Adult Programmers Users Group

Join us for our first meeting of the Adult Programmers Users Group! Facilitated by Josh Cohen, MHLS Executive Director and Kirstin Litwin, Building Your Base Project Coordinator this group will discuss how to make the most out of adult programming in your library. This session is ideal for library staff currently doing adult programming and for those interested in expanding their programming to include adult patrons.

Thursday, August 28th
10:00am to 12:00pm
MHLS Auditorium (105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie)

This kick-off session will offer you ideas for making adult programming better and easier. Get to know other adult programmers within the System and learn from others who do what you do. Since this is our first meeting, participants will get to know one another in a comfortable setting, discuss some of their best and worst program experiences, and decide on key topics for future gatherings.

Register now at http://calendar.midhudson.org

MHLS Announcements
MHLS will be closed Friday, July 4th. There will be no deliveries.

MHLS Libraries
The Howland Public Library in Beacon has partnered with Astor Early Childhood Programs and the United Way of Dutchess County to offer a free service to parents, grandparents and caregivers with children aged 4 months to 5 years – four sessions of Developmental Check Ups. Developmental Check Ups evaluate a child’s ability to meet important physical, mental and social development milestones.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, Inc. is using a new grant application form for 2008. The foundation is a charitable institute whose purpose is to assist organizations in their efforts to provide books to children who might otherwise lack access to children's literature. Lois Lenski, the 1946 Newbery medalist for Strawberry Girl, had a life-long concern that good books be available to all children. In pursuit of this goal, she established a foundation to provide grants to public libraries serving disadvantaged populations. The Foundation gives priority to applications from libraries and agencies with real need and limited book budgets. Funds are earmarked for purchasing books for young people. Previously awarded grants have ranged from $500 to $3000. To qualify for year 2008 grants, completed application forms must be received at the address indicated on the application no later than September 15th, 2008: http://www.loislenskicovey.org/4.html

Looking for more grant opportunities? Check out the MHLS Grants Page at http://midhudson.org then Marketing, Advocacy & Funding then Fundraising then Grants or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/funding/fundraising/grantmakers.htm]

Fundraising Ideas from the Friends Support Group’s June Meeting:
· The Pine Plains Free Library sold hearts made of construction paper at the library to earn the matching funds for a Libri Grant: Patrons could name their price, write their name on the heart and it was hung in the library. By letting patrons name their price everyone could help out – the smallest donation? A nickel from a child in story hour! February is Library Lovers Month so the “heart” did double duty.
· April Foolishness – A few years ago the Hyde Park Free Library Friends held their book sale in April, as an experiment they didn’t price the books – people gave what they thought they were worth. The Friends made more that year than any other!
· This was an idea seen while a Friend was traveling in North Carolina: “Soup”er Bowl – local chefs made the soup, local artists made the bowls. Attendees paid an entrance fee, which included the cost of the bowl and all the soup they could eat!

Reference & Collection Development
Access Magazine & Newspaper Articles Through the Online Catalog (OPAC):
Did you know that when you search the online catalog (OPAC) for a magazine or newspaper you can now connect to the online, full-text version available through HOMEACCESS – directly from the OPAC?
1. Use the MAGAZINES / NEWSPAPERS search link from the bottom right of the front of the OPAC [http://gigcat.midhudson.org] and type in the title of a magazine or newspaper
2. In your results list, look for the item that has “(online)” after the title or the Electronic Journals icon to get to the record that will connect you.
3. “Click here to read articles now, for free, with your library card.”
4. Log-in with your 14-digit library card and click on any link that suits your date range.

Programming
With the 2008 Olympic Games starting on August 8th, Howland Public Library Adult Services Librarian Alison Herrera is putting feelers out to see if any other libraries with a "Wii Bowling for Seniors" program in place has interest in a friendly competition between library teams. Howland has one team of four. Your library can enter as many teams as you have. The total score of the four team members will determine who wins gold, silver and bronze medals. (Howland Public Library in Beacon will supply the medals.) Each team can use their best game's score that they bowl during their regularly scheduled meeting day during the week of August 3rd - 9th. Honor system prevails! Anyone with a team of four - or interest – can contact Alison at alison.herrero@gmail.com or 845.831.1134, x105.

Administration & Management
Library of the Year: The Laramie County Library System in Wyoming has been named the 2008 Library of the Year by Library Journal. Over 80% of residents in their service area have library cards. How did they do this?
· Library’s vision and mission grew out of a relationship with the people served by the library.
· “Exemplary customer service” is the primary goal of the library.
· Staff look for ways to meet not just individuals’ needs but also those of the community as a whole.
· Partnerships & Programs
o Partnered with local colleges and universities for a literary event; professors are regularly featured at library events and in lecture series
o Other program partners: museums, Head Start, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, local animal shelter, eye clinic, Lions and Rotary Clubs.
o School district: kindergarten library card campaign to ensure that all kids age 5 and up have library cards; teacher tool kits in several subjects; traveling exhibits
o Youth Advisory Board
o Computer classes for older adults: the library found that 12 was the optimum class size
· Strong continuing education program for staff and subsidization of job-related staff education
· Hiring process: if no excellent candidates apply the vacancy is re-advertised repeatedly until they find “a person whom we think will do an exceptional job in the position we are trying to fill.”

New in the MHLS Professional Collection:
Personnel Administration (MHP 658.3)
· Perfect Phrases for Performance Reviews: Hundreds of Ready-to-use Phrases that Describe Your Employees' Performance (from unacceptable to outstanding), by Douglas Max & Robert Bacal, McGraw-Hill, 2003.
· Administrator's Staff Development Activities Kit, by Michael Koehler, Center for Applied Research in Education, 1999.
· Manager's Portfolio of Model Performance Evaluations: Ready-to-use Performance Appraisals Covering All Employee Functions, by Brandon Toropov, Prentice Hall, 1999.
· Performance Appraisal: One More Time, by John D. Drake, Crisp Publications, 1998.
· Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals: A Guide to Successful Evaluations, by James E. Neal, Jr., Neal Publications, 2006.
To borrow from the MHLS Professional Collection: http://midhudson.org/mhls/professional_collection.htm

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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.