Quick Ways to Find Great Answers

Presented by Merribeth Advocate, Outreach & Education Coordinator and Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Coordinator of Member Information The “Quick Ways to Find Great Answers” workshop is designed to help library staff quickly find high quality answers to the questions patrons ask. We will feature the new MHLS Quick Answers web site, which is guaranteed to save you time and to help you delight your patrons - even those who are novices to online searching.

The workshop will cover how you and your patrons can get one-stop, easy access to the answers to frequently asked reference questions, such as:
· Where can I find the value of a new or used car?
· How do I get on the National Do Not Call Program list?
· Where can I find information about a New York State law?
· How do I find historical stock prices?
· Where can I search online for local jobs?
· Where can I find information about my medication?
· How can I look up the record of my doctor?

This workshop is also designed to identify additional areas where you need quick answers. Participant suggestions at this workshop will help us continue building easy access to the medical, business, consumer and job information answers you find most valuable. All staff who work with patrons would benefit from attending this session.

Register for one the following sessions:
All sessions meet from 10am-12pm
· Friday, May 4th - Mahopac Library (668 Route 6, Mahopac – in the Computer Lab)
· Monday, May 7th - Heermance Memorial Library (1 Ely Street, Coxsackie)
· Thursday, May 10th - MHLS Auditorium (105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie)
· Monday, May 21st - Kingston Library (55 Franklin Street, Kingston)
Register online through the MHLS calendar by going to http://midhudson.org and clicking on Calendar OR get there directly at http://www.midhudson.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp


MHLS Announcements
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is sponsoring a workshop to help libraries connect with two online resources they have invested in that are designed specifically for public libraries. TechAtlas & WebJunction: Online Library Resources You Won’t Want to Live Without will be presented by Mary Ann Stiefvater, Coordinator of the Gates Foundation Rural Library Sustainability Project. The focus of this hands-on workshop* will be the specific skills needed for utilizing TechAtlas and WebJunction to enhance library technology services, especially those affecting public access computing. A large part of this workshop will focus on the parts of TechAtlas that allow library staff to:
· quickly inventory library computers,
· print out an inventory spreadsheet and
· create a report that utilizes a standard benchmark to indicate machines that should be upgraded.

Not only will these tools save many hours of staff time, they will also be helpful for those libraries eligible for the new U.S. Libraries Hardware Initiative from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which requires use of TechAtlas to inventory and evaluate existing hardware and the use of WebJunction.

Friday, April 13th at the MHLS Auditorium:
· Morning Session: 10:00am – 12:00pm
or
· Afternoon Session: 1:00 – 3:00pm
Register online through the Rural Library Sustainability Project Website: http://host.evanced.info/nys_rls/evanced/eventcalendar.asp.

*Note: Some laptops will be available during the session for hands-on use, but if you bring a laptop with wireless card you will be able to follow along with the presenter during the session.

Legislative Update: The Senate and Assembly are following the Governor's pro-library lead - in addition to Governor Spitzer's proposal that last year's gains in library funding be repeated (to finally use the 2000 Census figures in the library funding formula, a $3 million increase for library system operating aid and $14 million for public library construction) both houses are proposing an increase for library systems this year. They are negotiating how much extra to give library systems and whether or not to make the increases permanent. Last year the increased system and construction funds were one-shot allocations. After almost a decade of flat funding, these numbers - for both library system operations and library construction - are a great start to help us close the gap that has widened in recent years. Make sure your legislators understand what these funds mean to your library – talking points and legislator contact information is available through the MHLS web site at MHLS Advocacy Central: http://midhudson.org/funding/advocacy/main.htm

MHLS Libraries
Acknowledgements…“And Miriam Devine at the tiny Amenia, N.Y. library found some books for me that even the NYPL didn’t have. Born and raised on Malta, what Miriam remembers most about the siege, as a very young girl, was being hungry.” -Sam Moses, author, At All Costs: How a Crippled Ship and Two American Merchant Mariners Turned the Tide of World War II

The Saugerties Public Library celebrated The Cat and the Hat's 50th birthday with special story times throughout the week. The children were surprised by a visit from Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr. Seuss' book. (The costumes were borrowed from the MHLS Youth Services Department: http://midhudson.org/department/youth/Site_Map.htm.)

Reference & Collection Development
NYPL Card: Did you know that anyone who "lives, works, pays property taxes, or attends school in New York State" is eligible for a New York Public Library Branch card? This card allows you to borrow materials from their branch libraries in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island and gives you online access to their suite of databases [http://www.nypl.org/databases/] from outside the Library. For an online application go to http://www.nypl.org/about/faq.html#cards.

Google Answers, the pay-reference service started more than four years ago, has shut down. You can still search or browse the existing Google Answers index at http://answers.google.com/answers/

Youth Services
The Youth Services (YSS) and School Library Media (SLMS) Sections of the New York Library Association (NYLA) have announced the 2007 3 Apples Book Award, a New York State Children's Choice Award: CHARLOTTE'S WEB by E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams (HarperCollins). Thank you to the librarians who promoted this award and to the students who voted and participated in the awards process through their school and public libraries. Please note that nominations for the next Children's Choice Award and the NEW Teen Choice Award begin on March 1, 2007. More information can be found at: http://www.3applesbookaward.org

Job Openings
P/T Children’s Program Coordinator position open June/July 2007; $11-$12/hour; 14-20 hours/week; Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree required. Prepare activities and conduct weekly storytimes; develop, schedule, promote and facilitate special children’s events; encourage and host library tours; assist with collection development; pursue funding from outside sources; work closely with schools and day care facilities; prepare displays and perform basic reference and library circulation services. Candidates must be self-motivated, creative, enthusiastic, outgoing, flexible, organized and possess proficient computer skills. Apply by fax to LaGrange Library 845.452.1974.

The Germantown Library has a part time library clerk position available. Hours of employment are: Thursday evenings 5-8pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. Duties include circulation, shelving and patron assistance. Computer and communication skills are essential. Knowledge of Millennium is a plus, but training will be offered. Please send resume and letter of interest to: Lynn Place, Director, Germantown Library, 71 Palatine Park Road, Suite 7, Germantown, NY 12526; 518.537.5800; e-mail: germantownlibrary@valstar.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.

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.