Category Archives: Director-Home Page

• Engaged Planning: Ask What You Can Do for Your Rural Community Thursday, December 1, 2016 from 3:00 – 4:00pm. Your community needs the library, and planning for the future of your library begins with understanding the community and their aspirations. Registration: http://bit.ly/2f51w2L

• Service Excellence in Challenging Times Wednesday, January 11, 2016 from 3:00-4:00pm. In turbulent times, many Americans turn to their libraries. While this is a true affirmation of the value our country places on its libraries, it increases the responsibility for library staff to meet the public with the best customer service. Registration: http://bit.ly/2f1mlZz

Strengthening Young Families through Early Literacy Practices – a new workshop from the Mid-Hudson Library System.

National sources, as well as member library experience within our region, document the need for library staff to assist families with children from birth to school entry age in developing early literacy skills needed to succeed in the school years ahead, positioning the library as a vital community partner and hub for early learning in their community.

Presented by Merribeth Advocate, MHLS Assistant Director & Kerstin Cruger, MHLS Marketing & Program Assistant, this workshop is great for library staff that work with children from birth to school entry.

Learning Objectives:

• Know the importance of early literacy and how it relates to library programming
• Research based early literacy practices you can incorporate into your programming, include the framework of talking, singing, reading, writing and playing from the Every Child Ready to Read 2 initiative.

Register for one of the following sessions

• Wednesday, December 7 from 1:00 – 3:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium
• Friday, December 9 from 1:00 – 3:00pm at the Kingston Library (55 Franklin Street, Kingston, NY 12401)

E-rate Application: We are once again entering the e-rate application window. An overview of the process can be found here: http://bit.ly/2f66oD7 Please note that internet filtering and an internet security policy are required for e-rate reimbursement. E-rate Central provides a checklist that can be reviewed around meeting these requirements: http://bit.ly/2eUK3YL If you have any questions about these feel free to contact Robert Drake, MHLS Technology Operations Manager at rdrake@midhudson.org

MHLS will be closed on Friday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day. There will be no deliveries. Technology staff will be available via the MHLS ticket system (techsupport@midhudson.org) from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM to support system-wide Sierra Encore problems only. During these hours, tech support staff will be checking the ticket system periodically each hour and will address system-wide Innovative issues, sending tickets as necessary to Innovative, and posting to MHLS lists. Please note, phone and general issue support will not be available during this time

Sierra Q&A Webinar: MHLS Automation Coordinator Thomas O’Connell will once again offer the topic of Updates to Create List in Sierra 2.2 given the popularity of this topic last month. This is an online session that is scheduled for Friday, October 28^th at noon. The session will last for 45 minutes. Seating is limited so register today through the MHLS Online Calendar.

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