Adult Programmers To Meet

Funding for programs will be the topic of the December meeting of the Adult Programmers User's Group.

Thursday, December 10th
10:00am - 12:00pm
MHLS Auditorium
Register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/

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. With a focus on funding for programs we will cover:

- Budgeting for Programming
- Low Cost Solutions
- Grant Sources for Programs

This group is facilitated by Josh Cohen, MHLS Executive Director, Merribeth Advocate, Outreach & Education Coordinator & Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Coordinator or Member Information.

MHLS Announcements
November 15th is the deadline to send in claims under the MHLS Incentive Program for payment in the next incentive checks. Those libraries which had submitted a letter of intent to attend this year's NYLA conference, but have not submitted proof of attendance yet need to do so before November 15th. The total amount awarded is $4,000 and will be divided equally among those libraries. Please contact Doris Formby at x210 or dformby@midhudson.org if you have any questions or need help filing your claim. You may also look up information and print claim sheets at http://midhudson.org then Administration & Management then Budgeting & Finance then MHLS Incentive Program or get there directly at http://midhudson.org/admin/budgeting/main.php

Professional Development
The Kingston Library is offering a grant seeking workshop on Friday, November 13th from 1:00-2:00pm: Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online - The Foundation Center Directory Online database will give you instant access to information on thousands of grantmakers and their giving interests. The workshop will be presented by Luz Rodriguez from the Foundation Center. To learn about the Kingston Library's Cooperating Collection, please visit: http://www.kingstonlibrary.org/foundation.php. The Kingston Library is located at 55 Franklin Street in Kingston.

Resource Sharing & Millennium
For staff that work with Millennium: There were three Millennium-related items voted on at the November 4th Director's Association we want to make sure everyone is aware of:

- A new "Miscellaneous" itype category has been created. The itypes are 60-Miscellaneous and 61-Miscellaneous-no holds. These itypes have been added to allow you to circulate odd items that don't fall into a more common category. They have a standard loan period of 7 days, no fines and 1 renewal. This can be changed for individual libraries.

- A new payment method has been added in the fines payment process of Millennium Circulation. "In Kind" payment should be used as a method when you are accepting alternative payments such as labor, donations other than cash payment, or some other type of reimbursement. This payment type should be used only for fines under $25 dollars per location, your own replacement and manual costs. "In-Kind" cannot be used for replacement or billed items from other libraries, unless the owning library approves.

- Loan rules will no longer be able to exceed 10 renewals. Beginning on December 1st, libraries with renewal limits over 10 will be reduced to 10. Transactions taking place from that point forward will use this loan renewal.

Marketing, Advocacy & Funding
From the Stone Ridge Library's enewsletter:
Be a Library Advocate
The Stone Ridge Library depends heavily on the support and services that the Mid-Hudson Library System provides. Governor Patterson has proposed a cut in library aid of $3.375 million dollars which will directly affect the Mid-Hudson system. That is in addition to the $8 million dollar library aid cut earlier this year. Please be a library advocate and let your legislators know that library services are important to you. Contact Your Elected Officials

Research Shows that Libraries Play a Key Role in Connecting the Disconnected: In recent research and activities, Connected Nation [http://www.connectednation.org] has found that libraries, across the country, are playing a critical role in connecting America's disconnected. And, Americans are already speaking out about how libraries are transforming their families' lives through broadband.
- Significant percentages of those who normally don't subscribe to broadband - specifically single parents, minorities and low-income residents - are relying on the local library as their sole or primary Internet resource: 25 percent of single parents, 25 percent of minorities, 18 percent of low income residents, and 11 percent of people with disabilities depend on libraries for Internet connections.

- More than one-half of library Internet users (51 percent) have children at home, suggesting that a significant portion of library Internet users are children. Of this group, 42 percent do not have a broadband connected computer at home.

- Library Internet users are significantly more likely than other Internet users (those who connect at home or elsewhere) to use a number of online applications related to workforce development and education, civic engagement and healthcare.
- 46% of library Internet users search for jobs online, compared to 29% of other Internet users.

Programming
Member libraries with a Wii Sports bowling team are invited to join the 2nd annual Holiday Classic. Join the Howland Public Library and the Marlboro Free Library the first week of December and send your highest team score to Sue Scott, the Marlboro Technology Librarian at sscott@marlborolibrary.org. The winner will be posted on http://kplwiibowling.wordpress.com/. Also, if you send Sue a team picture, she will post that as well.

National Day of Listening: November 27th: Rresources are up and ready! Encourage people to take time - an hour on the day after Thanksgiving - to record a conversation with someone important to them. People can interview anyone they'd like: an older relative, a friend, a teacher, or someone from the neighborhood. The library could help with recording or connect people with recording equipment readily available in most homes, such as cell phones, tape recorders, computers, or even pen and paper. Check out StoryCorps' free Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide at http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org/ to create a library program or help your patrons prepare themselves and their interview partner to record a memorable conversation, no matter which recording method used.

Youth Services
RCLS/MHLS Youth Services Table Talks
Friday, November 20th, from 10:00am - 12:00pm at the RCLS System Headquarters. Table Talks is a time for Youth Service Providers to come together and talk about great programming, promotional activities and library services that other libraries have had success with, in a round table format. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet with other professionals from different libraries, counties and systems and share your ideas as well. Topics for discussion will include: creating promotional materials, making community connections, graphic novels for children & 'tweens, services to non-traditional families, rethinking the traditional library collection and more! You can register by going to the RCLS Calendar @ http://calendar.rcls.org/ and clicking on the program.

Job Openings
Library Director: The Ossining, NY, public library in Westchester County is seeking a new director for their recently opened facility. Job details are available at
http://ossininglibrary.org/images/pdfs/OPLDirSearch.pdf

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.