Go Hollywood This Summer!

Hollywood comes to MHLS libraries this summer! There will be two summer reading mini-grants offered by MHLS this year in conjunction with Be Creative and Express Yourself @ Your Library summer reading programs.

One grant may help launch the career of the next great American film director. Thirty libraries will be eligible to receive a $300 grant with which they will buy Flip Mino video cameras so they can work with young people to film various programs over the summer. Kids might be filmed reading their own creative works or performing really great PSAs about why they love their library or be caught as they perform at a poetry slam or talent contest. Others may want to make booktalks about their favorite titles. The possibilities are endless!

To get people up to speed on how to use these Flip cameras and explore what other creative libraries are doing with videocasting, there will be a Flip Out @ Your Library Workshop on Tuesday, April 7th from 1:00 - 4:00pm at MHLS. The workshop will cover:
· Exploring features of the Flip Mino
· Using built-in Flip software to upload videos to your computer.
· Seeing examples of what other libraries are doing with video
· Sharing your ideas about what sorts of videos you want to create
· Creating your own test videos and uploading them to video sharing service
· Learning about basic video editing
· Understanding what you can do with videocasting using 2009 summer reading grant funds
Register through the online calendar at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

The second summer reading mini-grant will offer $250 to ten libraries with 2007 total receipts less than $125,000 so they can hire an additional performer to enhance their summer programs.

Pending NYS approval, applications for both grant opportunities will be due in April.

MHLS Announcements
Conference Incentives from MHLS: Are you thinking about attending the Computers in Libraries (CIL) Conference in Arlington, Virginia (March 30-April 1,2009), the ALA Conference in Chicago, Illinois (July 9-15, 2009) or the NYLA Youth Services Section Conference in Canandaigua, NY (April 3)? The MHLS Incentive Program provides opportunities to defray the cost of attendance at these conferences:
MHLS Incentive Program-Package C : The deadline to apply for the CIL or ALA Conference Initiative has been extended to March 9th 2009.
$4,000 will be divided among the number of libraries that apply. The maximum amount awarded is $500. You will need to submit a letter of intent and, following the conference, documentation of attendance. Any library may apply for this. Once you apply for this Incentive you will automatically be considered to have picked Package C as this year's Incentive Package for your Library and are no longer eligible for either the Director's Grant (Package A for Libraries with less than 3 FTE's) or the Programming Support Grant (Package B).
NYLA Youth Services Section (YSS) Conference
The deadline to apply for the NYLA YSS Conference Initiative has also been extended to March 9th, 2009. All libraries regardless of their Incentive package are eligible and encouraged to apply for the NYLA Youth Service Section (YSS) Conference at The Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua, NY (April 3, 2009). $1,000 will be divided between libraries sending people to the YSS Conference. The maximum amount awarded is $250. You will need to submit a letter of intent and, following the conference, documentation of attendance.

Contact Doris Formby with any questions about the MHLS Incentive Program: dformby@midhudson.org or x210.

SAVE THE DATE! Saving Green by Going Green - NYS Public Library Construction Grant Program Workshop: Wednesday, April 22nd from 9:30am - 1:00pm at the Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS), 619 Rt. 17M, Middletown, NY. This workshop is free and registration is open to all public libraries staff and Board members. The major topic at the workshop will be the 2009-2010 New York State Public Library Construction Grant Program application process. In addition, the workshop will showcase the newly installed Photovoltaic Panels on the RCLS headquarters' roof. Featured speakers:
· Grace Kelly, Public Library Construction Grant Program Manager, New York State Education Department, NYS Library/ Division of Library Development
· James Albert, President and Founder of ISI Solar, will detail the RCLS headquarters solar panel installation project.
· Daniel McCormack, Senior Investigator, New York State Department of Labor
· Speaker To Be Determined, New York State Historic Preservation Office
Registration information will be coming soon.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Libraries & the Federal Economic Stimulus Package, now referred to as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA):
"With many opportunities available to libraries through the stimulus bill, the library community must continue our efforts to educate our elected officials on the benefits of investing in libraries - focusing now on the state level."
- American Library Association (ALA)
ALA has compiled a list of the programs that libraries can benefit from included in ARRA. The NYS Education Department, Division of Library Development and the New York Library Association are investigating ways New York's Libraries might be included in these programs - we'll keep you updated as we learn more.
· $7.2 billion for Broadband: This includes $2.5 billion for Rural Utilities Service and $4.7 billion for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) broadband grant program to increase broadband access...
· $53.6 billion for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund: This program includes $48 billion in block grants allocated among the states. Out of each state's allocation, 81.8 percent is reserved for education and 18.2 percent is reserved for the governor to...
· An additional $120 million for the Senior Community Service Employment Program: This funding will provide community service jobs at nonprofit and public facilities, including libraries, for an additional 24,000 older Americans. The Senior Community Service Employment Program is a community service...
· An additional $130 million for the Rural Community Facilities Program: The Community Programs is a division of the Housing and Community Facilities Programs at the United States Department of Agriculture. Community Programs includes the Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program...
Should NY libraries be eligible to apply in any of these programs you will be applying through Grants.gov which requires that you register in advance (confirmation of registration may take 5 business days) and that you have a "DUNS" number. If your library does not have a DUNS number, call the Dun & Bradstreet hotline at 1.866.705.5711 to receive one free of charge. Learn more about ARRA on ALA's web resource, ARRA 101: http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/woissues/washfunding/fedfund/arra101.cfm

