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RCLS Weekly Memo Archives

2018 Page-A-Day Book Lover’s Calendar Order Form

RCLS Legislative Breakfast and Annual Meeting Program

Banned Books Week Press Release

RCLS Weekly Memo 1 August 23, 2010

Serving Member Libraries Since 1959

September 25, 2017

Robert Hubsher, Executive Director Ruth K. Daubenspeck, Newsletter Editor

Ramapo Catskill Library System • http://www.rcls.org 619 Route 17M • Middletown, NY 10940-4395 • 845.243.3747

RCLS Legislative Breakfast and

Annual Meeting Wrap-up

Martha Anderson, RCLS Board President, welcomed 170 attendees, representing 32 RCLS member libraries to the RCLS 30th Legislative Breakfast and 58th Annual Meeting on Friday, September 15 at Bear Mountain Inn & Conference Center.

Legislators attending the beautiful morning event were Senator John J. Bonacic, Assembly members Ellen C. Jaffee, Aileen M. Gunther, Karl Brabenec and James Skoufis. Chris Bresnan, Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, Anne Barnhart representing Assemblyman Brian D. Miller and Laurie Wheelock representing Assemblyman Kevin Cahill were also present. All voiced their support of public libraries.

Three Library Champions addressed the group on what the library means to them. They were Beverly Braxton of Warwick, Michael James of Cornwall and Ada Johnston of Newburgh.

Robert Hubsher RCLS Executive Director shared insightful comments, which are located on page 3.

Member Library Adult Program of the Year Award, a plaque and check for $500 went to the Florida Public Library for its program “Door to Door Outreach Campaign.” Pictured accepting the award (left to right) are Maria Martinez, Sara Verneuille, Marie Arnstein, Cecelia Lillard, Ashley Baroch, Madlyn Folino, Meg Sgombick, Diane Arcieri, Elizabeth Patton and Annette Shaughnessy.

September 25, 2017 2 RCLS Weekly Memo

Lynn Skolnick, RCLS Trustee and Chair of the Annual Meeting and Awards Committee, presented the Member Library Adult Program of the Year Award, a plaque and check for $500 to Madelyn Folino, Director of the Florida Public Library for the program “Door to Door Outreach Campaign.” Anya Berg accepted the Honorable Mention Award for the Palisades Free Library’s “The Artist’s Way Meetup” program.

The Member Library Youth Program of the Year Award, a plaque and check for $500, went to Karen Golding, Michelle Muller and Matthew Gomm, Director of the Goshen Public Library and Historical Society for the program “A Run Between the Pages.” Patricia Sussmann of the Newburgh Free Library and Catina Strauss of the Monroe Free Library accepted the Honorable Mention Award for the Orange Library Association’s (OLA) “Amazing Orange Summer Scavenger Hunt – Exploring Your Libraries and County” program.

The Anthony J. Knipp Library Trustee Award, a plaque and check for $250, were presented to Patricia Shanley a Trustee of the Monroe Free Library.

After the Breakfast many attendees stayed for the Annual Meeting, which included the approval of the 2016 Annual Meeting Minutes. Stephen Hoefer, RCLS Fiscal Officer and Assistant Treasurer, presented the 2018 RCLS Budget that needs member libraries’ ratification by Friday, December 8, 2017.

Three seats on the RCLS Board of Trustees - one from Orange County and two from Rockland County - needed filling at this meeting. Diane Arcieri of Florida NY was elected to the Orange County seat. Her term will end on December 31, 2022. Roslyn Applebaum Hurwitz of New City was re-elected to a full term representing Rockland County that will end on December 31, 2022. Eleanor Kassner of Tomkins Cove was elected to the partial-term Rockland County seat that will end on December 31, 2021.

Thank you to everyone that took time out of their work day to attend the Legislative Breakfast and Annual Meeting. A BIG THANK YOU to those that brought their displays and handouts to make the event the success it was.

If you were unable to attend the Legislative Breakfast and Annual Meeting and would like to view the program, it can be found on the RCLS website.)

The Anthony J. Knipp Library Trustee Award, a plaque and check for $250, were presented to Patricia Shanley a Trustee of the Monroe Free Library. Pictured (left to right) are Marilyn McIntosh, Director and Patricia Shanley.

Member Library Youth Program of the Year Award, a plaque and check for $500, went to the Goshen Public Library and Historical Society for its program “A Run Between the Pages.” Pictured accepting the award (left to right) are Karen Golding, Michelle Muller and Matthew Gomm.

