Vol.08-20

Friends Support Group

The MHLS Friends Support Group will meet on Tuesday, June 10th from 5:00 - 7:00pm at the Hyde Park Free Library (2 Main Street, Hyde Park). Light food will be served.

Our topic at this meeting will be Fundraising Basics & Ideas. We will also discuss the results of the 2008 MHLS survey of member library Friends Groups.

This support group has been created as a forum for member library Friends to come together and share information. Issues, problems and solutions will be on the table for all to learn from each other. This group meets multiple times per year.

Get ideas
Hear from those who do what you do
Discuss and share challenges and solutions

Registration is required. Register one of 2 ways:
1. http://calendar.midhudson.org/
2. call 845.471.6060 x46

MHLS Announcements
2008-2009 State Aid for Public Library Construction grant applications are now available online through the NYS Division of Library Development's web site (linked at http://midhudson.org)
Libraries that want to apply need to:
1. Submit MHLS Action Memo #08-06: Construction Needs Update by May 16th
2. Submit 6 copies of their application to Rebekkah Smith Aldrich @MHLS by August 1st.
Questions? Contact Rebekkah at rsmith@midhudson.org or x39.

Professional Development
Save the Dates!
2008 New York Library Association Annual Conference will be held
November 5 - 8, 2008 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Visit http://www.nyla.org for more information.

Am I registered for that workshop?
If you are wondering if you have already registered for a MHLS workshop, there is an easy way to check.
1. Go to the MHLS Online Calendar by going to http://calendar.midhudson.org/
2. Click on Display Personal Schedule in the upper left-hand corner of the calendar. Look it up by either:
a. Your first and last name and the phone number you listed when registering.
b. Your last name and confirmation number (note: the confirmation number appears on the screen when you submit your registration, and is also included in the Registration Confirmation Notice email that is sent to you right after you register.)

Reference & Collection Development
Access for you to the Wilson Catalogs: Thanks to the Central Library, all member libraries have access to a great collection development resource, the Wilson Catalogs online. Including:

Public Library Core Collection: Nonfiction (Formerly Public Library Catalog)
Public Library Core Collection: Fiction (Formerly Fiction Catalog)
Children's Core Collection (Formerly Children's Catalog)
Middle and Junior High Core Collection (Formerly Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog)
Senior High Core Collection (Formerly Senior High School Library Catalog)

Go to http://midhudson.org --> Reference & Collection Development, then scroll down and click on 'Wilson Catalogs Online'. User names and passwords have been sent to all library directors. Questions? Contact: Sue Hermans, Reference and Adult Services Coordinator, Central Reference Library Services Poughkeepsie Public Library District at 845.485.3445 x 3321 or shermans@poklib.org.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Neat idea for digital signage at your library: digital picture frames (cost: $100-200). Upload slides from a PowerPoint presentation to announce programs/services and share pictures from library events. Good solution for small libraries. (Source: Stephanie A. Squicciarini, Fairport Public Library, Fairport, NY)

Youth Services
Serving Homeschooling Families at the Library: This May 1st workshop was presented by Adrienne Furness of the Webster Library, author of the new book, Helping Homeschoolers in the Library (in the MHLS Professional Collection.) Adrienne covered the following tips:

Network with local homeschooling support groups to find out what they would need in library service, share program flyers & let them know the library is willing to help them
Offer a Homeschooling Open House to demonstrate databases, reference resources, offer library space for homeschooling sessions or meetings
Plan a Library Skills Class for homeschoolers (kids and parents); this is a required course in their curriculum
Offer to display homeschooling students' school projects; they have no other public place to do this
Plan a science or art fair for homeschoolers
Be sure homeschooling families know they can attend any library programs offered

Adrienne's entire presentation is posted on the revamped MHLS homeschooling site or get to it by going to the MHLS site at http://midhudson.org and clicking on the Youth Services button. Those who attended the program said it was "a terrific workshop covering all the bases" and was "inspiring, with lots of great ideas to help my homeschooling families."

Trustee Resources
Reminder: 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

Administration & Management
Looking for more time or motivation to read the latest book on trends in society and culture? Or have you read a recent business book that you think other library folks should read? Interested in sharing ideas with others in the library community about how we can think beyond the walls of our buildings (and our profession!) to become even more important and relevant to our patrons. Join the North Suburban Library System (NSLS) online book discussion. Following the journal discussion group model, participants will read a title and discuss the book chapter-by-chapter over a set time period. In this "shared reading" method, each chapter will be assigned a discussion leader (or leaders) who will closely read the chapter, post an abstract, lead the discussion, and then post a wrap-up message. Participants will be able to read the chapter as closely as time and interest allows. This is a good way to get a basic overview of a new practice or theory at whatever level works best for you. Selected titles will not necessarily be library focused but will have applications to library world. Participation will be open to all in the library community. And you can join at any time! Visit http://www.nsls.info/community/cops/community.aspx?copID=53 to check it out.

Job Openings
Part-time Clerk Position Available at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility: (up to grade 9 equivalent). Part-time clerk (19 hrs. per week) for maximum security facility library. Involves supervising inmate clerks and patrons. Salary: $14.60 per hr. Please send cover letter and resume: Personnel Office, Coxsackie Correctional Facility, PO Box 200, Coxsackie, NY 12051; 518.731.2781 ext. 3600.

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.