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MHLS Automation Coordinator Thomas O’Connell will offer his monthly lunchtime webinar of training and Q&A on Thursday, December 10^th at noon. The topic will be using the MHLS Knowledgebase. The session will take place online and last about 45 minutes. There are a limited number of slots available for this session so register soon through the MHLS online calendar if you’d like to attend. If you have ideas for topics to be addressed at future lunchtime webinars with Thomas just let Thomas know: toconnell@midhudson.org or 845.471.6060 x 221.

Library Journal, the premier professional journal for libraries, has released the eighth edition of their Index of Public Library Service, also known as “America’s Star Libraries, 2015: Top Rated Libraries.” Six of this year’s Star Libraries are right here in the Mid-Hudson Library System! That accounts for 15% of all of the Star Libraries in

MHLS will be closed on Thursday, November 26th. There will be no deliveries or tech support.

MHLS will be closed on Friday, November 27th. 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.

Will your library take the MHLS Thanksgiving Challenge? The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving are an ideal time to encourage library stakeholders in your community to speak up for your library by writing letters to the editor of local papers and sharing posts on their Facebook pages expressing their thankfulness for the library.

The MHLS Thanksgiving Challenge asks each member library and Friends Group to:

• Find at least two people to write a letter to the editor or an editorial about how your library adds value to the community.
• Encourage your Facebook fans to share their love of the library through their Facebook posts – generating electronic word-of-mouth is just as valuable as good old fashioned word-of-mouth! Check out our special supplement, “Quotables, Graphics & Inspiration,” to this week’s MHLS Bulletin for ideas and a headstart!

Challenge accepted? Then let’s get started! Prepare yourself to help others help your library:

• Use the Library Value Calculator from the American Library Association (ALA) to provide dollar figures and talking points that help translate a community’s return on investment. This provides eye catching statistics that your supporters can use in their letters and posts.
• Make good use of the brand new Libraries Transform Toolkit from the American Library Association Check out their “10 Ways to Engage” tip sheet http://www.librariestransform.org/toolkit/

Last time around the Philmont Library “won” the challenge with close to half a dozen letters to the editor and fantastic levels of engagement on their Facebook page by asking why people were thankful for their library. Think you can beat that? We bet you can!

Be sure to send in links to letters that appear (or copies) and screen captures of your patrons Facebook declarations to Rebekkah @MHLS: rsmith@midhudson.org

Now patrons can check out eBooks and eAudiobooks for their choice of 7, 14 or 21 days through the MHLS Digital Download collection.

The 21-day loan is a new option, which was approved by the MHLS Directors Association at their October 6 meeting. This is a feature that patrons have asked for, especially the eAudiobook listeners, so spread the word!

Patrons can set their own lending period preference for each format by:

1. Going to https://mhls.overdrive.com/

2. Log into their account

3. Click on Settings

More information on how to change lending period options is available at http://tinyurl.com/ptxvtcb

Patrons, in many cases, can also return a title early, before the loan period is over (to free up space on their card for another download!) using the software or app that they used to download it. Learn more about returning titles at http://tinyurl.com/o3efh5r

This ‘help’ information is also available by going to https://mhls.overdrive.com/ and clicking on Help.

After the Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, October 16th the MHLS Board of Trustees met in the Vassar Room of the  Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel and Banquet Center, and: reported the number of items borrowed/loaned between MHLS member libraries is up 12%; critiqued the 56th Annual Membership Meeting; discussed the current status of the provision of

The New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries has announced that the 2015 Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award has been awarded to the Red Hook Public Library for recognition of its innovative programs and successful community engagement partnership efforts.

The Red Hook Public Library, in existence for 150 years has more than 4,500 active card holders with more than 200,000 annual visits. In recent years library visits have increased 516%, library program attendance has increased 140% and circulation has increased 23% due to the library becoming an integral part of its community and developing partnerships with both local and regional organizations as well as with the local school system and Bard College. Library staff recently revised the library’s website (www.redhooklibrary.org) and has begun issuing a monthly e-newsletter.

Saturday, Sept. 12, at the George Fischer Middle School in Carmel, the Howland Public Library – Beacon Bees became the first team in the programs history to win the Annual Mid-Hudson Library System Battle of the Books Regional Competition for a third time!

The ‘Bees’ congratulate each other on a hard won victory!

The final battle came down to the Beacon Bees (Howland Public Library) versus the Grinnell Grizzlies (Grinnell Public Library District). The Grinnell Grizzlies placed second and Can’t Catch Poughkeepsie! (Poughkeepsie Public Library District) went home with third prize.

This was the 11^th year of this nationally recognized literature contest in which young people, in grades 6-9, answer trivia questions based on specific books they have read over the summer. It is designed to encourage young people to read good books, build team-working skills, and get together with other students in a friendly competition.

Register today for the MHLS Annual Meeting!

Libraries Build Sustainable Communities will be the theme of the 56th Annual Membership Meeting of the Mid-Hudson Library System and you are cordially invited to join us!

The event will be held on Friday, October 16th, 2015 at The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel (40 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601). Registration is required (http://bit.ly/1i4qr58).

Sustainability speaks to our capacity to endure. We are part of our community’s “ecosystem” and must be attuned to sustainability beyond our own operations. Libraries speak to the triple bottom line of sustainability: we impact our local and global environment, contribute to a healthy economy and are a core community institution devoted to social equity. Sustainable libraries are only possible when our communities are also sustainable. Our role as a community partner should encompass a focus on the sustainability of our communities, as well as ourselves to ensure a bright future for us all.

Agenda:

8:30am Registration & Coffee

9:00am Hot Breakfast Buffet

9:45am Annual Meeting

10:45am Keynote Speaker

Our sustainability focus this year is brought to life through our keynote speaker, Paul Gallay the Hudson Riverkeeper and president of the Riverkeeper organization.

His talk is entitled “Do Try This At Home: Citizen Action for Cleaner Water and Sustainability.”

For more information and to download the registration form please visit: http://bit.ly/1i4qr58