Fall Into Books Conference

The 10th Annual Fall into Books Children's and Teen Literature Conference will take place on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at Mt. St. Alphonsus Conference Center in Esopus.

Jack Gantos (shown left) author of the Jack Henry Books and the Rotten Ralph Rotten Readers will be the main speaker, along with Lauren Wohl, Associate Publisher and Marketing Director for Roaring Brook Press. Each attendee can choose to take part in two book discussion groups, as well as purchase books by Jack Gantos and have them signed by the author. Networking with colleagues from around the Hudson Valley is another benefit of this excellent conference.

Sponsors of Fall into Books are MHLS, RCLS and the School Library Systems from Dutchess, Orange-Ulster, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster BOCES. Early bird registration price is $60 by August 8; fee is $70 thereafter, with registration ending October 3. Register early to not only save money but also be assured a place in the discussion groups of your choice. Access the registration form online at http://midhudson.org/department/youth/fall_into_books.htm

MHLS Libraries
The Friends of the Poughkeepsie Public Library will be holding their “giant” book sale June 20-24 at the Hyde Park Mall (west side of Route 9, 3999 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Park, NY). This sale is easily the largest in the area – more than 140,000 items will be for sale. Even if you aren’t in the market to buy some books it’s worth a trip to see how a large book sale like this is organized and how the Friends manage sales, check out and customer service. Details of the sale are online at: http://www.poklibfriends.org/booksale.htm#currentsales

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Raffles: At the Friends Support Group meeting last week in Hyde Park we talked a little about raffles and many were surprised to know that there are rules for conducting raffles under NYS General Municipal Law. There is important info about conducting raffles in NYS from the Office of the Attorney General available online at:
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/charities/raffles.pdf There is a reporting requirement for raffles taking in less than $30,000 (Form VS-1). If you're projecting to bring in over $30,000 through raffles within a calendar year you'll have to obtain a license beforehand. For more info on "charitable gaming" (and to access Form VS-1) visit the NYS Racing and Wagering Board web site at http://www.racing.state.ny.us/charitable/char.home3.htm
[Both of these links have been added to the MHLS Fundraising page: http://midhudson.org then Marketing, Advocacy & Funding then Fundraising]

Class of 2011: “When they welcome the class of 2011 in the coming weeks, American colleges and universities will be saying hello to the generation born as the Cold War was ending. For them, a Russia with multiple political parties and a China with multiple business enterprises seems quite normal. They’ve grown up in a time of triumphant capitalism, where it’s common for stadiums to be named after corporations and where product placements have always been yet another clever way for companies to sell their wares.” [Beloit College Mindset List, http://www.beloit.edu/~pubaff/mindset/2011.php]
What do libraries need to be thinking about in response to the findings about the Class of 2011?
· They will change careers (not jobs) 7 times in life
· They will need to be lifelong learners
· They will need transition processes

“…Lifecycle Librarianship concentrate[s] efforts on helping patrons in their reading and lifelong learning effort, “from lapsit to the nursing home.”
-“Lifecycle Librarianship,” by Bill Crowley, Library Journal, April 1, 2008

Reference & Collection Development
As seen in Library Journal: The Middletown Thrall Library has created a page on their web site devoted to the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election. The site addresses how to register to vote, making informed decisions, primary schedules and more. Check it out at http://www.thrall.org/special/election2008.html

Programming
Who arranges adult programming at your library? We’d like to know! MHLS is planning a meeting for adult programmers and an e-mail list to help connect people. Send the name and contact info for your adult programmer to Kirstin Litwin, Building Your Base Project Coordinator at klitwin@midhudson.org.

Youth Services
Metamorphosis of a pair of jeans: As part of the 2008 Mid-Hudson Library System Summer Reading Program for Teens – Metamorphosis @your library, nine member libraries will take part in our first Traveling Pants project. Activities will be based on the very popular Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares. In the fall, the decorated pants will do a *return tour* to all nine libraries so that more fun can be planned around them. Stay tuned on the MHLS 2008 Traveling Pants Blog at http://mhlstravelingpants08.blogspot.com/ to hear and see all the fun going on as the pants travel from library to library.

Administration & Management
Are your patrons using the databases? A reminder that you have access to your database usage statistics (by library) as all HOMEACCESS links are run through the Millennium WAM table. What does that mean for you? You can see the number of your patrons are using your databases each month by going to http://midhudson.org then Resource Sharing and Millennium then Management and Reports, at the bottom of that page you will see Web Access Management Statistics by library for every month in 2008. This makes it very important for you to make sure ALL your database links on your web site are coded to go through the WAM. Everything in HOMEACCESS already is, but check any links you have on your website (if your library manages its own web page) and any database links you may have saved on library computers. Need help? Contact Merribeth Advocate, Outreach & Education Coordinator at x54 or madvocate@midhudson.org.

Lessons for Libraries from Retail Space Planners, feature article on WebJunction: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=20296
· The front window gives the patron their first glimpse of what occurs inside the library building. It is important the message in this front window invites the patron into the building and creates a sense of comfort for him.
· Too much signage is visual clutter.
· Use more Velcro-type or gummy back methods of attaching signs and paper instead of scotch tape to create cleaner looking areas.
· There is a "dominant right" since 85% of our population is right handed, people veer to the right and what it is that you want the patron to see would be best positioned at this spot [upon entering].
· Do not try to change people's behavior; identify people's behavior, and design for actual behavior and work within it.

Job Openings
Librarian I (Children’s Services): The Dobbs Ferry Public Library seeks a friendly, creative, enthusiastic public service oriented person to join our staff. This person is responsible for the active promotion of library use, reading and literacy for children of all ages – from pre-school through young adult. Plan, prepare, promote, implement and evaluate programs of interest to children and young adults and coordinate the Teen Advisory Board activities. Duties include providing a broad range of public services for children, young adults, and adults. Maintains an active relationship with the educational community and recreational institutions serving children and young adults. Requirements: ALA accredited MLS and a NY Professional Librarian's Certificate. This is a Civil Service position. Coursework with an emphasis on youth services is required.
35 hours a week schedule includes one evening per week and approximately one Saturday per month. Salary $43,000, with a competitive benefits package. Please send cover letter and resume to: Jeffrey Ault, Library Director, Dobbs Ferry Public Library, 55 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 or email: dobdir@wlsmail.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.