With more than a 3:1 victory the Reed Memorial Library in Carmel (Putnam County) successfully passed a measure on December 9th to create a special district public library, fund the new district at $227,800 and publicly elect the board of trustees. This tax levy will supply 80% of the library's budget.

MHLS applauds Jeanne Buck, director of the library, the library board and staff, for putting this decision up to the voters to stabilize and secure the library's financial future.

As defined by the New York State Education Department, a public library district is a public library which has a process that requires: (a) public election of its trustees; (b) the library to secure 60 percent or more of its operating revenue through a public budget vote; and (c) the library to ensure financial accountability by presenting annually to appropriate funding agencies, and the public, a written budget which would enable the library to meet or exceed the minimum standards and to carry out its long-range plan of service.

[Source: Creating Public Library District in New York State,  

NYS Division of Library Development]

If your library is interested in learning more about the special district option please contact MHLS Coordinator for Library Sustainability, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich at rsmith@midhudson.org or x239.

The MHLS Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, December 10, in the MHLS Auditorium and:

• Welcomed and introduced Executive Director, Tom Sloan, and trustees elect, John Dax, and Michele Ment to the meeting;
• Designated First Niagara Bank as the System's Bank of Business in 2014;
• Approved the System's 2014 Budget, as presented;
• Elected officers for 2014:
  • President: Roland Patterson;
  • Vice President: Caroline Profera;
  • Treasurer: Regina Morini;
  • Secretary: Lisa Baker Brill;
  • Board Member: Camilla W. von Bergen (to serve on Executive Committee to fill the position normally held by a past seated Board President);
• Approved 2014 meeting dates:
  • Saturday, January 18
  • Saturday, March 22
  • Wednesday, May 7 (location to be announced);
  • Wednesday, July 9;
  • Wednesday, September 17;
  • The annual meeting is tentatively set for Friday, October 17.
  • Tuesday, December 9
• Reviewed a draft of a formal policy for Board Mileage Reimbursement for attendance at Board and Committee meetings, for approval at the January meeting;
• Approved submission of Variance Requests from the Patterson, Hudson Area Association and LaGrange libraries;
• Reviewed meeting attendance requirements, as stipulated in the Bylaws;
• Reviewed and signed the American Library Association's "Declaration for the Right to Libraries" affirming the right of every citizen to access to quality libraries;
• Went into Executive Session to discuss personnel issues related to Union contract negotiations.

MHLS welcomes Casey Conlin as the new director of the Pawling Free Library. Casey comes to the MHLS region from the Goshen Public Library & Historical Society where he was the Assistant Supervisor & Periodicals Librarian.

Carol Donick has been named the new director of the Kent Public Library. Carol was previously the director of the Desmond-Fish Library in Garrison.

A Message from Tom Sloan, MHLS Executive Director: Care, Loyalty and  Obedience - The Columbia County Libraries Association Dinner was a wonderful event bringing together trustees, directors and staff from all twelve Columbia County libraries. Talking with trustees regarding their vital efforts and commitment to libraries, reminded me of a statement in the Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State. The State Board of Regents describes the duties of trustees as those of "Care, Loyalty and Obedience."    

The particular duties of trustees include:

• Select, hire, and evaluate a qualified library director;
• Secure adequate funding for library operations and services;
• Provide a facility that meets the community's needs;
• Promote the library to the community and society in general; and
• Respect the role of the director as Chief Executive Officer. 
  [All nine essential duties and responsibilities of library trustees are covered in our Essential Trustee Duties & Responsibilities workshop, see below for dates.]

In support of our trustees and in recognition of their demanding duties, MHLS is supporting the following events:

• Essential Trustee Duties & Responsibilities: December 18, 5:30pm & January 22, 9:30am. More information http://calendar.midhudson.org 
• Library Trustee Association (LTA) Trustee Institute: May 2 & 3, Westchester Marriott, Tarrytown, NY. For more information:  http://librarytrustees.org/ 

Thank you trustees for honorably carrying out your indispensable responsibilities to libraries and the public we serve!

Revisions to the job opening posted last week for the library director at the Desmond-Fish Library in Garrison: The full job posting is viewable in the December 10th issue of the MHLS Bulletin - you may access the Bulletin archives at: http://midhudson.org/bulletins/main.htm It has been revised to reflect a salary of "$60,000 or commensurate with experience" as well as a note that "Resumes received by December 31, 2013, will receive first consideration. Applications will be reviewed until a director is selected."