Last week, MHLS welcomed Dr. Nicole Cooke to present “When Anti-Racist Reading Lists Aren’t Enough,” to aid library leaders in our region to think through how to do more than read up on issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion and optimize confronting long-standing issues in our organizations related to these topics.
- Critical Self-Reflection
- Building Critical Consciousness
- Action & Advocacy
Dr. Cooke noted the ongoing and fluid nature of this work and encouraged all to be humble and honest with themselves as they confront their own biases and get comfortable with being uncomfortable while thinking through and discussing challenging topics with colleagues and staff. She encouraged active listening and attention to “cultural competence,” a phrase that was new to many in the audience.
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Source: US Office of Minority Health
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Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race by Derald Wing Sue
- Inclusive Conversations: Fostering Equity, Empathy and Belonging across Differences by Mary-Frances Winters
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We Can’t Talk About That At Work!: How to Talk About Race, Religion, Politics, and other Polarizing Topics by Mary-Frances Winters
As a follow up to many of the issues Dr. Cooke introduced, MHLS is pleased to announce the availability of two new resources on midhudson.org:
JEDI Training: Self-paced training available on demand at https://midhudson.org/edi/ for all library stakeholders. This series of pre-recorded videos introduces the viewer to basic concepts related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) such as:
- Implicit Bias
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Micro-aggressions
- Systemic Racism
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resources Page [ https://midhudson.org/edi/]: Curated by MHLS staff, this page provides links to resources to help library administrators and boards develop a lens through which to make governance and management decisions as well as to help staff when designing services, programs, and seeking partnership opportunities. Resources include:
- Glossary of Terms
- Tips for Building a More Diverse Board
- Advice for Staff Recruitment
- Sample Policies & Statements
- How to Conduct a Diversity Audit of the Collection
- Program Ideas for Promoting Diversity
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Save the Date for the MHLS Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, October 22nd! Our keynote speaker will be American Library Association (ALA) President Patty Wong (pictured left). Ms. Wong is the first Asian American to serve as president of the American Library Association. You can learn more about Patty Wong at https://www.ala.org/aboutala/presidents-page.
Stay tuned for registration information in an upcoming MHLS Bulletin.
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Congressman Antonio Delgado and Town of Kinderhook Supervisor Patsy Leader stopped by the Kinderhook Memorial Library this month. Pictured (l-r): Kinderhook Memorial Library Director AnnaLee Dragon, Congressman Antonio Delgado, Kinderhook Memorial Library Board President Gary Spielmann and Town of Kinderhook Supervisor Patsy Leader.
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The New York Library Association’s (NYLA) Developing Leaders Program (DLP) deadline for applications is Tuesday, August 31st. This nine-month program (October - June), totaling 46.5 contact hours, will help participants explore and strengthen their leadership skills. The program will be delivered in a hybrid model via in-person and online courses. Participants will be divided into groups to complete a team-based project. Individuals with three or more years of experience working in libraries are invited to participate. An MLS is not a pre-requisite for this program.
For more information and to access the online application visit https://nyla.org.
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Resource Sharing & Sierra
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Join MHLS Data Operations Supervisor Nina Acosta for Sierra Data Entry: How brief is too brief?. This workshop is intended for any staff responsible for entering brief bibliographic or item records into Sierra. It will focus on the information to include in each field, and how that information may differ depending on the type of material being cataloged.
Two dates and locations to choose from:
- Friday, September 17th | 2:00-4:00 pm | MHLS Auditorium | Register
- Monday, September 20th | 2:00-4:00 pm | Online | Register
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The New York State Library (NYSL) has begun a new strategic planning process. The project is in its first phase in which they are identifying and describing the current and known future needs within the New York State library community. Input from the New York library community is essential for their success! NYSL invites you to complete the brief online survey by August 27th, 2021 to share your perspective with their planning team as they begin to set their path for the next five years.
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Nominate an amazing librarian for the national I Love My Librarian Award. The American Library Association (ALA) is inviting all library users to nominate their favorite librarians for the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award. The national award recognizes the outstanding public service contributions of librarians working in public, school, college, community college or university libraries. Nominations are accepted online now through September 27 th, 2021. ALA member leaders will select ten librarians from thousands of nominations, and each will receive $5,000 in recognition of their outstanding public service. The association will honor award recipients at the I Love My Librarian Award ceremony on January 22 nd, 2022 at LibLearnX in San Antonio, Texas. Winners also will receive complimentary LibLearnX registration as part of their award packages as well as a $750 travel stipend.
