Battle of the Books ‘07

Battle of the Books Winner Declared! On Saturday, September 15th at the Millbrook High School, 14 teams totaling 120 kids from MHLS member libraries battled it out in the 3rd annual MHLS Battle of the Books. Everyone had a great time and competition was fierce, it was an exciting afternoon - for the teams and the audience.

Teams from the following libraries took part: Beacon, Cold Spring, Coxsackie, Hyde Park, Kinderhook, Millbrook, Plattekill, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, Staatsburg, Stone Ridge, Town of Esopus, Valatie and Wappingers Falls.

Judges for the event were Bobbi Clapp, MHLS Health Information Project Coordinator, and Randall Enos, Youth Services Consultant at Ramapo Catskill Library System. The scorekeeper was Laurie Shedrick, MHLS Automated Systems Manager. The event was MC'd again by Scott Meyer, owner of Merritt Book Stores. Margaret Keefe, MHLS Youth Services Coordinator and Kerstin Cruger, MHLS Public Services Team Assistant kept everyone in line and made sure one and all had a good time!

In a close final round, Cold Spring won the Battle to take the trophy from Red Hook, last year's winner. Coming in a great second was the team from Valatie. All of the teams did an outstanding job and were amazingly quick at answering what we thought were really difficult questions when we wrote them. Congratulations to the teams, the librarians and the coaches for another great year.

Interested in participating in the 2008 Battle? If yes, join us on Wednesday, October 3 from 1:00-3:00pm in the MHLS Conference room to start planning for next year.


MHLS Announcements
The MHLS Board of Trustees met on Thursday, September 20, in the MHLS Auditorium and:
· Approved the Incentive Committee’s recommendations for Construction Grant Awards;
· Approved the revisions to the 2007-2008 Incentive Program;
· Approved and authenticated the System’s two construction grant projects;
· Presented its slate of officers for 2008;
· Approved the following dates for its 2008 meetings: January 26; March 15; May 21, (at a member library t/b/a); July 9; September 17; December 6. (The 2008 Annual Meeting is tentatively scheduled for 10/3).
The 2007 Annual Meeting being held on Friday, October 5, at the Culinary Institute of America has sold out. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Saturday, December 8, at 10:00am in the MHLS Auditorium.

MHLS Libraries
Hollywood Comes to MHLS Libraries – The documentary film, The Hollywood Librarian: A Look at Librarians Through Film will premier at the Plattekill Library and the Howland Public Library (Beacon) during Banned Books Week. "A Film of One's Own,” is how Ann M. Seidl, filmmaker describes the film, "If you're like me, you believe it's time that librarians had a film of our own, one that realistically portrays who we are and the importance of our work. [This] documentary uses the popular medium of Hollywood movies to introduce issues relevant to our wonderful profession."
· Plattekill Public Library: Wednesday, October 3rd from 6:00-7:30pm. Free admission for library professionals.
· Howland Public Library (Beacon): Saturday, October 6th at 1:30 and 7:00pm
For more details about the movie, check out the official website at http://www.hollywoodlibrarian.com.


Professional Development
The 2007 MHLS Reference Summit will be held this Thursday, September 27th in the MHLS Auditorium from 10:00am – 1:00pm. This event is free and includes lunch. We will be joined by Jo-Ann Benedetti from the Upper Hudson Library System to learn more about providing consumer health information to patrons. During lunch we’ll have a roundtable discussion about providing reference in our libraries. Don’t miss this chance to talk to others who do what you do! Register online at http://midhudson.org then Calendar.

Registration is now open for the 12th Public Library Association (PLA) National Conference, to be held in Minneapolis March 25-29, 2008. http://www.placonference.org/.

Resource Sharing & Millennium
Millennium Create Lists for Beginners to be held on Tuesday, October 2nd from 10:00am-12:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium. Register online at http://midhudson.org then Calendar.

Programming
New titles added to the Book Club in a Bag Program: Four libraries have stepped up to sponsor more Book Club in a Bag titles. Kits are available for booking by any patron in any library.
- Coast Road, Barbara Delinsky - Staatsburg Library
- Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier - Mahopac Library
- The Laramie Project, Moises Kaufman - Town of Esopus Library
- Northern Borders, Howard Frank Mosher – Friends of the Chatham Public Library
Have an idea for a bag? Find out how to participate: http://midhudson.org/program/BCB/staff.htm#participate

Youth Services
The next Columbia/Greene/Ulster Youth Services meeting will be held Monday, October 1st at Palenville Library from 10:00am-12:00pm. All library staff who work with young people are encouraged to attend.


Trustee Resources
The Fall 2007 issue of the MHLS trustee newsletter, Across the Board, has been sent to all member library trustees and directors. This issue is part 2 of our Fiscal Responsibility series and focuses on the “Practicalities and Realities” of budget development and implementation. This issue and all past issues are available on the MHLS web site: http://midhudson.org then Trustee Resources then MHLS Support then Across the Board or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/trustee/system/atb.php.

Job Openings
Small rural library is seeking a part time (15 hours per week) director. Minimum 2 years of college required, BA preferred. Experience working a library required. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Position entails general duties required to run and maintain the library. Duties include but are not limited to:
· Staff hiring, firing and scheduling, as well as employee evaluations
· Creation and maintenance of annual budget
· Negotiations with the Town Board regarding annual funding
· Maintenance and building of all library collections
· Creation and execution of library programming for all ages
· Communication with press
· Creation of a quarterly newsletter
· Fundraising and grant writing as necessary
· Attend all monthly board meetings
Please send resume and references to: Katherine Mustello, Clinton Community Library, PO Box 6, Clinton Corners NY 12514. Questions may be directed to katherinem@cl.epals.com.

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.