MHLS Board Meets

The MHLS Board of Trustees met on Thursday, September 21, in the MHLS Auditorium and:

· Approved the System's 2007-2011 Plan of Service for submission to NYS;
· Approved the Central Library Reference Service Plan for 2007;
· Reviewed the draft of the Central Library Reference Service budget;
· Presented its slate of officers for 2007;
· Discussed the scope and results of the 2006 Summer Reading Program, and the "Battle of the Books" event.

The Annual Meeting will be held on October 6, at 9:00am in the Danny Kaye Theater in the Conrad Hilton Library at the Culinary Institute of America.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Saturday, December 9, at 10:00 a.m. in the MHLS Auditorium.

MHLS Libraries
Senator Vincent Leibell secured a $50,000 State Initiative for the Patterson Library's capital fund. At a recent visit to the library, Senator Leibell said, "It's time to expand the Patterson Library so that we can appropriately serve the residents of our growing community. I am committed to getting this project started. [Source: Patterson Library News, Fall 2006]

ONE BOOK ONE NEW PALTZ Events: Highlights to include appearances by Edwidge Danticat, internationally-acclaimed author of The Dew Breaker, and Daniel Morel and Jane Regan, a photojournalist and filmmaker couple who moved from Haiti to New Paltz last year, and a plethora of book discussions, exhibits of Haitian artwork, and live music events. Learn more at http://www.onebookonenewpaltz.org/

"Dewey Decibel System?" In honor of Teen Read Week, the Marlboro Free Library Presents local band The Chills [http://www.chillsmusic.com/index.html] for a Rock n' Read at the Library on Friday, October 20, from 7:00 - 9:00pm. [Source: The Inside Story, Marlboro Free Library, September-October 2006]

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
New wi-fi graphic from WebJunction: "You've set up wireless internet access in your library - now you need to let folks know. There's a graphic designed for free use by libraries that you can download today. Let your patrons know about wireless Internet access in your library. They will love you for it. Download this image and use it to identify your library as a hot spot. It's free! No copyright restrictions! " http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=325

We the People Bookshelf on Happiness: The American Library Association (ALA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are pleased to announce the newest We the People Bookshelf. This year's theme is "The Pursuit of Happiness." Part of the NEH's We the People initiative, this annual collection development grant project will award sets of 15 classic books for young readers to 2,000 libraries across the country. Selected libraries will also receive 4 of the Bookshelf titles in Spanish, a bonus CD (Happy
Land: Musical Tributes to Laura Ingalls Wilder performed by various artists), posters, bookmarks and programming resources. Libraries interested in receiving the collection are required to develop and host a program to introduce the collection and its theme to students and/or patrons. The list of "Pursuit of Happiness" titles has just been posted at http://www.ala.org/wethepeople. Guidelines and applications are available online at http://www.wethepeople.gov or via http://www.ala.org/wethepeople . All applications are due by January 31.

Friends of Libraries groups now have their very own national week of celebration! FOLUSA is coordinating a national Friends of Libraries Week October 22-28, 2006. The celebration offers a two-fold opportunity to celebrate the Friends. Use the time to creatively promote your group in the community, to raise awareness, and to promote membership. This is also an excellent opportunity for your library and Board of Trustees to recognize the Friends for their help and support of the library. Sample materials to help you promote Friends of the Library Week are available from FOLUSA at http://www.folusa.org/sharing/national-friends-week.php.

Reference & Collection Development
The Reference Librarian of the Future: "We will indeed make our own future. The reference librarian of the future will not be symbolized as the woman sitting behind the desk, but as someone who is readily accessible to everyone in the community and who provides individual information services using whatever technologies become available. By concentrating on the needs of our users, providing personal service, and providing leadership in the information society, the reference librarian will continue to perform an essential function for the community."
-David Tyckoson, On the Desirableness of Personal Relations Between Librarians and Readers: The Past and Future of Reference Service, http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaprotools/futureofref/desirableness.htm

Programming
New online resources for immigration-themed programming: The Public Programs Office (PPO) of the American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the creation of a new Web site designed to assist librarians in creating public programs on the theme "Becoming American - New Immigration Stories." The project is designed to provide libraries throughout the United States with an excellent selection of books on immigrant literature for adults and families. Access the project web site at http://www.ala.org/publicprograms and select the "Becoming American - New Immigration Stories" link, or go directly to http://publicprograms.ala.org/newimmigration/.

Trustee Resources
New Policy Resources from the American Library Association on dealing with Law Enforcement Requests are now available on the MHLS Sample Library Policy & Policy Development Page:

· Confidentiality and Coping with Law Enforcement Inquiries: Guidelines for the Library and its Staff
· Gotham City Public Library Model Policy 1.1: Third Party and Law Enforcement Requests for Library Records and User Information
· Gotham City Public Library Model Staff Directive 1.5: Guidelines for Responding To Law Enforcement Requests for Library Records and User Information

Access the MHLS Sample Policy Page at http://midhudson.org, Trustee Resources or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/department/member_information/library_policies.htm#patriot.

Reminder - Advanced Trustee Sessions Coming Up in October. The topic for 2006 is Building Community Support for your Library.
· Tuesday, October 17, 6:00pm-8:00pm at the East Fishkill Community Library (348 Route 376 in Hopewell Junction)
· Saturday, October 21, 10:00am-12:00pm at the Catskill Public Library (1 Franklin Street in Catskill)

Registration is required. Register one of two ways:
1. http://midhudson.org, then click on Calendar
2. call 845.471.6060 x46

Job Openings
P/T Evening Librarian: Maintain study atmosphere and assist teenage students w/research, for academic year '06/'07 in the library and computer center. Evenings. MLS or student of library science or technology preferred. Interest and ability w/students a plus. Fax 845.677.1205, or send resume: Library Director, Millbrook School, Millbrook School Road, Millbrook, NY 12545

P/T Reference Librarian. MLS or MLS Candidate. Hours: Fridays - 10:00am - 6:00pm; 1 or 2 Saturdays a month from 10:00am - 5:00pm; 1 or 2 Sundays a month from 1:00 - 5:00pm (Sept.-June). Salary commensurate with experience. Contact: Jill Davis, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, 914.739.5654.

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.

Member 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.