The State Library has suspended the March 13, 2009 application deadline date for the Adult Literacy Library Services and the Family Literacy Library Services grants due to State budgetary constraints. Once a new application deadline date is determined, we'll let you know. Applicants should anticipate having approximately one month to complete and submit an online application. The online application is not available yet but there are screen shots of the application available at:
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/literacy/ltgrants.pdf
The guidelines, which may change, are pending final approval by external control agencies and are posted at:
- Adult Literacy Program Guidelines:
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/literacy/guidelns.htm
- Family Literacy Program Guidelines:
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/familylit/guidelns.htm

Libraries, Literacy & Gaming Grant Available: The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Literacy and Outreach Services is seeking applications from libraries interested in developing and implementing innovative literacy gaming services for youth ages 10-18. This program is part of ALA's Libraries, Literacy and Gaming initiative funded by Verizon. Ten $5,000.00 grants will be awarded to libraries clearly demonstrating creativity, capacity, sustainability and a strong commitment to literacy-related gaming services. In addition, the winning libraries will receive ongoing support and technical assistance from a team of nationally recognized library gaming experts. Winners will be announced during National Library Week, April 12-18. The grant application is available online at http://librarygamingtoolkit.org/rfp. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm, Friday, March 20.

New Address for the New York Library Association (NYLA): 6021 State Farm Road, Guilderland, NY 12084

Reference & Collection Development
A reminder that MHLS libraries no longer subscribe to Fiction Connection & Non-Fiction Connection. The MHLS Central Library Collection Development Advisory committee reviewed usage statistics in October 2008 on each of the databases that MHLS member libraries subscribe to as a group. The usage statistics for the Bowker products (Book in Print Professional, Patron Books in Print, Fiction Connection & Non-Fiction Connection) were very low and these databases were not renewed for 2009, as announced in the 11.25.08 Bulletin.
1. Your library should check to make sure you are not distributing bookmarks that promote these products.
2. If your library manages their own web page, please remove any individual links to these products.
- Your county-specific HOMEACCESS page (find your link at http://www.midhudson.org/databases/) always has an up-to-date listing of subscriptions. If you are looking for additional web graphics check http://midhudson.org/admin/web/buttons.htm.
- Patrons can still get additional information about titles in the catalog by clicking on the 'More Info.' button to the left of the title in the online catalog. Additional book recommendations can be found at the Don't Know What to Read? page available at http://midhudson.org/read.htm.

Poughkeepsie Public Library District's Caregiver Resource Center includes books and other materials that may be of assistance to those caring for an aging relative on topics ranging from memory loss, practical care tips and financial planning. The collection - purchased and maintained with assistance by the Dutchess County Office for the Aging - is accessible through the Online Catalog and through Request-a-Title for delivery to local libraries.

Programming
Planning to show the movie Twilight at your library? Be aware that the blanket Movie Licensing USA public performance license does not cover Twilight. However, a temporary license has been negotiated and is available for $75.00. Call 1.800.876.3344 to insure your library shows this movie legally! [Please note: It should be assumed that all videorecordings are protected by copyright unless verified otherwise.]

What is "public performance"?
To perform or display a work "publicly" means:
· to perform or display it at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered;
· to transmit or otherwise communicate a performance or display of the work to a place specified by clause (1) or to the public, by means of any device or process, whether the members of the public capable of receiving the performance or display receive it in the same place or in separate places and at the same time or at different times.
[Title 17, U.S.C., Copyrights, Section 101, Definitions]

Youth Services
Springtime means Notable Book Banquets: Once again MHLS and area BOCES are offering the ALA Notable Book Banquets for public and school librarians throughout the Hudson Valley. The great team of Julie Baxter (Director/Youth Services Coordinator at Moffatt Library) and Randall Enos (Youth Services Coordinator at RCLS) will bring the books alive as they booktalk about 60 of those titles chosen by ALA as 2009's best for children and young teens. Each book will be available for the audience to browse and a light buffet dinner will be provided, along with the opportunity to network with school librarians attending.
· Dutchess County: Tuesday, April 14 in the MHLS Auditorium.
· Putnam County: Wednesday, April 22 at the Mahopac Library
· Ulster County: Tuesday, May 12 at the Ulster BOCES Conference Center in New Paltz.
Each event runs from 4:00 - 7:00pm. Go to the MHLS calendar at http://calendar.midhudson.org/ for full registration information. Reach out to your local school librarian and ask him/her to join you. Although no specific Banquet is planned in Columbia and Greene counties, staff from libraries in either county are welcome to attend any of the other scheduled Banquets.

Job Openings
Library Director: Cornwall Public Library, a school district library within the greater Cornwall community (Orange County, NY), with a population of 15,365 residents, is actively seeking candidates for the position of full-time Library Director. This administrative position includes but is not limited to managerial responsibility for personnel, budget, collection development, building maintenance and library operations in accordance with the policies established by the Board of Trustees. A detailed job description is available. Candidates must have an MLS from an ALA accredited program, with a minimum of five (5) years library experience, two (2) of which must be in a supervisory capacity. Candidates should have comprehensive knowledge of public library operations, strong communication skills, imagination, creativity and a talent for organization. The successful candidate should also have experience with all Microsoft software applications in addition to knowledge of emerging technologies or trends and their application to libraries. Starting salary is in the low $60s commensurate with qualifications and experience. This is a Civil Service position that includes a comprehensive benefits package. Candidates should e-mail a detailed resume that includes three (3) professional references and contact information to Christine K. McDonald at littlekels@msn.com. Applications will be accepted until Monday, March 16, 2009.

PAGE 4: March 2009 Calendar: http://calendar.midhudson.org/

MHLS recommends that the minimum starting salary of a full or part-time librarian with an MLS degree be at least equal to that of a teacher with a master's degree in the same community.

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.