Scheduled Site Visits: MHLS staff is working hard to help your staff get ready for the migration from Millennium to Sierra which will take place in April.

The topics covered will be focused on the differences between Millennium and Sierra in front-line circulation and linking items including:

• All functions now being related to a unified client.
• Logging in and accessing functions.
• Changes made to offline circulation application.
• Circulating materials.
• Creating and updating patron and item records.
• Linking and merging patrons.
• Changes in notices.
• Accessing printer settings.
• Troubleshooting problems.

It is important that all directors, catalogers, and heads of circulation be on-site during scheduled visits.

Weeding VHS tapes? Collection ongoing for MHLS Correctional Facility libraries: If you are weeding VHS tapes in good condition from your library collection, they are of great interest to our correctional facility libraries. We are interested in videocassettes in the following areas.

• National Geographic
• Documentaries
• History
• PBS
• Older Classics
• Feature Films
• Mysteries
• Sci-Fi
• Courthouse Dramas

If you bring them to a meeting or training session at MHLS (please do not use the delivery for donations) we will be pleased to pass them on. Thank you in advance!

Jump on the Bus! Monday, February 25th is the deadline to register to take the bus to Albany on Library Advocacy Day, Tuesday, March 5th. If you've never been to Albany for Advocacy Day, make this your year! It's quite the experience! Join hundreds of library supporters - patrons, Friends, trustees & library staff - from around New York State as we converge on the capitol to help legislators see the connection between support of their constituents and their support of full formula funding for library and System aid. Register to ensure you receive the most up-to-date schedule for the day and talking points:

• If you are driving up yourself: Please register with MHLS at http://calendar.midhudson.org 

• If you would like to take the bus ($12 per person): Please register with the Ramapo Catskill Library System: http://calendar.rcls.org (scroll to the bottom to choose 'Mid-Hudson Library System' in the drop down menu)

OverDrive LEAP Program Instituted: We now have a new link on the left-hand navigation bar on the MHLS Digital Download page at http://mhls.lib.overdrive.com giving patrons with print disabilities access to eBooks. Library eBook Accessibility Program (LEAP) is a partnership between OverDrive and Bookshare.org. The link directs patrons to apply for a Bookshare membership from our OverDrive-powered site. The accessible books will be provided by Bookshare to patrons enrolled in LEAP. OverDrive's role in the program is to fully fund one year of membership for your qualifying patrons (details on Bookshare.org:

http://bit.ly/Z87lQe). There is no cost to MHLS or member libraries for this added feature. Questions can be directed to Merribeth Advocate, MHLS Assistant Director: madvocate@midhudson.orgor x254.

Save the Date! The fifth annual Hudson Children's Book Festival will be held at the Hudson Junior and Senior High School (215 Harry Howard Avenue in Hudson, New York 12534) on May 4th from 10:00am - 4:00pm. This is the largest book festival in New York State. There will be children's and young adult authors and illustrators, hundreds of books to browse, author and illustrator presentations, arts & crafts, workshops & live music performances (Aaron Nigel Smith will be performing!) Admission is FREE. More information at  http://www.hudsonchildrensbookfestival.com/  

Library Circulation Technician - Friendly, energetic, detail oriented person to work at busy circulation desk of the Desmond-Fish Library. Library experience preferred, college education, computer skills, and public service orientation required. Twenty hours a week, pay $14 to $16 per hour, depending upon qualifications. Send resume to Carol Donick, Desmond-Fish Library, PO Box 265, Garrison, NY 10524

Part-Time Clerks needed at Howland Public Library in Beacon. Required: high school diploma or equivalent. Appreciated: college degree, library or customer service experience, a second language, an area of expertise, Beacon school district residence. Work requires some physical stamina (standing long periods) and strength (lifting up to 20 lbs.). Starts at $9.50 per hour; up to 20 hours per week, including some evenings and weekends. Additional hours possible pending future Civil Service examination. NYS Retirement.  Email resume and references to director@beaconlibrary.org.

Full-Time Bookkeeper Needed at Howland Public Library in Beacon. Duties include preparing payrolls, annual reports, budget estimates and summary statements of balances, receipts and payments; account keeping and general clerical activities. Minimum qualifications are a high school diploma or equivalent and either (a) three years of clerical experience involving the keeping or reviewing of financial records in a responsible capacity or (b) any equivalent combination of experience and training sufficient to indicate ability to do the work. Civil Service provisional appointment pending future examination. Position offers benefits including health and NYS Retirement. Salary starts at $30,000. Email resume and references to director@beaconlibrary.org.

The Grinnell Library Association of Wappingers Falls, NY is looking for a part time, friendly, customer service oriented Teen Coordinator Clerk. The successful candidate must be creative and passionate about working with teens and tweens. Experience with library programming and/or event planning is desirable. Flexible schedule required to include both evening shifts and Sunday hours. Applications will be accepted until March 7, 2013. Please e-mail your letter of interest and resume to director@grinnell-library.org, to the attention of Director Jessica Gonzalez at the Grinnell Library Association, 2642 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. Please provide program ideas to entice our local teens and tweens to Grinnell Library. Think outside the box!