Trustee Education Series

The MHLS Trustee Education Series Dates are now set for Spring/Summer 2007. Sessions are presented by Josh Cohen, MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Coordinator of Member Information and Merribeth Advocate, MHLS Outreach & Education Coordinator.

Trustee Essentials - Essential sessions are designed to educate public library trustees in:
· background and structure of libraries in NY
· roles and functions of a board
· running effective meetings

Wednesday, May 16, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Mahopac Library (668 Route 6, Mahopac - in the Periodical Room)
or
Saturday, May 19, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Kingston Library (55 Franklin Street, Kingston)
or
Thursday, May 24, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Mid-Hudson Library System Auditorium (105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie)

Advanced Trustee – 2007 Topic: Smart Growth for your Library. Advanced sessions are designed to focus on issues benefiting and affecting libraries in our system, and address a different topic each year. They are designed for trustees who have been on the board at least a year.

Saturday, June 9, 10:00am-12:00pm
Catskill Public Library (1 Franklin Street, Catskill)
or
Thursday, June 14, 6:00 - 8:00pm
Mid-Hudson Library System Auditorium (105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie)

Register for either of the above trustee 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
Members of the MHLS Marketing & Program Advisory Committee noted that the MHLS “Your Library Card” brochure is the #1 handout to a new patron getting their first library card at their library. This tri-fold brochure is available, free of charge, from the MHLS Material Request Form in packs of 25. The brochure helps to introduce a patron to the power of their new card, explaining how their card interacts with online resources like the online library catalog (OPAC) and HomeACCESS. We’ve heard that people need to hear a message seven times before they process it so start early with new patrons and help make their lives easier by pointing out that:
· Their card works at any library in the Mid-Hudson Library System service area.
· They can request books online from any MHLS member library to be delivered to your library for pick-up.
· They can view their record online to see what they have checked out, due dates and any fines owed.
· That the electronic databases found in your library are available to them at home if they have an internet-connected computer through HomeACCESS.
Access the Material Request Form at http://midhudson.org then Material Request Form or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/forms/material_request.htm.

MHLS Libraries
Mahopac Named as National Finalist: Caitlin Bollbach of Mahopac, NY, and Rita Covelli, librarian at the Mahopac Public Library were announced as the Northeast Region’s National Finalists of the Young Adult Library Services Association’s (YALSA) WWE WrestleMania Reading Challenge. Each finalist won airfare, hotel, and spending cash for two to Detroit, tickets to WrestleMania, $2,000 for their library and a chance to compete for ringside seats at WresleMania 23 in Detroit. The WrestleMania Reading Challenge, sponsored by WWE, asked teen participants in grades 9-12 to read 10 books between Teen Read Week, October 15-21, 2006, and January 16, 2007. Two books, Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher, winner of the Margaret Edwards Award, and Black & White by Paul Volponi, were required reading. Teens then self-selected the 8 other titles they wanted to read. Each teen participant was required to submit a short reading log that described the books that have been read, along with a 300 word essay or web space describing/portraying some aspect of the two required books.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
National Library Week (NLW) Resources from ALA: NLW is April 15-21 visit http://www.ala.org/pio/nlw for graphic and press resources support:
· Customizable print PSA featuring George Lopez
· Sample letter to the editor (English & Spanish)
· Sample Op-Ed (English & Spanish)
· Sample press release (English & Spanish)
Also during NLW are two notable events:
· National Library Workers Day - April 17
· Support Teen Literature Day - April 19
Visit the link above for more information about these two events.

Reference & Collection Development
The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced the Best Free Reference Web Sites Combined Index from 1999-2006 created to recognize outstanding reference sites on the Internet. The 2006 Best Free Reference Websites list includes online information sources as varied as the Big Cartoon Database, the Encyclopedia of Chicago, and Recalls.gov from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaourassoc/rusasections/mars/marspubs/MARSBESTIndex.htm.

Youth Services
El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), known as Día, is a celebration of children, families, and reading held annually on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Visit http://www.ala.org/alsc for more information.

Trustee Resources
Across the Board - Spring 2007: A new edition of the MHLS quarterly newsletter for member library trustees, Across the Board, has been sent to all member library trustees. This quarter’s edition features Codes of Ethics. This edition and past editions going back to 2001 are available on the MHLS Trustee Resources page, http://midhudson.org then Trustee Resources or http://midhudson.org/trustee/main.htm.

Administration & Management
Small Libraries Roundtable – Dealing with Difficult Patrons: Wednesday, April 25th from 10:00am – noon at the Morton Memorial Library in Rhinecliff. This users group is designed for the administrators of small libraries (3FTE or less). The purpose of the group is to discuss the issues surrounding running a small library. Facilitated by Josh Cohen, MHLS Executive Director and Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Coordinator of Member Information, the group will address solutions for dealing with difficult patrons in a small library setting:
· Discuss solutions to the challenges of dealing with difficult patrons in the small library setting.
· Explore options to help your staff deal with uncomfortable and difficult situations.
· Share your questions, solutions and tips
· Learn from your peers
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

Job Openings
Library Director needed for a small, dynamic southeast Ulster County library. MLS preferred, but applicants with extensive library experience, including supervisory experience will be considered. Also available, a part-time library clerk position requiring some computer experience, communication skills and a desire to provide excellent patron assistance. Forward letter/email to Sarah Hull Hallock Library, Box 802, Milton, NY 12547; miltonlibrary@hvc.rr.com Attn: Linda LaPolla, Board President.

PAGE 3: "Around the System for March 2007"

PAGE 4: April 2007Calendar: http://www.midhudson.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp

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.