Vol.08-32   8.5.08

When Large Print Isn't Large Enough

Library patrons who have a visual or physical disability that makes it difficult or impossible to read standard print may be eligible for services available from the New York State Talking Book & Braille Library (TBBL).

TBBL is a free service for qualifying library patrons, and is a joint program of the National Library Service and the New York State Education Department. TBBL has over 70,000 unique titles including best selling fiction and nonfiction (history, biography, health and more). They send out over 3,000 items each day to locations across NYS.

Free Mailing - Books, magazines, machines, and catalog book orders are sent via the US Postal Service without cost, thanks to a Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped mailing privilege. Not only is there no direct charge to use TBBL, but borrowers don't have to pay postage to return the books.

Anyone can search their online catalog to see what books (cassette or Braille) TBBL has, but patrons must be registered TBBL borrowers to submit requests.

Copies of the application for your patrons are available through the MHLS Material Request Form

MHLS Libraries
Film Roles Auctioned to Benefit the Stone Ridge Public Library: Local screenwriter Nicole Quinn will cast two parts in Slap and Tickle, her newest movie, scheduled for filming this summer. The parts will be auctioned to benefit the Stone Ridge Library Restoration. Opening bids started at $500. Learn more at http://www.stoneridgelibrary.org/
MHLS welcomes David DeShong as the new director of the Catskill Public Library.

The Plattekill Public Library's budget vote passed on Thursday, July 31st 47-6 for an increase of $55,300. Their total operating budget for next year will be $357,000.

Professional Development
Reminders:

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

Resource Sharing & Millennium
Blu-ray DVD Material Type Added: The material type Blu-ray DVD has been added to the menu of Millennium material types. We will update the records that we can. If you own Blu-ray titles, please let us know if your material type is incorrect. A new icon has also been added to the OPAC. We have requested permission from Sony to use the trademark, but until then we have a blue disk with the word Blu-ray beneath it. PLEASE TAKE NOTE!: Blu-ray is a completely new DVD format that can only be read by a specific Blu-ray DVD player. They do not work on regular DVD players - patrons expecting a regular DVD will be disappointed.
· If you are adding non Blu-ray DVDs, be very careful not to add your copy to the Blu-ray bib record.
· Patrons who request Blu-ray will not be able to play them on standard or HD players.
· All Blu-ray disks must be added as material type "Blu-ray", if you are creating a new brief bib record.

Handouts from the recent Millennium Data Entry Training sessions have been added to the Data Entry Section of the Resource Sharing page.
In this class we discussed how to change the record display in Millennium. Instructions for that are also in the Data Entry section. Check out the new "See it!" feature while you're there! http://midhudson.org/resource/millennium/data_entry/Instructions/Changingdisplay.pdf

Please remind staff and other co-workers NOT to delete records that belong to other libraries when a "lost and paid" item is paid for. The owning library will need the information to match the paid amount with their record and or consider replacement. If the record is deleted they have no way of knowing how often it circed, when it went out last or the amount paid. Also if you are sending a check for replacement costs, please send a printout of the item record so the owning library knows what has been paid for. Thank you!

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Fast Fact: More donors are looking to the Internet when solicited by a charity. According to a recent study, twice as many people are heading to the Internet when they receive a direct mail solicitation from a charity than did in 2005. In 2005, 25% of respondents said they looked up the organization on the Internet before donating, while in 2008 this figured jumped to 44%. Of those who went online, 37% went directly to the organization's website. In the over-65 age range, the percentage of donors who went online jumped from 8% to 21%. [Source: The Nonprofit Times]

What does your library or Friends Group web site say to a donor when they arrive there to investigate you? Can a donor find your:

How Do I Say This? Have you ever been stumped about how to promote something on your newsletter, flyer or website? Get ideas from the Building Your Base Toolkit [http://midhudson.org/byb]. The link called "How to Say It" offers quotable quotes you can use in a pinch to promote your library's services.

