Black Belt Librarians

Register now for Black Belt Librarians: Security that Works! Friday, June 1, 2007 from 9:00am - 4:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium.

Black Belt Librarians: Security that Works! will be presented by Warren Graham, a nationally renowned as the "guru" of day-to-day library security procedures. This workshop is about realistic security procedure training.

Target audience is front line staff, directors and security staff. Key points will cover:
· Essential elements of a truly effective security plan.
· How to advise customers of rules in a way that will most insure compliance.
· How to recognize the levels of emotion that a customer may be in and how best to respond.
· Ten maxims of security no matter the size of your library.
· Easy ways to document your security and safety matters.

Cost of the workshop is $25 for MHLS member libraries (Non-MHLS Libraries: $35 - when registering choose 'Non-MHLS library' from the 'Select Your Library' drop-down list). Please send checks, made payable to MHLS, to: MHLS Business Office, 103 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Mark ‘Black Belt' on the check. You will be officially registered when your check is received. Register online at http://midhudson.org then Calendar or get there directly: http://www.midhudson.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp

MHLS Announcements
Come visit MHLS and meet the staff – the next MHLS System Tour will be held on Wednesday, May 23rd 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 Annual Report: Just like member libraries, MHLS must file an annual report with the state. Part of the information that the Division of Library Development asks Systems to track on an annual basis are contacts where MHLS staff consults with member libraries or provides information on their behalf. In 2006, MHLS staff reported a total of 25,380 contacts. This number includes communications with member libraries such as phone calls, e-mails, faxes and also includes visits MHLS staff make to member libraries. (Meetings where we see you, such as the DA and Advisory Committee meetings, and the 75 workshops MHLS offered in 2006, are not included in this count. Nor are contacts with vendors on behalf of member libraries.) A copy of the complete MHLS Annual Report 2006 is available on our web site. To get there: http://midhudson.org then MHLS Board of Trustees then Board Documents: Current Packet or you can get to the report directly at http://midhudson.org/meetings/board/documents/2007/March/Annual%20Report%20Binder1.pdf

MHLS Libraries
The Pine Plains Free Library building project has received a $100,000 grant secured by Senator Vincent Leibell. The new library building and community center will be built on South Main Street.

Jackie Gaizo, long time assistant librarian at the Germantown Library, passed away unexpectedly on April 7th. Jackie was a loving mother and grandmother, a dedicated shopper and a collector of angels and baskets. She enjoyed old movies and reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations are suggested to the Germantown Library, P.O. Box 468, Germantown, NY 12526.

Petula is one of a handful of local dogs who have modeled for photographer Bernard Handzel for a new series of postcards that will go on sale locally in the coming weeks as a fundraising benefit for the Phoenicia Library... check them all out. And buy, buy, buy until, well, the dogs come home! [Phoenicia Times, 4.12.07] Go to http://phoenicia.lib.ny.us/dogs.htm to see the full line up.

Professional Development
Want some help with providing computer training to seniors? Come to the workshop: Reaching Out: Computer Training for Seniors, on Monday, June 18, 10:00am-12:30pm in the MHLS Auditorium. This program is targeted towards staff at libraries that currently provide computer training for seniors AND towards staff at libraries that want to provide computer training to seniors. Michael Pierce, Director of Training and Technology at Generations Online will join us to show how to make the best use of Generations Online*, the self-teaching Internet tutorial and service designed expressly for elderly computer novices. This is an in-house resource that every MHLS library already has access to [To set this up on each library computer: go to http://www.generationsonline.com/software, type in your library’s username, password & organization, then click Enter. Misplaced your log-in info? Usernames and passwords are being sent to every library with today’s Bulletin.] The second part of the workshop will be a roundtable discussion of tips and techniques that help simplify getting seniors started on the computer and for reaching out to publicize computer training for seniors at your library. Register online through the MHLS calendar by going to http://midhudson.org and clicking on Calendar.

*More about Generations Online: Generations Online seeks to reduce the digital divide among seniors through a “self-teaching Internet tutorial,” expressly designed for computer novices. The software is an interactive program that guides a novice through a simplified version of the Internet designed for older Americans who have never used a computer. It is a great program to help your senior computer beginners learn how to use a mouse, send e-mail (it offers free email accounts) and start to search the Internet. Normally the fee for this resource is $350 per library, with a $100 maintenance fee per year. But since 2004 it has been free to all MHLS libraries thanks to a grant from IBM and AT&T – initiated by requests made by IBM employees. Generations Online is not available for home or remote use, just from within the library.

Book Expo 2007: May 31 - June 3 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York, NY -
http://www.BookExpoAmerica.com. "Where the world gathers to get a great read on the industry."
Register early and save - after May 11 registration fees increase. "The Top Reasons why librarians are converging on BookExpo America 2007:
· The latest Books, Advanced Read Copies and Galleys that will be buzzing for the summer and fall seasons.
· Library Journal's Day of Dialog for librarians. Bringing together librarians and top executives from the publishing world.
· Librarian's Hotel - a special hotel at a special price for a special group.
· Social Events new for 2007 connect you with other librarians from around the country and world.
· 1,000 Authors to meet, greet, listen to, get autographs from and recruit for your library!
· Affordable registration for librarians - cheaper than any national show in the country.
· Over 2,000 exhibitors with thousands of money saving show specials.
· 1,200 + publishers - including major publishers, university presses, independent houses, and audio publishers. Most of which you won't see anywhere else.
· Special events featuring renowned authors and editors.
· Conference sessions librarians can really use like budgeting, hot book titles, how to program events at your library, and more!"

Administration & Management
The Spring 2007 edition of JLAMS, the Journal of the Library Administration and Management Section of the New York Library Association is now available online at http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=922 This issue’s contents include:
· Homeschoolers at the Public Library: Are Library Services and Policies Keeping Pace? by Amy McCarthy & Deborah Lines Andersen
· Background Checks: Hiring Library Staff in the Age of Anxiety, by Susan E. Werner & Colleen Kenefick
· Mission Possible: Dealing Effectively with the Explosive Customer, by Peter Lisker
· PILOT Payments: a Potential Revenue Source for Public Libraries, by Jerry Nichols
JLAMS is made possible by LAMS membership. LAMS receives funding based upon the number of people who select LAMS as their primary NYLA section, as well as by those who add LAMS as a secondary section. For more information about JLAMS, visit http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=813

PAGE 3: "Around the System for April 2007"

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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.