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Volume 19-23 | 6.4.19 
MHLS Seeks Board Members
The Mid-Hudson Library System is seeking candidates for three Board seats. The election of MHLS trustees will be an item of business at the Mid-Hudson Library System's Annual Membership Meeting, Friday, October 25th, 2019. MHLS is governed by a fifteen-member board, three trustees from each of the five counties served. Nominations are due prior to July 1st, 2019.

COLUMBIA COUNTY - ONE SEAT: (5-year term-2020-2024). Please send names and contact information of nominee(s) to AnnaLee Dragon, Chair of the Columbia County Library Directors Association: 518-758-6192 or annalee.giraldo@kinderhooklibrary.org
 
DUTCHESS COUNTY - ONE SEAT: (5-year term- 2020-2024). Please send names and contact information of nominee(s) to Dawn Jardine, Chair of the Dutchess County Directors Association: 845-758-3241 or director@redhooklibrary.org
 
GREENE COUNTY - ONE SEAT:(5-year term- 2020-2024). Please send names and contact information of nominee(s) to Debra Kamecke, Chair of the Greene County Directors Association: 518-622-9864 or cairolibrary720@gmail.com

MHLS Announcements
Libraries can now submit an intent to apply form for the 2019-2020 Adult Literacy Grant cycle. Mini-grants of up to $1,000 will be available for up to 9 eligible member libraries. These grants are designed to help libraries develop and expand adult literacy programs at their library, which will help adults in their community  improve their education and career opportunities. This grant opportunity is made possible through Adult Literacy Services 2019-2020 funds received by MHLS through the New York State Library's Division of Library Development.
 
More information, and the 2019-2020 intent to apply form are available at  https://bit.ly/2I2iL1Z  Please submit completed forms to Courtney Wimmers, MHLS Outreach & Engagement Specialist by June 25th.
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Discounted NYLA Organizational Membership : MHLS has negotiated another year of the 15% discount on New York Library Association (NYLA) Organizational Memberships [ https://bit.ly/1QmL5qe ] NYLA is our voice in Albany, taking the lead in advocating for library and construction aid. They are also a primary source for professional development and continuing education. Membership in NYLA helps to underwrite much of the good work NYLA is able to do on our behalf.
 
For those libraries that took part in the discount bulk order last year:
  • You will receive your 2019 forms (Associate Member Worksheet & Trustee Registration form) so you can review them, if nothing has changed just send them back. If there are updates, we'll also enclose blank forms so you can update the info and send it in.
  • Forms are due back to the MHLS Business Office, Attn: Joan Kay by June 28th.
  • MHLS will issue your library an invoice based on the information you provide which will be due in July, to ensure we keep everyone on the same timeline.
For those libraries that did not take part in the bulk order last year but would like to take advantage of the 15% discount for this year : Please submit the forms (links below) to Joan Kay in the MHLS Business office by June 28th.
Questions can be directed to Joan Kay in the MHLS Business Office , jkay@midhudson.org
MHLS Libraries
The Phoenicia Library and the Morton Memorial Library in Pine Hill recently announced the new Shandaken Census 2020 Task Force. The group includes the Town of Shandaken, N.Y. clerk's office, Phoenicia Library and Morton Memorial Library in Pine Hill. They are currently seeking volunteers from the community to help ensure a complete count. The core group attended their first information session at the 2020 Census training offered by MHLS on May 16th.
Sustainable Libraries
On May 16th more than 50 participants, a mix of in-person and online, attended Mid-Hudson Library System's 2020 Census Workshop. Linda Berk, Supervisory Partnership Specialist, New York Region Census Center, U.S. Census Bureau provided an update on what libraries can expect when the Census begins in March and April of 2020. Berk was joined by Mario D. Garcia, Partnership Specialist, Lower Hudson Valley Region, Field Division, U.S. Census Bureau. The team gave an overview of what we can expect in the Census, and why it's critical that we count all of the people in our community. They reviewed the  very high level of legal security that protects the information people provide to the Census. This protection  of personal data, called Title XIII, has been challenged in court, and upheld against the USA PATRIOT Act. The session concluded with an in-depth question and answer period.
(l-r) Mario D. Garcia, Casey Conlin and Linda Berk

Libraries will play a critical role in providing digital access and assistance for completing the Census, and educating people, including families with young children, about the benefits of completing the Census, and why it's in their interest to fill it out. Some libraries have already begun partnering with local organizations in their community to get out the count, and their communities will benefit from this early organization. Building partnerships and collaborating with community agencies to make sure we motivate everyone to get counted, especially hard-to-count populations, is critical to getting the representation that our communities deserve in our state and federal governments. A complete count is also critical in securing the funding and planning for things we need in our communities like schools, playgrounds and community development projects.
 
If you'd like to get started with a Complete Count Committee, please contact Casey Conlin, MHLS Library Sustainability Coordinator, cconlin@midhudson.org Member libraries can also access information and resources at https://midhudson.org/census-2020/ including the American Library Association's newly released Libraries' Guide to the 2020 Census.
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