The Future of the System

As we all confront the fiscal realities of the New York State budget and the long years of no increase in System funding the Directors Association (DA) is taking a proactive step to address the future of System services and funding by having an educational retreat for all member library directors Thursday, September 3rd at the Mount Saint Alphonsus Retreat in Esopus.

The Task Force of library directors that was convened last year to work on the 2010 / 2011 System fees decided to examine models for future System services and funding for 2012 and beyond. The ultimate goal is to decide on a model that will determine member fees based on definable criteria by the end of 2010 to give most libraries a year's lead time to adjust their budgets.

This DA retreat will be the first step in the process. In advance of the meeting, each library director will receive materials that need to be reviewed and a questionnaire on "How has your library used the System" that needs to be filled out prior to the retreat. The goal of this retreat is to provide relevant knowledge of the System's background and organization, and to develop a framework / process for future service and funding decisions.

Agenda:
9:30am: Start
10:00 - 11:00am Establishment of / History of Public Systems
Legal Requirements
How Systems are Funded / Budget Cycle
Roles: MHLS Board, DA & System Staff
11:00am - 12:00pm Small Groups: Discuss Questionnaire Results
12:00 - 12:50pm Lunch
1:00 - 1:45pm Groups: Report Out
1:45 - 2:45pm Exercise: Decision Making and Building Consensus
2:45 - 3:15pm Coffee/Tea Break
3:15 - 4:00pm Wrap Up

This change in the System model will have a significant impact on every library in the System and it is crucial for all libraries to be heard. The Task Force feels it is critical that every library director attend. Directors must register online by Monday, August 17th: http://calendar.midhudson.org/

MHLS Libraries
A round of applause please…
Congratulations to Julie Johnson, Director of the Kinderhook Memorial Library, who was recently elected as the new President-elect and to Mahopac Library's Mary Debellis who was elected Treasurer of the Library Administration & Management Section (LAMS) of the New York Library Association (NYLA). Julie and Mary's terms will start at the NYLA Conference in October. LAMS was established to provide a forum for the exchange of information on administrative and management issues, including (but not limited to!): relationships with Boards of Trustees, ethics, statistical reporting, budget and finance, personnel administration, civil services, professional development, proficiencies, salary, and recruitment.

Congratulations to Allison Herrero, Adult Services Librarian at the Howland Public Library in Beacon, Allison was recently elected as the Mentoring Chair of the New Members Round Table of the New York Library Association.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
At the workshop on Newsletters & eNewsletters - presenters Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Coordinator of Member Information and Julie Johnson, Director of the Kinderhook Memorial Library provided lots of tips for a library to get started and be successful with a print and/or enewsletter. The group was encouraged to do both a print and email newsletter to reach the maximum number of people in their communities. Resources from the workshop, including "101 Content Ideas," jumpstart, graphics and distribution resources are available on the MHLS web site: http://midhudson.org then Marketing, Advocacy & Funding then Marketing & PR then Newsletters or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/funding/marketing/newsletters.htm

NYLA & NYSUT Announce Affiliation: The New York Library Association (NYLA) and the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), which has 600,000 members, have joined forces. NYSUT will work with NYLA to advocate for legislation that will help libraries."In difficult economic times, libraries need additional support and this affiliation strengthens both organizations and allows us both to more effectively serve our members," NYSUT President Richard Iannuzzi said in a statement. "We feel partnering with NYSUT will increase our ability to advocate for the interests of our members, protect against potential cuts, and further our legislative agenda," NYLA President, and MHLS Executive Director, Josh Cohen.

LaGrange Library's "Smartest Card" Program:
Coming in the Fall...
Your LaGrange Library Card - the Smartest Card in your Wallet

Your library card saves you money throughout the year, but in September and October when you show it at 19 local businesses, it will also provide you with discounts to their products and services. Tell your friends and neighbors to stop in and register for a library card so they can save too. Not only will you have more money in your pocket, but you'll also be helping our local economy by doing business in town! Watch for our September eNewsletter to find out which businesses have partnered with the library to save you money.

How will your library celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month (September)? The American Library Association provides many tools to help you promote Library Card Sign-Up Month in your community and remind people that a library card is the "smartest card" in every wallet - posters, public service announcements and sample press releases in English and Spanish are available at http://www.ala.org/librarycardsignup

Programming
As seen in the August issue of The Chronogram:
The Livingston Free Library in Columbia County is using the "Be Creative" statewide Summer Reading Program theme to include residents of all ages in their "Letterbox Livingston and Learn Your Local History" program. Residents can pick up clues, a notebook and a stamp and then use the clue sheet to find their way around town. Clues lead them to the town hall, post office, historic sites in the town and local businesses - including a new restaurant. This program is a great way to reach out to new residents who may be unfamiliar with your town, it's also a great family activity. Check out Livingston's clues at http://livingston.lib.ny.us/

Youth Services
Deadline Reminder: Attention winners of the 2009 Summer Reading mini-grants - In order to receive the grant funds your library was awarded in May for the Flip Mino Grant or the Performers Grant, you must complete the final report and return it to the MHLS Youth Services Department no later than Friday, August 28, 2009 to
-Through the delivery: To MHLS YS Department
- Email: clinder@midhudson.org
- Fax: 845.454.5940
The final report can be found on the MHLS SRP webpage: http://midhudson.org/program/SRP/main.htm under mini-grants. Please attach invoices for all items purchased with the grant funds. Your library will receive the funds awarded when MHLS receives reimbursement from NYS.

Job Openings
The Catskill Public Library is looking for a Children & Young Adult Librarian. The appropriate candidate will either have, or be working towards, a MLS with a focus on services to younger patrons and a working knowledge of literature for children and teens. The Catskill Library is undergoing some exciting changes: we are renovating the ground floor of the historic Carnegie building to create a new public meeting room, provide wheelchair access and, foremost, to create a new Children/YA Department on the ground floor with its own banks of computers for access by patrons 17 and under. This department will have its own circulation desk.

The Children/YA Librarian will be responsible for ordering and processing of materials, circulation duties, and the planning and implementation of programs for children and teens. This position requires the ability to oversee a budget and to order circulating materials and other items within the constraints of that budget. The Children/YA librarian position can vary between 25-40 hours per week, depending upon the needs of the person hired, and those hours will involve some evenings and weekends. Please submit resume, three references and a meaningful cover letter to library director David DeShong at cpldirector@mhcable.com for consideration until September 1, 2009.

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.