1. Vol. 12-26 6.26.12
Valatie Library Gets International Attention!
The Valatiesome very high praiseCounty has
received
Library in Columbia
for their plans
“Net Zero” Defined by the U.S. Department of
Energy: “In general, a net-zero energy building produces as
to build a “near net-zero” energy library facility! much energy as it uses over the course of a year. Net-zero
The United Nations' Sustainability Initiative, The Future energy buildings are very energy efficient. The remaining low
We Want / Rio+20, has selected the Valatie Library’s energy needs are typically met with on-site renewable
energy.”
project to feature on its Solutions page and during
their Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which was held
last week. From the library’s press release: MHLS Announcements
MHLS will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th. There
will be no deliveries.
“Valatie's 80 year old library was no longer meeting the needs of its
constituency. Considering the exponentially rising costs of energy,
a plan to relocate to a much larger space would prohibitively Resource Sharing & Millennium
deplete the operating budget. The library's goal is to reduce both Eric Takes a Road Trip to Help Your Library! Don’t
the need and the expense of energy for the library. miss out! Starting in July, Eric McCarthy, MHLS
Automation Coordinator, will be taking a road trip to all
Architecture has provided a unique solution: our building designer, five counties served by MHLS to provide training on
David Bienn - who has over two decades of “evergreen” design Patron Data Entry. It is strongly recommended by the
initiatives, working with sustainable communities in Europe and the Directors Association that each library plan to send at
USA - has specified energy-efficient, emerging-technology least one staff person to a session:
materials and construction techniques, viewing the building as a
microcosm of the community. The planned green building project Thursday, July 12 | Mahopac Library
will align our resource-use with 'ever-green' practices, including the Monday, July 16 | Catskill Public Library
installation of skylights, photovoltaic solar panel technology, and
ductless air conditioning, with the goal of attaining Net-Zero Thursday, July 19 | Elting Memorial Library in New Paltz
energy usage, "allowing the library to be more self-sufficient
in unpredictable economic times, as an ever-present member Wednesday, July 25 | MHLS Auditorium in Poughkeepsie
of the Valatie and world community", said Bienn.” Friday, July 27 | Roeliff Jansen Community in Hillsdale
Please see the United Nations' Sustainability Initiative Please register online at http://calendar.midhudson.org/
for more information on the Valatie Project:
http://futurewewant.org/portfolio/sustainable-library-ibrary/
Trustee Resources
Trend Watching: Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, MHLS Got a FOIL Policy? Many libraries are required to
Coordinator for Library Growth & Sustainability, has have a policy that outlines how to respond to a
recently heard from three member libraries that are Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request.
currently considering “Net-Zero Energy” goals for their FOIL is intended to allow citizens to access the records
new facility projects! Rebekkah is a certified Sustainable of government and related entities. Check out pages 3-
Building Advisor and LEED AP and available to your library 9 of Your Right to Know:
to discuss your energy efficiency plans! http://www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/pdfs/right2know.pdf for
2. FOIL details. (This document also has a great Document, Document, Document
summary of Open Meetings Law!) Association File incident reports but make them brief. What they did,
libraries are generally not subject to FOIL. what you did and why you did it. Done! [Sample incident report
forms are available on MHLS’ web site at http://bit.ly/eolApK]
However, association libraries can choose to
voluntarily comply with FOIL, and indicate that when Equal Treatment for All
replying to a request, particularly if they receive Remember: React to the behavior not the person’s
significant public funding. appearance. Behavioral issues can come from anyone at
anytime. Don’t make exceptions; everyone should be held to
For Special District, School District & Municipal Public the same standard.
[Webinar write-up provided by Kerstin Cruger,
Libraries: MHLS Marketing & Program Assistant]
• You must respond to a FOIL request, in writing, Job Openings
within 5 days of the request stating whether you are Library Director: Millbrook Free Library is seeking a
granting or denying the request in whole or in part, or dynamic leader for an active library in a vibrant
stating how much time you will need to respond to the community. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s
request. Bob and Ellen suggested making the response degree and 3 years of progressively responsible library
a staff function (director), to ensure timely action. administrative experience, including a broad
background in management, administration, operations
• You must maintain a “subject matter list”: “The list is
and finance, as well as knowledge of library services,
not a compilation of every record an agency has in its
operations and collections. Salary: $50,000+
possession, but rather is a list of the subjects or file
categories under which records are kept.” commensurate with experience. Performance
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Characteristics:
For more information about FOIL, visit the NYS • Responsible for administering the safe and efficient
operation of Millbrook Free Library, its programs and
Committee on Open government:
services, in compliance with all applicable laws, policies
http://www.dos.ny.gov/coog/foil2.html
and decisions of the Board;
• Oversees continuous development of relevant library
Administration & Management materials; plans and implements programs and services
Library Security: Warren Graham, the author of The for patrons of all ages in collaboration with the Children’s
Black Belt Librarian presented a live webinar, hosted at Librarian;
• Exhibits a high level of administrative and supervisory
MHLS, on Wednesday, June 6 which focused on 12
skills, including: recruiting, hiring and training new
essential elements for creating a successful library
employees, as well as coordinating the continued
security program. Graham stated that by producing training and development of staff members;
and implementing simple and direct procedures any administering personnel policies; preparing performance
library environment can be controlled. Here are a few evaluations of staff members; record keeping; and
highlights: preparing annual budget, state and local reports;
• Possesses exceptional interpersonal, written and oral
Create Simple and Direct Policies communication skills;
Rules and safety procedures should be effortless to • Exercises considerable professional skill, initiative and
remember and implement. For example: The People’s Public good judgment, as well as the ability to establish
Library does not allow any behavior that is disruptive to effective working relationships with staff, volunteers,
library use. patrons, the public and the Board to promote the library
as an integral and vital component of the community;
Train Your Staff
• Requires strong computer skills; knowledge of database,
Graham gave this analogy: You do not enter a lion’s cage
Internet, spreadsheet and word processing software, as
with a book on lion taming. Be prepared! Hold annual
well as familiarity with current and emerging
trainings for all staff and schedule special sessions for any
technologies and their application in a library setting.
