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Contact Us
The MHLS Bulletin welcomes submissions from member libraries.
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As
reported in the January 28th MHLS Bulletin, the Governor has proposed cuts to both library aid - the source of the majority of MHLS funding and Local Library Service Aid to local libraries - and library construction aid - which brings much needed assistance to member library renovation and construction plans.
State Senators and Assemblymembers are faced with many hard choices in the next few weeks and it is critical that the library community help connect legislators with the reality of how local library services and public library system services impact their constituents.
With more than 10 million library cardholders in New York State that means more than 50% of New Yorkers are directly impacted if cuts to library aid go through.
What will you do to help
your legislators understand that more than half of their constituents are library cardholders and that library aid makes a HUGE difference in their lives?
Send a letter to your representatives in Albany!
The New York Library Association (NYLA), our lead advocate in Albany, has provided customizable letters that can be sent to your legislators in Albany and to the Governor. It only takes two minutes to send a letter to all of your representatives through NYLA's Online Advocacy Center:
http://bit.ly/1LwV3Ex
Get the word out through social media by participating in the
Real People. Real Dollars. Campaign. Real People. Real Dollars. tells a story in pictures by working with a patron or a family of patrons to calculate how much they save annually by using the library. Learn more at
http://midhudson.org/real-people-real-dollars/
 Join us for Advocacy Day on February 25th!
Hundreds of library advocates from all over New York State come to Albany,on this day, to let their legislators know how important libraries are to their communities. MHLS creates the schedule of appointments and provides participants with talking points. Drive up on your own or take the bus for just $5. The deadline for bus registration is Thursday, February 20th so hurry!
View the Advocacy Day Briefing Webinar
presented
by Jeremy Johannesen, NYLA's Executive Director and Briana McNamee, NYLA's Director of Government Relations & Advocacy alongside MHLS Executive Director, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich
to learn about:
- Budget timeline and pressure points
- Budget and legislative priorities
- Effective talking points
- How, when, and where you can speak up for libraries!
Please join us to advocate for library funding. Now is the time for all of us to speak up
. Your voice matters!
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MHLS Announcements
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The Assembly Committee on Libraries and Education Technology held a hearing on December 13, 2019
at which MHLS Executive Director Rebekkah Smith Aldrich was invited to give testimony. To view Rebekkah's testimony please visit,
https://midhudson.org/advocacy/
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 AnnaLee Dragon, Director of the Kinderhook Memorial Library
has been selected to serve as the American Library Association (ALA) / New York Library Association (NYLA) National Network Congressional Key Contact for Antonio Delgado, Federal Representative for New York's 19th Congressional District. The role of the Key Contact is to inform federal lawmakers and their staff about the valuable role America's libraries play in their local communities and to build strong relationships with their assigned congressional office, establishing a network of committed volunteers to serve as the "go-to" community contacts for these legislative offices on issues impacting America's libraries. As part of the program, ALA Key Congressional Contacts will receive specialized training and guidance, have access to customized advocacy resources, regularly interact with the ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office and be recognized in ALA communications channels for their valued contributions.
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Resource Sharing & Sierra
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Join Thomas O'Connell, MHLS ILP Operations Supervisor to learn all about Decision Center.
This comprehensive collection management and analytics solution provides library staff with dynamic tools to report, analyze, and make action-oriented decisions and recommendations regarding collection management. Decision Center helps libraries match supply and demand to deliver optimized service by using current and complete data - about circulation, holds, transits, patrons, and acquisitions - Decision Center provides you with actionable insights to help your library improve patron-driven acquisitions while streamlining collection management workflows. This workshop will cover how Decision Center offers:
- Suggestions on weeding or expanding collections, based on demand
- Guidance for effective spending and staffing
- A complete suite of statistical reporting tools
- And much more!
This workshop will be beneficial to any library staff responsible for gathering statistics, running reports on usage, and making collection development decisions for their library. Choose from one of the following sessions:
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Reference & Collection Development
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 Beginning February 19th readers throughout the United States can join OverDrive's - Together We Read digital book club. The eBook Lean on Me by Pat Simmons will be available through March 4th with no waitlists or holds. To access marketing materials or to learn more about this event please visit
https://togetherweread.com/us/
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Library Director, Millbrook Library
The Millbrook Library is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Library Director. The
Library is an active community center serving a vibrant, rural community. Reporting directly to
the Board of Trustees, the Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Library
operations.
Minimum Qualifications: Master of Library Science or Master of Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program preferred and 3 years of progressively responsible library administrative experience. Experience should include a broad background in management, administration/human resources, operations, fundraising and finance, as well as knowledge of library services, operations and collections.
Salary: $50,000+ commensurate with experience and benefits.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Responsible for administering the safe and efficient operation of the Millbrook Library, its programs and services, in compliance with all applicable laws, and policies and decisions of the Board;
- Oversees continuous development of relevant library materials and services; responsible for the development of the Library's adult collections in coordination with the Head of Circulation; plans and implements programs and services for patrons of all ages in collaboration with the Youth Services staff;
- Exhibits a high level of administrative and supervisory skills including: recruiting, hiring and training new employees, as well as coordinating the continued training and development of staff members; balancing multiple priorities; administering personnel policies; preparing performance evaluations of staff members; record keeping; grant writing and preparing the annual budget, state and local reports; and oversees the annual audit;
- Possesses exceptional interpersonal, written and oral communication skills;
- Exercises considerable professional skill, initiative and good judgment, and the ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, Friends of the Library, the public and the Board to promote the library as an integral and vital component of the community;
- Strong computer skills: knowledge of database, spreadsheet and word processing software, including Quickbooks, as well as familiarity with current and emerging technologies and their application(s) in a library setting.
Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter,
résumé
, and contact information for three references no later than March 18, 2020 to:
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In the News
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Local
- Free Tax Prep | Howland Public Library | The Highlands Current 2.11.20
National
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