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Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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Clinton Wins Shubert Award!
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 The Clinton Community Library has been awarded the 2018 Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award for its program, Optimistic Aging.
The selection committee was impressed with the Clinton Community Library's creative and thoughtful approach to reviewing the demographics of their rural community and then working with the community to design exciting learning opportunities for seniors that weave the interactive, overlapping components of mind, body and spirit.
The committee was uniformly enthusiastic in its decision to honor the Clinton Community Library's submission as an excellent example of the "spirit of the Shubert award."
The Library's creative and impactful Optimistic Aging program serves the aging population (almost half of the town's 4,000 plus residents are over the age of 55) in the rural town of Clinton with significant input and active participation from local seniors. First established in 2016 after a series of community focus groups and a community survey, Optimistic Aging offers a unique research supported platform encouraging seniors to stay mentally sharp, socially engaged and ahead of disease and dementia. Its topics, activities and time schedules dovetail seniors' interests and life style. Thinking that "seniors teaching seniors" learning may be the best way to entice and engage the older community, the Library makes a strong effort to locate senior program leaders who are as skilled in motivating as in teaching.
As a result, the Optimistic Aging program has enabled the library to build on its role as a community learning center and become an important community lifeline for
Clinton seniors. Seniors can participate in a myriad of free programs that encourage lifelong learning, healthy practices, physical activity, and social interaction. The Library offers a regular schedule of free yoga, meditation, and Tai Chi/Qigong classes and engages seniors through monthly "Lunch & Learn" workshops in collaboration with community partners and area colleges. To reduce isolation, the Library provides the platform for energetic seniors to create their own library programs like book clubs, concert series, line dancing and digital literacy courses. The Library also provides transportation when needed. Participation has increased dramatically since the program's inception in 2016 with an anticipated 2,244 seniors participating in 186 program sessions during 2018.
The Joseph F. Shubert Excellence Award is given annually by the New York State Regents Advisory Council to recognize the achievements of small, medium and large libraries and library consortia in New York State.
The Award honors libraries or library consortia that have taken significant steps within the past two years to improve the quality of library service to users.
The Clinton Community Library has also received a $4,500 grant from the Northeast Dutchess Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation to support its Optimistic Aging program. This is the third consecutive year that the library has been awarded a grant for this work.
The award will be officially presented in November at the New York Library Association's Annual Conference held in Rochester.
Text from the New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries, Friends of the New York State Library announcement.
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MHLS Announcements
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New York Library Association's 2018 Outstanding Service to Libraries Award will be presented to Rebekkah Smith Aldrich
, Executive Director of the Mid-Hudson Library System. The Outstanding Service to Libraries Award recognizes and honors an individual who has made a significant, sustained contribution to the development, promulgation, growth, or extension of library and information services to the people of NYS or to residents.
 Rebekkah has worked tirelessly on the issue of sustainability, co-chairing the NYLA Sustainability Initiative and introducing the Sustainable Library Certification Program, the first benchmarking program of its kind.
Through Rebekkah's leadership, knowledge, and dedication, there has been a positive impact on library directors; library trustees; local, state, and national elected officials
; and of course, the people who use libraries of all types.
The award will be presented at the New York Library Association's Annual Conference Inaugural Banquet on November 9th in Rochester.
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The Board of Trustees and Staff of the Patterson Library are pleased to announce, Stephanie Harrison has joined our team as Director, replacing longtime Director Patti Haar who retired this fall. Stephanie comes to us from the Millbrook Library, where she served as Director for the last four years. Welcome Stephanie!
The Plattekill Public Library received the following rewarding message from patron Ed Crawford, who is currently filming on the set of "Blue Bloods."
From Ed Crawford (left):
From 2009- to 2016 I fell on hard times as an actor and moved backed into my hometown. If it was not for the staff at the Plattekill Public Library and all they offered to me, I would never have been able to accomplish such things today. The Plattekill Public Library has been a staple in helping me to organize myself and garner my confidence back so I could reenter the real world; a heartfelt thanks to all the staff at this very special library!
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 The 20th Annual Fall Into Books Children's and Young Adult Literature Conference took place on Wednesday, October 24th at the Crestview Conference Center in West Nyack, NY. This event is the result of eight library organizations working cooperatively, throughout the year, to bring school and public librarians an outstanding day of book discussions and relevant topics presented by experts in their field.
Participating agencies for Fall Into Books are: Dutchess BOCES School Library System, Orange-Ulster BOCES School Library System, Rockland BOCES School Library System, Sullivan BOCES School Library System, Ulster BOCES School Library System, Ramapo Catskill Library System, Mid-Hudson Library System, Southeastern NY Library Resources Council (SENYLRC)
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Development Database Coordinator, Roeliff Jansen Community Library The Roeliff Jansen Community Library located in Copake, NY is seeking a development database coordinator who can work on a flexible schedule that may average four hours per week.
The development database coordinator is responsible for coordinating all aspects of donor records in our database of individual, foundation and corporate/business donors to the Library. In collaboration with the Development Committee this person is responsible for maintaining the fundraising database (Donor Perfect). He/she will enter and track donations, update prospect and donor lists, maintain donor files, and prepare mailings and track statistics.
Responsibilities:
Maintains and supports accurate and consistent records in the donor database (Donor Perfect) by:
- processing all gifts and pledges and preparing timely customized acknowledgments to all donors;
- maintaining donor and prospect records, updating information including adding new gift information;
- creating and maintaining Donor Perfect reports and queries as needed for the Development Committee and for reconciliation with finance;
- tracking progress in fundraising efforts; mail, special events, campaigns:
- generating mailing lists and other data on spreadsheets as requested by the Development Committee;
- preparing spreadsheets or reports on request of the Development Committee;
- ensuring that all records are adequately protected and maintaining confidentiality at all times.
Education:
Some college, bachelor's degree preferred
Experience:
- Computer proficiency including Microsoft Office Software: Word and Excel;
- Knowledge of and experience in database programs with fundraising, experience with software program Donor Perfect preferred;
- Ability to work independently;
- Well organized and detail oriented;
- Ability to gather and analyze data.
For further information or to apply, contact:
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