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The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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With Earth Day just around the corner (April 22) it seems fitting to devote this issue of the MHLS Bulletin to the significant trend we see among member libraries that are taking the lead on sustainability issues in their community.
There are now eight member libraries that are pursuing the New York Library Association's (NYLA) Sustainable Library Certification path:
- Town of Esopus Library
- Desmond-Fish Library (Garrison)
- Highland Public Library
- Mahopac Public Library
- Millbrook Library
- Phoenicia Library
- Saugerties Public Library
- Town of Ulster Public Library
These libraries, along with MHLS, are engaged in activities to not only help make the world a better place but along the way, proving that libraries are a smart investment for a community's sustainable future.
Activities range across a dozen categories that work together to create a sustainable library.
The categories encompass environmentally related issues, financial planning and social equity issues in the areas of:
- Organizational Commitment
- Partnerships & Community Involvement
- Social Equity and Resiliency
- Financial Sustainability
- Collections
- Energy & Water Usage
- Materials Management
- Transportation
- Land Use
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MHLS Announcements
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 MHLS Sustainability Initiative:
The trustees and staff of the Mid-Hudson Library System have gotten off to a running start in their bid to become certified through the NYLA Sustainable Library Certification Program as well. At their March meeting the MHLS Board passed an
Environmental Sustainability policy
that codifies their commitment to reduce the organizations environmental footprint while promoting environmental stewardship at all levels of our organization.
Our goal? To minimize our organization's impact and maximize future generations' ability to live, work, and play in our shared natural environment, with equal access to clean air, clean water, and natural resources.
MHLS staff have formed a
Sustainability Initiative Team
to work through the activities in the certification program. Headed up by MHLS Coordinator for Library Sustainability, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, team members include:
- Chris Herron, Facilities Manager & Assistant Delivery Operations Manger
- Kerstin Cruger, Library Sustainability Associate & Communications Specialist
- Joan Kay, Financial Assistant
- Thomas O'Connell, ILP Operations Supervisor
- Laurie Shedrick, Technology Operations Manager
- Linda Vittone, Financial Manger & Personnel Officer
- Courtney Wimmers, Cataloging Specialist
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 The new Highland Public Library's public water fountain provides a water bottle refilling station which includes a digital counter reporting the number of plastic bottles saved from a landfill based on bottle refills.
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Programming
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The Desmond-Fish Library in Garrison is helping residents learn to fix things with a Repair Café!
Why a Repair Café?
"We throw away vast amounts of stuff. Even things with almost nothing wrong, and which could get a new lease on life after a simple repair. The trouble is, lots of people have forgotten that they can repair things themselves or they no longer know how. Knowing how to make repairs is a skill quickly lost. Society doesn't always show much appreciation for the people who still have this practical knowledge, and against their will they are often left standing on the sidelines. Their experience is never used, or hardly ever.
The Repair Café changes all that! People who might otherwise be sidelined are getting involved again. Valuable practical knowledge is getting passed on. Things are being used for longer and don't have to be thrown away. This reduces the volume of raw materials and energy needed to make new products. It cuts CO2 emissions, for example, because manufacturing new products and recycling old ones causes CO2 to be released."
The Morton Memorial Library & Community House in Rhinecliff is celebrating Earth Day by helping to clean up the Rhinecliff hamlet. This library has been building its reputation as an organization that is focused on sustainability in the community. Their
Sustainability Series has been going strong for close to two years with events that have focused on seed libraries, food justice, greening your home and convening conversations about how neighbors can work together to create a livable world. Their most recent event was a featured panel with presenters including Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan, Scenic Hudson Sr. VP/Scenic Hudson Land Trust E.D.Steve Rosenberg, and Regenerative Farmer Ben Banks-Dobson who discussed how citizens can make the Hudson Valley a model of a regional response to these opportunities and threats.
The NorthEast-Millerton Library recently hosted an event called "Meet Your Farmers." Attendees were able to learn more about their local farms and how affordable CSAs (Community Support Agriculture) can be.
The Marlboro Free Library is hosting a shredder truck later this month to help residents protect themselves from identity theft and get rid of old documents and folders in an environmentally conscientious way.
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Part-time Library Clerk, Kent Public Library
Kent Public Library seeks a Part-Time Library Clerk, 12 hours a week, mostly between 10 and 3, ideal hours for a parent with a child in school. $10.75 to $11.50 per hour. Must have high school degree, be experienced with computers, courteous, service oriented and able to work with the public at a busy library circulation desk. Previous library experience preferred. Send
résumé
to
[email protected], and mention "clerk" in subject line
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Don't forget to RSVP by April 20th for the "good-bye" cocktail party for MHLS Executive Director Tom Sloan!
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