Vol.26-44 | 11.3.26

Thank you to all the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) member libraries that participated in The Great Give Back this year! The Great Give Back is a community service initiative that provides a day of opportunities for the patrons of member libraries to participate in meaningful, service-oriented experiences. Here are just a few of the programs that took place:

Dutchess and Ulster County libraries joined forces for a friendly food fight that everyone wins!

Teen volunteers at the Kent Public Library helped organize donations for their free library boutique of clothes generously donated by the community. 

Plattekill Public Library collected 550 food items that were shared with the Clintondale Community Center Food Pantry and The Christian Community Deliverance Center.

Roeliff Jansen Community Library held a Pet Rescue Fair, welcoming animal rescue organizations and collecting pet supplies.

Claverack Free Library, Morton Memorial Library & Community House, Roeliff Jansen Community Library, Olive Free Library, and Tivoli Free Library showed the film “Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat” that highlights the role that volunteer firefighters play in keeping communities safe.

Catskill Public Library held a “Pack a Little Comfort” drive of supplies for patients undergoing dialysis treatment.

Chatham Public Library held a Toy Drive to benefit the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement.



Greenville Public Library collected “Bags of Kindness” for chemo patients and donated to a New York Oncology Hematology site for patients.

Butterfield Memorial Library held an E-Waste Recycling drive for residents.

Sarah Hull Hallock Free Library collected books to promote literacy and education in prisons for a Books Through Bars program.

To view all the programs that were held during this year’s program visit The Great Give Back web page.

The Great Give Back is a statewide community service initiative created by the Suffolk County Public Library Directors Association and the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, in conjunction with the Nassau Library System. 

Introduction to Circulation | December 7 | 2 – 3 PM | Online

Designed for new library staff but also good as a refresher, this webinar will cover the fundamental knowledge and procedures for working at the circ desk of any MHLS library. Topics include familiarization with the integrated library system (ILS), checkout and checkin steps, creating new accounts, placing and fulfilling holds, dealing with fines, and resource sharing standards.

Attendees should leave with the confidence to handle the majority of their day-to-day circulation tasks. If you have questions related to the topic or the webinar itself, feel free to send them in advance!

Introduction to Circulation training is presented quarterly as a live webinar. Find more resources, instructions, and recordings on the Mid-Hudson website and Training on Demand.

Library Director – Saugerties Public Library

The Saugerties Public Library seeks enthusiastic qualified applicants for the position of Library Director. This is a full-time position (35 hours per week) offering a competitive salary, health benefits, and enrollment in the New York State Local Retirement System. The Library Director shall be the executive and administrative officer of the library, acting on behalf of the Board and under its review and direction. The Saugerties Public Library is a Special District library located within a vibrant community serving a population of 19,393. This is a civil service position, and applicants must possess the minimum qualifications for Library Director 1 in order to apply. Salary range: $80,000-85,000. View the full job description.

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.