Susan DiLorenzo To Retire

After almost 25 years of service to the member libraries of the Mid-Hudson Library System, it is with mixed emotions that Susan DiLorenzo, the Interlibrary Loan Manager, will retire at the end of June. "I'll miss working with the staff in member libraries," said Sue, "some people, like Fran at Kingston, I talk to almost every day!" Sue began her work at MHLS in 1971 - before computers and before MHLS used OCLC. Sue says her favorite part of her job is "finding the missing piece of the puzzle" - sleuthing out incomplete requests, finding viable substitutes and learning different ways to use the Internet to fill requests.

Sue has lots of funny stories she has collected over the years:
· A patron requested a book from a university; Sue was told the book was "in the biography section on the top shelf to the right, and it was big."
· A request came in for information on U2 so Sue sent back a number of articles. She received an irate phone call from the patron, who informed her he wanted information about the spy plane, not the band.
· Sue recalls a memorable ILL request from an inmate in one of the correction facilities, he wanted a magic book that included a section on disappearing.

Sue admits that she's kept a pad of paper and pen on her bedside table for years to capture her "aha" moments in the middle of the night that help her connect patrons with the information they need. While she's found problem-solving to be rewarding she says that nothing feels as good as when a library staff person thanks her for making them look good! Sue has lots of plans for retirement, on the agenda for the summer: spending more time at her camp in the Adirondacks with her dachshund Pepper, volunteering at her church and visiting with her 10-month old grandson Benjamin. She and her husband are planning a trip to Italy in the Fall.

Sue has been a mainstay at MHLS for many years. She has been our chief party-planner, baker and jokester. However, we hope that it is her dedication to the values of public library service, especially that of access to information for all, that she is remembered for.

MHLS Announcements
The 2006 FRIENDS MATTER event will be postponed. New date: Thursday, October 12th. All who registered will be contacted with the new date.

Professional Development
Millennium for New Directors and Administrators workshop, Wednesday, July
19, from 10am-12pm in the MHLS Auditorium (105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie). Presented by Laurie Shedrick, MHLS Automated Systems Manager. The workshop will cover:
· Web Management Reports
· Millennium Statistics
· Customizing access and settings for the Millennium Client
· Where to turn for more information
Register online: http://www.midhudson.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
What do Americans think of libraries in the age of the Internet? The Americans For Libraries Council thought they'd ask, and engaged Public Agenda to conduct a major national public opinion study. They released the findings this week. For a copy of Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public and Leadership Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century, as well as an overview and fact sheets of interest, please visit http://www.lff.org/long_overdue061306.html. A glimpse into the results:
· Libraries top the list of public services receiving an "A" grade, ahead even of police and schools;
· More than half the public (52%) would rather raise taxes than cut library services or charge fees for them;
· 9 in 10 Americans believe that libraries will be needed in the future, regardless of technological developments.

But along with the good news comes a wake-up call to the library community:
· Engaged citizens who vote in local elections and care deeply about libraries are no more likely than others to support libraries financially, or to advocate for their well-being -- they simply don't know that library funding may be in jeopardy;
· Elected officials recognize that communities trust libraries, but they do not fully employ (or fund) libraries to solve pressing community problems -- problems that libraries are uniquely positioned to help resolve.

The report concludes by identifying four specific challenges that libraries could help communities meet, allowing them to fill a vital community need while simultaneously positioning themselves as funding priorities for elected officials:
· Providing a safe and engaging space for teens;
· Supporting adult literacy and other components of workforce development;
· Expanding access to the Internet and other uses of technology;
· Becoming a community hub, making government forms and services easily available.

Long Overdue was sponsored by Americans for Libraries Council, with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as part of a broad-based advocacy initiative to build knowledge of and support for libraries. The next step in that effort will be the launch of a new advocacy website, http://actforlibraries.org, this July.

Reference & Collection Development
The Online Collections of Hudson River Valley Heritage (HRVH) [http://www.hrvh.org] made its debut at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern NY Library Resources Council (SENYLRC) this month. HRVH is a collaborative, digital access and archiving initiative between SENYLRC and the libraries, historical societies, museums and other cultural organizations of the Hudson Valley Region. Attendees at the annual meeting represented all of these groups. Marlboro Free Library was one of the pilot contributors to the HRVH project. Currently there are 26 additional contributing organizations including Heermance Memorial Library in Coxsackie, Elting Memorial Library in New Paltz, Millbrook Free Library, West Hurley Public Library and Woodstock Library. Contributing organizations were specifically thanked for their role in making the project a reality. The SENYLRC Digital Advisory Committee, of which Laurie Shedrick (MHLS Automated Systems Manager) and Kara Lustiber (director of the West Hurley Public Library) are members, was thanked for their commitment to bring this significant cultural heritage project to the region. Want to learn more about HRVH? Interested in participating? Contact Tessa Killian at 845.883.9065 or killian@senylrc.org

Job Openings
Outstanding full-time opportunity for a Director: The Millbrook Library is an association library located 75 miles north of New York City. The newly renovated building serves a community of 6,500 with a total circulation of 61,550. The Board of Trustees seeks a director to develop programs and maintain services that keep the library an active participant in the cultural and educational life of the community. Requirements: MLS - 3-5 years administrative experience - budgeting and financial management skills - knowledge of library technology. Salary range $45 - 50,000. Excellent benefits package. For more information, see http://www.millbrooklibrary.org. Resumes should be sent in care of Susan Genova to Millbrook Library, PO Box 286, Millbrook, NY 12545, or email millbrook.nrogers2@verizon.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.