MHLS will be closed Monday, December 25th in observance of Christmas Day. There will be no deliveries and the MHLS ticket system will not be monitored.
MHLS will be closed Monday, January 1st in observance of New Year’s Day. There will be no deliveries and the MHLS ticket system will not be monitored.
2017 demonstrated, once again, that Hudson Valley residents value their libraries. Twenty-five communities voted on tax levies for their public libraries and one community voted on a building referendum. 96% of those votes were successful! You can review the full results of votes this year in the MHLS Public Library Vote Toolbox
Did you know that more than half of Hudson Valley students in the third grade are not proficient in the English Language Arts learning standards (i.e. not demonstrating an understanding of the content expected in the subject at that grade level).
The MHLS Early Literacy Project is a great opportunity if your library would like to focus on building long-term capacity to provide early literacy services in your community based on the best practices of this parent education initiative.
Information & applications are now available for the MHLS Early Literacy Cohort II Program. Applications are due on February 2, 2018.
ALA strenuously opposes FCC proposed order on net neutrality: American Library Association President Jim Neal released the following statement regarding the proposed order on net neutrality released by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai: “Preserving net neutrality is essential for equitable access to online information and services and thus a vital concern for our nation’s libraries. Now that the internet has become the primary mechanism for delivering information, services and applications to the general public, it is especially important that commercial Internet Service Providers are not able to control or manipulate the content of these communications. Libraries, our patrons and America’s communities will be at risk if the FCC repeals all protections contained in its 2015 Open Internet Order with no plans to replace with any enforceable rules. We strenuously disagree with the FCC’s actions and will continue to advocate for essential net neutrality protections.” The FCC Commission will vote on the proposed order at the December open Commission meeting on Thursday, December 14, 2017.
Concerned about the fate of net neutrality? EveryLibrary has provided a form to help you communicate with your federal elected officials: http://action.everylibrary.org/netneutrality
On December 12 from 3:00-3:30pm member library staff have an online opportunity to learn more about the new mobile app for the MHLS E-Magazine Collection (RBdigital). This overview will cover the following:
The Pleasant Valley Free Library has one of the most engaging library Instagram accounts in our System. With over 1,500 followers, their posts routinely receive over 100 engagements and local businesses and nonprofits tag them regularly.
Wondering what their secret to success is? Make some time to watch the latest MHLS Engage! Webinar Series installment and learn from social media maven Courtney Wimmers and her library director at the Pleasant Valley Free Library, Daniela Pulice as they explain their strategy and best practices. Watch this webinar at your convenience at https://midhudson.org/engage
Four trustees were elected to the MHLS Board at the 58th Annual Membership Meeting of the Mid-Hudson Library System:
Rajene Hardeman, representing Dutchess County, was elected to a 5-year term
Robert Culp, representing Putnam County, was elected to a 4-year term
Priscilla Goldfarb, representing Putnam County, was elected to a 5-year term
Lynne Ridgeway, representing Ulster County, was elected to a 5-year term
To read the full Annual Meeting report check out this week’s MHLS Bulletin
New! Reading History now available in Overdrive! Patrons have been asking for this for years! Reading History is now available through the MHLS Digital Download page (powered by OverDrive).
With your history, you can see which titles you’ve already read from a certain author or where you left off with a series! Detailed support with this new feature is available on the OverDrive Help site at https://help.overdrive.com/, just type ‘Reading History’ in to the search box.
MHLS will be implementing a new feature in the online catalog, Research Starters, on November 15th. Research Starters includes links to relevant articles, images, videos and audio clips. With content pulled from a variety of high quality sources, including Salem Press and Encyclopedia Britannica, your researchers will find information on their subjects at the top of the results list – right where they need it. To learn more about research starters, please view the brief tutorial
The New York Library Association (NYLA) has announced a one-of-a-kind opportunity for New York’s public libraries to step up as sustainability leaders in their communities: The Sustainable Library Certification Program.
The NYLA Sustainable Library Certification Program’s benchmarking system is designed to help libraries improve their “triple bottom line” as environmental stewards, economically feasible institutions and as community leaders that place great stock in social equity.
To learn more visit the NYLA Sustainability Initiative web site.
To sign up for an introductory webinar, register here.
