| Vol.06-27 | 7.4.06 |
Multiple library votes have taken place already this year and the results are in! Most of these votes were a success, but a few area libraries did experience a loss. The success ratio thus far for the year is 8:3. The following table provides more detail about these recent member library votes. [Type of library key: SP = special district public library; SC = school district public library]
MHLS Libraries
The Chatham Public Library has received a grant from NYS Senator Stephen Saland for a new computer and CD-ROM educational games focused on helping kids develop reading, problem solving and computer skills.The Hudson Area Association Library has received a grant from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation's Fund for Columbia County. The $921 will be put towards a 12-week reading program that incorporates hands-on creative activities and involves community volunteers. For more information about grants from the BTCF visit http://www.berkshiretaconic.org.
Professional Development
SEAL ILL System Training: Do you or someone at your library need to attend a SEAL ILL System training class? Please email Judy Fischetti at judyf@senylrc.org and she will schedule a class at a time convenient for those attending. Beginning SEAL ILL System classes are held at Southeastern in Highland. The classes take one day and are held from 9:30am - 3:30pm. Topics covered include searching SEAL, placing requests and managing SEAL requests online. [For more info about SEAL go to http://othello.senylrc.org/vdx/.]Managing Your Project for Success: Do you have a new building project, library renovation or new service to implement ahead of you? Are you aware of projects that were begun but never finished because of a lack of personnel, time or money? Planning the project, whether it is small or large, with consideration of essential elements such as scope, time, staff and costs and then managing these elements will result in successful completion of the new service or building project. SENYLRC is sponsoring a workshop "Getting it Done: Project Management for Librarians" on Thursday, July 27, 2006 from 9:00am - 3:30pm at Southeastern. This workshop will teach the elements of a project, the process for managing your project, how to build your project team, and the traits of a successful project manager. The trainer, Joseph E. Mihm accredited in the field of project management by the Project Management Institute, will apply the principles and essential elements for successful project management to library projects. Go to http://www.senylrc.org/ce/ for additional information and online registration.
Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Library Terms That Users Understand: A great web site to help library web developers "decide how to label key resources and services in such a way that most users can understand them well enough to make productive choices." It serves as a clearinghouse of usability test data evaluating terminology on library websites, and suggests test methods and best practices for reducing cognitive barriers caused by terminology. [http://www.jkup.net/terms.html]Reference & Collection Development
There has been almost a 50% increase in the number of New York State newspapers now available through HomeACCESS.1. Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)
2. Daily News (NY, NY)
3. Herald American (Syracuse, NY)
4. Indian Country Today (Oneida, New York)
5. New York Observer (New York, NY)
6. New York Post (New York, NY)
7. New York Times (including Book Review & Magazine)
8. Newsday (Melville, NY)
9. Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
10.Post-Star (Glen Falls, NY)
11.Times Herald-Record (Middletown, NY)
12.Times Union (Albany, NY)
13.Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, NY)Youth Services
Twelve MHLS libraries are gathering teams of 6th-9th graders from their communities to take part in the 2nd Annual MHLS Battle of the Books.
· Ten titles have been chosen for the teams to read and do Battle over.
· Hundreds of trivia questions are being written to try to stump these bright young people.
· There will be mini-Battles over the summer in all five counties to help the teams hone their skills and become familiar with the process.
· In early September each team will participate in round robin elimination rounds and then winners will face each other for the championship Battle to be held on Saturday, September 16th.
Sponsors so far include Rhinebeck Savings Bank, Ulster Savings Bank, The Chazen Companies, Community Foundation of Dutchess County and Hannaford Brothers. New this year will be a sophisticated buzzer system so that the competition will be well managed. Scott Meyer of Merritt Books will again be the MC. Find out more - like which libraries are participating, what titles are being used and a full explanation of the Battle process on the MHLS Youth Services Department webpage at
http://midhudson.org/department/youth/main.htm under What's New?.Four lucky NYS families will win a trip to NYC this summer, including lunch with magician, David Blaine. This great prize is part of the 2006 NYS Summer Reading Program, Books: A Treasure. Coupons for this drawing can be found on the MHLS youth services website at http://midhudson.org/program/ideas/Summer_Read2.htm, under Forms. The coupons, to be filled out by young people who have read over the summer, should be sent to the MHLS Youth Services Department by August 9th. A firm in NYC will supervise the drawing of the four winning families. This could be a family from your community so print out the coupons and encourage your local kids to take part.
Administration & Management
The Small Libraries Roundtable met last month at the NorthEast-Millerton Library to discuss staff and director evaluation issues. (See photo on page 3 of this week's Bulletin.) Tips from the discussion included:
· Structure, including training and evaluation, help staff and volunteers succeed at the library.
· Importance of clarifying the purpose of an evaluation: motivation vs. clarifying objectives.
Handouts at the event included sample evaluation forms, volunteer evaluation help and director evaluation support. Handouts can be requested by contacting Kerstin Cruger, the MHLS Public Services Team Assistant at x50 or kcruger@midhudson.org. The next meeting of the Small Libraries Roundtable will be held on Friday, September 15th at the Livingston Free Library in Columbia County. Our topic will be Personnel Policies and Employee Handbooks.Job Openings
The Sarah Hull Hallock Free Library in Milton, NY (Ulster County) is seeking a part-time (approximately 25 hours per week) Library Director. MLS required. Send resume, cover letter and references to SHHFL, PO Box 802, Milton, NY 12547 or e-mail miltonlibrary@hvc.rr.com.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.
PAGE 3: "Around the System for June 2006"
PAGE 4: July 2006 Calendar:
http://www.midhudson.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.aspMember Libraries are welcome to submit items of interest and job openings to the MHLS Bulletin: bulletin@midhudson.org. The MHLS Bulletin is available on line at http://midhudson.org/bulletins/main.htm.