with some foundational information on circulation statistical reporting and build on that with a deep dive into the various reports available in the circulation reporting tools. By the end of the session you will have a good understanding of how to capture your libraries’ data and see it in the context of your county and the rest of the consortium.
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The Scaling Community Through Archives project team is now accepting applications for the project learning cohort. Eight public library staff will be selected to participate in the cohort which will provide stipends, mentoring, and resources for developing or expanding a community archives project in the selected participant's community. All public library staff are eligible to apply including librarians, archivists, paraprofessionals, and others. No prior community archives experience or training is required.
Benefits to cohort participants
- A stipend of $7,000 will be provided to each organization selected to participate in the cohort, to support their experience in implementing their project. Participants will also receive an additional $2,000 in funding, which they can use to support travel costs to the in-person training which will occur from September 9-11, 2025 in Seattle, WA.
- Additionally, cohort participants will receive support and guidance from the project team as they implement their project through monthly check-in meetings and additional opportunities for mentoring and learning with the other cohort participants.
The deadline for applications is April 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed by the project team with decisions sent to applicants in early May 2025.
Additional details about the project, benefits, application, and signing up for information sessions can be found at the following:
https://tascha.uw.edu/cohort-applications-now-open-for-scaling-community-archives-project/.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services LG-256575-OLS-24.
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Reference & Collection Development | |
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If your library has a seed library, signing up for this newsletter is a must! The Seed Library Network does great work to help share best practices, resources, and advice.
Learn more at https://seedlibrarynetwork.substack.com/about
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How Libraries Can Alleviate Hunger Now | March 11 | 1 – 2 PM | Online | REGISTER
For over 2 million people living in New York households that struggle against hunger, these times present unique challenges. Hunger Solutions New York will provide updates and turn-key resources that can help community organizations and families mitigate food insecurity in their area. Learn about ways libraries can help, from partnering on summer meals to helping families connect with WIC, SNAP, Summer EBT and other nutrition security programs. Bring your questions, chat with peers, and learn about new resources and the latest news to help connect kids and families with the food they need.
This webinar is brought to you by the New York State Library. Questions? Reach out to nyslyouth@nysed.gov.
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MHLS Sustainable Funding Series: Sustainable Funding Options for Association & Municipal Public Libraries for Directors and Trustees | April 3 | 5 – 6:30 PM | Online | REGISTER
Association and Municipal Public Libraries must take annual action to secure sustainable funding for their libraries that grows to keep up with community demand for services, programs, and collections. Join Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Executive Director and co-author of the New York State Library's Public Library District Toolkit, to better understand your options for pursuing sustainable funding through voter-directed initiatives allowed under New York State Education Law 259.
At this event we will review:
- Why it is important to seek an annual increase for the library
- The basic steps for holding a vote along municipal boundaries or school district boundaries
- Best practices for transparent financial reporting to your community
- Key messages for making the case to your community
This workshop is part of the MHLS Sustainable Funding & Trustee Education Series and is intended for MHLS member library trustees only. Attendance at this event can be applied toward the NYS Trustee Education Requirements.
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Bilingual Library Assistant (Spanish Speaking) – Howland Public Library (Beacon)
Howland Public Library is seeking an energetic, creative, and outgoing individual to join our team as a Bilingual Library Assistant. This role focuses on working with our diverse adult community, delivering outstanding services and programs. Responsibilities include supporting the Adult Services Librarian in various tasks, assisting in delivering programs and services to adults, and engaging with the community to promote library services. Starting annual salary is $42,000 with a great benefit package. See the full job description.
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Part-time Library Clerk – Elting Library (New Paltz)
This position requires strong customer service skills as we assist library patrons with their daily library activities. The Library Clerk will assist with accessing and appropriately using library spaces and resources within the guidelines of library procedure and policy. Under the direct supervision of the Head of Circulation, and as part of the Circulation staff, the Library Clerk will help patrons with library collections and materials, services, and resources. Compensation is $16.31 per hour. If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to director@eltinglibrary.org. For the full job description see www.eltinglibrary.org/hiring.
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Part-time Library Page – Elting Library (New Paltz)
This position requires strong attention to detail and organizational skills. Much of a page's job includes "shelving:” putting books or items where they belong and, “shelf reading:” making sure that items are in the correct order. The Library Page will assist library Circulation staff with shelving books and materials, and keeping those areas clean and organized. Under the direct supervision of the Head of Circulation, the Library Page will help keep the collection in good browsing condition for patrons. Must demonstrate a helpful, friendly attitude and strong customer service skills. Compensation is $15.50 per hour. If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to director@eltinglibrary.org. For the full job description see www.eltinglibrary.org/hiring.
MHLS recommends that the minimum starting salary of a full or part-time librarian with an MLS degree be at least equal to that of a teacher with a master’s degree in the same community.
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