Upcoming Youth Services Events

The MHLS Youth Services Department is offering a number of upcoming programs for member library staff working with kids and teens in the library:

Youth Services Department Open House – Friday, April 27th from 10:00am – noon in the MHLS Conference Room. The MHLS Youth Services Department offers this event to acquaint new member library youth services staff with the many resources and materials made available in support of local programming for young people. Library staff who have attended these open houses in the past are also welcome to join us for a refresher session.
This workshop will cover:
· Virtual tour of the Youth Services website
· Discussion of youth services consultations available to libraries
· Opportunity to browse through the collection (book kits, puppets, flannelboard materials, story aprons, die cuts, musical instruments, adaptive equipment, Big Books, Kamishibai stories, professional collection materials, and more)
· Meeting youth services staff and asking questions about services, resources and other relevant issues

Columbia-Greene-Ulster Youth Services Meeting – Monday, April 30th from 10:00am – noon at the Palenville Branch Library (Rte. 23A, Palenville) Youth services staff in these 3 counties meet to share ideas and issues pertaining to library service to young people. Through such sharing, everyone benefits from the collective knowledge and experience of area colleagues. The workshop will cover:
· Summer reading updates
· Issues attendees bring to the table
· Latest information from MHLS Youth Services Department
· Program ideas that have worked
· Collaborative projects (sharing performers, etc.)

It Can Be Fun and Games at Your Library – Thursday, May 3rd from 1:00 – 3:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium. Presented by Sue Scott, Librarian at Milton and Marlboro libraries, Margaret Keefe and a panel of staff from MHLS libraries. Keeping up with the latest new games (electronic and others) enjoyed by young people is difficult but critical for libraries who wish to offer these activities as a way to attract young people. Sue Scott has mastered the technology behind these games, has conducted many gaming programs in libraries and will show participants how they can do the same. Panel members will add their own experiences, talking about not only electronic games but also other types of games suitable for library programs. All library staff who wish to learn more about offering gaming activities in the library should attend this workshop. The workshop will cover:
· Demo of the Gamecube versions of Karaoke, Mario Dance Dance Revolution and Mario Kart
· Guitar Hero and DDR on Playstation 2
· Wii and demo of Wii Sports (it's the future!).
· Collection development, including books based on game worlds, magazines, manga and websites
· Panel of library staff who offer various game programs at their libraries
· Card games, like Magic the Gathering

Register for any of the above YS workshops 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 MHLS Board of Trustees met on Saturday, March 24, in the MHLS Auditorium and:
· Authorized the Executive Director to assist the Butterfield Library in its efforts to maintain the library’s 414 funding level;
· Reviewed the System’ s 2006 Annual Report; and E-rate Technology Plan and,
· Viewed a PowerPoint presentation on the goals, activities and accomplishments of the LSTA “Getting to Yes” grant. Project.
The next meeting of the Board is Thursday, May 17th at 10:00am at the Elting Memorial Library, New Paltz.

MHLS Libraries
The Hudson Area Association Library has received $3,000 from the Hudson Rotary Club to pay for computer education and a variety of books of interest to seniors.

Professional Development
Reminder: Tips & Tricks for Frontline Staff begins next week! Presented by Sue Hermans, Poughkeepsie Public Library District, Head, Reference and Adult Services & Coordinator, Central Library Services the workshop will cover:
· Finding exactly what you need in the online catalog
· The best ways to make HomeACCESS databases find magazines & articles for you
· Helping patrons find books they will love through easy reader’s advisory
Register for one of the following sessions:
· Wednesday, April 4th: 1:00 – 3:00pm at MHLS Auditorium (105 Market St., Poughkeepsie)
· Monday, April 9th: 10:00am-12:00pm at Hudson Area Library (400 State Street, Hudson)
· Tuesday, April 10th: 10:00am-12:00pm at Elting Memorial Library (93 Main St., New Paltz)
· Thursday, April 19th: 10:00am-12:00pm at Cairo Public Library (512 Main Street, Cairo)
· Tuesday, April 24th: 1:00-3:00pm at Kent Public Library (17 Sybil's Crossing, Kent Lakes)
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

The ~Reaching Out ~ Serving the Spanish-speaking Community workshop is a great opportunity to learn easy ways to serve more of your community. The concepts and techniques covered can be applied to all aspects of your community, including those that speak Spanish. Don't miss the chance to attend. Due to a large response, registration is now filled at the Kent location, but you can still register for the workshop in Catskill (4/12) and in Hudson (4/26). Check out the feedback from libraries who attended the workshop this month:
--"The comprehensive focus on outreach was amazing and so energizing."
--"Thank you so much. This was a superb, logical and information packed presentation."
--"The handouts were helpful. The presentation made everyone feel involved enough to want to do something more to help the Hispanic population to use the library more."
--"I loved the action plan/ brainstorming for outreach ideas. I appreciated ideas for reaching and finding community leaders in the Latino Community."
Register at http://www.midhudson.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
New Book in the MHLS Professional Collection: How do you put your library’s message and performance data into interesting, persuasive charts? Learn techniques for creating different types of charts and attention-grabbing visuals that will impact your audience. Check out a new addition to the MHLS Professional Collection, The Say it with Charts: Complete Toolkit, by Gene Zelazny. To request this or other items from the Professional Collection, visit http://midhudson.org/MHLS/professional_collection.htm.
This item has been made available as part of the 2005-2007 Getting to Yes (GTY) Grant Initiative.

Programming
The MHLS Library Programming Resources page has a new, streamlined look – take a tour at http://midhudson.org then Programming or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/program/main.php. This page is designed to help libraries plan all types of programs for all age groups. Don’t see what you need? Check out the newly created Site Map that targets just this section of the web site at the link above.

New Titles Now Available through the Book Club in a Bag Program (BCB) thanks to the Mahopac Library, Pine Plains Free Library, Stone Ridge Public Library and Tivoli Free Library:
· The Bonfire of the Vanities, Tom Wolfe
· The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards
· The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith
· Redemption, Julie Chibbaro (local author)
· Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend, Robert James Waller
· We Were the Mulvaneys, Joyce Carol Oates
· While I Was Gone, Sue Miller
The BCB Staff Support page and the “Borrowing Information for Patrons” are accessible through http://midhudson.org.

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.