Helping Patrons Search for Jobs

"Helping Patrons who are Searching for Jobs" workshop: This program is designed for all staff that are asked for help from patrons who are searching for jobs. It will help you develop your ability to assist them, make it easier for you to quickly connect them with the resources they need and help you provide quality library service to your community. It will be held in each county, presented by Deb Weltsch, Reference Librarian at the Adriance Memorial Library. All workshops are from 10:00am - 12:00pm:

-Thursday, May 7th @ Cairo Public Library (512 Main Street in Cairo)
-Thursday, May 14th @ Claverack Library (629 Route 23B in Claverack)
- Wednesday, May 20th @ Town of Esopus Library (128 Canal Street in Port Ewen)
- Wednesday, June 17th @ Kent Public Library (17 Sybil's Crossing in Kent Lakes)
- Monday, June 29th @ MHLS Auditorium (105 Market Street in Poughkeepsie)

The workshop will cover:
- Providing the answers patrons need about finding job listings, preparing for interviews, researching companies
- Tips for helping patrons with templates for writing resumes and filling out online forms
- Great resources to help patrons prepare for many tests (including GED, SAT, Civil Service, Vocational, Military and more) with the most current study guides and practice tests
- Connecting patrons with support services in your community
- Customer service tips that make it easier to answer hard questions

Register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

MHLS Announcements
James Monteith, 1959-2009 - We were sorry to hear the sad news of the passing of James Monteith, who died on Valentine's Day from an unexpected heart attack at work. James was the librarian at Green Haven Correctional Facility, and had previously worked at the library at Vassar College and at Howland Public Library in Beacon. He was a play writer, was involved in local theatre and in his church. A memorial service will be held on May 2nd at noon at Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie.

MHLS Libraries
The LaGrange Library is helping their patrons save money and save the Earth starting this week (Earth Day is Wednesday!) by offering a Kill-a-Watt Detector for patrons to borrow. This is an electricity usage monitor that allows a homeowner to detect "energy thieves," and find out how much energy appliances use and how much the cost to run. Library Director Lisa Karim was inspired by a program in Maine where every public library offers this device for lending. The library is also promoting another "Save the Earth" opportunity this week - a workshop on how to turn a t-shirt into a tote bag!

Earth Day (April 22) was created in 1970 as a global day of observance of the need to protect the earth.

Professional Development
CE Survey: On behalf of the MHLS Continuing Education / Professional Development Advisory Committee, we are asking all directors, staff and trustees of MHLS libraries to fill out the online MHLS Continuing Education Survey linked to center of our home page at http://midhudson.org. The brief survey will take about 10 minutes to fill out, and will provide the committee with information about what topics appeal to you, your preferences for time and location, and other information to be used in future planning of MHLS Continuing Education programs. If you prefer to fill it out on paper it is available at http://midhudson.org/survey/ce.pdf. Please fill out the survey by May 8, 2009.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Great Opportunity to Publicize Kids Events: The editor of the Hudson Valley magazine's monthly Kid's Korner section would like to include more kids' library events in the area (he's a big believer that kids need to read more!) They operate two months ahead of time so, for example, he would need July events emailed to him by the beginning of May. Here's his contact info: Greg Ryan, Assistant Editor, Hudson Valley magazine, gryan@hvmag.com

Youth Services
Summer Reading Program Mini-Grants Deadline Approaching: It's that time of year again--when libraries plan to enhance their summer programs by winning a mini-grant from MHLS. Here are the particulars about the grants:
- Libraries must be using one or more of these summer themes: Be Creative @ Your Library, Express Yourself @ Your Library or Be Creative: Explore NYS (for those focusing on the Quadricentennial)
- Libraries may apply for only one grant
- Grant One: Performers grant, $250, ONLY for libraries whose 2008 total receipts were $125,000 or less to hire additional performer for summer program
- Grant Two: Flip Out @ Your Library grant, $300 for ANY library to purchase Flip Mino video camera to be used in conjunction with summer programming
- Flip Out @ Your Library Workshop, April 23 @ MHLS from 1-4 pm to learn about the Flip cameras, how to create/edit/upload films and ways to use them in summer programming. Register at http://calendar.midhudson.org/
- All libraries applying for either grant must include both projected quantitative outputs & qualitative outcomes, including ways these will be gathered (explained more fully in the application & the Outcome Based Evaluations section of the summer reading site)
- Both grant applications are available on the SRP site at http://midhudson.org/program/SRP/main.htm
Deadline for both applications is Monday, April 27
Contact Margaret Keefe for more information: mkeefe@midhudson.org.

New Additions to MHLS Professional Collection!
These new books were funded through the MHLS Health Information Project:

MANAGEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY [MHP 658.4036]
- Library Blogging by Karen A. Coombs & Jason Griffey, 2008.
- How To Do Everything With YouTube by Chad Fahs, 2008.
- Playing to Learn: Video Games in the Classroom by David Hutchison, 2007.
- Podcasting for Dummies by Tee Morris, Chuck Tomasi, & Evo Terra, 2008.
-YouTube for Dummies by Doug Sahlin & Chris Botello, 2007.

MARKETING/INTERNET [MHP 021.7004]
-YouTube for Business: Online Video Marketing for Any Business by Michael Miller, 2009

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT/CHILDREN [MHP 025.21305]
- Getting Graphic!: Comics for Kids by Michele Gorman, 2008.

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT/YA [MHP 025.213052]
- Reality Rules!: A Guide to Teen Nonfiction Reading Interests by Elizabeth Fraser, 2008
- The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels by Danny Fingeroth, 2008.

MANAGEMENT OF YA [MHP 025.52305]
- Crash Course in Teen Services by Donna P. Miller, 2008

LIBRARY PROGRAMS/YA [MHP 027.625055]
- Great Group Games: 175 Boredom-Busting, Zero-Prep Team Builders For All Ages by Susan Ragsdale & Ann Saylor, 2007.

MANAGEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY [MHP 658.4036]
- Library Blogging by Karen A. Coombs & Jason Griffey, 2008

For more info on the MHLS Professional Collection visit: http://midhudson.org/mhls/professional_collection.htm

Job Openings
Library Director, Hudson Area Association Library: Hudson, a community of 7,000+ is the county seat for Columbia County and is known for the diversity of its population, its historic architecture and its growth as an arts and cultural center. The library is housed within a historically relevant building and is undergoing transition along with the community.
The Board of Trustees is seeking an individual with public library experience in facility management, collection development, technology, and budgeting. The candidate will report to the President of the Board of Trustees and will be assisted by a Library Manager who supervises a small part-time staff as well as a loyal group of volunteers. The successful candidate should possess strong leadership skills, the ability to forge strong community partnerships, an entrepreneurial spirit, a sense of humor, and a genuine interest in people. Candidates must have a MLS from an ALA accredited college or university as well as at least two (2) years of professional library experience. Salary: Low to mid-40s and benefits. Candidates should e-mail a detailed resume that includes three (3) professional references and contact information to Beverly Wolf at Bbmacwolf@aol.com.

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 online at http://midhudson.org/bulletins/main.htm.