Lobby Day - March 14th

Tuesday, March 14th: NYLA Library Lobby Day
Talking Points:
-Census Money: MHLS has lost $79,000 annually since 2000 because library funding has been based on the 1990 Census for the past 6 years. Full funding using the 2000 Census is the #1 NYLA Legislative Priority for 2006.
-System Funding: System funding has remained stagnant for almost a decade. NYLA will be lobbying for an additional $3 million for Systems this year to begin rebuilding the system infrastructure.
-Construction Aid: MHLS member libraries currently have access to just $29,700 annually in state aid for construction. NYLA is lobbying for a $1.85 million increase for public library construction aid. Both houses have bills related to funding for library construction this year so this is an issue that may see some movement if we speak up.

MHLS makes the day as simple as possible for those who choose to speak up for library and system funding on this day:
· Transportation is arranged. Reserve your seat using the registration form sent to each library or download the form online at MHLS' Advocacy Central web site*. Pick-up points along the NYS Thruway include: Newburgh, New Paltz, Kingston, and Catskill (Cost: $18)
· Driving? Maps for parking and the Concourse Level are available at Advocacy Central*.
· All meetings are set up by MHLS staff, conflicts are avoided between geographically overlapping legislators. The schedule will be posted at Advocacy Central*.
· Talking points are provided. In addition, we do our best to ensure a MHLS staff person will be at each meeting to make sure all points are covered.
· MHLS staff is on-hand to guide you through the entire day and help you find your way around the capitol.

We are representing our 375,000 library cardholders on this day, we need all the help we can get! Rally the troops - trustees, volunteers, Friends, home-school families, community leaders, and other library supporters...all are welcome in this effort.

Action Items:
1) Please register online at
http://www.midhudson.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp if you are planning to attend, regardless of how you plan to get to Albany (by bus or car) we need to know who will be at our meetings.
2) Bus Registration: http://midhudson.org/funding/advocacy/main.htm
3) Contact Your Elected Officials Online: http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=925

*MHLS Advocacy Central: http://midhudson.org/funding/advocacy/main.htm.

Donations for the bus to Albany are appreciated. The bus is organized by the Ramapo Catskill Library System and stops in the MHLS area are
graciously included. The Foundation for Hudson Valley Libraries has stepped up with a $300 donation to the cause. Checks should be made payable to "Ramapo Catskill Library System" and sent to RCLS, attn: Carol Cleveland, 619, Rte. 17M,
Middletown, NY 10940.

MHLS Announcements
March 1st, the deadline to apply for the PLA Conference Grant, is approaching fast. To apply, you need to submit a letter to Josh Cohen stating intent to send staff to the PLA Conference. The letter must be signed by the Library Director and received at MHLS no later than March 1, 2006. All libraries applying for the PLA Conference grant have, by default, chosen Incentive Package C for 2006. Libraries which were under Incentive Package C last year but do not apply for the PLA Grant this year, will be considered to have chosen Incentive Package B for 2006. If you have any questions about the Incentive Packages check out http://midhudson.org/admin/budgeting/main.htm or you contact Doris Formby at x10 or dformby@midhudson.org.

MHLS Libraries
The Kingston Library recently received $10,900 for programming from the Friends of the Kingston Library association. The money will be used to support ongoing children's programs, to pay for online subscription services and to buy DVDs and furniture.

The Germantown Library has received a $1,000 grant from the Fund for Columbia County of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation to support its Saturday Morning Story Hour.

The Chatham Public Library held its annual Patron Appreciation Day on Friday, February 10th. The library provided refreshments throughout the day for all who visited the library. In other news CPL has received two decentralization grants from the Columbia County Council on the Arts Twin Counties Cultural Fund. One grant will help support the 2006 Summer Reading Program, providing arts and literature workshops for children. The second grant will enable author and editor Neil Smith to continue his writing workshop. This year's subject is "Woman's Lips to God's Ears."

The ABCs of Writing for Children, Millbrook Library, Saturday, February 25, 1-3pm: Authors Della Ross Ferreri (How Will I Ever Sleep in this Bed?) and Karen Kaufman Orloff (I Wanna Iguana) will cover the basics of breaking into the children's publishing market. Registration is required. Call 845.677.3611 x2.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
The Great Stories CLUB (Connecting Libraries, Underserved teens and Books) is a book club grant program organized by the American Library Association Public Programs Office (PPO) and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) to provide young adults with the opportunity to discuss books relevant to the challenges in their lives. Oprah's Angel Network is providing a grant to support the program. All types of libraries (public, school, academic and special), in partnership with facilities serving troubled teens (such as juvenile detention centers or alternative high schools) in the United States and its territories are eligible to apply. Selected libraries will present three-part book club discussions featuring three theme-related books chosen by YALSA for teen audiences. Applications will be accepted online: http://www.ala.org/greatstories until February 20, 2006.

Programming
El día de los niños/El día de los libros: a celebration of children, families, and reading is held annually on April 30th. The celebration emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for every child regardless of linguistic and cultural background. For more information visit http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscresources/eldiadelosnios/eldadelosnios.htm

Youth Services
JanWay Summer Reading Incentives: Orders for Books: A Treasure program incentives need to be sent to JanWay by February 24. Order online, by phone or fax. Use the print order form that came in your summer reading manual or go online at http://www.janway.com/2006-srp.htm. MHLS will not have any extra incentives so plan to order what you need. Go to the summer reading website at http://midhudson.org/program/ideas/Summer_Read2.htm to learn more about other summer reading opportunities from MHLS.

Job Openings
Blodgett Memorial Library has an immediate job opening for a part-time library clerk. Average of 15 hours per week, mostly evening and weekends; duties include circulation (i.e. sorting, checking in/out, issue cards, reserve and overdue functions) $8/hr. Please respond by mailing a resume to Blodgett Memorial Library 37 Broad St. Fishkill, NY 12524 or email to blodmem@optonline.net.

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.

The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries at bulletin@midhudson.org. The MHLS Bulletin is available on line at http://midhudson.org/bulletins/main.htm.