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ATB
MHLS Trustee Newsletter
Spring 2011
In This Issue
If not you, then who?
Mike Nyerges Featured in Statewide Publication
Plan of Service Progress
LSave the Dates!
MHLS EVENTS:

Advocacy Boot Camp & Plan of Service Input Session for Trustees 

Saturday, April 16th 

10:00am - 12:00pm
@MHLS Auditorium  

Workshop Notice [PDF] 

 

 

10 Ways to Green Your Library: 
Thursday, April 21
10:00am - 12:00pm
@MHLS Auditorium

Workshop Notice [PDF] 


Introduction to the State Aid for Public Library Construction Grant Program:

Thursday, April 21
1:00 - 3:00pm
@MHLS Auditorium

Workshop Notice [PDF] 

 

Library Vote Toolbox
"Know-how" for your library's vote 

Friday, May 13th

10:00am - 12:00pm

@MHLS Auditorium

Workshop Notice [PDF] 

 

Trustee Essentials:Workshop Notice [PDF] 


Thursday, June 9
4:30 - 6:30pm
@MHLS Auditorium 

Wednesday, June 15  10:00am - 12:00pm
@MHLS Auditorium
 

Saturday, June 18 
10:00am - 12:00pm
@Kingston Library 

NYS EVENTS:

2011 Trustee Institute:

This annual Library Trustee Association of New York State event will take place on April 29th & 30th at the Downtown

Crowne Plaza Hotel in Albany, NY.
Check the LTA web site for further details.


NATIONAL EVENTS: 

American Library Association Annual Conference:

June 23-28, 2011

New Orleans, Louisiana
To view a list of events, speakers and for registration information visit ALA Annual 


Please register online for all MHLS events.

2010 Progress Report

2010 MHLS Plan of Service Progress Report
Trustee Handbook  Available Online
Often referred to as the "Trustee Bible," the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State by Jerry Nichols is available online free of charge.

If you would like your very own print copy, order yours today for $5 from MHLS.

Quick Links

Greetings!

 

Library advocates fought hard for the past four months against the Governors proposed 10% cut to library aid. When the dust settled the cut was reduced to a 6.4% cut which is pretty amazing given the economic climate here in New York.

 

The restoration would not have been possible without the many voices of library advocates who spoke up against the cuts. Advocacy does work!

But our work is not done. We are facing the looming threat of Property Tax Cap legislation at the state level, less funding for libraries at the county level and local library vote win margins that are shrinking.

 

That's why we are inviting you to read on and hone your skills as a library advocate, your efforts are needed to help your library and the System survive and thrive in the coming years!

 

Feature: If not you, then who?

Advocacy Boot Camp

If not you, then who?  


Tough times call for bold action and now is the time for trustees across the Mid-Hudson Library System to roll up their sleeves and take a hard look at advocacy efforts at every level - local, county and state.

 

Read on to maximize your potential as a library advocate. If you, as a local library trustee, don't speak up, why would anyone else?

 

Read on to learn about:

Inspired? Join us on Saturday, April 16th for the last session of the Advocacy Boot Camp for Trustees. This event will be held at the MHLS Auditorium from 10:00am - 12:00pm and combined with a Plan of Service Input Session.

 


Newly Arrived Director Featured in NYLA Bulletin

Mike Nyerges, who is beginning his fourth month as our new Executive Director, was recently featured in the New York Library Association's newsletter, the NYLA Bulletin. 

 
Mr. Nyerges (pronounced NAR-JUSS) has nearly 30 years of experience. He most recently was the director of the Geneva Public Library in Geneva, NY, the Central Library of the Pioneer Library System. He has served as the director of the public libraries in Canandaigua and Westfield, NY. Previous to his public library experience he worked as a Library Media Specialist at the Canandaigua City School District, where he served as the Curriculum Area Lead Teacher and school district webmaster. He has also held the positions of  Technical Reports Librarian at Texas A&M University and a Library Technology Specialist at Genesee Valley BOCES.   

 

Check out Mr. Nyerges' interview with NYLA here...  

 

Mr. Nyerges can be reached at 845.471.6060 x217 and mnyerges@midhudson.org.

 

Plan of Service Development Progress
At the time of the release of this edition of Across the Board we are half

way through our data collection phase of the development of our next 5-year plan of service. So far we have spoken to over 170 Directors, trustees, Friends, Millennium users and adult programming staff.

 

At the end of April we will wrap up our focus groups and start analyzing all we've heard with the help of the Directors Association, Advisory Committees and the MHLS Board of Trustees. This group "digestion" of the focus group input should help to create a plan that everyone believes in to facilitate our ability to move into the future together.  

 

Our 2010 Progress Report is now available online and we think it demonstrates one of the major strengths of the Mid-Hudson Library System - that together we are strong that we are alone. The partnership we have forged over the years with member libraries has resulted in amazing results for library users throughout the Hudson Valley. We hope this years planning process builds on this partnership and ultimately strengthens it.  

 

To that end, if you haven't had a chance to participate in a focus group yet there is an additional session for trustees on Saturday, April 16th at 10:00am in the MHLS Auditorium (105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie). We would be happy to have you there! Please register online for this event. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. We know how busy your life is and appreciate that you are taking the time to learn more about your role as a public library trustee.

 

MHLS is here to help you and your library. Please don't hesitate to call us!  

 

Check out theMHLS Problem Solving Service Directory or the
On Demand Consultation List
to connect with the MHLS staff person best able to help you. 

 

To stay up-to-date on the latest news, subscribe to the weekly MHLS Bulletin.  

 

Don't see what you need?Just ask! 

 

Sincerely,


Rebekkah Smith Aldrich
Coordinator for Library Growth & Sustainability
Mid-Hudson Library System