Beginning on Friday, July 1, 2016, MHLS will implement a new five day a week, Monday-Friday, delivery schedule. No deliveries will be made on Saturdays.
MHLS Daily Delivery Services Routes, by library and by day
If you have any questions please contact Tom Finnigan, MHLS Shipping & Receiving Manager, at 845.471.6060 x244 or tfinnigan@midhudson.org
July 15 is the first 2016 deadline to take advantage of the MHLS Member Library Mileage Equalization Grant Program. Reimbursement is contingent on member libraries providing their staff reimbursement at the IRS rate for travel to attend training or to participate in meetings sponsored by and located at MHLS headquarters in Poughkeepsie. For more information and to access the claim form directors should visit https://da.midhudson.org/
Two New Webinars for Trustees Now Available On Demand:
• Building for Your Future: Public Library Renovation and Construction from Dream to Dedication
• What’s New in the Trustee Handbook?
Access these webinars and the handouts at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/trustees/webinars.htm
September presents a number of great opportunities for libraries to raise their profile through nationally coordinated efforts.
What is Library Card Sign-up Month? It starts by letting people know what your library has to offer. Keep it simple:
1. Get out into the community
2. Have fun
3. Get the word out that your library is cooler than cool… oh and get a few new card holders
Set a goal for your library, how many new library card registrations can you gather in September? Maybe challenge a neighboring library to see who will win! Don’t forget a library card is the smartest back to school supply a kid could have!
The American Library Association’s toolkit provides lots of support for making the most of Library Card Sign-Up Month in September, PR help and event ideas.
More than a dozen opportunities are offered this summer for member library input on the draft plan of service and its related components, the Free Direct Access Plan and the Central Library Plan. The drafts of the Plan of Service are available at https://midhudson.org/about-mhls/mhls-plan-of-service/. Member library directors are encouraged to sign up for one of the many focus groups being offered to bring their library’s input to the table for consideration in the planning documents. A full listing of focus group opportunities is available through the MHLS online calendar at http://calendar.midhudson.org.
In support of MHLS Digital Collection Access efforts, which focus on access to shared digital collections for all member libraries, all MHLS library’s patrons are able to participate in the 10th worldwide OverDrive Big Library Read!
From June 23rd to July 7th, ‘A Murder in Time’ by Julie McElwain will be available for every patron that wishes to read it—no holds, no wait lists. By participating in the Big Library Read, we are joining a global movement of passionate readers and library patrons who support the availability of eBooks at libraries, and it’s a great way to increase circulation. The title will be available for unlimited access on the MHLS Digital Download page between midday June 23rd and midday July 7th for the duration of the lending period. There will also be a promotional spotlight at the top of that page.
Additional advertising resources include:
Five MHLS Board Seats to be Filled by Annual Election: The election of MHLS trustees will be an item of business at the Mid-Hudson Library System’s Annual Membership Meeting, Friday, October 14, 2016.
MHLS is governed by a fifteen-member board, three trustees from each of the five counties served. Nominations are due prior to July 1, 2016.
Greene County – Two Seats Open: Send name(s) and contact information of nominee(s) to Sue Ray, Chair of the Greene County Library Directors Association: 518.943.4230 or director@catskillpubliclibrary.org
Putnam County – One Seat Open: Send name(s) and contact information of nominee(s) to Michelle Capozzella, Chair of the Putnam County Directors Association: 845.628.2009 or mcapozzella@mahopaclibrary.org
Ulster County – Two Seats Open: Send name(s) and contact information of nominee(s) to Julie Kelsall, Chair of the Ulster County Directors Association: 845.691.2275 or jkelsall@highlandlibrary.org
Sierra Questions Webinar: On Thursday, June 23rd, MHLS Automation Coordinator Thomas O’Connell will offer a lunchtime webinar from noon-12:45pm. The topic will be Create List Refresher. Please register for this online session soon, seating is limited: http://calendar.midhudson.org
Free Energy Assessment for your Library can help you get ahead! The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers no-cost energy assessments for libraries. A team of energy efficiency experts identify cost-effective, energy-saving opportunities to help organizations make informed energy efficiency decisions. The assessments identify improvements that can yield substantial annual energy savings, as well as available incentives and low-interest loan opportunities to reduce the cost of implementing the energy-saving improvements. In many cases the assessments help identity low-cost no-cost action items and encourage members by taking action on the issue of climate change. Additional assistance is also available to help members move forward. Organizations with 10 full-time equivalent employees or fewer are eligible for this free program. Get started by contacting L&S Energy Services, the regional program contractor, at 518.383.9405 x223 or mwooddell@LS-Energy.com
2016 PLS Awards: The Public Libraries Section (PLS) of the New York Library Association is currently taking applications for NYLA Conference Scholarships, Building Awards, and a Best Practices Award. Visit http://bit.ly/1TLClQI for the details for each award. The deadline for all three awards is June 30, 2016. Questions can be submitted to: rmaguire@onlib.org
