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The 2018 Explore New York and Libraries Rock! recreational reading lists and bookmarks for the Summer Reading Program are now available!

Member libraries can request copies of the brochure (free of charge) through this online form

New Guide for Library Staff: How To Support Your Patrons Who Have Overdrive Access Issues

The Board of Trustees of the Mid-Hudson Library System is advertising for the position of executive director. For more information, including the full job description, detailed qualifications and application information: https://bit.ly/2JqIjok This position closes June 10, 2018.

The American Library Association (ALA) has released The State of America’s Libraries report for 2018, an annual summary of library trends released during National Library Week, April 8–14, that outlines statistics and issues affecting all types of libraries. The report affirms the invaluable role libraries and library workers play within their communities by leading efforts to transform lives through education and lifelong learning.

Thank you to all who advocated for state library and construction aid this budget season! Your efforts turned the tide! The final number for library aid is +$5 million over the Governor’s proposal and construction aid is +$20 million over the Governor’s proposal! Take a moment to say thanks to our representatives in Albany who heard our message and did something about it!

Thanks to the efforts of thousands of library advocates from across New York State, our voices were heard! The NYS Legislature has released their “one house” budget proposals for this year’s budget – and those bills include the single largest increase in funding to the Library Construction Aid Program EVER – a $50M addition to the program, for a total of $64M!! This is in addition to both houses restoring the Governor’s proposed $4M cut to Library Aid.

Click HERE to send your message of support for Library Funding NOW!

National Television and Radio Campaign Promoting FREE Talking Book and Braille Library Services Launched: The Library of Congress National Library Service (NLS) has kicked off a national television and radio campaign launched on outlets including National Public Radio, the History Channel, and the Hallmark Channel. The commercials will run at three-week intervals through late 2019. New York State libraries public may receive questions from their community members about how they, a family member or a friend would apply for access to free talking book and braille library program services. Information on eligibility and application for these FREE services are available from the New York State Library Talking Book and Braille Library

Library Advocacy Day is this week! Dozens of library supporters from our region will travel to Albany to speak with legislators about state library aid and the State Aid for Library Construction program. We know that not everyone can join us in person so find out how you can help from your home or office in this week’s MHLS Bulletin!

Thanks to a Holiday Book Drive conducted by the Poughkeepsie Barnes & Noble on behalf of the Empire State Center for the Book libraries are being tapped to help get more than 4,000 BRAND NEW CHILDREN’S BOOKS into the hands of local kids! Typically the majority of the books available are for young children (including Golden Books) through middle-school age, and a smaller number of YA titles. The books are being stored in the MHLS Auditorium, if your library would like to pick up books to distribute to kids in your community please sign up for one of the pick-up dates:

• Tuesday, March 13
  • 1:30pm-3:00pm
  • 3:30pm-5:00pm

• Wednesday, March 14
  • 1:30pm-3:00pm
  • 3:30pm-5:00pm