New Database Bookmarks

Watch for four new e-product bookmarks in today’s delivery:

Rosetta Stone® - the popular language learning software helps people learn English, Spanish, French, German, Greek, Italian or Russian by associating new words with real-life meaning. This is a limited offer – ends October 2008.
Practice Tests advertises Gale’s Testing & Education Reference Center where patrons can connect with practice tests for the GED, PSAT, SAT, AP, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, EMT Exams, Police Officer Exam, Firefighter Exam, Postal Exam, U.S. Citizenship Test, Civil Service Exams & more!
TumbleBooks can be described simply as “e-books for e-kids.” This is an online interface for parents and kids to listen, read and play with books online through your library’s web site.
Non-Fiction Connection, the companion to the popular Fiction Connection product, helps connect patrons with authors and books they will like based on previous books they have enjoyed.


MHLS Libraries
Twenty-three MHLS member libraries have been deemed eligible for the Gates Foundation - Online Opportunity Hardware Grant Program:
Athens
Beacon
Cairo
Catskill
Claverack
Coxsackie
Hudson
Hunter
Hurley
Kingston
Livingston
Mahopac
New Lebanon
NorthEast-Millerton
Philmont
Plattekill
Poughkeepsie (Adriance & Arlington)
Rosendale
Stone Ridge
Town of Ulster
Valatie
Windham
Woodstock

Professional Development
Book Banquets - A Smorgasbord of Recent Terrific Books for Children and Teens, presented by Randall Enos, RCLS Youth Services Consultant, and Julie Baxter, Director and Youth Services Librarian, Moffat Public Library. Don’t miss this chance to network with school librarians and teachers from your community. This program is designed for public and school librarians in Columbia, Dutchess, Greene and Ulster Counties.
· Becoming familiar with the ALA 2008 Notable Books through booktalks given by Randall Enos and Julie Baxter
· Examining and discussing books
· Networking among school and public librarians
Ulster: Thursday, April 3, 4:00 – 7:00pm
Ulster BOCES Conference Center, Rt. 32S, New Paltz, NY 12561
Dutchess: Wednesday, April 23, 4:00 – 7:00pm
Mid-Hudson Library System Auditorium,105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Columbia/Greene: Thursday, May 8, 4:00 – 7:00pm
Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar, NY 12054
Light buffet dinner will be served. Registration Info:
· For the Ulster Banquet, register directly with Ulster BOCES. Make $15 check payable to: Ulster BOCES Treasurer and write Ulster Book Banquet in the Memo line. Send to: Ulster BOCES School Library System, 175 Route 32 North, New Paltz, NY 12561-1019.
· For the Dutchess Banquet or Columbia/Greene Banquet, register online through the MHLS calendar at http://calendar.midhudson.org/. Send a $15 check, made payable to MHLS, to: MHLS Business Office, 103 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Mark Dutchess or Col/Greene Book Banquet on the check. You will be officially registered after your check is received at MHLS.

Resource Sharing & Millennium
Want to print your own ALA ILL forms? MHLS has now linked the ILL forms to our web site at http://midhudson.org/department/interlibrary/filling_patron_requests.htm. You can choose either a pdf copy or a copy that opens in Word so you can type in your entries.

Reference & Collection Development
Connecting Patrons with Credible Health Info: The new issue of the Central Library Bulletin focuses on helping patrons find credible health information. Resources in this issue include reliable websites, consumer health titles, links to hospital libraries in the region, and tips for conducting a medical question reference interview. Find the Winter 2008 issue, and previous issues, at http://midhudson.org then Reference and Collection Development page. Or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/CL/enews/vol2_iss1.pdf. A copy is enclosed with this week’s Bulletin.

Programming
BCB Procedures: Please take the time to review the Book Club in a Bag (BCB) Staff Procedures with staff and to introduce the procedures to new staff as you orient them to working in your library. There is a staff support page that includes the procedure located at on midhudson.org or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/program/BCB/staff.htm. A memo to all member library directors is in today’s delivery and includes a print out of the procedure and available titles. Questions? Contact Kerstin Cruger, MHLS Public Services Team Assistant a kcruger@midhudson.org or x50.

Are you looking for a high-energy, summer reading program?
For the past three years the quirky, carefree, energetic music of Detroit's The High Strung has been “electrifying patrons across the nation with their sunny three-part harmonies and witty, lyrical bravado.” This year they are touring the country again, headed in your direction. Hailed by Rolling Stone magazine, the New York Times, and Village Voice as one of the best rock & roll bands in America, NPR’s Ken Tucker named The High Strung's debut album These Are Good Times as one of the Top 10 Rock Records of 2003. In addition to playing a full-set of their rousing Beatlesque jams, concert goers will learn what it’s like to tour year-round and what sort of enthusiasm it takes to maintain such faith in your art. This year the band will solicit the audience's help in writing and improvising a song on the spot. For further information call William Harmer, Head of Adult Services at the Chelsea District Library at 734.612.5405 or bharmer@chelsea.lib.mi.us Bookings will be on a first come, first served basis. Learn more about the band at http://www.thehighstrung.com

Youth Services
MHLS Youth Services Department Open House presented by Margaret Keefe, Coordinator of Youth Services and Kerstin Cruger - Public Service Team Assistant on Tuesday, April 8th from 1:00 – 3:00pm in the MHLS Conference Room. This program is appropriate for any MHLS member library staff who provides library service to young people at his/her library. This workshop will cover:
· Touring the Youth Services website
· Discussing youth services consultations available to libraries
· Browsing through the Youth Services collection (book kits, puppets, flannelboard materials, story aprons, die cuts, musical instruments, adaptive equipment, Big Books, Kamishibai stories, professional collection materials, and more)
· Meeting youth services staff and asking questions about services, resources and other relevant issue
Register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

Job Openings
The Tivoli Free Library has two job openings:
- Part-time Youth Services Programmer to work approximately 10-15 hours per week. The position requires a highly motivated, creative team oriented individual to implement & supervise a variety of programs for children. Also responsible for marketing programs through press release and flyers as well as website and blog updating. Applicants must be available to work a flexible schedule. Previous Library experience or childrens’ programming experience preferred. Salary based on experience.
- Part-time Adult Programmer to work approximately 10-15 hours per week. The position requires an energetic & flexible individual to create, implement & supervise a variety of programs geared toward an adult audience. A team player wanted to play an active role in marketing the Library and its programs. Applicants must be available to work a flexible schedule. Previous library or program experience preferred. Salary based on experience.
For either job: Please send a resume that includes professional references to The Tivoli Free Library, P.O. Box 400, Tivoli, NY 12583, Attn: Director or email: corrado@tivolilibrary.org

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.