Trustee Essentials

Essential Trustee Duties and Responsibilities Workshop, presented by Josh Cohen - MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich – MHLS Coordinator of Member Information and Merribeth Advocate – MHLS Outreach & Education Coordinator.

This year’s workshop is designed especially for new board members with an all-new curriculum, but open to all. Library board members looking for essential, baseline information to increase their effectiveness in serving on a library board will benefit from attending this session.

Attendees will learn effective ways to carry out the nine essential library trustee duties and responsibilities (everything the library board does either falls within one of these duties or is done in support of them).

· Thursday, May 22 from 6:00 – 8:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium, 105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie [http://midhudson.org/help/directions.htm] OR
· Saturday, May 31 from 10:00am – 12:00pm at the Catskill Public Library, 1 Franklin Street, Catskill

There is a $50.00 incentive grant to libraries in 2008 if at least one of their trustees attends this session. The System will mail checks based on attendance. Light food will be served.

Registration is required. Register online by going to midhudson.org and clicking on Calendar OR get there directly at http://calendar.midhudson.org OR call 845.471.6060 x46.

MHLS Announcements
Come visit the Mid-Hudson Library System for the System Tour on Friday, May 9th from 9:30am – 12:30pm. The tour introduces member library staff and trustees to the MHLS staff and familiarizes them with available services. The tour will cover:
· An introduction to the MHLS organization, web site and electronic resources (the online library catalog and HOMEACCESS)
· Technology: Automated Services, Data Entry, AV Services, and Computer Operations
· Public Services: Youth Services, ILL, Print Services, Member Information, Outreach & Continuing Education
· Administration: Business Office, Shipping & Delivery
There will also be built-in time to talk one-on-one with department staff. Register now at http://calendar.midhudson.org/


MHLS Libraries
Margie Menard has been named the director of the Kingston Library. Margie was formerly the Assistant Director.

Professional Development
Reminder: Register now for Helping Your Patrons easily, effectively and with expertise:
· Wednesday, April 2 from 1-3 @ Kingston Library
· Tuesday, April 8 from 10-12 @ MHLS Auditorium
· Wednesday, April 23 from 10-12 @ Palenville Branch Library
· new date Monday, April 28 from 10-12 @ Hudson Area Association Library
· Tuesday, April 29 from 10-12 @ Kent Public Library

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
“The net benefit of having public libraries is that visitors save about 1.4 billion hours in their time and $35.8 billion in dollar costs per year. Remote online visits save 790 million hours and $10.9 billion in other costs. In-person online visits save over 170 million hours and $7.1 billion in other costs. Other in-person visits save 460 million hours and $18 billion in other costs. Clearly, public libraries save their users a substantial amount in time and money.”
–“IMLS Report, Libraries Trusted, Valuable Information Providers,” Library Hotline, 3.10.08


Reference & Collection Development
For the next 30 days we have trial access to TeLL me More language learning software. The Central Library / Collection Development Advisory Committee would like library staff to evaluate it. If purchased, TeLL me More would be available remotely from every library. RosettaStone is our current language learning product, but as of October 2008, will no longer offer remote access to libraries. To access to the trial go to http://c03.tellmemorecampus.com, then use one of the usernames and passwords posted to the MHLS listserv. Please email your feedback to madvocate@midhudson.org by April 20.

Programming
1,672. This is the number of hours of television per year watched by the average American.
TV Turnoff Week is April 21-27. This is a great promotional opportunity for the library! Help connect people with alternatives to TV during this week by advertising library programming in the context of TV Turnoff Week – have a board game night or a Bedtime Stories event. Or keep it simple with a display of books in the library with a poster about TV Turnoff Week.

Youth Services
Reminder: Columbia and Greene County librarians: Don’t miss this chance to network with school librarians and teachers from your community. The 2008 Book Banquet for Columbia and Greene County public and school librarians will take place at the Bethlehem Public Library on Thursday, May 8th from 4:00 - 7:00pm. Contact your local school librarians and encourage them to attend this event; perhaps you might suggest carpooling, giving you even more opportunity to network with them. Register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/. Send a $15 check, made payable to MHLS, to: MHLS Business Office, 103 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Mark Col/Greene Book Banquet on the check. You will be officially registered when your check is received at MHLS.

Job Openings
Librarian III. Kingston Library, Kingston, NY
(http://www.kingstonlibrary.org). The Kingston Library seeks a professional to head the reference department and to handle functions related to library technology. Duties Include: in charge in the absence of the library director, supervision of staff, management of the reference department, maintaining the library s Web site, and ordering adult materials. Salary is $38,000/yr., plus benefits, for a 40-hour a week work schedule. Minimum Requirements: MLS from an ALA accredited program and four years of professional library experience subsequent to receiving the MLS. Special Requirements: Eligibility for a New York State Public Librarian's professional certificate at the time of appointment; possession of certificate at the time of appointment. Civil Service Requirements: The Librarian III position is a Civil
Service position and the City of Kingston Civil Service will conduct a written examination for the position. Applications: Submit a cover letter and resume to Margie Menard, Library Director, The Kingston Library, 55 Franklin Street, Kingston,
NY 12401. Deadline for Applications: Applications postmarked no later then April 18, 2008 will be considered for the position.

Part-Time Campaign Assistant: The Haines Falls Free Library in Haines Falls/Tannersville, NY seeks a capable and organized individual to help administer a fund raising campaign for the renovation of their new library. Duties include: updating campaign-related databases and communications, managing the gift/pledge acknowledgement and billing system, and helping coordinate meetings and events. Qualifications: This individual should be computer literate (particularly in Word and Excel) and able to communicate clearly in writing and on the phone. Knowledge of website design and maintenance, a plus. Familiarity with the surrounding area and of the community would be helpful. Position is 20-hours/a week. Call Richard Manix at 917.494.5901 for more information.

Computer support staff: MHLS has one part time (20 hrs.) entry-level position available in the department of Computer Operations and Technical Support. The candidate must have some interest working with computers and be able to adapt and learn new skills on the job. A person with Windows or Unix experience will be given priority. If interested please e-mail your resume to mtoufali@midhudson.org or send it by mail to 103 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY12601 by April 7.

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.

PAGE 3: "Around the System for March 2008 "

PAGE 4: April 2008 Calendar: http://calendar.midhudson.org/