2007 Trustee Success Story Awards

The MHLS Trustee Success Story Recognition Awards annually highlight efforts by library trustees that resulted in positive outcomes for their library. The award consists of $200 to the trustee's library and a certificate of recognition for the trustee. (One in each county served by the Mid-Hudson Library System, five (5) in all.)

Criteria
Entries will be judged on:
· Which of the trustee roles is exemplified by this trustee:
- To regularly plan and evaluate the library’s service program.
- To adopt policies and rules regarding library use.
- To secure adequate funding for the library’s service program.
- Stewardship and accountability in the use of that funding.
- Maintain a facility that meets the library's and community's needs;
- To promote the library in the local community and in society in general.
- To select and hire a qualified library manager or library director.
· What the result was for the library
· How easily this can be replicated

Applications should be in the form of a letter, two pages maximum, to the Trustee Services Committee c/o Peggy Winn at MHLS (through the MHLS delivery or to 103 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601) stating:
· Name of the person being recognized
· Name and address of library, name of county, and director's name
· Description of successful effort
· Back-up documentation, if available, should also be submitted (i.e. news releases, published articles, pictures).

Deadline: June 30, 2007 (winners will be notified in early September). Awards will be presented at the 2007 MHLS Annual Meeting, being held Friday, October 5th at the Culinary Institute of America.

MHLS Announcements
The MHLS Public Library Vote Toolbox is now featured in the NYS Division of Library Development’s Public Library Districts How-To Kit: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/libs/pldtools/guide/index.html

MHLS Libraries
For the Love of Books: Leith Colen, Editor of The Book Bag will speak at the Kinderhook Memorial Library on Wednesday, May 23 at 7:30pm. Leith Colen was not a reader. She realized this in her 60's when she moved in with her partner, Zane Lumelsky, and his massive book collection occupied an entire room of the house. Instead of dwelling on the gap in her literary knowledge, Leith began to read. For ten years, she read classics, children's books, novels, biographies...anything that was well reviewed. And then she began to write her own recommendations and reviews for friends. So began The Book Bag: An Autodidact's Literary Newsletter for Those Who Want to Read More Than Just Best Sellers. The newsletter, which has 400 subscribers, is put out bi-monthly and carries a theme with each issue.

The Valatie Free Library has officially unveiled the Paul Johann Archives, which document the history of Valatie. The archive is named after Paul Johann (1928 – 2005), a trustee and president of the library’s board. He was instrumental in starting the collection of photographs, postcards and newspaper articles. A preview of the Archive can be found on the library’s web site: http://valatielibrary.org/ab-val.htm.

Professional Development
Volunteer Management Workshop: Presenter: Susan Weinrich, V.P., Organizational & Community Development, CCSNYS. Tuesday, June 5th from 9:30am – 12:30pm at the Newburgh Public Library, 124 Grand Street, Newburgh, NY 12550. Cost: Free. Learn strategies to help you attract and keep terrific volunteers. We will discuss how to effectively work with volunteers to enrich and enhance the services your organization can provide. Topics to be covered include such issues as volunteer coordination, volunteer appreciation, planning for effective volunteer utilization, and assisting staff in identifying productive and creative volunteer roles, recruiting suitable volunteers, and tracking and evaluating the contribution of volunteers to the agency. To register: Call Maritza Wilson at 845.565.1213 ext. 1 or email her at mwilson@cityofnewburgh-ny.gov

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Slogans from ALA's Smartest Card Campaign - Consider the following the next time you are looking for a new slogan.
· Why buy when you can borrow?
· Your public library is a goldmine of books, magazines, movies, CDs and other great stuff.
· Keep kids Reading.
· Your library has something for every age and interest.
· Free @ your library.
· Most public libraries provide computers -- and classes.
· Make learning fun.
· Check out storyhours and other free programs for kids and families.
· Need homework help?
· Bring the whole family!
· How many places can you all enjoy together? For free!!!
· If you don't see it, ask! The library may be able to get it for you.
· Look, Listen & Enjoy
· Borrow films and music for the whole family.
· It's never too late!
· Use the library 24/7 online.
· Remember, learning begins at home.

Programming
Two new Book Club in a Bag titles are now available:
· Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (sponsored by the Grinnell Library Association of Wappingers Falls)
· The Shipping News by Annie Proulx (sponsored by the Mahopac Library)
A dozen more new titles are in the works – stay tuned and brush up on the borrowing policy and procedure at BCB Staff Support: http://midhudson.org/program/BCB/staff.htm

Youth Services
The 2007 Empire State Award for Excellence in Literature for Young People goes to Joseph Bruchac. First presented in 1990 by the Youth Services Section of the New York Library Association, the Empire State Award is a one-time award presented to a living author or illustrator currently residing in NYS. The award honors a body of work which represents excellence in Children's or Young Adult literature and has made a significant contribution to literature for young people. Among Joseph Bruchac's notable titles are Arrow Over the Door, Children of the Longhouse, How Chipmunk Got His Stripes, Keeper of the Earth and Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back. ***Packets of bookmarks announcing this award are being sent to each library through the delivery with this week’s Bulletin. You might also create a display of Joseph Bruchac titles in your library to promote his great stories.

Administration & Management
EngagedPatrons.org: Qualified libraries can obtain interactive web services free of charge to plug into their sites (Qualified = libraries with a total budget of less than $1 million). They currently offer: library event registration tools, blogs, feedback mechanisms, RSS feeds, and custom web-enabled databases. EngagedPatrons.org provides a URL to link from the library's web site to the new service; all services are hosted at the EP site.

Job Openings
Saugerties Public Library seeks library director to oversee everyday operation of the library and be an active participant in its building project. M.L.S. required. Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include health & dental insurance. Please send resume and cover letter to Sally Colclough, Board President, at Saugerties Public Library, 91 Washington Avenue, Saugerties, NY 12477

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.