Category Archives: Director-Home Page

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.

Erica Freudenberger, Director of the Red Hook Public Library, has been named a 2016 Library Journal Mover & Shaker! This industry award identifies emerging leaders who are “up-and-coming individuals from around the world who are innovative, creative, and making a difference.” Erica was cited for her leadership that has led to impressive increases at her library since 2010:
• 250% increase in annual visits
• 23% increase in circulation
• 102% increase in program attendance
• 97% increase in publicly-approved funding
How has she done it? “Collaboration, partnership, and community engagement,” she says. “We’ve chosen to focus on helping our community reach its aspirations, which has transformed how people feel about the library and our community.” MHLS congratulates Erica on this significant acknowledgement of her leadership and vision. Read the full article about Erica

Sierra Questions Webinar: Monday, March 21st at noon – MHLS Automation Coordinator Thomas O’Connell will talk about the Sierra Knowledgebase and answer questions. This session takes place via GoToMeeting and will last for about 45 minutes. There is limited “seating” so register today through our online calendar

The Sierra software will be upgraded to version 2.1 the night of March 22nd. There will be approximately three hours of downtime beginning around 11:00pm and ending around 2:00am. No other disruptions are expected, however, clients may take longer than normal to start the morning of March 23rd. MHLS staff will be on hand to assist with reloading clients if necessary: techsupport@midhudson.org

Orientation for New Programmers: This program is designed for library staff and volunteers who are new to library programming, but open to all who would like to attend. Providing nuts-and-bolts information about making the most of programming at your library, the workshop will cover:
• The importance of year-round (including summer) programming for all ages
• Best practices for program planning, scheduling and reporting
• Making connections for community-based programming in the Hudson Valley
• Resources available to your library from MHLS

Presented by Merribeth Advocate, MHLS Assistant Director, and Kerstin Cruger, MHLS Marketing & Program Assistant.

● Tuesday, March 15 from 10am-12pm at the Germantown Library (31 Palatine Park Rd, Germantown 12526)
● Wednesday, March 23 from 10am-12pm at the MHLS Auditorium (105 Market St., Poughkeepsie 12601)

Please register for the session of your choice at http://calendar.midhudson.org:

Trending on Facebook… member libraries are stepping up to the plate to get the word out about the high return on investment patrons receive by using their library. Phoenicia, Cold Spring, LaGrange, Millbrook, Beekman, Kinderhook, Olive… libraries all over the region are posting pics of patrons – young and old – who have calculated their annual savings through use of the library to inspire their neighbors to use the NYLA Online Advocacy Center to contact their NYS legislators to encourage them to increase State Aid for Libraries this coming year. Get into the act! For more info contact Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Coordinator for Sustainable Libraries

The deadline for the Annual Report to the State is this Friday, February 19th.

Visitors to the MHLS Sierra Knowledgebase will now see an updated home page showing the brand new Sierra Users Guide!

This new resource, developed by MHLS staff, provides a listing of dozens of how-to guides arranged in the areas of:

• circulation
• cataloging
• acquisitions
• reporting
• reference

These can be viewed either individually or as a single lengthy PDF to assist with individual use and staff education. There is also a growing catalog of webinars at the bottom of the page. Speaking of which.. the next Sierra Questions Webinar will be held on Tuesday, February 23 at noon. Automation Coordinator Thomas O’Connell will lead this lunchtime webinar, which runs for about 45 minutes, will focus on the topic of Patron Data Entry. Registration is limited so register today through the MHLS online calendar: http://calendar.midhudson.org

The knowledgebase can be reached at http://kb.midhudson.org Please note: This site is password protected. If you have any trouble with your password, please contact techsupport@midhudson.org

Mental Health Issues in Public Libraries: Every library employee encounters difficult patrons from time to time. An estimated 1 in 4 American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder (the leading cause of disability in America). Mental health and substance use conditions often co-occur. The experience of dealing with unpleasant behavior is common for staff in libraries of just about all sizes and types.

This program is designed for all staff that work with the public. The workshop will cover:
• Common myths about mental illness
• Possible ways to deal with unpleasant behavior
• Tips and suggestions on the best way to work with mentally ill patrons
• Resources available to your library

This workshop, presented by Janet Caruso, Division Director of Mental Health America of Dutchess County and Marlene Taylor, MHLA Community Education Coordinator, will be offered in two locations:
• Wednesday, February 24 from 10:00am – 12:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium
• Friday, March 11 from 10:00am – 12:00pm at the Starr Library in Rhinebeck.

Please register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org

The Pawling Library was recently inspired by the aspirations of two teens who wanted to give something back to their community. The library started Project Do Something to bring together teens in grades 7 – 12 who wanted to have a positive impact in their community. Each week the group completes a different community service project.

More than 40 high school students attended the last two Project Do Something events at the Pawling Library!

The project list includes:
• Superhero Kits – creating capes and masks to give to kids in homeless shelters
• Planting Party – create packets of flower seeds that are full of honey bee flowers
• Color-a-Smile – create a drawing to give to people in need of a smile: seniors living alone, Meals on Wheels clients, nursing homes and more
• Pet PR – Meet a shelter dog and learn about shelters, adoptions and the myths surrounding the dogs. The kids will then pick pups to promote through the library’s social media channels to promote adoption!

Learn how teens in your library can Do Something