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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.”

• September 7: Leadership Circle – Topic: Director-Board President Relationship
• September 13: Planning Effective Programs with Princeton Public Library’s Janie Hermann
• September 17: Regional Battle of the Books Competition
• October 6: New Directors Roundtable – Topic: Budgeting Basics with Tom Lawrence
• October 12: The Inside and Outside of Evaluations: How they impact planning, growth & funding
• October 14: MHLS Annual Membership Meeting @FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Park, NY
• October 28: Fall Into Books Children’s & Teen Literature Conference
• November 2-5: New York Library Association Annual Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY (Early Bird Registration ends August 19)

SouthEastern New York Library Resources Council (SENYLRC) has announced new software and interface for Southeastern Access to Libraries (SEAL) regional Interlibrary Loan (ILL) System (SEAL 2.0), making regional ILL easier.

Using SEAL, MHLS member libraries can borrow and loan materials among different library types – including college and university, school and public libraries within the Ramapo Catskill Library System throughout eight counties:

Training webinars and classes are offered this summer and fall to help library staff make the most of this resource for their patrons.

Whether you are already a SEAL ILL System participant or a library new to regional resource sharing, you are invited to participate.

July 15 is the first 2016 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/

More than a dozen opportunities are offered this summer for member library input on the draft plan of service and its related components, the Free Direct Access Plan and the Central Library Plan. The drafts of the Plan of Service are available at https://midhudson.org/about-mhls/mhls-plan-of-service/. Member library directors are encouraged to sign up for one of the many focus groups being offered to bring their library’s input to the table for consideration in the planning documents. A full listing of focus group opportunities is available through the MHLS online calendar at http://calendar.midhudson.org.

Sierra Questions Webinar: On Thursday, June 23rd, MHLS Automation Coordinator Thomas O’Connell will offer a lunchtime webinar from noon-12:45pm. The topic will be Create List Refresher. Please register for this online session soon, seating is limited: http://calendar.midhudson.org

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.