June 6th through October 18th, we are inviting everyone to visit as many MHLS Member Library locations as they can – learn about the different programs and services each library offers & earn souvenirs along the way!
Check out the details and how to participate.
Staff information is available here.
2025 has proven to be a wild ride for federal policy and funding impacting funding for library efforts in New York State.
This summer, while our elected officials are back at home in their districts, we are encouraging all library stakeholders to reach out and remind them how important libraries and the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) are to their constituents.
Calls and visits, including inviting them to your library to see what is happening are always best but email and good old-fashioned mail through the US Postal Service are also effective.
Through the MHLS delivery, each member library has received a package of postcards. Please ask your trustees, Friends Groups, and patrons to use these postcards to remind our State Legislators how important libraries are for literacy, economic development, and creating communities with neighbors that care about one another.
You could even hold a “Postcard Party” and have some fun together while advocating for libraries!
Enclosed with the starter package of postcards you will find:
These postcards were provided by an anonymous donor so what we’ve provided for you just about exhausted our supply. If you or your Friends Group would like to purchase more postcards, you can do so through Canva using this link and copying the file into your own Canva account. Canva has a print on demand option that is easy to use.
Questions? Please reach out to MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich.
Time: 11AM – 1 PM
Facilitator: Lara Sibley, Goshen Public Library
Location: Southeastern NY Library Resources Council, 21 S. Elting Corners Rd., Highland
The Reference Special Interest Group is open to library workers who provide reference services or want to learn more about it. The group is not limited by library type and comprises academic, special, public, school, and hospital library staff. You do not need to be a degree-holding librarian to attend. The facilitator will bring an agenda, and attendees are welcome to share their thoughts, ideas, experiences, and questions.
This month’s topic is Promoting database selection and use in reference interactions. The group will discuss how we talk about and encourage specific databases while working with patrons. To take advantage of the in-person format, there will be a group activity so that everyone can participate. The meeting is open to library workers from all types. Discussions will include issues relevant to both academic and public librarians.
This year, the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) is producing a series of events for library trustees and directors to help strengthen the financial future of your library.
This series is designed to meet directors and board members where they are, providing assistance for a range of developmental activities such as:
All events for trustees count toward the NYS Trustee Education Requirement for 2025.
Next in the series:
Multi-Year Financial Planning | Wednesday, August 13 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM | Roeliff Jansen Community Library, 9091 NY-22, Hillsdale | REGISTER
Multiyear financial planning is a vital tool for library boards and directors, particularly those struggling with difficult financial conditions. It can aid decision-makers to set long-term priorities and work toward goals, rather than making choices based only on what funds are available today. This is important when resources are limited and can also be beneficial to avoiding future stress. Join Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Executive Director & Co-Author of the Handbook for Library Trustees in New York State to review the Office of the State Comptroller’s multi-year financial planning process and helpful data sources to help strengthen your library’s financial position and ability to meet community needs.
This workshop is part of the MHLS Sustainable Funding & Trustee Education Series and is intended for MHLS member library trustees and directors only. Attendance at this event can be applied toward the NYS Trustee Education Requirements.
Facilities for the Future | Friday, August 15 | 10 :00 – 11:30 AM | Online | REGISTER
A key responsibility of directors and library trustees is to maintain a facility that meets the community needs. Library facilities across the Hudson Valley are faced with all sorts of challenges – from managing 21st century library operations in historic buildings never designed to be a library, to communities who have outgrown their buildings, and the everyday issues of maintaining a building that is accessible, safe and healthy for library workers and library users. Join Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MLS, LEED AP, MHLS Executive Director, for this introductory level webinar to learn more about assessing your current facility, planning for the future, and considering where the funds will come from to make it all happen.
New York State Public Officer’s Law §10 requires all public library trustees (but not association library trustees) to take and file an oath of office within 30 days of beginning their term of office. Public library trustees are public officers, and the oath of office is required to officially undertake and perform the duties of a public library trustee. If a public library trustee does not properly complete and file an oath of office, the trustee’s position may be deemed vacant. See Public Officer’s Law §30(1)(h). For more information about how and why the oath of office is administered, and where to properly file an oath of office, please see the Oaths of Office FAQ on the New York State Library website https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/trustees/oath.htm
