National Library Workers Day

Today is National Library Workers Day! NLWD, always the Tuesday of National Library Week, is a time to honor the contributions of all library workers, including librarians, support staff and others who make library services possible.

"Libraries are part of the American dream - places for opportunity, education, lifelong learning and free and equal access to a world of resources no matter your age, income or background - but that dream would not exist if it were not for the people who work in libraries." [ALA-APA, 2009]

MHLS Announcements
Come visit the Mid-Hudson Library System for the System Tour on Tuesday, May 19th from 9:30am - 12:30pm. The tour introduces member library staff and trustees to the MHLS staff and familiarizes them with available services.

The tour will cover:
· An introduction to the MHLS organization, web site and electronic resources (the online library catalog and HOMEACCESS)
· Technology: Automated Services, Data Entry, AV Services, and Computer Operations
· Public Services: Youth Services, ILL, Print Services, Member Information, Outreach & Continuing Education
· Administration: Business Office, Shipping & Delivery

There will also be built-in time to talk one-on-one with department staff. Register now at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

For the next several weeks the MHLS Print Services Department will be operating on a Monday -Thursday schedule.

Save the Date! On Thursday, April 30th from 4:00 - 6:00pm MHLS is hosting a Farewell Reception for MHLS Youth Services Coordinator Margaret Keefe in the MHLS Auditorium. Margaret will be retiring from MHLS in May and this will be a nice opportunity for everyone who has benefited from the MHLS Youth Services Department and Margaret's hard work to come together to wish her well in her retirement.

Resource Sharing & Millennium
Reminders:
- Data entry staff should only use the volume field for indicating a periodical or true volume for encyclopedias and other sets. This field should not be used on any AV item.
- Circulation staff should not use the "not wanted before" date when placing a hold. When you add a "not wanted before" date that item will page EVERY DAY at a library where the item is owned until the day it is actually needed. This means for days, weeks, sometimes months, some poor overworked circulation staffer, will go to the shelf, find the item, take it to the circ desk and check it in, only to find that there is no hold…

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
"Libraries know their potential to close the digital divide and bring internet technology into unserved or underserved communities, and more members of the public are learning that libraries offer more than free books, DVDs, and CDs; they offer help with job-searching, resume-building, skills-training, financial literacy, small-business development, e-government services, and much more. The challenge before librarians and library advocates is effectively communicating this message to local and state government officials and, in many cases, informing them about the opportunities available for libraries in the ARRA."
-Emily Sheketoff, ALA Washington Office
[ARRA = American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) aka Federal Economic Stimulus Package]

Current funding opportunities for libraries through ARRA - as summarized by MHLS - are attached to this week's Bulletin and are available online at http://midhudson.org/funding/arra_april.pdf

Judith Krug, the founder of Banned Books Week, has died. Judith had been head of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom since 1967. Banned Books Week (BBW) has been observed since 1982 and celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. "After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met." This year BBW is September 26 - October 3, 2009. Learn more at: http://www.ala.org/bbooks

Youth Services
Play, Move, Sing to Enhance Story Hours: The Play, Move, Sing Workshop, featuring award-winner Sukey Molloy, has been rescheduled at MHLS on Thursday, June 11th from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Sukey's presentations and music CDs are based on the premise that babies and young children learn more about themselves and the world around them when they engage directly in movement, discovery and play throughout the day. She will address how this philosophy can be effectively integrated into library story hour programs. The workshop is designed for library staff working with children, ages 1 - 5 who want to take part in a fun, active and thought-provoking workshop in action based learning for library and pre-school environment. Register at http://calendar.midhudson.org/ and visit Sukey's website for more information on her philosophy and programs at http://www.playmovesing.com/.

New die cuts have been purchased at MHLS to enhance your Summer Reading Program.
Animals - Pets (Mini)
Ballerina
Bus #3
Chef's Hat (Jumbo)
Drum w/ Stick
Mask-Comedy
Mask-Tragedy
Paper Bag Puppet-Pig (Jumbo)
Paper Doll
Pinwheel (Jumbo)
Star 3-D (Jumbo)
Tambourine (Jumbo)
Umbrella #2
To order, go to http://midhudson.org/program/support/accucut.htm.
MHLS has three Accucut shape cutting machines, and both Ellison and Accucut dies, listed at the web site noted above. These machines will cut multiple crisp copies and can be used with heavier card stock and craft foam. There are three ways to access this service from MHLS:
1. Borrow a machine: Machines and dies can be borrowed for a 2-week period. Machines are easy to use but bear in mind that they are VERY heavy. Contact kcruger@midhudson.org to request a machine.
2. Come to MHLS: You are welcome to come to MHLS to use them; don't forget to bring your own paper.
3. We'll cut them for you! Given 2 weeks notice (and availability of die shapes), if you send us your paper (100 piece limit per order, please) Note: Please do not send paper that is bigger than 11 x 17.

Children's Book Week (May 11-17) will be here before we know it and the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) provides lots of free and creative ideas for celebrating using materials found in the Kids! @ your library® tool kit! In the toolkit, you'll find games, activities and PR materials that will make planning easier than ever! The tool kit can be found here: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/kidscampaign/kidstoolkit.cfm The tool kit features lots of free artwork that will make celebrating this year's Children's Book Week fit into any budget!

Trustee Resources
The Spring 2009 issue of Across the Board has been sent to all member library trustees. The topic this quarter is "Strong Libraries Mean Strong Communities" and talks about board best practices to balance the surge in usage with shrinking community dollars and how to build on the current state of affairs to strengthen the library. This and all past issues of ATB are accessible through the MHLS web site: midhudson.org then Trustee Resources then Across the Board Archives or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/trustee/system/atb.php

Board Presidents: Please note that you are the only trustee on your board that automatically receives the MHLS Bulletin. If there are items you see in the Bulletin you think all of your fellow trustees should be made aware of, please mention them at your board meetings. You might also share with them that all trustees are welcome to sign up to receive their own copy of the weekly Bulletin via email at http://midhudson.org/bulletins/main.htm

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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.