Library Funding Cut 6%

The NYS Legislature agreed to the Governor’s proposed 6% cut to library aid last week, adding to the 2% cut already dealt to libraries earlier this year. These cuts are piled on top of no formula increase in funding from the State since 1990 and a 6-year delay in funding libraries using the 2000 Census figures.

The particulars of the cut for the System are still unknown, MHLS has been in contact with the NYS Division of Library Development attempting to decipher how the 3rd quarter cut will apply to each of the categories of aid we receive. We will certainly let you know as soon as we find out.

MHLS communicated with legislators prior to the cut to inform them of the increase in usage our libraries and the System has seen in the past year:

· On average, borrowing is up 6.7% in member libraries with some libraries seeing increases as high as 13-15%.

· The MHLS delivery service saw a 21.8% increase in traffic in July 2008 compared to July 2007 and an increase of 14.8% overall since 2007.

Take the time to contact your local NYS Legislators now to discuss the cuts. Let them know how much your community uses your services and how the System benefits your library. What will it mean to your patrons, your community, should System services go away or become fee-based?

Now is the time, we can’t sit here and wait for the next cut to make our case, we’ve got to let them know how these cuts have a ripple effect in our communities.

Find your local legislators’ contact information on the MHLS web site at http://midhudson.org/funding/advocacy/legislators_adv.htm

MHLS Announcements
Register now for the September 24th workshops @Catskill Public Library: Orientation for New Library Staff and Millennium Circulation Essentials at the Catskill Public Library (1 Franklin Street, Catskill) Both programs are designed for new library staff and volunteers, but open to all who would like to attend. Register through the MHLS web calendar at http://calendar.midhudson.org

10:00am - noon: Orientation for New Library Staff
This workshop provides introductory, baseline information about working effectively in a public library and in the Mid-Hudson Library System. The workshop will cover:
· The role of the public library in our communities
· How your library fits into the library structure of New York State
· Your role as a library representative
· Helping patrons find what they want
· Overview of the online catalog, HOMEACCESS databases and interlibrary loan
· System wide resource sharing concepts and issues
Presented by Josh Cohen - MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich - MHLS Coordinator of Member Information and Merribeth Advocate – MHLS Outreach & Education Coordinator.
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1:00 – 3:00pm: Millennium Circulation Essentials
This workshop provides introductory, baseline information about Millennium including common circulation & Patron data entry tasks. The workshop will cover:
· Patron Records-How, when and why we create patron records
· Checkin / Checkin for the Book drop
· Checkout: Dealing with it all from pop-up messages to missing parts
· Holds: How they work and what you need to know to keep on top of the process
· Fines and fees: How fines work, how to create and add manual fines, waiving, fine history
· Printing notices: Pages, bills, overdues, hold pickup
· Entering items at the circ desk
· Neat tricks-things to save you time and work!
Presented by Laurie Shedrick, MHLS Automated Systems Manager

MHLS will be closed Monday, September 1st. There will be no deliveries.

The MHLS Print Department will be on vacation through Tuesday, September 2.

MHLS Libraries
The Rosendale Library is hosting a lecture by Thomas Olsen, Associate Professor of English at SUNY New Paltz, entitled Gutenberg and The Invention of Print; Revolution or Evolution on Wednesday, September 10th at 7:00pm. This is a free presentation funded by the New York Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Marlboro Free Library held a “Cullen Dinner Party” and book discussion to celebrate the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. There were 30 attendees enjoying red foods - lots of ziti and a salad with red cherry tomatoes and red peppers - and music based on Stephenie Meyer’s playlists (found on her website) plus some additions by the library staff using iTunes. Check out video from the event on their web site at http://www.marlborolibrary.org/

Resource Sharing & Millennium
Pre-Pub Policy: Baker & Taylor has initiated a new policy called BOSS (Before On Sale Shipping) that will likely be required by other vendors who ship pre-pub as well. The new policy requires that you have a form on file with them that states that you will not put out any title before its publishing date. If you do B&T will not be held responsible for the violation and your pre-pub purchasing may be discontinued. If you fail to file the form by September 1st, you will no longer receive your orders before the pub date. In fact, the orders will not leave the warehouse until the pub date, so your shipment will be several days after the pub date. The form can be mailed or faxed and you need only send one to cover all of your accounts. This policy is not just for TS3 members but for all B&T orders. Get the form and more information at http://www.btol.com/promo_details.cfm?id=365

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Lessons from elected officials - more from the OCLC report “From Awareness to Funding: A Study of Library Support in America”: 84 elected officials completed an online survey as part of the study.
- According to the results, their views are similar to those of “Probable Supporters” in the general population in that they appreciate the added value of libraries and librarians but see the library more as an amenity than a necessity.
- While 71% of those officials have a positive impression of local library leadership, only 53% believe their local librarian works closely with local politicians and community leaders to better the community.
- Officials offered the following suggestions:
1) Stress the library’s return on investment (ROI) to the community.
2) Build strategic partnerships with other public services and programs.
3) Be proactive in seeking library support.
4) Engage constituents to influence elected officials.
5) Stress the library’s broad non-partisan appeal.
[Source: Library Hotline, 7.21.08]


Trustee Resources
Reminder: Fall sessions of Essential Trustee Duties & Responsibilities begin next week:
– Thursday, September 4th from 6:00 – 8:00pm
@Patterson Library (1167 Route 311, Patterson)

– Saturday, September 6th from 10:00am – 12:00pm @Kingston Library (55 Franklin Street, Kingston)

– Wednesday, September 10th from 6:00 – 8:00pm
@MHLS Auditorium (105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie)
Registration is required. Register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org OR call 845.471.6060 x46. 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.


Administration & Management
Preliminary results from the 2007-2008 Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study have been released:
· 73% of libraries report they are the only provider of free Internet access in their communities – in rural communities, it’s 83%
· 65% of libraries offer free wireless access, up from 17.9% only four years ago.
· 73% of libraries offer information technology training for patrons
The full report will be released September 2nd, 2008 at http://www.ala.org/plinternetfunding.

Cloud Computing: At the American Library Association Conference in June the ever-popular Top Tech Trends session pointed to cloud computing as a major trend libraries should be aware of. Cloud computing tools are web-based applications that accomplish tasks that were traditionally done with desktop tools - such as design, communications, email, finance, productivity, storage, audio, and video. Check out CloudTrip [http://www.cloudtrip.com/], a website that compiles information on cloud computing sites.

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.