The 65th Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) Annual Membership Meeting will take place on Friday, October 25th at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park, New York. 
During the business meeting we will report to the membership on the health of the organization, conduct board elections, consider amendments to the MHLS Bylaws, and hear from MHLS’ Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich. We will bestow Outstanding Accomplishment Awards to our member libraries who have achieved sustainable funding, completed the Sustainable Library Certification Program, and the Public Library Administration Certification from Long Island University. Following the business meeting and awards we will hear from our keynote speaker, Lisa Varga, Executive Director of the Virginia Library Association and Library Journal’s 2024 Librarian of the Year. Ms. Varga will be presenting on the topic of Opening Minds, Closing Doors: The Threat of Censorship in Libraries.

AGENDA
• 8:30 am: Registration & Breakfast Buffet  
• 9:00 am: Business Meeting & Awards 
• 10:45 am: Keynote Speaker

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
• Registration Fee: $37
• Registration Deadline: Wednesday, October 16th at 5:00 PM
• Register Here

Questions about this event can be directed to ateal@midhudson.org. Please include MHLS Annual Membership Meeting in the subject line.

The Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Bravery in Literature honors living authors and books that advance human rights in the face of an alarming rise in book banning and censorship.

During her life, Eleanor Roosevelt fought passionately for literacy, the role of libraries in a democracy, and the universal right to intellectual freedom. For the 2025 Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Bravery in Literature, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill (ERVK) invites everyone to nominate an author and book that embodies the spirit of the award. This is an exciting opportunity for our library community to help identify who should win the awards this year. The deadline for nominations is September 30, 2024.

The Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) will once again partner with the ERVK on the 2025 Eleanor Roosevelt Banned Book Awards ceremony which will take place April 5, 2025 at The Bardavon in Poughkeepsie. See highlights from the February 2024 ceremony here.

The Technology chapter was greatly changed from the last edition to address issues surrounding digital equity, inclusion, and justice as well as the importance of staff training in light of the new minimum standards for association and public libraries. Also discussed in the chapter are the realities for budgeting for technology in a way that does not leave it to change but makes the necessary investments in this important aspect of library infrastructure.
Trustee responsibilities are small in number but broad in scope. This monthly Bulletin feature is designed to point out sections that are new in the updated version of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State.
Purchase a bound copy of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State, 2023 edition from the Mid-Hudson Library System. Order Form.

The Access to Library Services chapter was completely overhauled to help trustees view their governance work through the lens of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. It provides clear examples including facility, service development, and board recruitment considerations.
Trustee responsibilities are small in number but broad in scope. This monthly Bulletin feature is designed to point out sections that are new in the updated version of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State.
Purchase a bound copy of the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State, 2023 edition from the Mid-Hudson Library System. Order Form.