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MHLS will be closed on Monday, February 20^th in observance of Presidents Day. There will be no MHLS Delivery Services. MHLS technology staff will be available via the MHLS ticket system (techsupport@midhudson.org) from 8:30am to 4:30pm to support system-wide Sierra Encore issues. During these hours, MHLS staff will be checking the ticket system periodically each hour and will address system-wide Sierra Encore issues, sending tickets as necessary to Innovative, and posting to MHLS-Alerts. Please note, phone and general technology support will not be available during this time.

New Collaboration Offers Leadership Opportunity for Public Libraries in New York State: The New York Library Association (NYLA), and Westchester Green Business have announced a new collaboration that will strengthen libraries and their communities for decades to come by providing a clear path forward toward environmental sustainability for participating libraries. Just like the award-winning Hendrick Hudson Free Library! Learn more here about how your library can be a sustainability leader in your community!

Members of the Kingston Library’s Teen Advisory Group have calculated that they saved a combined $52,923 by using the library! The teens did the math to help get the word out about the Governor’s proposed cut to library aid this year for the MHLS Real People. Real Dollars. campaign.

DA Meeting Canceled for February 7 – Message from Linda Deubert, Directors Association Chair: Due to the winter weather advisory for tomorrow and the lack of urgent business on the agenda, the February D/A meeting is cancelled. See you all on March 3rd.

Governor Cuomo has cut library aid in his budget proposal for the coming year. From the Governor’s Executive Budget Proposal:

Library Aid – $91.6 million (4% CUT)
The proposed funding is $4 million less than what was in last year’s enacted state budget. This proposed cut fails to acknowledge the crucial role libraries serve in our communities, and the contributions they make to our state’s education system. Libraries ARE Education! State Education Law requires that Library Aid should be $102.6 million for FY2017-18. Libraries should be fully funded under the law. Absent of that, library aid must at least increase each year in parity with increases in education funding.

Library Construction Aid – $14 million ($5 million CUT) After a decade of stagnation, the State Library Construction Aid program received a $5 million increase in last year’s enacted budget. Governor Cuomo has proposed eliminating that additional funding.

Read this week’s MHLS Bulletin to find out how you can help combat the cuts!

Create a visual message with impact! We’re calling on at least two libraries per state legislative district (more would be awesome!) to help us tell the story of what a good investment libraries are leading up to Advocacy Day in Albany on March 1^st.

Are you in? You can help us by following the four easy steps found here: http://bit.ly/2iL8YPU

Governor Cuomo is finalizing his Executive Budget proposal, and NOW is the time to SPEAK UP FOR LIBRARY FUNDING!

A message from the New York Library Association: “We have not gotten any assurances that library funding is secure. In 2014, the last legislative election year, Governor Cuomo cut $4M in library aid as a negotiating tactic with the legislature. Library aid is again subject to these same negotiating tactics. The $4M in extra funding we worked so hard to get during last year’s budget is uncertain at best. This is unacceptable.”

TAKE ACTION NOW and tell the Governor that library aid should be INCREASED, not CUT. State Education Law mandates Library Aid be $102.6M for the upcoming year – current funding of $95.6M is inadequate, let alone a cut back.

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(POUGHKEEPSIE, NY) The Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) announces, effective February 10, 2017: Thomas O’Connell will serve as Acting Technology Operations Manager; Nina Acosta will serve as Acting Automation Coordinator; and Courtney Wimmers will serve as Acting Cataloging Specialist II. Mr. O’Connell has held the position of MHLS Automation Coordinator since 2014. From 2003-2014 he held

Take Your Child to the Library Day (TYCLD), a grassroots national initiative, encourages families everywhere to take their children to their local library. TYCLD raises community awareness about the importance of the library in the life of a child, and promotes valuable free library services and programs for children and families. Officially held on the first Saturday in February, local TYCLD celebrations may take place on any date(s) in February that suit the schedule and community of participating libraries. For more information, visit TakeYourChildtotheLibrary.org.

MHLS will be closed on Monday, December 26^th and Monday, January 2^nd. 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.