2006 Statistical Annual Report

Today in the delivery each member library will receive a print copy of the MHLS 2006 Statistical Annual Report, comprised of information reported from all member libraries to the Division of Library Development, New York State Library, New York Education Department.

At the same time, copies are being mailed to all member library Board Presidents and members of the MHLS Board of Trustees. The full information contained in the report is available online at http://midhudson.org then Administration & Management then Budgeting & Finance or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/annual_reports/2006/main.htm. At the bottom of that web page is access to six years of previous reports online and information on ordering additional print copies.

Coming Soon: Customized Library Fact Sheet
MHLS staff is working on a simple reference sheet for each library that pulls some of the most frequently cited statistics from the 2006 Annual Report so it is at the ready when a reporter calls, or while drafting your own report to the community or a grant application.

MHLS Announcements
Delivery Reminder: Please remember to attach the "non-bin" form to any and all materials that you are sending through delivery but do not fit in the regular MHLS shipping bins. Materials will only be picked up when this form is attached. Download the form at: http://midhudson.org/department/delivery/non-bin_form.pdf

MHLS Libraries
The Starr Library (Rhinebeck) is very pleased to have been chosen as a pilot site for the New York Council for the Humanities' Together: Book Talk for Kids and Parents program this fall. In addition, the Kinderhook Library will be serving in a similar capacity in early 2008. Together: Book Talk for Kids and Parents is a new Humanities Council program that brings together parents and their 9-to-11 year old children in a library setting to explore notable children's books that relate to important themes in American life. There will be six intergenerational discussion group sessions, co-facilitated by a library staff person and an area humanities scholar. The Council plans to open up this program in 2008 so that libraries across the State may apply to host a series, with the council covering all the costs, including childcare and staff reimbursement. Rhinebeck and Kinderhook libraries will be able to share their experience with other MHLS libraries who may wish to offer this great program.

Maureen Meltzer-McGrath, program director at the Julia L. Butterfield Library in Cold Spring has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce. Maureen will represent the chamber as a part time executive director and continue her work at the library, where she has worked for the past five years.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Book Sale Marketing Tip: The Desmond-Fish Library in Garrison is holding their annual book sale from August 18th – 26th. To announce their sale their press release announces, “Free Children’s Books at the Desmond-Fish Library Book Sale.” Each child who comes to the sale will be able to pick one book from the children’s section for free.

Youth Services
New on the web site:
· Nothing But the Best: Professional Standards for Youth Services in Public Libraries in NYS (2006)- new standards document for libraries to improve youth services staffing, program planning, space design, budgeting, education, policies, outreach, technology and more. Found at http://www.nyla.org/content/user_12/NYS2006Standards.pdf
· Youth programs added to the EZ Library Program Database:
o Goody Goodies Program
o Teen Volunteer Fair
o You Be the Judge
o Fondue Party
o Medieval Banana Joust
o Shrek Fest Food Factor Challenge
o Clue-style Murder at the Library
Access the MHLS EZ Library Program Database at: http://support.midhudson.org/ezprogram/ezprogram.htm.

Reference & Collection Development
Shiyali Ramainrita Ranganathan (1892–1972) was an Indian mathematician and library science scholar. In 1931 he published his Five Laws of Library Science, which were meant to be essential principles to define a library’s function and purpose. The five laws state:
1. Books are for use
2. Every reader, his/her book
3. Every book, its reader
4. Save the time of the reader
5. The Library is a growing organism
To purchase the 1” pin (black on orange) shown above ($1.00) visit the Reanimation Library at http://www.reanimationlibrary.org/pages/pins.htm
[Thanks to Palenville Library Branch Manager, Tracy Priest for sharing this pin!]

Administration & Management
Children’s Attendance, Circulation Up Nationally: Circulation of children’s materials in public libraries jumped 44% and the attendance in children’s programs jumped 42% from 1994-2004 according to a poll conducted for the American Library Association (ALA) by Harris Interactive. Many children (ages eight-18) said they would visit the library more if there were “more interesting materials” and a “welcoming atmosphere.” Paula Brehm-Heeger, president of ALA’s Young Adult Library Services Association is quoted in the August 6th issue of Library Hotline in response to the survey results: “We are seeing one of the largest generations in U.S. history begin their teen years, so it is not surprising to see more and more teens visiting libraries. Clearly, libraries that have embraced teens have seen benefits to their teens and communities and to ensuring that their libraries remain a relevant part of future generations’ lives. For libraries considering expanding or embracing teen services, these statistics can help them to be confident that in doing so, they will find a receptive, responsive audience.” To read more about the poll go to: http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/yalsa.htm

Job Openings
The Mid-York Library System, a medium-sized 3 county cooperative public library system headquartered in Utica, NY, seeks an Assistant Director/Outreach Consultant to provide administrative support for general management of the System, with specific supervisory responsibility over 4 departments. The successful candidate will manage the system’s public relations, planning and evaluation activities, outreach projects, annual reports and construction grant programs. This person will coordinate system-wide special projects such as the Regional Read. Candidate must have MLS degree from an accredited library school; New York State certification; several years experience in administration of system or large public library; or several years as a consultant in a public library system; or any other combination of training and experience sufficient to indicate ability to perform the job. Must possess driver’s license. Salary will be negotiated. Benefits include 24 days vacation, 1 sick day per month, 4 personal days per year, excellent health insurance, with dental and optical, and NYS retirement. We are looking for someone who is flexible, creative, customer-oriented and innovative, with a good sense of humor. We want to enhance a great staff. We want to have the new Assistant Director in place by December 10, 2007. If this sounds like you, send your resume to Mary Lou Caskey, Director, Mid-York Library System, 1600 Lincoln Ave., Utica, NY 13502 or mcaskey@midyork.org by August 31, 2007.

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.