Barnes & Noble Bookfair

Six area Barnes & Noble Stores are joining forces to raise money for MHLS member libraries during National Library Week (NLW).
A “bookfair” will be held, earning libraries 10% of all purchases made by customers who present the vouchers you will receive with the Bulletin today.
Our job is to
1. Distribute the vouchers to as many library supporters as possible and
2. Help to encourage people to visit participating stores* during NLW, April 13-19, 2008.

Each library will receive a pack of vouchers to distribute to patrons. Distribution ideas:
· At library programs
· At the circulation desk
· Electronically: on your web site, included in your email newsletter
· The week before and during the event please give one to everyone who checks out items at your library
· Don’t forget friends & family!
· Need more vouchers? Contact Kerstin Cruger, MHLS Public Services Team Assistant at kcruger@midhudson.org

To help attract people to the stores during NLW the stores have planned events – from author visits and signings, to behind-the-scenes tours of the stores and targeted events like the “Dangerous Boys Club: A Pirate's Life for Me!” and a high school choir performance. For a full listing of events taking place at participating stores visit http://midhudson.org

Also at midhudson.org you can download or link to extra vouchers and fill out a Wish List for your Library. The Wish List should be submitted Rebekkah @MHLS by April 7th so the store closest to your library has time to make a display of the books you want for customers to buy for your library – another way this event will benefit member libraries. *Participating Stores: Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Albany, Danbury, Newburgh & Mohegan Lake.

A portion of the funds raised through the bookfair will be put towards the MHLS Battle of the Books Event [http://midhudson.org/battle/].


MHLS Announcements
The MHLS Board of Trustees met on Saturday, March 15, in the MHLS Auditorium and:
· Appointed Lisa Baker Brill to the Board to finish this year’s term vacated by Greene County representative, Geralynn Demarest;
· Reviewed the System’ s 2007 Annual Report;
· Authenticated the applications for the System’s two LSTA Projects: “Building Your Base: Part II” and the 2008 NYS Summer Reading Program: “Catch the Reading Bug (children) and Metamorphosis @ Your Library (teens)”;
· Approved the criteria for Board ranking of Public Library Construction Grant applications;
· Authenticated the System’s application for the Gates Online Opportunity Grant Program.
The next meeting of the MHLS Board is Wednesday, May 21 at 10:00am at the Town of Eospus Library.

MHLS Libraries
The Dover Plains Library had an electrical fire on Wednesday morning which ran from the NYSEG pole, through the outside electrical box, into the electric box in the director's office. No one was injured. The fire is being investigated. Electricity, heat and phone service are all down. The library is receiving deliveries and hopes to have electricity starting today, they should be open to the public mid-week. [Director Ellen Tannenbaum shared that within the first 24 hours after the fire she had contact with: the fire marshal, insurance company, town supervisor, telephone company, an electrician, a cleaning service and her computer support people.]

Two MHLS member libraries have received grants through the American Library Association. The Hudson Area Association Library and the Poughkeepsie Public Library District have both received:
· The Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature program grant: This grant allows each library to present a five-part discussion series based on one of six themes for a public audience. Each series features discussion programs led by a local scholar. Selected libraries receive training for the library project director at a national training workshop in April 2008; program and promotional materials; and a $2,500 grant to support workshop travel, program costs and scholar honoraria.
· The Great Stories CLUB grants, which will support a reading and discussion program designed to reach underserved, troubled teen populations through books that are relevant to their lives. Participating libraries will receive 11 sets of three theme-related books to provide to members of a book club. They will also have access to a variety of online resources, designed to help plan and implement programming. All types of libraries located within or working in partnership with facilities serving troubled teens (such as juvenile detention centers or alternative high schools) in the United States and its territories were eligible to apply.

Professional Development
Webinar: Best Small Library in America. Check out an hour-long webinar related to the work of sustaining rural and small libraries on May 1st at 2:00 pm for a discussion on what it takes to be named Library Journal's Best Small Library in America, and what it means to your community. The staff of the Chelsea District Library in Chelsea, Michigan will be on board to share the methods and programs they use to connect with their community, and the team approach to service that has earned them this year's honor. You will find instructions for joining this free webinar in addition to archives of past webinars at http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=13377.

Reference & Collection Development
Rosetta Stone Usage Up 280%!
As expected, Rosetta Stone - the language learning software currently available to patrons through HOMEACCESS - has shown to be very popular! Help connect your patrons with this resource before it goes away. Yes, that’s right – it’s a limited time offer, ending in October 2008.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
ALA PIO launches new blog: The Public Information Office (PIO) of the American Library Association (ALA) and the Campaign for America's Libraries are sharing valuable tips on promoting libraries with a new blog, Visibility @ your library®. This blog will provide librarians and library supporters with news and information about important communications issues. Among the blog's features will be a series of podcasts with experts on libraries and library promotion. The very first podcast features an interview with American Libraries Editor Leonard Kniffel, who talks about the publication and how communicators can successfully pitch story ideas. Subsequent podcasts will include discussions of National Library Week and National Library Workers Day, with much more to follow. In addition, there will be updates on the Campaign for America's Libraries, as well as the latest installments of ALA News. To visit the blog go to http://www.pio.ala.org/visibility/.

Programming
Did you know? October is National Reading Group Month! Sponsored by the Women’s National Book Association the mission of National Reading Group Month is four-fold:
· To bring about public awareness of the joy of shared reading.
· To provide a time for existing groups to celebrate their accomplishments and make plans for the future.
· To encourage libraries, bookstores, and various organizations to host special events for reading groups.
· To provide opportunities for individuals to get involved in an existing reading group or start one of their own.
Learn more at http://www.wnba-books.org/

Youth Services
MLS Tuition Help – Apply now for the Ann Gibson Scholarship Award. This $1,000 scholarship provides financial assistance to individuals currently enrolled in an MLS and planning a career in youth services librarianship either in a public or school librarian. Requirement information and application forms may be obtained through http://www.nyla.org/ - go to Sections then YSS then YSS Scholarships.

Trustee Resources
In the mail this week all member library trustees will receive the Spring 2008 issue of Across the Board, the quarterly newsletter for trustees from MHLS. The topic of this issue is Open Meetings Law & the Freedom of Information Law. This issue and all back issues of Across the Board are accessible in the Trustee Resources area of the MHLS web site: http://midhudson.org then Trustee Resources then Across the Board.

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.