The Board of the Mid-Hudson Library System met on Saturday, March 11th, 2023 and:
• Received a report on the status of advocacy to combat the proposed cuts to library aid and construction aid in the state budget;
• Approved the priorities for funding within the State Aid for Library Construction Program;
• Recognized MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, for being named the 2023 OCLC Distinguished Speaker, and
• Authenticated the MHLS Annual Report to the State

Directly after the board meeting the annual orientation for new system trustees was held. The content of the orientation covered board operations, key financial oversight documents and processes, and operational relationships.

The next meeting of the Mid-Hudson Library System Board of Trustees is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17th at the Pleasant Valley Free Library. All board documents are viewable at
https://board.midhudson.org/

Hunger Solutions NY is hosting a statewide webinar, Getting Ready for Summer Meals on March 21st at 1:00 pm. Whether you’re starting a new summer meal program this year or building on existing programs, join Hunger Solutions NY to learn about new resources and best practices for reaching more kids and teens this summer. The session will cover the basics of how to get involved, best practices, and outreach resources. All are welcome to attend. Even if you can’t make it, please feel free to register to receive the recording.

Join Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, co-author of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State for the next session of Trustee Handbook Book Club: The Board-Director Relationship! This session will take place on Tuesday, April 18th, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. At each session, trustees will take a deeper dive on a topic relevant to their role and responsibilities as a library trustee. Each month trustees are encouraged to read a chapter of the Trustee Handbook. You can access the full Trustee Handbook Book Club series resources online at https://midhudson.org/trusteebookclub/

REMINDER: The NYS Library’s LibGuides have moved the following publications to support accessibility, improve navigation, and streamline content management. Please update your links and communicate this with folks in your organization who may use these publications – we don’t want anyone to be disconnected from these great resources!
• Public Library District Toolkit: Strategies to Assure your Library’s Legal and Financial Stability
• Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State; 2018 Edition
• Helpful Information for Meeting Minimum Public Library Standards; 2018 Edition

If you have any questions, please contact the Digital Services Unit at the NYS Library at nysldigital@nysed.gov