Speak Up!

Today is Library Lobby Day! 60+ library supporters from the MHLS region are traveling to Albany today to stress the importance of libraries and systems in today's economy and to ask legislators to stand up for their constituents by opposing the 18% cut to library funding. Be a part of today's effort from your library or at home by
1) Calling your legislator's Albany office
[http://midhudson.org/legislators.htm]
2) Using the NYLA Online Advocacy Center to send a fax to your legislator [click on "Become a Library Advocate at http://www.nyla.org]
The Assembly and Senate are scheduled to release their budget proposals this week and NYLA wants them to include the restoration of the Library Aid in these proposals. NYS is receiving approximately $549 million in flexible federal stimulus funds and NYLA is advocating that these federal funds be used to restore the Library Aid.

March 10th is just the 69th day of 2009 and libraries have seen more media coverage already compared to 2008 ("Libraries in the News: http://midhudson.org/funding/advocacy/news09.pdf). Nationally and locally newspapers and media outlets are picking up on what our patrons already know - libraries are essential in our communities.

Increase in New Library Cards Issued:
February 2009 vs. February 2008
Kinderhook 316%
LaGrange 50%
Mahopac 61%
Marlboro 30%
Town of Ulster 50%

Libraries and systems are working harder than ever to connect our communities with the services they need in these tough times. Make sure legislators know how much patrons rely on our services - Speak Up for libraries today.

MHLS Announcements
Big OPAC Improvements Coming This Month!
The Director's Association has approved changes to the front of the Online Catalog recommended by the Marketing & Program Advisory Committee - your patrons are going to love it! While the overall "look" of the site will remain the same, the lower half of the site will become more patron-friendly, spotlighting "the stuff" patrons are looking for, items that are: New, In Demand, and Award Winners. The most popular format types will also be listed right on the front so patrons can get to what they are looking for quicker.

View the draft before it goes "live"! http://gigcat.midhudson.org:2082/

Links currently found on the lower half have been redistributed. A prominent link to the Kids' Catalog has been added to the top bar as has a "Help" link to bring people to the Catalog Tutorials and instructions for services like Request-a-Title. Links like the "Other Catalogs" link, Subject search, ISBN search, Call Number search and Genre have been consolidated under an "Advanced Search" button, also new to the top bar.

Be sure to check out the Award Winners section. A new service - BookLetters - has been added thanks to the Central Library / Collection Development Advisory Committee that offers regularly updated, award winner title lists that link back to our catalog and include summaries and other information.

We encourage all staff that work with patrons to familiarize themselves with the changes before they go "live" later this month: http://gigcat.midhudson.org:2082/.
Reminder: March 15th is the deadline to send in claims under the MHLS Incentive Program for payment in the next incentive checks. This is the last call to submit claims under the 2008 Incentive Program. Please use separate Claim sheets for 2008 and 2009 Claims. Claim Sheets for both years are available on our website at http://midhudson.org/admin/budgeting/main.php. Follow the link "MHLS Incentive Program" for information and Claim Sheets for both years. Please call Doris Formby at extension 210 or e-mail to dformby@midhudson.org if you have any questions or need help filing your claim.

MHLS Libraries
The Millbrook Free Library will now be closed on Fridays. The board made this drastic decision in light of the fact that unlike many libraries in MHLS their operating budget relies on heavily on endowments and donations. A quarter of their operating budget comes from secured tax dollars. In an article in the Poughkeepsie Journal last week library director Nancy Rogers said, "To be fiscally responsible, we had to do this. Hopefully, it won't last all year. We are hopeful that we will be able to [put] it back before the end of the year but we are not sure."

'08-'09 Construction Grant Awards Officially Announced: Twelve MHLS member libraries have been granted funds through the New York State Aid for Public Library Construction Grant Program:

Under the "$14 Million" Funding Stream:
Library - Award Amount
Beacon - $51,000
Garrison - $22,541
Haines Falls - $100,000
Hillsdale - $125,000
New Lebanon - $137,500
Poughkeepsie - $77,500
Red Hook - $67,500
Saugerties - $30,000

Under the "$800,000" Funding Stream*:
Library - Award Amount
Hudson - $12,178
Kingston - $11,340
Rhinecliff - $6,000
Wappingers Falls - $12,000
*These grants were impacted by the 2008 cuts to the NYS budget. Please note that the Governor has proposed cutting the $800,000 funding stream entirely in 2009.

Applying in 2009: Libraries will receive a MHLS Action Memo (on green paper) this month that will need to be filled out and returned if your library wants to apply for the FY2009-2010 round of funding. If your library has not applied in the past plans should be made to attend the Construction Grant Workshop, being held on Wednesday, April 22nd at the Ramapo Catskill Library System. Reserve your seat today: 845.343.1131 x222.

Resource Sharing & Millennium
Upcoming Millennium Education Opportunities:
· Millennium Customized Notices: Friday, March 27
· Millennium Statistics & Web Management Reports: Wednesday, April 8
Register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

Youth Services
Don't Forget! The Play, Move and Sing in Storytime Workshop w/Sukey Molloy is coming up next week: Thursday, March 19th from 9:00am - 3:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium. Cost is $20 for MHLS member library staff, $25 for all others. For more information and to register: http://calendar.midhudson.org/

Trustee Resources
Last week MHLS hosted the Securing Your Library's Future workshop sponsored by the NYS Division of Library Development (DLD). The workshop discussed the different funding options available to all four types of public libraries in NYS. Much of the information presented is available on the "Creating Public Library Districts in New York State: a "how-to guide": http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/libs/pldtools/guide/index.html

Job Openings
Librarian III - Head of Youth Services, Saratoga Springs Public Library (http://www.sspl.org): Because of a generational change in management, we seek a creative, energetic, and experienced leader for our Youth Services Department, serving library users from birth through age 16 and their caregivers. The ideal candidate will possess excellent interpersonal skills; have expert knowledge of literature for young people, programming, service trends and practical applications for emerging technologies; and demonstrate leadership ability. Qualifications include a MLS from a program accredited by ALA, possession of a NYS Public Librarian's Professional Certificate by date of hire, and a minimum of four years of fulltime post-MLS professional librarian experience, preferably working with preschool and/or school age children in a public library, and at least two years of supervisory experience. Anticipated hiring range begins at $60,879. Submit cover letters and resumes by March 31, 2009 to Colleen Bodane, Human Resources Manager Saratoga Springs Public Library 49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or cbodane@sals.edu

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.