1st System Tour of 2007

The first System Tour of 2007 will be held on Tuesday, February 27 th from 9:30am – 12:30pm beginning in the MHLS Auditorium.

The System Tour is offered to introduce member library staff and trustees to System services and the staff that provide them.

The tour will cover:

• An introduction to the MHLS organization, web site and electronic resources (the online library catalog and HomeACCESS)
• Technology: Automated Services, Data Entry, AV Services, and Computer Operations
• Public Services: Youth Services, ILL, Print Services, Member Information, Outreach & Continuing Education
• Administration: Business Office, Shipping & Delivery

There will also be built-in time to talk one-on-one with department staff.

Register today at: http://midhudson.org then Calendar or by calling 845.471.6060 x46. Directions to MHLS: http://midhudson.org/help/directions.htm

MHLS Announcements
Not sure who to call at MHLS for help? Check out the Problem Solving Service Directory at http://midhudson.org then Contacts, or access the directory directly at: http://midhudson.org/service_directory.htm.

The MHLS Board of Trustees met on Saturday, January 27, in the MHLS Auditorium and:

• Were administered the 2007 Oath of Office;
• Approved the establishment of a Directors Association Capital Fund, effective January 2008;
• Reviewed and approved the System’s policy to handle Resource Sharing Standards violations;
• Authenticated the System’s two LSTA grant proposals: the 2007 NYS Summer Reading Program and, the Building Your Base Project.

The next meeting of the Board is Saturday, March 24 – at 10:00am in the MHLS Auditorium.

MHLS Libraries
11th Annual Dutchess County Public Library Trustees Dinner: Wednesday, April 18 th at the Silo Ridge Country Club in Amenia. $35 per person, seating limited to 90 registrants. Your check is your reservation, send it to: DC Trustee Dinner, Poughkeepsie Public Library District, 93 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
5:30pm: Soda, cash bar, fruit and cheese, mingle
6:00pm: Michael Borges, Executive Director, New York Library Association (NYLA): Mr. Borges will speak about the importance of the Association to the library community, NYLA’s legislative priorities, and other matters pertinent to being a public library trustee.
7:00pm: Buffet Dinner - Spinach salad with dried fruit, nuts, gorgonzola cheese and raspberry vinaigrette; Tortellini with roasted garlic and peppercorn sauce; Carving station with roasted turkey and beef tenderloin; Crab-stuffed filet of sole; Wild rice; seasonal vegetables; Chocolate mousse and coffee or tea.
The Dutchess County Trustee Dinner is made possible with support from the Mid-Hudson Library System.

The Mahopac Public Library has received a Putnam Arts Council grant for $2,500 to provide a concert series for children.

The Kingston Library has been selected by the NYS Library to participate in this year’s New York EqualAccess Libraries Institute. The Institute is a professional development program for public librarians offered by the State Library and Libraries for the Future. The Institute consists of four full-day workshops. Its purpose is to help librarians assess and address their communities’ most pressing needs through collaborations with local organizations.

Professional Development
Training on the Go: The New York State Library, in partnership with PULISDO and the New York Library Association, is pleased to announce the creation of Training on the Go, a pilot online training program that includes a variety of library-related skills for all levels of public library staff. Participants have their choice of online courses from two providers: Element K and WebJunction. Courses range from office productivity (such as Microsoft Office and web development and design) to grant writing, management skills, and other library-related topics. Once registered, participants will receive an access code that will remain activated for up to one year. Training on the Go is funded by the Gates Foundation as part of the Staying Connected Two grant program, one of the many activities sponsored by this grant program for the purpose of enhancing and expanding technology training for public library staff members who assist with public-access computing. Only public library staff are eligible to participate in the program. For more information go to: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/gateslib/index.html

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
National Library Agenda draft available for comment: American Library Association (ALA) President Leslie Burger has released the discussion draft of “Toward a National Agenda for Libraries.” The working document is available online at the national agenda wiki: http://wikis.ala.org/nationallibraryagenda/ .

In December, dozens of policy and decision makers met in Washington, D.C. to articulate key agenda items that would enhance support for improving libraries, as well as help build a case for investing in libraries at the local, state and national level. Participants also identified key trends and issues, discussed the scope of the agenda and proposed a timeline for implementation.

The national agenda is grouped into six major theme areas, each with five or six proposed agenda items:
* Libraries preserve the past and provide a bridge to the future
* Libraries build and strengthen communities
* Libraries support lifelong learning
* Libraries create information and technology literate communities
* Libraries encourage economic development
* Libraries support democracy

Burger and the National Library Agenda Task Force seek comments before February 15 th to nationalagenda@princetonlibrary.org so the agenda can be finalized in time for National Library Legislative Day May 1 st, 2007.


Job Openings
Somers Library seeks energetic, innovative, personable, hands-on director with good communication skills to head an excellent team of approximately 25 employees and manage a $1,000,000 budget. They are seeking an individual who is technically-savvy and politically astute; an experienced leader with supervisory expertise. The candidate must be outgoing and willing to interact regularly with the public and town officials. A total of approximately 500 programs are held at the library each year. They are currently in the preliminary stages of a $3.5 million expansion that will increase the square footage by 47%. They need a director with strong leadership and good communication skills to champion this effort along with the Library Trustees. Required Skills:

• Hands-on management of a growing library with over 66,000 items, a circulation of 200,000 and staff of 25.
• Expertise in developing and managing a library budget including the selection and management of vendors and the preparation of reports for the Library Trustees and Town Board
• Experience in supervising, hiring and training of professional and clerical staff
• Sound knowledge of scheduling
• Good understanding of technical matters to ensure smooth operation of equipment in the library such as the computer network, copiers, Smart Boards and the Web
• Familiarity with building maintenance issues
• Willingness and ability to communicate regularly with local leaders including the Town Board, schools and other local organizations
• Superior presentation skills
• Resourcefulness: ability to introduce and put into action new ideas and programs
• PR and advertising talent
• Previous experience with an expansion preferred

Library Director II, Civil Service position. Salary range: $65-$75,000; excellent benefits. Deadline for applications: February 22, 2007. Please send to: Claire Damon, Head of Search Committee, Somers Library Board of Trustees; Email address: cdamon328@yahoo.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.

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.