Vol.24-30 | 7.23.24

The Mid-Hudson Library System has 62 Fully Fine Free Libraries! The most recent library to adopt fine free status is the Town of Ulster Public Library. Town of Ulster Public Library was previously partially fine free for children’s materials. 

Columbia County is fully fine free! Dutchess and Ulster Counties are mostly fine free with a couple of libraries partially fine free for children’s materials. Check out the listing of our fully fine free members listed by county:

Columbia County 

• Chatham Public Library

• Claverack Free Library

• Germantown Library 

• Hudson Area Library

• Roeliff Jansen Community Library (Ancram, Copake, Hillsdale)

• Kinderhook Memorial Library

• Livingston Free Library

• New Lebanon Library

• North Chatham Free Library

• Philmont Public Library

• Valatie Free Library

Dutchess County 

• Amenia Free Library

• Beekman Library

• Clinton Community Library

• Blodgett Memorial Library (Fishkill)

• Dover Plains Library

• East Fishkill Community Library

• Grinnell Public Library District (Wappingers Falls)

• Howland Public Library (Beacon)

• Hyde Park Free Library

• LaGrange Association Library

• Millbrook Library

• Morton Memorial Library and Community House (Rhinecliff)

• NorthEast Millerton Library

• Pawling Free Library

• Pine Plains Free Library

• Poughkeepsie Public Library District

• Red Hook Public Library

• Starr Library (Rhinebeck)

• Staatsburg Library

• Stanford Free Library

• Tivoli Free Library

Greene County

• Catskill Public Library and Palenville Branch

• D.R. Evarts Library (Athens)

• Greenville Public Library

• Heermance Memorial Library (Coxsackie)

• Hunter Public Library

• Mountain Top Library (Haines Falls/Tannersville)

• Windham Public Library

Putnam County

• Brewster Public Library

• Desmond-Fish Public Library (Garrison)

• Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library (Cold Spring)

• Mahopac Public Library

• Patterson Library

• Putnam Valley Free Library

• Reed Memorial Library (Carmel)

Ulster County 

• Elting Memorial Library (New Paltz)

• Highland Public Library

• Hurley Library

• Kingston Library

• Marlboro Free Library

• Morton Memorial Library (Pine Hill)

• Olive Free Library Association

• Phoenicia Library

• Rosendale Library

• Sarah Hull Hallock Free Library (Milton)

• Saugerties Public Library

• Stone Ridge Public Library

• Town of Esopus Public Library

• Town of Ulster Public Library

• West Hurley Public Library

• Woodstock Public Library District

The following 2 libraries in our system are partially fine free:

• Plattekill Public Library (Ulster County) – children’s and Young Adult collections are fine free.

• Pleasant Valley Free Library (Dutchess County) – children’s books are fine free.

If your library is interested in going fine free, the MHLS Technology Operations team is happy to help you explore the idea. The Tech Ops team reviews the loan rules already in place for your library, which requires 1-2 weeks to turn around depending on the size of the library and the current state of your loan rules. For more resources about going fine free please visit https://midhudson.org/fine-free-libraries/. 

In 2024, the State Legislature passed S.7093-A, critical legislation updating New York's State Aid for Library Construction program to better support library construction needs statewide. Gov. Hochul has until 7/30 to sign S.7093-A for it to impact aid included in this year's budget.

Please use this form, supplied by the New York Library Association (NYLA) to let the Governor know the library community fully supports this bill! 

An engaged and active library board plays a big role in making a library successful at delivering services to its community.  

Does your board excel at community outreach and advocacy? Do your trustees show leadership within their community to help the library move forward? If you have or are on a board of trustees that is particularly engaged and productive within their role as trustees, consider sharing your story at the New York Library Association (NYLA) Conference this fall. 

A group from the Ossining Public Library is creating a panel of trustees and library directors who can share success stories and best practices. If you’d like to speak about your experience and possibly join the panel, please contact Meghan Huppuch at mhuppuch@ossininglibrary.org. 

The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) has issued the Inflation Factor and Allowable Levy Growth Factor for FY2025 Tax Cap calculations for those libraries with a calendar fiscal year (Jan 1 – Dec 31):

Inflation Factor: 3.30%

Allowable Levy Growth Factor: 1.0200

Just a reminder that all libraries who have ever had a public vote on their budget and have their own board of trustees must file the Property Tax Cap Form annually in November, even if they are a 414 or 259 library that isn’t having a vote this year.

For new/newer directors: NYS Property Tax Cap Answers to Frequently Asked Questions in the NYSL’s Public Library District Toolkit is a useful spot to learn more about this topic. There is also great info on the OSC website.

Incarcerated Individual Reference Request Procedure: A reminder to all MHLS member libraries that should you receive - by mail - a reference request directly from an incarcerated individual in a correctional facility you should not respond to them. 

Please send the letter including the envelope to MHLS, ATTN: Kerstin Cruger, to forward to the senior librarian at their correctional facility. This will legitimize and facilitate their access to information as the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has a mechanism and procedure for information sent to the incarcerated, and it must involve the facility library. Keep in mind that there is seemingly innocent information that certain incarcerated individuals are not allowed to have, due to their history of criminal actions, and when the requests come to you unmediated by a facility librarian it is not possible to determine what those specific parameters are. 

The best way to serve this patron, if they contact your library directly, is to send the request to Kerstin Cruger, Outreach & EDI Specialist at MHLS through the delivery.  

Part-Time Delivery Operations Material Handler, Mid-Hudson Library System

The Mid-Hudson Library System Delivery Operations department is seeking a part-time Material Handler for approximately 15 hours per week. Requirements of the position include but are not limited to organizing the delivery operations area, unloading boxes from delivery vans, sorting library materials to appropriate bins, strong attention to detail, ability to follow directions, work within a team environment, meet the physical demands of the position such as being on your feet, walking, bending, crouching, using hands, reaching, and ability to lift 50lbs. The position is four to five days per week, Monday through Friday and as needed to cover for other staff, with hours beginning between 9:45 am and 10:30 am to mid-afternoon. Hourly wage is $18.32/hr. Paid holidays and vacation time. Send up-to-date resume and three employment references to delivery@midhudson.org or via US mail to Mid-Hudson Library System, 103 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Attn: Delivery Operations Manager. No phone calls please. 

Part-time Programming Assistant, Brewster Public Library

The Brewster Public Library has an opening for a Part-Time Programming Assistant. The person who fills this position will work with the Head of Youth Services/Programming to schedule, plan, and implement programs for patrons of all ages. Other duties may include creating promotional materials, covering the circulation desk, and helping patrons with a large variety of requests, including locating materials and computer assistance. The candidate must have excellent customer service skills and be able to work with people of all ages and temperaments, be comfortable with computer and A/V technology, and enjoy working as part of a team. A strong initiative and flexibility are essential. Experience working with children is preferred; fluency in the Spanish language is a plus. 12-20 hours per week, with a salary starting at $18 per hour. Please send a letter of interest and resume to Gina Loprinzo at director@brewsterlibrary.org, with Programming Assistant position in the subject line. View complete job description here.

MHLS recommends that the minimum starting salary of a full or part-time librarian with an MLS degree be at least equal to that of a teacher with a master’s degree in the same community.