new staff. Be sure to document when trainings took place
and who attended. Submit letter outlining qualifications, resume and 3 reference
letters no later than July 11th, 2012 to: Barbara M. Murphy;
Support Your Frontline Staff President, Board of Trustees, Millbrook Free Library; 43
Security plans will fall flat if administration does not back up Horseshoe Rd.; Millbrook, NY 12545.
the actions of frontline staff. It is detrimental to the success of
MHLS recommends that the minimum starting salary of a full or part-time
your security plan to be consistent in rule enforcement. Show librarian with an MLS degree be at least equal to that of a teacher with a
a united front. master’s degree in the same community.
Member Libraries are welcome to submit items of interest and job openings to the MHLS Bulletin: bulletin@midhudson.org.
The MHLS Bulletin is available on line at http://midhudson.org/bulletins/main.htm
![FOIL details. (This document also has a great Document, Document, Document
summary of Open Meetings Law!) Association File incident reports but make them brief. What they did,
libraries are generally not subject to FOIL. what you did and why you did it. Done! [Sample incident report
forms are available on MHLS’ web site at http://bit.ly/eolApK]
However, association libraries can choose to
voluntarily comply with FOIL, and indicate that when Equal Treatment for All
replying to a request, particularly if they receive Remember: React to the behavior not the person’s
significant public funding. appearance. Behavioral issues can come from anyone at
anytime. Don’t make exceptions; everyone should be held to
For Special District, School District & Municipal Public the same standard.
[Webinar write-up provided by Kerstin Cruger,
Libraries: MHLS Marketing & Program Assistant]
• You must respond to a FOIL request, in writing, Job Openings
within 5 days of the request stating whether you are Library Director: Millbrook Free Library is seeking a
granting or denying the request in whole or in part, or dynamic leader for an active library in a vibrant
stating how much time you will need to respond to the community. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s
request. Bob and Ellen suggested making the response degree and 3 years of progressively responsible library
a staff function (director), to ensure timely action. administrative experience, including a broad
background in management, administration, operations
• You must maintain a “subject matter list”: “The list is
and finance, as well as knowledge of library services,
not a compilation of every record an agency has in its
operations and collections. Salary: $50,000+
possession, but rather is a list of the subjects or file
categories under which records are kept.” commensurate with experience. Performance
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Characteristics:
For more information about FOIL, visit the NYS • Responsible for administering the safe and efficient
operation of Millbrook Free Library, its programs and
Committee on Open government:
services, in compliance with all applicable laws, policies
http://www.dos.ny.gov/coog/foil2.html
and decisions of the Board;
• Oversees continuous development of relevant library
Administration & Management materials; plans and implements programs and services
Library Security: Warren Graham, the author of The for patrons of all ages in collaboration with the Children’s
Black Belt Librarian presented a live webinar, hosted at Librarian;
• Exhibits a high level of administrative and supervisory
MHLS, on Wednesday, June 6 which focused on 12
skills, including: recruiting, hiring and training new
essential elements for creating a successful library
employees, as well as coordinating the continued
security program. Graham stated that by producing training and development of staff members;
and implementing simple and direct procedures any administering personnel policies; preparing performance
library environment can be controlled. Here are a few evaluations of staff members; record keeping; and
highlights: preparing annual budget, state and local reports;
• Possesses exceptional interpersonal, written and oral
Create Simple and Direct Policies communication skills;
Rules and safety procedures should be effortless to • Exercises considerable professional skill, initiative and
remember and implement. For example: The People’s Public good judgment, as well as the ability to establish
Library does not allow any behavior that is disruptive to effective working relationships with staff, volunteers,
library use. patrons, the public and the Board to promote the library
as an integral and vital component of the community;
Train Your Staff
• Requires strong computer skills; knowledge of database,
Graham gave this analogy: You do not enter a lion’s cage
Internet, spreadsheet and word processing software, as
with a book on lion taming. Be prepared! Hold annual
well as familiarity with current and emerging
trainings for all staff and schedule special sessions for any
technologies and their application in a library setting.
new staff. Be sure to document when trainings took place
and who attended. Submit letter outlining qualifications, resume and 3 reference
letters no later than July 11th, 2012 to: Barbara M. Murphy;
Support Your Frontline Staff President, Board of Trustees, Millbrook Free Library; 43
Security plans will fall flat if administration does not back up Horseshoe Rd.; Millbrook, NY 12545.
the actions of frontline staff. It is detrimental to the success of
MHLS recommends that the minimum starting salary of a full or part-time
your security plan to be consistent in rule enforcement. Show librarian with an MLS degree be at least equal to that of a teacher with a
a united front. master’s degree in the same community.
Member Libraries are welcome to submit items of interest and job openings to the MHLS Bulletin: bulletin@midhudson.org.
The MHLS Bulletin is available on line at http://midhudson.org/bulletins/main.htm](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)