Monthly Archives: September 2015

Register today for the MHLS Annual Meeting!

Libraries Build Sustainable Communities will be the theme of the 56th Annual Membership Meeting of the Mid-Hudson Library System and you are cordially invited to join us!

The event will be held on Friday, October 16th, 2015 at The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel (40 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601). Registration is required (http://bit.ly/1i4qr58).

Sustainability speaks to our capacity to endure. We are part of our community’s “ecosystem” and must be attuned to sustainability beyond our own operations. Libraries speak to the triple bottom line of sustainability: we impact our local and global environment, contribute to a healthy economy and are a core community institution devoted to social equity. Sustainable libraries are only possible when our communities are also sustainable. Our role as a community partner should encompass a focus on the sustainability of our communities, as well as ourselves to ensure a bright future for us all.

Agenda:

8:30am Registration & Coffee

9:00am Hot Breakfast Buffet

9:45am Annual Meeting

10:45am Keynote Speaker

Our sustainability focus this year is brought to life through our keynote speaker, Paul Gallay the Hudson Riverkeeper and president of the Riverkeeper organization.

His talk is entitled “Do Try This At Home: Citizen Action for Cleaner Water and Sustainability.”

For more information and to download the registration form please visit: http://bit.ly/1i4qr58

The MHLS Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, September 16, in the Community Room of the Town of Esopus Library and:
• completed their first review of the Moving Forward assessment report of Coordinated Outreach Service;
• reviewed the Proposed MHLS Planning Process for the Library System Five-Year Plan of Service 2016-2021;
• reviewed the initial letter from attorney, Ellen M. Bach, in response to correspondence received by MHLS from the Town of Union Vale’s attorneys, regarding the implementation of the loan restriction of non-print materials to Union Vale residents;
• agreed to review at the October 16 Board meeting a proposed second letter from attorney, Ellen M. Bach, in response to correspondence received by MHLS from the Town of Union Vale’s attorneys, regarding the implementation of the loan restriction of non-print materials to Union Vale residents;
• presented the proposed MHLS Board’s 2016 Slate of Officers, for approval at the December meeting;
• reviewed and approved the System’s 2015 adjusted mid-year budget;
• approved the MHLS Capital Fund Policy;
• authenticated the System’s Construction Grant Project Application for 2015-2016;
• approved recommendations for 2015-2016 member library Construction Grant awards;
• accepted the resignation of Ulster County Board representative, David Rolfe;
• approved the following dates for its 2016 meetings: Saturday, January 23, (snow date, Tuesday, January 26) ; Saturday, March 19, (snow date, Tuesday, March 22); Wednesday, May 11; Wednesday, July 13; Wednesday, September 14; Friday, October 14; Saturday, December 10 (snow date, Tuesday, December 13). The Annual Membership Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday, October 14;
• approved the System’s Family Literacy and Adult Literacy final grant reports;
• approved a Resolution for MHLS to participate in an RFP with the Mid Hudson Joint Management Team (MHJMT) to solicit bids for bandwidth connectivity to the Internet for MHLS and MHLS member libraries;
• went into Executive Session for the purpose of a personnel matter regarding a particular person’s employment;
• were presented a report on Ulster County libraries by Julie Dempsey, Director of the Highland Public Library, and 2015 Chair of the Ulster County Directors Association.

The election of MHLS trustees will be an item of business at the MHLS Annual Membership Meeting (You’re invited! Friday, October 16th at The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel).

MHLS is governed by a fifteen-member board, three trustees from each of the five counties served.

Procedures for Election of Trustees:
Article II. Nominations:

Section 2.01 -The county library association of each county for which a trustee is to be elected shall meet for the purpose of selecting a candidate from their county to nominate at the MHLS Annual Membership Meeting. The chair of the county library association shall submit to the MHLS Executive Director the name of the county library association’s nominee no later than two months prior to the Annual Membership Meeting.

Section 4.03 – Each member library is a voting unit having one vote.

Three seats, one seat in three of our five counties (Columbia, Dutchess and Greene), will be vacant and new representatives need to be elected for a five-year term (2016-2020):

The Columbia County Library Association has nominated Sharon Davis for a five-year term. Ms. Davis’ extensive service to libraries started in the mid 1980’s when she began her career as a Library Media Specialist at the Taconic Hills Central Schools and subsequently held similar positions at the Germantown and Goshen Central School Districts. Ms. Davis has also served as a Children’s Summer Program Coordinator for both the Cornwall Public Library and Guilderland Public Library.

The Dutchess County Library Association has nominated Barry Ramage for a five-year term. Mr. Ramage was appointed to the Red Hook Public Library Board of Trustees in 2005, and has served as Board President for the last eight (8) years. Under his leadership the library has successfully passed two chapter 414 budget referendums, and two chapter 259 budget referendums. In addition, Mr. Ramage worked to facilitate the Red Hook Public Library’s expansion project. He is currently a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor/Financial Advisor for UBS Financial Services in Albany, New York.

The Greene County Library Association has nominated Debra Klein for a five-year term. Debra has extensive knowledge of cataloging, graphic design as well as management skills and has worked since 2007 as Assistant Visual Curator, at the Visual Resources Center of Bard College, and, as a Cataloging, Student Assistant, at the Imaging Center at Smith College. Library affiliations include volunteer work for libraries in Sarasota, Florida, Arlington, Massachusetts, and Dutchess County (Red Hook Public Library).

The 11th Annual Battle of the Books will take place Saturday, September 12th at George Fischer Middle School in Carmel, NY. Opening ceremony is at 9:30 am. To learn more about the program or get directions to the event visit http://mhbattleofbooks.org/