Book Discussions for Kids & Teens

Better Book Discussions for Children and Teens is the title of a workshop being held on Wednesday, October 29th from 1:00-3:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium.

MHLS Youth Services Coordinator Margaret Keefe will facilitate with a panel of youth services staff. This workshop is designed for all library staff who plan and facilitate book discussion groups with young people, children and teens.

The workshop will cover:
· Running a variety of book discussion groups for children & teens
· Working with schools to offer joint book discussion programs
· Using resources available to improve discussion programs
· Sharing best practices from various library staff currently offering discussion groups

Register online through the MHLS calendar at http://calendar.midhudson.org

MHLS Announcements
A new icon has been added to the general listing of member libraries at midhudson.org to promote those libraries that offer WiFi access at their location: http://midhudson.org/libraries/. The /libraries/ URL is the web address we use in all press releases from the System to help your patrons connect with you. This is also the icon most libraries use on their own web sites: http://midhudson.org/admin/web/buttons.htm [If you offer WiFi access and are not noted please let us know: rsmith@midhudson.org]

The MHLS Firefighters Resource page [http://midhudson.org/firefighters/] was featured in the August 2008 issue of The Hudson Valley Firefighter put out by the Hudson Valley Volunteer Fireman's Association [http://www.hvvfa.org/] which covers all of the MHLS service area and quite a ways beyond! Resources firefighters and EMTs can find on the MHLS Firefighters Resource page include an introduction to library resources for a fire department along with handpicked books, magazines, web links and database resources. This site is designed to be used on any member library page so feel free to add it and reach out to your local fire department to let them know it's there.
A new bookmark to help you reach out to your local firemen is coming soon!

MHLS Libraries
The Poughkeepsie Public Library District has been awarded one of 50 national grants to support Let's Talk About It: Love & Forgiveness reading and discussion programs. Learn more about this program grant at http://www.ala.org/letstalk.

The Town of Esopus Library has received an Explore NY 400 Mini Grant. The funds will be used to prepare a month long John Burroughs Exhibit in the Duck Pond Gallery at the library and for programs offered in July 2009. Learn more at http://www.exploreny400.com/programs/programs.php

The Stone Ridge Public Library has partnered with their Cornell Cooperative Extension to offer a Weatherization and Energy Saving Workshop to the public - a great, timely program that talks about energy and money savings for the home.

Professional Development
Recently we offered an online 10 question quiz 'Do you know the catalog?!'. The average grade on the quiz was a 65%.

We want you to have success every day at work, and the 'Master the Power of the Online Public Catalog' training (described below) has been designed in that vein. We encourage every staff member that works with patrons to register for the session most convenient to you so you can pick up some great tips you can use to provide faster, more accurate service. Register now - don't miss the chance to attend locally!

Learning Objectives: The Online Public Catalog is so much more than books, movies, music, and magazines. If you do most of your searching in Millennium you are missing out on the advantages of mastering this incredibly powerful tool.

It's your patrons' connection to requesting and renewing materials, paying their fines online, keeping track of what they want to read and what they've already read, and finding that next great read. It's also their connection to thousands of e-journals with full-text articles. Help your patrons use the enhanced self-service options, independently find what they are looking for and experience the full benefit of the online catalog. Presented by Sue Hermans (Head, Reference and Adult Services & Coordinator, Central Library Services at the Poughkeepsie Public Library District). Register at http://calendar.midhudson.org for one of the following sessions:
· Friday, October 17, 10:00am - 12:00pm @ MHLS Auditorium (105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie)
· Monday, October 20, 10:00am - 12:00pm @ Palenville Branch Library (3335 Route 23A in Palenville)
· Friday, October 31, 10:00am - 12:00pm @ Kingston Library (55 Franklin Street in Kingston)
· Monday, November 17, 10:00am - 12:00pm @ Hudson Area Association Library (400 State Street in Hudson)
· Monday, November 24, 10:00am - 12:00pm @ Kent Public Library (17 Sybil's Crossing in Kent Lakes)

Do you know the catalog?! Test yourself at
http://www.mystudiyo.com/act68831/go

Youth Services
Libraries around NYS can now begin collecting nominations for next year's 3 Apples Book Awards for children in grades 3-6 and 8-12. For forms and more info go to http://www.3applesbookaward.org/public/timetable.cfm

Youth Services Share the Knowledge Table Talks: Feedback on workshop evaluations invariably stresses the importance of exchanging ideas with colleagues. With that in mind, MHLS and RCLS will offer Table Talks: Share the Knowledge Workshop on Friday, November 21st at MHLS from 10:00am - 12:00pm. Youth services librarians/staff will be able to sit in on four of the discussion topics below during the program, picking up new tips and sharing their own ideas. This sharing of best practices will benefit everyone in attendance when ideas are taken back and applied to local programs for young people. The workshop will cover working with all age children and teens as follows:
· From Lullabies to Literature: Stories in the Lives of Infants and Toddlers
· Science for Everyone Storytimes
· Book Buddies
· 'Tween Programs that Work
· Using Web 2.0 Tools to Connect with Young People
· Going Green on the Red: Teen Program with Pizzazz
There is no charge for this program and you may register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org

Reference & Collection Development
The New York State Medical Information Services Program (MISP) is designed to assist libraries of all types in helping New York residents obtain the medical information they need by subsidizing document delivery. MISP comes into play when you need to go beyond the usual local or system borrowing arrangements. There are no fees for the library or the patron. In addition the participating libraries welcome phone calls from librarians trying to help their patrons with specific requests and can serve as resources for patrons needing specialized medical information through print or online collections. Learn more at http://senylrc.org/misp/

Trustee Resources
Reminder: The 2008 Advanced Trustee Education Sessions will be held next week. This year's topic: Ten Obstacles to Board Effectiveness
· Monday, October 20th from 6:00 - 8:00pm @MHLS
· Saturday, October 25th from 10:00am - 12:00pm @Kingston Library (55 Franklin St., Kingston)
Register online: http://calendar.midhudson.org

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.