Central Reference Library Resources

The Adriance Memorial Library (AML) of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District is the MHLS Central Reference Library. It has the largest collection of books and audio-visual materials in the system, and receives additional state dollars to provide a variety of services to MHLS member libraries:

Reference Support
- Member libraries can call the AML reference desk for help with patrons' reference questions after you have exhausted the resources in your library. AML reference librarians are available Monday-Thursday 9:00am - 9:00pm, Friday and Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm, and Sunday 1:00 - 5:00pm. Call 845.485.3445 x3303, or 1.800.804.0092.
- AML provides Stumped pads to member libraries with handy tear-off sheets that provide patrons directly with the contact information for the AML reference desk. If you need more of these use the MHLS Online Material Request Form: http://midhudson.org/forms/material_request.htm
- For more in-depth reference support, patrons may submit their request on a Subject Search Form (also available through the Online Material Request Form), which is sent to AML by their home library.
- Regional reference training opportunities are listed on the MHLS online calendar: http://calendar.midhudson.org/
- Librarians at AML will provide staff training and consultations on a variety of topics - free of charge - in your library. For a list of available sessions: http://midhudson.org/professional/on_demand.htm

Virtual Reference Resources
- Useful Links in a variety of subjects are selected and maintained by AML staff: http://links.poklib.org/
- Subject Guides list useful resources on specific topics, and include tips for improving search results: http://poklib.org/reference/subject.htm

Learn more about Central Library Services on the MHLS web site: http://midhudson.org/collection/main.htm. Member libraries should contact Sue Hermans, Central Reference Library Services Coordinator @PPLD for any of the services listed above: 845.485.3445 x 3321 or shermans@poklib.org.

MHLS Announcements
Barnes & Noble Bookfair: Thank you to everyone who pitched in during National Library Week. The bookfair earned just over $400 for the Battle of the Books Program. This is 58% less that was earned last year, a pretty big indicator that our patrons are hard hit by the economic downturn.

Charles DeSimone, the Community Relations Manager for the Poughkeepsie Barnes & Noble led a customized store tour for about a dozen member library staff during our bookfair to help them learn ways to market their library like a bookstore. Tips from the tour:
- Displays are located directly in front of where customers enter the store so they can't miss them.
- Display racks on wheels are used to freshen the look of displays easily by moving them around the store.
- "Face Out" is critical - books that are facing out sell much better than books displayed in what they call the "library look" - when only the spines are visible.
- Managers speak with each staff person one-on-one every day for about 5 minutes to find out how the day before went, what issues arose and what customers are asking for. This helps them address customer service problems immediately and to have targeted displays they know customers will respond to. Current display examples included: local history; seasonal - hiking and fishing; events like Mother's Day and graduation.
- Twilight was all over the store, including a nice display of books Stephenie Meyer recommended on her web site: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com

Professional Development
The Future is Not Out of Reach: Change, Emerging Trends, 2.0, and Libraries, a presentation by David Lee King [http://www.davidleeking.com/]. May 7, 2009, 10:00am - 4:00pm at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065. Cost: $45. "Change is good, but sometimes it is also hard. Emerging tech trends are also good, but sometimes the change needed to implement those emerging trends feels like scaling a mountain! David discusses the current social networking transformation taking place, and applies those changes to a library setting. Then David will discuss the changes a library needs to make to meet and participate in our new online, participatory world. Please use the Registration Form:http://www.cdlc.org/pdfs/KingPresentationMay09.pdf Send the form with your check made out to CDLC to: CDLC, 28 Essex Street, Albany, NY 12206. Registration deadline is April 30, 2009. (That's Thursday!)

Resource Sharing & Millennium
Be on the lookout for bootlegged DVDs! A bootleg DVD is an illegal copy. At the April DA meeting Laurie shared that we have evidence of library's DVDs being replaced with duplicated (or bootlegged) copies. These copies can be very difficult to detect.
Look for:
- photocopied sleeves
- blurry or odd feeling disk labels and
- missing library labeling or barcodes.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to know when the switch took place. This is piracy and theft. Patrons who are doing this could be prosecuted.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
2008 State of America's Libraries report from the American Library Association echoes trends we are seeing in member libraries - libraries are critical in times of crisis, but funding is lagging. "U.S. libraries experienced a dramatic increase in library card registration as the public continues to turn to their local library for free services. More than 68 percent of Americans have a library card. This is the greatest number of Americans with library cards since the American Library Association (ALA) started to measure library card usage in 1990, according to a 2008 Web poll conducted by Harris Interactive."

More key findings and trends:
- 10% increase in both checked out items and library visits, compared to data from the last economic downturn in 2001.
- Libraries continue to report that job-related activities are a priority use of their computers and Internet services.
- Children are among the heaviest users of public-library resources. Children's materials accounted for 35% of all circulation transactions, and attendance at library-based children's programs was 57.8 million.
- 40% percent of the libraries that responded circulate games.

Almost all the survey respondents (92%) said they view their local library as an important education resource. Seven of 10 agreed that their local library is a pillar of the community (72%), a community center (71%), a family destination (70%), and a cultural center (69%). Based on everything they either know or might have heard or read, three of five respondents (59%) were extremely or very satisfied with their public library. The satisfaction rate was even higher among those who have a library card. Read the full report at http://www.ala.org/2009state

Trustee Resources
"Why does my library need a Law Enforcement Inquiry Policy anyway?" Here's why: This particular policy provides staff with guidelines for how to respond when confronted by a law enforcement official who wants to view patron data the library may have on file, either through Millennium or other internal library paperwork. Under Subsection 4509 of Civil Practice Laws and Rules better known as the "Confidentiality of Library Records Law of New York" staff is not allowed to provide any patron data without a court order. This policy helps ensure staff act in accordance with the law while cooperating to the fullest extent possible with law enforcement. Written policies provide consistency for patrons and staff, help to resolve misunderstandings, reduce incidents of conflict and help to protect from litigation. For more information about libraries and confidentiality:
- Confidentiality & Libraries FAQs (MHLS): http://midhudson.org/faq/library_admin/confidentiality_faq.htm
- MHLS Privacy Statement: http://midhudson.org/patronprivacy.htm

Administration & Management
The Library Management Institute @ Arcadia University presents its annual two-day summer conference on Monday June 29th and Tuesday June 30th on the campus of Arcadia University near Philadelphia. This conference is devoted exclusively to the current issues in library administration and management, and will feature three keynote addresses and over 25 workshops presented by leading library administrators from across the country. The theme of the conference will be Managing Today's Library. There will be two tracks each day; one in public library management and the other in academic and special library management. The deadline for early registration is Monday June 1st. A complete brochure including registration materials is available by visiting http://www.arcadia.edu/gsbi

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.