Community Connections
Libraries have long been committed to building healthy, thriving communities, but they are now seeing an increased need to create and build strategic partnerships and expand relationships with the larger community.
~Webjunction
Libraries are a key part of our education system – Libraries are education:
- For pre-school aged children, libraries have continuously provided opportunities for enrichment in an environment dedicated to creativity and free inquiry. When schools close at the end of each day, each week and each school year, libraries remain open to children and New York’s families. In many communities libraries are the sole source of free tutoring and homework help after school, and provide expensive review and study books for SAT prep and final exams.
- Libraries are the “People’s University.” For adult learners, including those that did not attend or could not afford college, libraries provide an avenue for free, lifelong intellectual enrichment.
- Libraries are the leading digital literacy educators in New York State.
~NYLA
Adult Literacy
- Adult Literacy Learners [ALA]
- Adult Literacy through Libraries: an Action Agenda [ProLiteracy/ALA/Onondaga County Public Library]
- Literacy Connections of the Hudson Valley
- Supporting Adult Literacy in Public Libraries
Digital Literacy
- Digital Literacy in New York [NYSL]
- State Library Guidebook: Support for Digital Literacy in Public Libraries [WebJunction]
- EveryoneOn.org
Early Literacy
- Ready to Read at New York Libraries [NYSL]
- Reach Out and Read
- Books Build Connections Toolkit [American Academy of Pediatrics]
Family Literacy
Homeschoolers
- Tri-State Homeschoolers (Dutchess, Putnam & Ulster Counties)
- Ulster Home Educators
- The Alternative Learning Center [TALC] (Columbia, Greene & Ulster Counties)
School Library Systems
- Dutchess BOCES School Library System
- Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES School Library System
- Questar III School Library System (Columbia & Greene Counties)
- Orange-Ulster BOCES School Library System (Marlboro Central School District)
- Ulster BOCES School Library System
Workforce Development
- Best Practices for Delivering Workforce Development in Your Library [NYSL]
- Job and Career Information in NY’s Public Libraries [NYSL]
- Arts Council – Columbia | Dutchess | Greene | Putnam | Ulster
- Arts in Education BOCES – Columbia | Dutchess | Greene| Putnam | Ulster
- Cornell Cooperative Extension – Columbia | Dutchess | Greene | Putnam | Ulster
- Community Groups list (Adapted from Sandra Nelson’s New Planning for Results)
- Genealogical Society – Columbia | Dutchess | Greene | Putnam | Ulster
- Historical Society – Columbia | Dutchess | Greene | Putnam | Ulster
- Soil & Water Conservation – Columbia | Dutchess | Greene | Putnam | Ulster
- United Way – Columbia | Dutchess | Greene | Putnam | Ulster
- Universities – Bard College | Columbia-Greene Community College | The Culinary Institute of America | Dutchess Community College | Marist College | State University of New York at New Paltz | SUNY Ulster | Vassar College
MHLS is dedicated to providing its member libraries with information and awareness, to develop programs and services, to attract and connect to outreach target populations and form relevant community partnerships at the local level.
- Blind / Physically handicapped
- Aged
- Residents of institutions
- Educationally disadvantaged
- Developmentally or learning disabled
- Unemployed & in need of job placement assistance
- Living in areas under-served by a library: MHLS consultation services are available on an as needed basis.
- Members of ethnic or minority groups in need of special library services: Titles in languages other than English are in the MHLS Library Catalog. You can view them by choosing Advanced Search, then select the language of your choice from the Language drop-down list
- Additional Resources:
- 211 is a free, confidential multilingual service, in operation 24 hours-a-day, 7 days a week. Dial 2-1-1 when you don’t know where else to turn.
