18% Cut Proposed for 2009

Governor Paterson Proposes 18% cut in Library Aid: The 2009-10 Executive Budget proposes a $18 million or 18% cut in Library Aid. This would bring Library Aid down to 1993 levels and is on top of two cuts (3%) in 2008, which reduced Library Aid from $102 million to $98.5 million. (This is basically a repackaging of the same cut proposed in November by the Division of Budget, that the Library Rally and other advocacy efforts help prevent.)

The Public Library Construction Aid - $800,000 line item was eliminated, but the $14 million in borrowed funding for library construction remains intact. NYLA is working with the Division of Library Development and the American Library Association to insure that a federal stimulus package for public works projects includes funds for libraries.

Here's what we can do now:
1) NYLA is looking for examples of how libraries have helped people find jobs, create new businesses, etc. They also need to know if your library has a business or employment center (physical space dedicated for such use) or job assistance program, etc. Contact Michael Borges with your info: director@nyla.org
2) Stay tuned! NYLA will be strategizing how to best respond to the proposed cut in the next few weeks - we'll keep you posted in the new year.

MHLS Announcements
EZ Program Database Breaks 700! Do a search on Google for "library programs" and the MHLS EZ Library Program Database comes up first! Now with over 700 programs this searchable database remains popular all over the country. [http://midhudson.org/ezprogram/]

Programs are submitted by library staff who have implemented the program or by system staff who have heard about a great program from outside the area. Programs are "cataloged" with information like topic, audience, cost, supplies needed, books and websites that would help with the planning of the workshop, etc.

You can search the database by topic, audience, program type, cost or a combination of the four. You can also search by keyword.

There are programs for all ages in the database - not just kids programs!

Here are some of the latest programs to be added:
· Body in the Book Drop Mystery program
· eBay Day @ the Library
· Twilight Programs
· '80s Programs
· Toolbox Jewelry
· No Bake Recipe Series and Craft
· DIY Gifts-Craft Ideas for Teens
· Anime Club & Manga Club

Here are some examples of programs by audience:
For Adults: Conversation Salons; Poetry Café; Writing Group; New Residents - Connect with your community
For Families: College Night; Family Game Night
For Seniors: Housing Options for Seniors; Remembering the Fifties; Safety for Seniors
For Teens: Altered Books; CD Music Swap; Digital Photography Club; Food Fear Factor; Open Mic Night
This is just a (very) small selection of what you'll find when you search the MHLS EZ Library Program Database. Discover something perfect for your community today!

Action Memo Deadline Reminders:
Due December 24th:
· 08-10 Member Info Contact Information Update
Update online using the Contact Information Update Form: http://midhudson.org/forms/update_form.htm

Due December 31st:
· 08-09 Delivery Slips Bulk Order
· 08-11 Receipt Printer Group Purchase (more info below)

MHLS Libraries
The Mental Health America of Dutchess County partnered with the Dover Plains Library to provide free mental health screenings at the library last week. Attendees completed a written self-assessment and had the opportunity to talk privately with a mental health professional. The program was free for all those who attended and completely confidential.
"With the crisis on Wall Street, a boom of home foreclosures, and high energy and food prices throughout the country, it is common and understandable to be angry, worried, and even gloom. But when negative feelings prevent people from doing daily activities or interacting with friends and loved ones, it might be time to seek help." [Poughkeepsie Journal, 12.12.08]

Professional Development
The Best Practices & Tips for an Annual Report to Your Community Workshop has been rescheduled for Wednesday, January 14th from 1:00 - 3:00pm. If you were registered for the original date you are all set! If not, register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

When workshops or meetings are canceled due to bad weather we do our best to contact everyone who is registered for the event. But don't forget - you can also call x229 for weather cancellations if you think you missed a message about a cancellation.

Youth Services
2009 MHLS Battle of the Books (BOB) Planning Underway: In this 5th year of the Battle, twenty-one MHLS libraries are preparing to go head-to-head. BOB started out with just 5 libraries participating. Each year the project grows as more libraries see the value of engaging 6th - 9th graders in fun activities that keeps them interested in good books over the summer. Area high schools have partnered with the project to offer their buildings as sites for the Regional Battle in September. Middle schoolers often become so involved in school and extracurricular activities that reading falls by the wayside but when they take part in BOB, they find themselves immersed in a variety of titles from different genres, preparing to engage in friendly competition with teams from other libraries. The best indicator that this program works in keeping kids reading and is fun is the comment we hear every year, "Can we do this all year long?"

Resource Sharing & Millennium
Receipt Printer Group Purchase: Millennium release 2007 has customized delivery (transit) slips and patron hold shelf slips, which utilize graphic printing. Many libraries have outdated printers, no printers or would like to add additional printers. MHLS has researched and established a group purchase rate and will be placing an order for graphics capable thermal receipt printers. A group buy for the following printer is being organized for member libraries. The purchase price including shipping is $315. You can add a 2-year limited warranty for $69.82.
Epson TM-T88IV Receipt Printer
Mfg. Part: C31C636101; CDW Part: 960150;
UNSPSC: 43212112
High-speed printing of up to 7.9"/sec. - 25%
faster than the TM-T88III
Details can be viewed at: http://www.cdwg.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=960150
Libraries interested in participating in the group buy should respond to Action Memo #08-11 by December 31st, 2008: http://midhudson.org/action_memos/main.htm

Administration & Management
"Frank & Rebekkah's Top Ten Tech Tips" were shared at the 2008 NYLA Conference at their program, Better Management Through Web 2.0. Frank = Frank Rees, director of the Kent Public Library and Rebekkah = Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Coordinator of Member Information. The handout from their session is attached to this week's Bulletin but check out their PowerPoint presentation and all the resources shared during the session at http://delicious.com/LAMS_NYLA

Two MHLS member libraries are featured in the presentation:
· The Kinderhook Memorial Library is featured for their integration of a Google Calendar for their program listing and their use of Meebo to provide instant, live reference support to their patrons through their web site: http://oklibrary.org/
· The Marlboro Free Library is featured for their early adoption of a blog infrastructure as the skeleton of their main library web site. Marlboro has also made use of video and photo sharing on their site: http://www.marlborolibrary.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.