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.
The MHLS cataloging team is here to help get your records cataloged and your items circulating. If you are not finding a perfect record match for the item you want to add, no need to add a brief record. Instead, open a ticket by emailing cataloging@midhudson.org. Please send us details about your item, including a UPC# if you have one, the title you would like it to display in our catalog, a list of contents if it is a multi-part set, and any other info that would be important for your patrons to know. If you have a link to a website where you purchased the item, please include that as well. We may follow up with additional questions to help us customize the record to best suit the needs of your staff and patrons.
Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) has secured a group discount for a physical media license with SWANK Movie Licensing USA (MLUSA) for member libraries. New this year SWANK also has a streaming license. These are two separate licenses with different pricing models. Your library can purchase one or both licenses through this opportunity.
Libraries that wish to purchase a new license (physical media and/or streaming) or renew (for physical media only) an existing license from SWANK Movie Licensing USA through MHLS should complete this form by July 25. MHLS will invoice your library for the cost of the license or licenses based on the rates provided by MLUSA. Please contact Kerstin Cruger to receive the price for your physical media license discount. Streaming license pricing is listed below. Licenses take effect in September.
SWANK Movie Licensing USA (MLUSA):
NEW – SWANK Streaming Service
| Service Population | 1 Year Streaming Cost |
| 1-45k | $400 |
| 45k-100K | $500 |
| 100k+ | $600 |
To screen movies at library programs and other library events in compliance with copyright regulations, the library must secure the necessary public performance license. In some cases, more than one license may be required to secure the rights for all the movies and programs the library plans to screen. There are two commonly used companies that provide this type of license, SWANK Movie Licensing USA (MLUSA) and Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC), and libraries should be sure that the licenses they’ve purchased secure the rights needed.
Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC)
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:
MHLS Sustainable Funding Series: Finance for Trustees Part 2: Multiyear Financial Planning
Tuesday, June 24 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | Online | Register here
Description: 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.
Salaries & Benefits: Strengthening the Future of Your Library by Investing in Your Staff
Wednesday, June 25 | 10:00 – 11:30 AM | Online | Register here
A strong salary and benefits package is key to recruiting and retaining quality library staff.
This workshop will provide an overview of how libraries can position themselves to better compensate current library employees and improve overall retention and recruitment. It will also highlight some essential tools trustees or directors can use to strengthen library compensation packages through policy, which in return will foster overall improved organizational well-being.
Presenter: Brian M. Hildreth has been a public library system director since 2013, and worked as a public library director between 2003 – 2013. He got his start in libraries in 1997 where he worked full time in an academic library throughout his undergraduate studies. Library work and family are his passion, and he has been particularly drawn to directorship and rural libraries. His areas of interest are governance, leadership, sustainable funding, digital equity, and care for all the amazing stakeholders who make up the New York State library community. Brian is the co-moderator of the Trustee Handbook Book Club Series in New York.
This session is part of the MHLS Sustainable Funding series which is designed to create long-term strategies for better funded libraries that can meet community needs. It is intended for MHLS member library trustees and directors only.
Attendance at this event can be applied toward the NYS Trustee Education Requirements.
Library Advocacy Briefing
Wednesday, June 25 | 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Online | Register here
Join Rebekkah Smith Aldrich for a status report on state aid as well as advocacy efforts to protect congressionally mandated funding, such as the Grants to State program, and check in on State plans to ensure the continued operations of the NYS Division of Library Development.
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