Public Library Management Course on Marketing in Saratoga this September: Marketing with Wayne Piper, September 9-10, 2008 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Develop the skills you need to effectively market your library's programs and services. Learn the importance of marketing the public library, as well as how to draft a marketing plan, how to implement the plan, how to measure the success of the library's marketing efforts; and how to evaluate the impact of marketing materials and methods. This course is part of the Public Library Association's Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) program. For more information and to register go to http://www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaevents/cplacourses/CPLAcourses.cfm

Reference & Collection Development
A Big List of Sites That Teach You How To Do Stuff: Annotated list of "general interest sites that give quality instruction on all sorts of fun and useful projects including, how to build a deck or bake a cake." Includes links to sites such as Instructables, eHow, and About.com. From ReadWriteWeb, a blog that provides Web technology news, reviews, and analysis. http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/tutorial_sites.php [As seen in the Librarians' Internet Index]

Youth Services
For those libraries that received either a gaming or performer/ program mini-grant from MHLS this summer, the final report is due by Friday, August 22 - no later. As you know, this year libraries are required to report the impact their programs had on local patrons. In order to help libraries assess that impact, there are 2 surveys, created by Margaret Keefe, MHLS Youth Services Coordinator, which libraries should give to those who took part in these grant-funded programs. Don't wait until August 21st to do this! The answers to the survey questions will help library staff do the final report correctly so that MHLS receives the information it needs to send to NYS. Remember, future grants of this type depend on everyone doing the reports as required by NYS, so it's important to do that and to be on time. To access the surveys and reports:
http://midhudson.org/department/youth/main.htm both are linked in the middle of the What's New section. If you have any questions, please contact Margaret at x35 or mkeefe@midhudson.org

Digital Opportunities @the Library: At the Digital Equity Summit held July 1st at the National Educational Computing Conference, participants discussed ways to close the gaps between those who have easy access to digital tools and resources and those who don't. Paul E. Resta, University of Texas at Austin, framed the digital-equity challenge as one of providing not just technologies, but "digital opportunities," for students. His six "essential conditions for digital inclusion" include:

Public libraries are part of the education loop and play a huge community role in helping bridge the gap between those who have computers at home and those who don't. Library staff certainly know how to use digital tools and resources, serving as Internet guides, helping young people develop Internet searching skills, teaching them to view online information with a critical eye, creating policies that both protect young people and allow them access to resources that will expand their knowledge. Libraries must continue to fund adequate technology in their buildings, which includes not only computers and peripheral devices but also space, connectivity, enough staff and staff training to train patrons as they try to keep up with our ever-changing technological world.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is offering four online continuing education courses this fall including:

The courses will begin October 6th, running through November 14th. Future sessions are scheduled for February 2009 and summer 2009. All courses will run between four and six weeks and will be taught in an online learning community using Moodle. Course registration information is available at http://www.ala.org/alscevents. Registration opens for the first session on August 11th. Course fees are $95 for personal ALSC members; $145 for personal ALA members; and $165 for non-members.

Be a part of the Lifelines Homework Help Web Site Update Team: This fall we will be creating a committee of both public and school librarians to review MHLS' K-12 Lifelines Homework site with the goal of determining that the site [http://lifelines.midhudson.org/] is as useful and current as possible. There will be only 2 meetings required because the work will be divided among committee members and can be done from any computer and reported back electronically. Our intention is to divide the site into many sections with each person responsible for only one section. Each person will examine his/her section, identify links that are no longer appropriate (outdated, not working, now charge fees, etc.), make a list of those links and if necessary, find replacements so that subject area will continue to be covered. We will be working with Dutchess BOCES School Library System Director Rebecca Gerald and some of her school librarians. If you are interested in being part of this process, please contact MHLS Youth Services Coordinator, Margaret Keefe at x35 or mkeefe@midhudson.org.

Administration & Management
Network Security Is Every Employee's Responsibility: This overview of best security practices is designed to help all employees understand how to protect computer networks from misuse and attack. Topics include password protection (complex passwords, changing passwords often, and single-use passwords), not leaving logged-in computers unattended, performing backups, e-mail security, use of mobile devices, and how to handle a security emergency (such as losing your laptop). From a computer software company. Direct URL is truncated, see LII item at http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/26576

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 4: August 2008 Calendar of Events