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:
- Helping Association and Municipal Public Libraries to a pattern of annual votes;
- Creating budget goals to address issues such as a living wage for staff, benefits, adequate funds for digital collections, programming or your facility
- Building an adequate reserve fund structure or
- Minimizing risk to your organization through adequate insurance coverage
All events for trustees count toward the NYS Trustee Education Requirement for 2025.
Next in the series:
Multi-Year Financial Planning | Wednesday, August 13 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM | Roeliff Jansen Community Library, 9091 NY-22, Hillsdale | REGISTER
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.
Facilities for the Future | Friday, August 15 | 10 :00 – 11:30 AM | Online | REGISTER
A key responsibility of directors and library trustees is to maintain a facility that meets the community needs. Library facilities across the Hudson Valley are faced with all sorts of challenges – from managing 21st century library operations in historic buildings never designed to be a library, to communities who have outgrown their buildings, and the everyday issues of maintaining a building that is accessible, safe and healthy for library workers and library users. Join Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MLS, LEED AP, MHLS Executive Director, for this introductory level webinar to learn more about assessing your current facility, planning for the future, and considering where the funds will come from to make it all happen.
