July 15 is the first 2017 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/
15% Discount on New York Library Association Organizational Memberships through MHLS: All member libraries have the opportunity to receive a 15% discount on their NYLA Organizational Membership. Paperwork has been provided to each director and is due back to MHLS by June 23rd. Questions? Contact Joan Kay, MHLS Financial Assistant, jkay@midhudson.org
Sierra Lunchtime Webinar – Patron Data Entry and Fields: June 20th from 12:00 – 1:00pm. MHLS Automation Coordinator Thomas O’Connell will offer his monthly lunchtime webinar of Sierra training and Q&A. The topic will be Patron Data Entry and Fields. Please register online. Log-in information will be sent to you via email within 24 hours
Does your library plan to apply for the next round of State Aid for Public Library Construction? Join us for this hands-on, step-by-step workshop to help you fill out the online application and associated paperwork. Four dates to choose from:
Please register for the date of your choice soon at http://calendar.midhudson.org
Does your library lend non-traditional or unexpected things? Museum passes? Gardening tools like at the Patterson Library (shown above)? We would like to know! Please fill out this survey by May 30th to help us help State Librarian Bernie Margolis compile a statewide list: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/unexpectedthings
The Directors Association of the Mid-Hudson Library System have approved a service enhancement to the MHLS Digital Download Collection (OverDrive) that enables “Local Preference” for filling holds, just like our online catalog does for the physical collection.
“Local Preference” means that for items purchased by an individual library, that library’s patrons have “first dibs” on those items. Regardless of how many holds may be on that item, your library’s patron receives your library’s items first.
This enhancement was available thanks to a new sharing feature called Advantage Plus offered by OverDrive for member libraries who have Advantage accounts. These accounts are available to every member library and have already been adopted by the Beekman, Coxsackie, East Fishkill, Highland, Mahopac, Poughkeepsie, and Saugerties libraries.
The New York Library Association’s Library Leadership and Management Academy is an educational program for emerging leaders in the library profession. Participants will gain the skills and knowledge they need to advance up the career ladder in library management. Enrollees are required to complete ten courses over a three-year period to receive a Leadership and Management Academy Certificate. Qualifying courses will be offered at the NYLA Annual Conference (Oct./Nov.), in conjunction with NYLA’s Library Advocacy Day (Feb./Mar.) and during the month of June.
Who should attend The Academy? The Academy is designed for mid-career library professionals interested in obtaining the practical knowledge and basic skills critical to becoming a library leader or manager. For more information and to apply please visit http://bit.ly/2p2tNNL
Opportunity to attend 4-Week Early Literacy eCourse for free! In support of MHLS Early Literacy efforts, which focus on offering training in support of making member libraries vital community partners and early learning hubs in their community, we are offering a professional development opportunity for staff at MHLS member libraries underwritten by Family Literacy Library Services Funds awarded to MHLS through the NYS Division of Library Development.
ALA is offering ‘Creating Early Literacy Programs: Connecting with Early Childhood Development’ as an asynchronous eCourse beginning June 5, 2017 and continuing for 4 weeks.
Upon completion of the eCourse and the submission of the required paperwork* MHLS will reimburse a member library for the full $175 registration fee. *What’s required for a library to receive the reimbursement? 1) Submission of the form found at https://tinyurl.com/MHLSearlylitPD2017 and 2) a copy of the participant’s Certificate of Completion from ALA by July 14, 2017.
Questions: Contact Merribeth Advocate, MHLS Assistant Director at madvocate@midhudson.org
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
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/
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.