Early Literacy Storytime: Enhancing Programs for Children & their Caregivers workshops presented by Beth Zambito, Early Childhood Specialist at the Newburgh Free Library, will be held throughout the System in February & March!

 

Target Audience:

These workshops are open to all library staff, volunteers, educators and daycare providers. Library staff are encouraged to invite local daycare providers to attend.
 

Learning Objectives

• An interactive workshop that will illustrate how to incorporate early literacy practices into public library storytimes for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.
  
  
• Tips on how to convey to parents the connection between what we do in storytime and a child's later reading will be discussed, as well as tips on how parents can continue to support early literacy at home.
   
• Overview of research from ALA's Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library, 2nd edition is included with a focus on early literacy practices, components and informational tips for parents.
   
• Participants will leave this workshop with resources that they can incorporate into their storytime programs immediately.

Please register online for one of the following dates:

•  Thursday, February 20 from 10:00am - 12:00pm at the Patterson Library
   
• Tuesday, February 25 from 10:00am - 12:00pm at the Philmont Library
   
• Wednesday, March 19 from 1:00 - 3:00pm at the Kingston Library
   
• Wednesday, March 26 from 1:00 - 3:00pm in the MHLS Auditorium, Poughkeepsie

NYS Budget Update: Governor Cuomo released his budget proposal last week and did not carry over the legislature's additional $4 million for library aid that was included during negotiations last year. This puts us $4 million behind the funding we received for this year at this point in the process. We've got work to do in the coming months to at least get back to where we were last year and hopefully beyond with the help of the legislature.

TAKE ACTION NOW! From Mike Neppl, NYLA Director of Government Relations: "The Executive Budget is not yet finalized - the Governor can include additional funding by submitting an amended budget in the next 30 days, so the time to take action is NOW." NYLA has provided a quick and easy way to show your support, visit NYLA's Legislative Action Center, click on 'Take Action', edit the supplied advocacy message as you like, enter your name and address, and hit 'send message'. Your message will automatically be delivered to Governor Cuomo.   

Don't forget to make your voice heard on Library Advocacy Day on February 26, 2014 in Albany. Go to http://midhudson.org for more information.

There's still time to register for one of the 2014 MHLS Advocacy Boot Camp sessions! These workshops are designed to make you feel more confident and comfortable in your role as a library advocate. There are four sessions to choose from:

• Wednesday, February 19, 10am-12pm @Saugerties Public Library

Member Library Directors: The 2013 Annual Report is due from each member library to MHLS on February 19. The software has now been turned on by the state and there is a link to login in the center of our home page at midhudson.org. Usernames and passwords remain the same as last year. The packets of information that come from MHLS were sent to each library last week. They come in a manila envelope labeled 'Library Director - Important Annual Report Information'.

Contacts for Annual Report support:

• General questions, user names & passwords, software functionality issues: Merribeth Advocate (madvocate@midhudson.org or x254)
• Sierra information provided by MHLS: Eric McCarthy (emccarthy@midhudson.org or x221)
• Financial information provided by MHLS Business Office: Joan Kay (jkay@midhudson.org or x214)
• Summer Reading Report questions: Kerstin Cruger (kcruger@midhudson.org or x250)

The MHLS Board of Trustees met on Saturday, January 18, in the MHLS Auditorium and:

• New trustees were administered the 2014 Oath of Office;
• Approved two personnel policies: Non-Competition and Conflict of Interest and Staff Development;
• Accepted priority themes from the 2013 MHLS Annual Member Survey;
• Approved the Member Library Mileage Reimbursement Equalization Grant;
• Approved the following dates for remaining meetings in 2014:
  • Saturday, March 22, 10:00am @ MHLS;
  • Wednesday, May 22, @ the Cairo Library 3:00-5:00pm with Regional Meet & Greet 5-6pm;
  • Wednesday, July 9, 10:00am @MHLS;
  • Wednesday, September 17 @ Mahopac Public Library - tour 4:30pm meeting 5-7pm;
  • The tentative date for the Annual Meeting is Friday, October 24 (time and location TBA)
  • Saturday, December 6, 10:00am @ MHLS
• Reviewed and accepted committee positions for 2014;
• Approved System funding for the Encore catalog enhancement product;
• Authorized the System to employ Nugent & Haeussler, P.C., Certified Public Accountants, to perform its 2013 audit review;
• Went into Executive Session to discuss the proposed CSEA Agreement;
• Authorized the Executive Director to execute the terms of a new 2-year contract with CSEA Union Local 702 for employees in the collective bargaining unit;
• Authorized the Executive Director to implement salary increases for full-time and part-time employees not in the collective bargaining unit, and the longevity increases for all full-time employees not in the collective bargaining unit.

The next meeting of the Board is Saturday, March 22, at 10:00am in the MHLS Auditorium.