Since the award's inception in 2008, library users nationwide have submitted more than 21,000 nominations detailing how librarians transformed their communities, including efforts to improve inclusivity, digital access, and literacy. To date, only 130 librarians have received this distinguished honor.
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Join MHLS on Thursday, September 9th at 2:00 pm for The 2021 Great Give Back Program Promotion Idea Exchange. This event is for the programming and outreach staff at MHLS member libraries that are hosting The Great Give Back events on October 16th, 2021. Whether you have settled on your library’s 2021 The Great Give Back event or you’re still developing it, it’s time to start thinking about how you will promote it throughout the community including and beyond your library’s social media and bulletin boards.
At this session we will:
- Discuss buy-in strategies for promoting your event and connecting with the community
- Identify ways to expand your information outreach
- Define what a successful GGB event would be and strategize how to reach those goals.
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Registration is open for Trustee Essentials presented by Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Executive Director. This webinar provides a foundation of knowledge that other workshops in the MHLS Trustee Education Series will build on. This session is particularly for new board members, but open to all.
Register for one of the following dates:
- Thursday, September 9th | 10:00-11:30 am | Register
- Tuesday, September 21st | 5:30-7:00 pm | Register
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Administration & Management
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The New York Digital Inclusion Fund recognizes the need for affordable, high-speed internet, devices, and digital skills. Any organization working in New York state on digital inclusion is eligible to apply for a grant. This includes community-based organizations, digital inclusion advocates, digital skills training platforms, internet service providers, and libraries. Grantees will work collaboratively to develop (1) diverse local digital inclusion coalitions and (2) high-impact, technology-enabled collaborations for underserved communities across New York State. The webinars below provide an overview of the grant program. The New York Digital Inclusion Fund is managed by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance and supported by Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
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Digital Inclusion Coalition Grants webinar on August 25th at 12:00 pm. The webinar will provide information on the grant opportunity, eligibility criteria for applications, timeline for grant submissions, and review the expectations of grantees.
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Digital Inclusion Innovation Grants webinar on August 27th at 2:00 pm. This webinar will provide information on the grant opportunity, eligibility criteria for applications, timeline for grant submissions, and review the expectations of grantees.
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Library Director, Putnam Valley Library
Putnam Valley Library, an association library serving a semi-rural community of 12,000 individuals in Putnam Valley, NY, seeks a creative and dynamic Library Director with a passion for community service to oversee all activities and operations of the library.
Essential Responsibilities:
Staff and Operations:
- Supervise all library services, operations, staff, facilities, and programs
- Select, train, and evaluate personnel to maintain a strong team environment
- Develop and maintain the library’s collection in accordance with collection policies and best practices
- Control expenditures of funds and maintain accurate financial records
- Supervise the purchase and maintenance of technology to enhance library services
- Prepare and distribute public relations and marketing materials
- Prepare annual reports to the state and the community
- Work on grant writing and facilitate grant award funding
Board of Trustees:
- Work with the Board in ongoing planning to identify and meet community needs
- Make policy recommendations to the Board and implement adopted policies
- Prepare annual budget recommendations for Board approval
Essential Traits:
- Ability to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for staff and library patrons
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders
- A commitment to social justice and fostering an equitable community
- Knowledge of current trends and developments in the library profession
- Proficiency with computers, library software, internet and digital communications
Minimum Qualifications: A master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program and experience in library administration.
Salary: $55K-$65K. Position includes some benefits, generous PTO and 12 paid holidays a year. To apply, please send a cover letter and résumé to: trustees@putnamvalleylibrary.org
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Library Clerk (part time), Town of Ulster Public Library
Main duties: Staffing the circulation desk, assisting patrons with public-use computers, shelving materials, and other library-related duties as assigned.
We offer: A pleasant work environment with a stable schedule, up to 17.5 hours a week including alternating Saturdays. $13/hour with paid sick leave.
You are: A kind, helpful, good-humored, smart, and responsible person with a high-school diploma and some customer-service experience. Previous library experience, a plus.
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.
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