Today MHLS staff are helping Innovative Interfaces Inc. to convert our integrated library system (ILS) from the Millennium product to their new product, Sierra.

Today member library staff cannot use the circulation system for checking in or out items and the online catalog is down. The MHLS Digital Download Center, however, is up and running.

Tomorrow, April 24th, member libraries will log-in to the new Sierra environment to run the day-to-day business of the library.

Eric McCarthy, MHLS Automation Coordinator will be on the job in the wee hours of the 24th to handle any issues that come up, but hopefully each library can just click on the Sierra icon on their desktops and start circulating in the new environment!

Sierra Users Group: A Post Migration Debriefing will be held on Thursday, May 9th from 10:00am - 12:00pm @MHLS: This open forum discussion is being held to collectively benefit MHLS Sierra users.  All users of Sierra circulation and cataloging functions are encouraged to attend and contribute to a group conversation regarding Sierra. We will be addressing issues related to the Sierra migration, what has changed and collaborate on workflows, tips and tricks. Discussion topics to include:

Circulation workflows

• Search/Holds
• Templates
• Data entry and new record templates
• Configuring users

Please register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org 

Training for New Staff! Register now for the May 21st workshops: Orientation for New Library Staff and Sierra Circulation Essentials at the MHLS Auditorium (105 Market Street, Poughkeepsie). Both programs are designed for new library staff and volunteers, but open to all who would like to attend. Register through the MHLS web calendar at http://calendar.midhudson.org

10:00am - noon: Orientation for New Library Staff

• The role of the public library in our communities
• How your library fits into the library structure of New York State
• Your role as a library representative
• Helping patrons find what they want
• Overview of the online catalog, HOMEACCESS databases and interlibrary loan
• System wide resource sharing concepts and issues

Presented by Merribeth Advocate, MHLS Assistant Director and Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Coordinator for Library Sustainability.

• Patron records
• Check-in
• Check-out
• Holds
• Fines and fees
• Notices
• Receipts
• Macros
• MHLS Resource Sharing Standards

Presented by Eric McCarthy, MHLS Automation Coordinator.

The Phoenicia Library gets the green light to rebuild! On April 10th the Town of Shandaken Planning Board unanimously approved the Phoenicia Library's plan to rebuild on Main Street in Phoenicia. The library suffered a devastating fire in 2010. "We are turning the adversity of the fire into an opportunity to better meet the needs of our community in ways that you have long told us are important to you. We are:

-Adding a small extension of the building to allow for, the first time in our history, a dedicated children's room (1st floor) and a public meeting room (2nd floor) for the community. This will bring us closer to the recommended space for a library in a community of our population.

- Making the library entirely accessible.  Patrons will now enter the library via a gently sloping ramp. Our bathroom will be on the first floor, to ADA code. There will be an elevator so the second floor, which houses the Jerry Bartlett Memorial Fly Fishing Collection, will be accessible to all our patrons.

- To make the library financially affordable for our community in the years to come, we will be the first "Passive House" Library in the United States. Passive House technology employs advanced insulation techniques which will lower our heating and cooling costs by 90%."

Check out the Phoenicia Library's site plan at http://phoenicialibrary.org/our-plans-a-better-library/

In an effort to promote reading and encourage children and young adults to continue to use the library, the Highland Public Library has implemented the "Read Down your Fines" program. For every half hour read at the library one library dollar is earned. Library dollars can then be used to pay fines.

Philmont Library Director's Challenge: Karen Garafalo, the director of the Philmont Library, is challenging her community to work together and walk 100,000 miles! Starting during National Library Week and running until mid-September, residents will log miles walked around town, on area hiking and rail trails. If a resident is walking their dog they can log twice the number of miles! This is one of a series of community challenges Karen has come up with over the years. One year the community read a million pages; another, a ton of books. Each year the community has come through and reached the various goals.

Librarian I: The Town of Esopus Library is looking for a creative, customer-service orientated individual to coordinate adult and community programs, promote library services, facilitate patron transactions, and assist the Library Director in specific administrative duties. Applicants must be willing to work a total of 22 hours per week including evenings and weekends. Pay begins at $16/hr. Minimum Qualifications: MLS from ALA accredited school preferred, or candidates who are currently enrolled in an ALA accredited library school are welcome to apply. This is a Civil Service position; as such the applicant must be reachable on the established list after testing for the position.  Send letter of application, resume, and three references to Kelly Tomaseski, Library Director, Town of Esopus Library, 128 Canal Street P.O. Box 1167, Port Ewen, NY 12466 or to director@esopuslibrary.org. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. EOE