SRP Mini-Grant Winners

Congratulations to summer reading mini-grant winners! Thirty-four MHLS libraries will benefit this year from the MHLS Summer Reading Mini-Grants. These are Federal funds that come to library systems from the NYS Library, Division of Library Development, to help system members enhance summer reading programs.

Twelve libraries will receive $250 grants with which they will hire an additional performer to expand local summer programming. Those 12 include: Amenia, Athens, Claverack, Germantown, Hurley, New Lebanon, Philmont, Pine Plains, Stanford, Tivoli, West Hurley and Windham.

In addition, twenty-two libraries will receive $386 to purchase Flip Mino video cameras for young people to use in creating videos about favorite books, why they love their library, original writings and other creative projects. Winners of the Flip Mino video camera grant include: Beacon, Beekman, Brewster, Chatham, Clinton, Cold Spring, Garrison, Highland, Kent, Kinderhook, LaGrange, Mahopac, Marlboro, Milton, Palenville, Patterson, Plattekill, Pleasant Valley, Poughkeepsie Public Library District, Reed, Rhinecliff and Staatsburg.

Congratulations to all these libraries as they plan exciting programs for the young people and families in their communities!

MHLS Announcements
MHLS will be closed Monday, May 25th. There will be no deliveries.

Contacting the Youth Services Department: As we work to fill Margaret's position please use the email address: youth@midhudson.org for system services from the Youth Services Department. Kerstin Cruger, Merribeth Advocate or Rebekkah Smith Aldrich will do their best to help.

MHLS Libraries
Temporary library closings:
- The Pine Plains Free Library will be closed until June 1st as they move into their brand new building!
- The Saugerties Public Library will be closed June 1st - June 13th while they move into their temporary location at the Saugerties Town Hall for the duration of their construction project. Regular library hours will resume Monday, June 15th.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Fundraising Idea Exchange at the June Friends Support Group Meeting! Join us on Tuesday, June 23rd from 5:30 - 7:30pm in the MHLS Auditorium (105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie) for the quarterly Friends Support Group meeting. This support group has been created as a forum for member library Friends to come together and share information. Issues, problems and solutions will be on the table for all to learn from each other.
- Get ideas
- Hear from those who do what you do
- Discuss and share challenges and solutions
Fundraising is a hot topic this year so if other library stakeholders like staff and trustees would like to join in at this session you are welcome to! Register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

Check out what your patrons are using in HOMEACCESS to find out what they like and what they may not know you have. A new link in the Management section of the MHLS Resource Sharing page has been created to take you directly to the monthly HOMEACCESS statistics gathered through Web Access Management reports:
http://midhudson.org/resource/millennium/management/wam/wam.htm Use these statistics to assess how well you are promoting these valuable resources to your patrons through your web site, in the library and with word-of-mouth by your staff. When member library staff "talk up" a product, usage goes way up!

Reference & Collection Development
Find a College / Pay for College: The Spring 2009 Central Library Bulletin focuses on resources to help your patrons navigate the college search process, beginning with preparing for the SATs and ending with choosing a major at the college of their choice. The CL Bulletin offers tips for high school students seeking a traditional college experience, as well as for people looking for trade and technical schools or online degrees. The Department of Education reports a significant increase in students applying for financial aid, and the CL Bulletin highlights resources that will direct students and their parents to reliable financial aid information. To read the Central Library Bulletin online, visit http://midhudson.org/collection/main.htm, or http://midhudson.org/CL/enews/vol3_iss2.pdf

The Buddhist Association of America is pleased to announce the opening of the Woo Ju Memorial Library at the Chuan Yen Monastery located at 2020 Route 301, Carmel, NY. The library houses a small, specialized collection of information on Buddhism and other religions in both Chinese and English and in a variety of formats. Borrowing privileges will be extended to all community members interested in reading, studying or conducting research on Buddhism. For more information please contact Kathryn Schappert or Kaity Hsui at 845.225.1819, ext. 108.

Programming
Adult Programmers User's Group will meet on Thursday, June 25th from 10:00am - 12:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium. Our topic will be Program Evaluation. Join us for a lively discussion about making the most out of adult programming in your library. This session is ideal for library staff currently doing adult programming and for those interested in expanding their programming to include adult patrons. At this session we will talk about:
- How to evaluate existing programs for effectiveness
- Learn how to develop new programs from program evaluations
- Best practices for making programs responsive to your patron's needs
Register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

Youth Services
Now Available: Summer Reading Program tools that assist libraries in providing better access for visually impaired children: On the MHLS Summer Reading Program Support page [http://midhudson.org/program/SRP/main.htm] you will find links to information about ordering tactile materials for use with some of the activities provided in the 2009 manual and information about adding Braille to reading certificates and other items. Look for links to the:
- Diversity Section of the Collaborative Summer Library Program web site
- Braille Materials Order Form
- Tactile Graphics Order Form

Administration & Management
Save the Date: The Roundtable for New Directors will meet after the June Directors Association meeting on Friday, June 5th. Lunch will be served! Register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

Finding Interns: Did you know… If you are a member of the New York Library Association your library can post internship opportunities to NYLA's Internship Page for free? As summer approaches, many talented and qualified students will be seeking internships in libraries all over New York State. Let NYLA help you find the perfect intern for your library's needs by posting your opening to the NYLA's Internship page. Visit http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=1243 for details and to complete the Internship Posting Form.

Job Openings
The Germantown Library has a part time library clerk position available. Hours of employment are: Thursday 5:00 - 8:00pm and Saturday 9:00am - 2:00pm. The ability to work without direct supervision, computer and communication skills is essential. Duties include circulation, shelving and patron assistance. Please send resume and letter of interest to: Lynn Place, Director, Germantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Road, Germantown, NY 12526; 518.537.5800; germantownlibrary@valstar.net

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.