Every library employee encounters difficult patrons and users from time to time. Whether it's a troublesome group of teenagers, a loud patron, an angry or even dangerous person, the experience of dealing with someone unpleasant is common for staff in libraries of just about all sizes and types.

MHLS is offering a group viewing of the American Library Association webinar, Dealing with Difficult Patrons on Thursday, September 19th from 2:30 - 4:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium in Poughkeepsie.

In this group viewing of the live ALA webinar, library safety and security expert Dr. Steve Albrecht will show you how you can deal with these problem patrons effectively, efficiently, and without creating major disruptions in your library environment. Library employees at all levels will learn strategies for dealing with such patrons and effectively diffusing challenging situations.

Topics to be discussed include:

• Developing a security plan and consistent responses for all situations.
• Understanding the need for security thinking in the "new" library environment.
• How to more accurately define workplace violence, its perpetrators, and types of threats.
• Enforcing Library Codes of Conduct.
• Providing "high-risk" customer service.
• Interacting more effectively with law enforcement.
• Using realistic communication tools that work for all patrons.

About the Presenter:

Dr. Steve Albrecht, PHR, CPP, BCC, is board certified in HR, security management, and employee coaching. In 1994, he co-wrote Ticking Bombs, one of the first business books on workplace violence. He holds a doctorate in Business Administration, an M.A. in Security Management, a B.S. in Psychology, and a B.A. in English. He worked for the San Diego Police Department from 1984 to 1999 and is the author of 15 books on business, workplace security, and criminal justice topics.

Please register online for this event: http://calendar.midhudson.org  

Banned Books Week is the national book community's annual celebration of the freedom to read. Hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to the problem of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a variety of events. The 2013 celebration of Banned Books Week will be held from September 22-28.   

Take this opportunity to highlight the importance of intellectual freedom and remind us not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.  

More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982. The 10 most challenged titles of 2012 were:

1. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey   
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie   
3. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher   
4. Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James.   
5. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.   
6. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.   
7. Looking for Alaska, by John Green.   
8. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz   
9. The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls   
10. Beloved, by Toni Morrison

For more information on Banned Books Week go to  http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/  

Got a FOIL Policy? Many libraries are required to have a policy that outlines how to respond to a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request. Check out pages 3-9 of Your Right to Know: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/pdfs/right2know.pdf for FOIL details. Association libraries are generally not subject to FOIL. However, association libraries can choose to voluntarily comply with FOIL, and indicate that when replying to a request, particularly if they receive significant public funding. For more information about FOIL, visit the NYS Committee on Open government:  http://www.dos.ny.gov/coog/foil2.html   

The Pawling Library has an opening for a Part Time YA/Teen Services Provider and Programmer. We are looking for someone to bring excitement and vision to the Pawling Free Library's YA program, with a willingness to reach out to middle-schoolers and teens through social media and school collaborations and other relevant, community minded approaches. Responsibilities include:

• Coordinating and planning interesting, educational, entertaining programs and presentations for middle-schoolers and teens.
• Consulting with and advising the Director on YA/collection development
• YA/Teen reader's advisory
• Technology, gaming,
• Maintaining YA/Teen program budget line.
• Co-management of teen volunteers.

Minimum Requirements:

• Familiarity with teen trends in technology and social media
• Interest in current reading, viewing and listening interests of adolescents and teens.
• A large degree of comfort with technology.
• Ability to provide reference service and/or guide teens toward materials in print and electronic resources. 
• Ability to work cooperatively with others.

Public library or teaching experience preferred, but not required. Circulation desk coverage and some evenings and weekends are required. The position calls for 12-15 hours per week, starting hourly wage to be discussed. To apply, please electronically submit a resume with a letter of interest and three references to Tracy Priest, Director at: director@pawlinglibrary.org. Please type YA position in the subject line.