The Saugerties Public Library and Friends of the Saugerties Public Library help to improve literacy in the Saugerties community: Installation of initial 12 Little Free Libraries across the town of Saugerties completed. The Saugerties Public Library and the Friends of the Library have announced the installation of 12 “Little Free Libraries” across the Town and Village of Saugerties. “Little Free Libraries” (LFL) are free book exchanges (take a book, leave a book – but not a book you have checked out of the library) for promoting literacy and the love of reading as well as strengthening a sense of community. These 12 LFLs will join the nationwide movement to share books, bring people together and create neighborhoods of readers. Read the full story in this week’s MHLS Bulletin.
Monthly Archives: April 2017
MHLS Leadership Circle: 2017 Change Management Series with Evelyn Neale, President of Successful Change & Director of the William K. Sanford Town Library. The 2017 Leadership Circle is a two-part series this year. MHLS member library directors have the opportunity to attend two events, build a plan for change and receive professional support from our speaker Evelyn Neale between the two events to help carry out their plan, to optimize their skill set to manage change in their organization.Part 1 (May 5): Managing Known Change – Creating a Change Plan
Part 2 (October 3): Managing Unknown Change
For more information and to Register for both sessions: http://calendar.midhudson.org
Adult Literacy Library Services funds, awarded to the Mid-Hudson Library System by the NYS Library Division of Library Development, will be used to fund mini-grants of $1,000 each for up to 9 eligible member libraries.
These funds are intended to be used by a library to help a library develop and expand adult literacy programs (which will enhance workforce development services in public libraries, improve adult literacy on the job and in the home) and increase participation of adults in library literacy programs which will improve their career and educational opportunities.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The library must have a new or existing partnership with a Literacy Partner Organization to be considered eligible for the funds.
- The Literacy Partner Organization must be local public schools, colleges or other organizations that are operating adult literacy programs, which is designed to initiate, enhance or extend services to adults to increase their literacy skills.
- The library must have a related infrastructure component (such as a public computing center in the library; a literacy office in the library; the library is in a designated Literacy Zone).
More information, including the requirements, and the application form are available at https://tinyurl.com/MHLSAdultLit17-18
Thanks to your efforts we have relatively good news from Albany via the New York Library Association (NYLA) about the fate of Library Aid in the upcoming NYS Budget :
- The Library Aid program will be funded at $95.6 million reflecting a restoration of Governor Cuomo’s proposed cut. While this is flat funding over last year, our efforts staved off a reduction.
- Library Construction Aid has been increased to $24 million. This not only reverses the Governor’s proposed cut of $5 million, it also increases the Aid program by $5 million above where were last year!
- There is also word that there will be $15 million in Senate “Bullet Aid” for Special Legislative Grants for education institutions, including public libraries. While this is less than last year, it is still a viable source of funds for your library. NYLA will have a sample letter you can use to request funds through your State Senator soon.
MHLS thanks you for your efforts to influence this outcome.
2017 NY GovBuy: A Statewide Government Buyers Event | May 3 & 4 2017 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, NY. This event provides practical training that enables purchasing officials to stay informed about relevant procurement-related issues and more effectively meet fiscal challenges. The event is funded entirely through exhibitor fees. Visit exhibitors’ booths to learn about the many goods, services and technologies they offer, as well as how they may help provide solutions to your library’s needs. For more information and to register: https://govbuy.ogs.ny.gov/
“I believe that local communities and individuals are not helpless in the face of health and climate change challenges and that national and international policy are not the ultimate arbiters. This idea of making a difference at a local level person by person is at the heart of American libraries.”
–“Getting Your Beets and Books at the Library,” Donna Williams, founder of Field Goods
Recommend to Library Function now Live in the MHLS eBook and downloadable audiobook collection (OverDrive): Now each member library will be able to get recommendations from their patrons of OverDrive titles that would like the library to purchase! Read all about it in this week’s MHLS Bulletin.
Interested in learning more about funding and legislative issues that impact libraries at the federal level? The American Library Association’s Washington Office provides comprehensive coverage of these issues and provides a venue for you to activate as a library advocate:
- Key Issues briefings
- District Dispatch, the enewsletter from the ALA Washington Office
- Legislative Action Center, very similar to the NYLA Online Advocacy Center but for national issues
Consumer Reports has a new logo! Be sure to update this graphic on your library’s web site if you do not have a MHLS-managed web site.
