Category Archives: Director-Home Page

Reminder of Damaged Items Policy & Procedure from the MHLS Resource Sharing Standards:
http://kb.midhudson.org/resource-sharing-standard/ (knowledgebase login required to access the full document)

“A. Owning library must indicate the number of parts in the item – in M-message field of the item record. Without this indication missing pieces will be the responsibility of the owning library. An item checked in is considered accepted by the library that checks it in, and the library assumes responsibility for the condition.

B. Do a visual check before check-in. If books are damaged, AV components are broken, or if the item is missing pieces or damaged beyond normal wear and tear, do NOT check the item in. See Missing Components Procedure.

C. It is the financial responsibility of the library, at check in and check out, to make sure all pieces are included. This does not require removing components.

D. The library that is checking in the item needs to make the first attempt to recover the missing parts by a phone call to the patron within 48 hours. The library that is checking in the item over their desk from the delivery box will call the last patron, regardless of whose patron it is, within 48 hours.”

Missing & Damaged Component Procedure (knowledgebase login required to access): http://kb.midhudson.org/missing-and-damaged-components/

Computer Equipment Orders: MHLS can assist your library in finding cost-effective computers and related equipment. Please note, starting this year all orders for computers and other equipment through MHLS must be completed by the end of November. No exceptions can be made. MHLS Tech Purchase Form

Archived Webinars – Did you miss one of the webinars MHLS offered this year? Don’t despair – many are archived at midhudson.org under Topics –> Professional Development/Continuing Education

Currently available for on demand viewing:

• MHLS Engage! Webinar Series
  • Community Engagement Works!
  • Phoenicia Rising
  • Democracy in Practice
  • Outside the Library
  • DIY Coding Program
• Outside the Lines – Libraries Reintroduced
• Tips for Improving Productivity Webinar
• Property Tax Cap Refresher Webinar

Thursday, October 13th from 2:30 – 4:00pm.

This workshop is appropriate for library directors, staff and volunteers. Drawing on 20 years’ experience as a trainer and coach, Laurie Brown will show you how to create a welcoming, friendly experience for patrons, students, and other library users. Satisfied customers mean good vibes, and happy library users are part of a strong library. In addition to learning how to fulfill the expectations of the people who use your library, you will also get pointers on listening and communications skills to help your conversations with angry, chatty, or overly demanding patrons as gracefully as possible.

This is a group viewing of a webinar provided by the American Library Association. MHLS is offering this opportunity at three locations:
• Cairo Public Library
• Desmond Fish Library (Garrison)
• MHLS Auditorium (Poughkeepsie)

For more information and to register for the location of your choice please visit http://calendar.midhudson.org

Get Certified! The New York Library Association’s Sustainability Initiative is partnering with the Westchester Green Business Council and the New York State Energy & Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) to provide access to a tool that will help your library incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into operations and ultimately achieve certification as a “Sustainable Library.” An informational event to learn more will be held on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM Montrose, NY at the Hendrick Hudson Free Library – Westchester’s first WGB-Certified library! At this event you will learn more about a pilot program launching in 2017 through NYLA to become certified as a Sustainable Library and to have your library’s registration fee waived for the Westchester tool! To learn more and to register: http://bit.ly/2bP2AYJ

The MHLS Leadership Circle will meet after the September 7^th Directors Association meeting from 12:30 – 2:30pm. This event is designed for MHLS member library directors to provide an opportunity to discuss the opportunities and challenges of being a library leader. Our topic this time around will be the Director-Board President Relationship. At this event we will discuss:

• Healthy characteristics of the director-board president relationship
• Best practices for co-leading the library with the board president
• Case studies

Please register online for this event.

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Sierra Tips & Tricks – Little known features to save you time and frustration! This session is targeted to library staff using Sierra for collection development or data entry of any kind. If you regularly log into Sierra, this workshop is for you.

Thursday, September 22^nd
10:00pm – 12:00pm
MHLS Auditorium
105 Market St., Poughkeepsie 12601

This workshop will feature a panel of Sierra Aficionados ready to share some overlooked Sierra features that will help you with housekeeping, collection development, and increasing circulation. This workshop will focus on sharing knowledge and conversation. Share what works best and get new ideas from others who do what you do.

Panelists:

• Daniela Pulice, Director, Pleasant Valley Library: Common Sierra Errors and How to Avoid/Fix Them

• Katie Scott-Childress, Director, Olive Free Library: High Demand Holds for Acquisitions
• Pam McCluskey, Cybrarian, Desmond-Fish Library (Garrison): Using Create Lists to Find ‘Missing’ Books

This event will be facilitated by Thomas O’Connell, MHLS Automation Coordinator. Please register online

In keeping with our Annual Membership Meeting theme, Libraries: Cornerstones of Democracy in our Communities, MHLS is seeking examples of how member libraries are catalysts for civic engagement in their communities. Civic engagement refers to the ways in which citizens participate in the life of a community in order to improve conditions for others or to help shape the community’s future. Civic engagement includes:

• Volunteering
• Voting
• Participating in civic and social organizations
• Engaging in activities that strengthen community
• Participating in public dialogues and problem solving sessions, and
• Working to make a difference in their communities

Source: Library Priority: Community-Civic Engagement,
Urban Libraries Council Leadership Brief, Fall 2011

How has your library helped to contribute to civic engagement in 2016? Let us know by emailing MHLS Coordinator for Library Sustainability, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich: rsmith@midhudson.org Deadline: Friday, September 9th, 2016.

• Marketing Materials
• Staff Training: 60 minute Overview & Staff Training Webinars from the vendor will be offered on:
  • Tuesday, August 16th at 11:00am
  • Tuesday, September 8th at 3:00pm
  The first 30 minutes will explain how the service works, demonstrate its easy-to-use features and answer your questions. The second 30 minute section will be additional staff training on marketing, administrative and reference desk related troubleshooting tips. Preregistration is required – space is limited.

All member libraries now have access to the Summer Reading Final Report Form. All reports will be due by Monday, September 12.

The Summer Reading Program final report contains information needed for member library Annual Reports as well as to provide New York State with important data about public library summer reading programs.* All MHLS member libraries are required to submit an online Summer Reading Program final report. Questions about the report should be directed to Kerstin Cruger, kcruger@midhudson.org or 845.471.6060 x250.

*Did you know? NYS considers any program that takes place during the summer months to be a “Summer Reading Program.”