A number of libraries are already reporting patrons presenting their mobile phone rather than their library card at the front desk!

Thanks to mobile apps, patrons are loading cards in their wallets that have barcodes onto their smartphones. This is becoming a common practice for storing "loyalty" cards from pharmacies and grocery stores. Since a library card also has a barcode on it patrons are loading those as well.

MHLS is now registered with Cardstar, which is the #1 mobile loyalty app in the US according to Consumer Reports. This app is free to the patron. Now, when patrons load their library barcode into Cardstar they can choose the "Mid-Hudson Library System" and the MHLS logo is tied to their barcode in the app.

If a patron presents their phone with the barcode on it your scanner can read it if you have a 2D scanner. Older scanner models will not be able to read the screen of the phone. You can still see the numbers associated with the barcode on their screen so you can type those numbers into Sierra.

If you are interested in upgrading your scanner to a 2D scanner, MHLS IT Coordinator Robert Drake has provided a standardized "Equipment Order Form" for you to place an order for one. The form is accessible at http://bit.ly/17XNeDu  

We would like to welcome Nina Acosta as full-time cataloger and trainer to The Mid-Hudson Library System. Nina was hired as the part-time cataloger in June and in that short time she has shown herself to be an enthusiastic and dedicated employee.  She will begin her online studies for an MLIS at San Jose State University in January and MHLS looks forward to benefitting from her skills and growing education to help maintain robust and accurate bibliographic records in an environment that continues to change. Gina LoPrinzo, our former full-time cataloger, is leaving MHLS to return to the Kent Library. As always, please report any problems with the catalog at  cataloging@midhudson.org.

New York Council for the Humanities' Reading & Discussion Programs for Adults: Open to any tax-exempt organization in New York State, the Council's adult R&D programs bring together community members for a series of thematically-linked text-based conversations about important humanities ideas and themes. Libraries across the state have found these programs to be an excellent way to build audiences and relationships in their community. Your library chooses a theme, decides how many sessions to hold, and finds a local scholar to facilitate the discussions. After you're awarded the program, you then select readings from our themed book lists that work best for your community. Applications to host a spring series are due Friday, December 13: http://bit.ly/11YnExx  

The Council currently offers six themes:

• Growing & Aging: How does our perception of ourselves transform as we grow older? In what ways does aging change how we view others? How has the concept of "age" changed over time?
• Lincoln on the Civil War: Lincoln on the Civil War: Selected Speeches is a volume of nine addresses exploring issues of freedom, civic duty, slavery, and the Constitution, made over the course of Lincoln's political career. 
• Making Sense of the Civil War: This series of five conversations explores different facets of the Civil War experience, informed by reading the words written or spoken by powerful voices from the past and present. 
• Muslim Journeys: Explore the diverse experiences and perspectives of Muslims around the world through literature and memoir. 
• Serving: Why and how do we choose to serve others? What is the relationship between those who serve and those who are served? If we serve, what sustains and renews us? 
• Working: What is the relationship between our work and our individual identities? What happens to a community when the nature of work in that community changes?

The Council trains your scholar-facilitator and pays him or her an honorarium of $150 per session. Host sites pay a small fee of $25 per session, though a limited number of waivers are available. Sites have the option of borrowing texts from the Council. Spring series must be scheduled between February and June 2014.  

The Big Read is accepting applications to develop community-wide reading programs between September 2014 and June 2015. The Big Read is a national program designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.  Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read receive a grant, educational and promotional materials, and access to online training resources and opportunities. Approximately 75 organizations from across the country will be selected. To review the Guidelines and Application Instructions, visit The Big Read website: http://bit.ly/1hu8KXK.
Application deadline: January 28, 2014