Category Archives: Director-Home Page

Construction Grant Technical Assistance Workshop: Tuesday, June 7th from 10:00am – 12:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium | Presented by Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Coordinator for Sustainable Libraries

This workshop should be considered mandatory for libraries who have indicated they intend to apply for the next round of funding through State Aid for Public Library Construction program. This workshop will focus on the technical aspects of the grant application and associated paperwork and cover:

• An orientation to the online application portal
• A review of the mandatory attachments
• Answers to frequently asked questions, including an open Q&A period

Please register online for this event at http://calendar.midhudson.org

The deadline for E-rate Form 471 filings has been extended for libraries until July 21st, 2016. this new deadline does not allow for new requests (Form 470), but if you’ve had difficulty filing your form 471 due to insufficient free and reduced lunch data or difficulties with your filing type (library vs. library system), these can be resolved during this extended window.

The American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) have released “Progress in the Making: Librarians’ Practical 3D Printing Questions Answered” The document poses and answers sixteen practical questions related to establishing 3D printing as a library service.

(above: 3D printer @Pawling Free Library)

“Libraries represent the public on-ramp to the world of 3D printing and design,” said Dan Lee, chair of OITP’s Advisory Committee. “Library professionals who have adopted, or are looking to adopt, a 3D printer must answer questions related to printer operation and maintenance, workflow management, cost recovery, patron safety, and much more. Libraries are democratizing access to, and facilitating learning through, 3D printing technology, we need to make sure they have the necessary technical know-how to keep that trend going.”

The New York Library Association’s Library Leadership & Management Academy (L&MA) 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. 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.

Applicants must either have five years of library experience and a Bachelor’s Degree OR two years of library experience and an MLS. Enrollment in the Library Leadership & Management Academy is limited to 40 students each year. Enrollees are required to complete ten courses over a four year period to receive a Leadership and Management Academy Certificate.

APPLICATION DEADLINE in order to participate in the June 2016 Summer Session is Friday, May 20.

For more information about the Leadership & Management Academy and to enroll: http://bit.ly/21Ejn0d For questions about the Leadership & Management Academy, please contact director@nyla.org

A Better World Books drop box has been installed at MHLS headquarters on Market Street in Poughkeepsie for use by member libraries!

Donation Guidelines

Learn more about Better World Books

MHLS Leadership Circle: Thursday, May 5th from 12:30-2:00pm (after the DA meeting). Topic: Leading Through Change.

This event is designed for MHLS member library directors to provide an opportunity to discuss the opportunities and challenges of being a library leader.

At this event, the fourth meeting of this group, we will discuss:
• Leadership in the face of fast-paced change and disruption
• Balancing “keeping up” with proactive leadership
• Key relationships and communications skills that assist a director during times of change

MHLS Mini-Grant available to help underwrite attendance at Teen Services professional development opportunities: MHLS is offering a 75% reimbursement of the cost to member library staff for two national online professional development courses regarding teen services. This mini-grant is made possible through NYS 2016 Coordinated Outreach Categorical Aid to MHLS.

Teen Services Fundamentals is an Infopeople Online Learning Course, approved by ALA’s Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) program.

• It runs from May 24^th to June 20^th.
• The cost is $150 and MHLS will reimburse $112.50 to the member library.
• Full information and registration at http://bit.ly/1VC0bk7

Collaborating with Teens to Build Better Library Programs is an ALA eCourse.

• It starts May 30^th and runs for 4 weeks.
• The cost is $175 and MHLS will reimburse $131.25 to the member library.
• Full information and registration at http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=3864

Reimbursement will be based on MHLS’ receipt of the form provided on the MHLS Alerts list and a copy of the participant’s certificate of completion by July 6. Questions should be directed to MHLS Assistant Director, Merribeth Advocate: madvocate@midhudson.org

MHLS is proud to partner with Riverkeeper to get the word out about the Riverkeeper Sweep, Riverkeeper’s 5th Annual day of service for the Hudson River taking place on May 7th!

We are inviting all member libraries to join us in helping Riverkeeper recruit volunteers throughout the Hudson Valley for 100+ stewardship projects – cleanups and plantings – from NYS to Albany that will be carried out on May 7th. This is a family-friendly volunteer opportunity that can bring your community together around something we all care about!

How you can help:

The application process for the 2016 “Leading to the Future” ALA Leadership Institute (August 8-11, Eaglewood Resort, Itasca, Illinois) is now open, with applications accepted through April 15, 2016. This four-day immersive leadership development program for up to 40 mid-career librarians helps future library leaders develop and practice their leadership skills in areas critical to the future of the libraries they lead.

Gearing Up for Earth Day 2016: In the spotlight from the New York Library Association’s Sustainability Initiative (NYLA-SI): “Libraries have long been in the reduce-reuse-recycle business. Way before the first Earth Day celebration kicked off 46 years ago, we’d been resource-sharing and reducing consumption for generations. Earth Day is Friday, April 22nd. Don’t miss this opportunity to show your community how the library honors and sustains our most precious resource, our planet. Here are 5 things you and your library can do to celebrate Earth Day this and every year!

1. Partner with your local community supported agriculture (CSA) and be a food pickup location, like the Valley Cottage Library (NY)

2. Engage your community to participate in a regional litter cleanup of parks and roads, like the Mundy Branch of the Onondaga County Public Library in Syracuse, NY

3. Craft using recycled and found materials, like the Daniel McHugh Library in Piermont, NY.

4. Work with your administration and board to sign a resolution like the Climate Smart Community Library Pledge like the Kingston Library, Kingston, NY

5. Help the Earth Day Network reach their goal of 3 Billion Acts of Green by reducing e-waste, beginning a composting project or ending use of disposable plastic in your library

The NYLA-SI Sustainability Spotlight provides weekly news items related to how New York’s libraries are and can be more environmentally sustainable, economically feasible and socially just.