Kids' Port

The Marketing & Program Advisory Committee is pleased to announce the creation of a new web site for younger patrons that can be linked from member library web sites: Kids' Port: http://kidsport.midhudson.org/.

Connecting our children with quality information on the Internet while keeping them safe is a concern we all share. Public libraries are uniquely positioned to help parents teach their children about safe and responsible use of the Internet while linking families to quality educational and entertaining web sites and electronic resources available through their public library.

Kids' Port, created using funds from Senator Vincent Leibell, pulls together librarian-identified web sites and links into the online library catalog in the categories of: Fun & Games, Make a Difference, Homework Help, and Parents.

Many of the sites listed within "Kids' Port" are local and geared toward our member communities. For example, the "Kid Power Counts" link connects the viewer to local organizations that provide information on how kids and their families can "Make a Difference" in their own hometown. Kids' Port combines a fun place to be - through games and fun online links - with important learning for kids and their parents in the areas of online safety, homework help and civic responsibility.

Kids' Port will go live on member web sites managed by MHLS on September 1st.

MHLS Announcements
Come visit the Mid-Hudson Library System for the System Tour on Wednesday, September 23rd from 9:30am - 12:30pm. The tour introduces member library staff and trustees to the MHLS staff and familiarizes them with available services that will help make their jobs at your library easier. 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 & Community Connections, 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 online now at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

Reference & Collection Development
More About Mango: An increasing number of member library patrons are accessing Mango through your library's web site and they are staying longer. Initially through the back-end statistics we saw people were delving into languages and checking them out. In July we saw that the average time each user spent in the language learning program doubled, as people are staying, participating and learning.
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Patrons get quite a good deal by being able to use their library card to access Mango. If they had to purchase it as an individual it would cost them $345 per year per language. On their website at http://www.mangolanguages.com/ people can search by zip code for participating libraries. Your library is listed there.

With Mango, patrons can just dive in and start learning or can optionally register within the program so it remembers where they left off. Currently 160 member library patrons have registered to track their sessions, and more than 300 additional sessions were used anonymously by member library patrons. At this point Spanish, Italian and French are the most popular foreign language programs. The most popular ESL program is for Spanish speakers.

Mango is committed to supporting libraries. While most users are able to use the product without any difficulties, if any of your patrons are having difficulties and can't find a solution, they should contact the Mango Help Desk through the 'Support' link in the top right-hand corner of the program.

You can print an 8 ½ x 11 poster you can customize with your library name at http://midhudson.org/db/mango_poster.pdf

Youth Services
SRP Final Report: Summer Reading Program final statistics are due by Friday, September 4, 2009. The report form can be found on the MHLS Youth Services Department Site: http://midhudson.org/program/SRP/final_report.htm.
All member libraries that had a Summer Reading Program (even if you did not use the theme) should submit this form.

Show us what you have done! Submit photos of your 2009 Summer Reading Program to clinder@midhudson.org. Don't forget to include your library name as well as a description of the photo. Please send individual files (no folders) in jpg format. No images larger than 4"x 6" please.

YALSA's Fall Online Courses: The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), will offer three online courses this fall: AIMing at Tweens Advising, Involving, Motivating, taught by Teri Lesesne; Graphic Novels and Teen Readers: The Basics and Beyond, taught by Francisca Goldsmith; and Reaching Teens with Gaming, taught by Beth Gallaway. AIMing at Tweens and Graphic Novels and Teen Readers both meet for four weeks. Reaching Teens with Gaming meets for six weeks. All courses begin Oct. 5. To read course descriptions, please visit http://www.ala.org/yalsa and click on "Online Courses." Registration for YALSA's online courses is available at http://www.ala.org/yalsa now through October 2nd. Four-week courses cost $135 for YALSA members and students, $175 for ALA members and $195 for nonmembers. Six-week courses cost $149 for YALSA members, $195 for ALA members and $215 for nonmembers.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
Library Use Value Calculator Code for your Library's web site available from the New York Library Association: http://www.nyla.org/index.php?section=valuecalc

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.