Off to Albany We Go!

On Tuesday, March 11th library supporters will travel to Albany for the New York Library Association’s Library Lobby Day.

Lobby Day is an opportunity for area library supporters to show legislators that libraries matter. The goal is to pack the offices of legislators with library supporters – this means you! Library trustees, friends, patrons and library staff are strongly encouraged to participate.

This year our message is:
· Restore the $5 million missing from the Governor’s budget
· Make the library and construction aid increases from last year permanent.

MHLS makes the day as easy as possible by coordinating transportation, scheduleing appointments and leading participants through the day:
- Register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/ to stay on top of all the news and the appointment schedule for the day. (Appointments with all MHLS area legislators are made centrally by MHLS.)
- Transportation:
· Driving to Albany on your own? Directions & Parking Information are available on NYLA’s web site: http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=150
OR
· Jump on the Bus! Briefings & Lobby Day Tips will be provided on the bus. MHLS partners with the Ramapo Catskill & Westchester Library Systems to coordinate bus transportation to Albany on Library Lobby Day. The cost is $18 per person. Registration for the bus is due to RCLS by February 22nd. (Form is enclosed with this week’s Bulletin and is available online at http://midhudson.org)

Bus Stops & Departure Times:
Tarrytown (Westchester Marriott): ..…………...6:30am
West Nyack (Palisades Center): ….…………..7:15am
Newburgh (Newburgh Mall): ………….………..8:00am
New Paltz (Thruway Exit 18 Parking Lot): ….....8:30am
Kingston (Quality Inn near Thruway Exit 19):.... .9:00am
Catskill (Thruway Exit 20 Parking Lot): …….….9:25am
Bus leaves Albany at 3:30pm


MHLS Announcements
Are you thinking about attending the PLA Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota (March 25-29, 2008) or the ALA Conference in Anaheim, California (June 26-July 2, 2008)? Here is an excellent way of defraying the cost of attendance:
MHLS Incentive Program - Package C :
March 1st is the deadline to apply for the PLA or ALA Conference Incentive. $4,000 will be divided among the number of libraries that apply. The maximum amount awarded is $500. The library director will need to submit a letter of intent to MHLS by March 1st and then send in documentation of attendance following the conference.
Any library may apply for this. Once you apply for this Incentive you will automatically be considered to have picked Package C as this year’s Incentive Package for your Library and are no longer eligible for either the Director’s Grant (Package A for Libraries with less than 3 FTE’s) or the Programming Support Grant (Package B).
Learn more about the MHLS Incentive Program at http://midhudson.org/mhls/incentive/main.htm Contact Doris Formby with any questions: dformby@midhudson.org or x10.

Annual Report Tips: Some people who are using the annual report software cannot see the form on their computer screen. To fix this hit the F11 key, which will resize the window. This year we are putting all the Annual Report Tips in one place. We are answering your FAQ's through the Tips! link on the homepage (or you can get there directly at http://www.midhudson.org/annual_reports/tips.htm). As new tips are uncovered they will be added to this list. Please contact us if we can be helpful with your report.

MHLS Libraries
As part of the Rosendale Library’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, the Friends of the Rosendale Library will host a series of six poetry lecture/writing workshops, photogram workshops, and hands-on bookmaking workshops. A wide variety of activities are being offered with something appropriate for all ages. This project is made possible in part through a grant from the Dutchess County Arts Council, administrator of public funds through NYSCA’s Decentralization Program. The series will culminate in an exhibition of the finished works at the Library.

Correction to 2.5.08 Bulletin: The Kinderhook Library was the first to use Constant Contact for their e-newsletter.

Programming
ALA and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum are teaming up to promote season three of "Step Up to the Plate @ your library." This year’s program teams up two American classics – baseball and libraries – to promote the importance of information literacy skills and increase awareness of the library as an essential information resource. Librarians can learn more and register for free promotional tools to help promote the program locally at http://www.ala.org/baseball. Tools include program logos in both English and Spanish and a toolkit that includes sample press materials and programming ideas. The first 100 libraries to register will receive a Jackie Robinson "History Lives" poster from ALA Graphics. The "Step up to the Plate @ your library" program will officially launch to the public in April with program spokesperson and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. People of all ages will be encouraged to visit their library and answer a series of trivia questions inspired by "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." One grand-prize winner will receive a trip to the Hall of Fame in October 2008.

Traveling Exhibit Opportunity: The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office are now accepting applications for "John Adams Unbound," a traveling exhibition based upon a larger exhibition of the same name recently on display at the Boston Public Library. Librarians applying to host "John Adams Unbound" in their library must register their institution at
http://www.grants.gov. Find the application and guidelines for the exhibit and complete instructions for registering and applying through grants.gov at http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/SGL_JohnAdams.html. Online applications must be completed by April 4, 2008. Successful applicants will host the 1,000 square foot exhibit for six weeks and receive a $2,500 grant from NEH for attendance at an exhibit planning workshop and other exhibit-related expenses. Participating libraries are expected to present at least two free public programs featuring a lecture or discussion by a qualified scholar on exhibition themes. All showings of the exhibition must be free and open to the public.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
The MHLS Friends Support Group met in January at the Starr Library in Rhinebeck. More than twenty Friends representing fourteen Friends Groups were present for a lively discussion about “Recruitment, Retention & Revitalization.” To see the presentation made to the group, access the handouts and see the notes from the facilitated discussion visit http://midhudson.org then Marketing, Advocacy & Funding then Fundraising then Friends Groups or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/funding/fundraising/Friends/main.php
Tips from the discussion:
· Clearly define your mission, why people should join and share past successes in printed materials and on a Friends web page linked to the library’s web site. Check out the Membership Brochure Gallery on the web site above.
· Include a “Business” membership level:
The LaGrange Friends made up window decals for local businesses that joined that said “Friend of the Library”
· Consider a concerted membership drive, set a goal for “x” number of new members in the year and then strategize about how to sign people up. One-on-one asks are most effective!
· Communicate with members, both active and contributing about the work of the Friends and your successes.
· Be timely with renewals and clearly communicate the benefits associated with membership (member benefit ideas listed at the link above)
· Have fun! Make meetings enjoyable with productive agendas, time management and refreshments.
The Rhinebeck Friends assign a “hostess” for each meeting.
· Use events to create memorable social functions people will look forward to next year:
- The “Raise a Glass Before Mass” event shared by the Chatham Friends was the hit of the evening – find out more at the Friends link above.

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.