RCLS Weekly Memo 3 September 25, 2017

Executive Director’s Remarks

The following is the text of RCLS Executive Director Robert Hubsher’s remakrs from the 2017 Legislative Breakfast and Annual Meeting:

The last 27 years has been a difficult time for our nation – coping with domestic and foreign terrorism, enduring a disastrous financial crisis, an increasing loss of civility in our political discourse, a growing number of natural weather-related disasters and a dramatic growth in the dissemination of false or inaccurate information.

It is in this environment that our public libraries have operated during this period – offering people a safe haven to gather and talk to one another, helping children develop a love of reading, assisting adults with their job searches, helping new immigrants understand the road to citizenship, supporting local business people, introducing children and teens to coding, encouraging people of all ages to broaden their horizons and let their imaginations soar.

What librarians, library workers and Trustees do every day is vital to our communities and our nation – they help to protect the First Amendment, foster and support our democratic way of life and inspire people to become the best that they can.

Our libraries are not only physical spaces; community centers where people can gather but also increasingly available around the clock via the digital services they make available to everyone with an internet connection.

Our libraries are an integral part of the educational infrastructure, a critical resource supporting the academic success of our children and an ever present component of life-long learning essential to all working people.

Access to knowledge is the superb, the supreme act of truly great civilizations. Of all the institutions that purport to do this, free libraries stand virtually alone in accomplishing this mission.

Toni Morrison The Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) supports our member libraries with a basket of services that

facilitates cooperation and sharing of resources between and among libraries and offers consolidated services that help to reduce local costs while expanding the capability of each library.

As I look to the future, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the fate of RCLS. Over the last 27 years we have dramatically reduced our staffing and eliminated services that were no longer needed by our members. Since joining the RCLS team in November 2000, we have reduced staffing by nearly 20%. We have improved our efficiency and increased effectiveness in order to lower costs, while working harder to meet our members’ needs.

My concern is focused on our funding, over 60% of which comes from State Aid, and is based on formulas that were developed in 1990. In addition, since 2008 we have operated with funding at levels that are below those formula amounts. In 2018 we anticipate that our State Aid will be about 6.7% below the formula levels.

Let me put this in context - the rate of inflation since 1990 has been 87.29% - the purchasing power of $100 in 1990 would be $187.29 in 2017.

The average cost of gas in 1990 was $1.30 and today we are paying nearly $2.80; the average price of electricity per kilowatt hour was 6.57 cents, according to NYSERDA, and the average cost in 2017 has been 14.3 cents.

I am looking beyond the time when we achieve the full formula level of State Aid funding – what then? The well-being of our member libraries is tied to the ability of RCLS to support their service needs, while

keeping local costs down. Should funding for Systems remain at the current formula levels, services will decline and member services fee will increase.

Our advocacy efforts have helped our legislators better understand the value of public libraries. Over the last five years we have seen the power of our advocacy in helping to restore State Aid to libraries and increase the level funding available through the State Construction Grant program.

We need to redouble our advocacy efforts to let our legislators know that libraries are part of our educational system and State Aid to libraries should be increased each year at the same percentage as funding for schools. We can do this!

The reflections and histories of men and women throughout the world are contained in books…America’s greatness is not only recorded in books, but it is also dependent upon each and every citizen being able to utilize public libraries.

Terence Cooke (1921-1983)

September 25, 2017 4 RCLS Weekly Memo

Photo of the Week

Dear RCLS Sports Fans:

On Sunday, September 10th while others were watching tennis, football, golf or any of the many other sporting events taking place, teen reading stars were competing in the RCLS Teen Battle of the Books at the SUNY Orange campus in Middletown.

Sixteen stellar teams representing RCLS member libraries competed for the honor of being the 2017 RCLS Teen Battle of the Books Champs. Team members read a set of eight books and competed to be the first to answer questions about the books – and the best part is that all of the teams seemed to have fun. This year each team played well in the quest to be the top team. There were many close, nail-biting battles. However, only one team can prevail as the championship team.

For the fourth year in a row, the winner of the book battle was the Daniel Pierce Library Team from Grahamsville which steamrolled to the top and will reign as the 2017 Champions. Congratulations to the Team, Coaches Matt Haynes and Anita Jones.

The powerhouse Albert Wisner Public Library Team expertly managed to work its way into second place. Congratulations AWPL and Coach Dianne Aimone.

The Nanuet Public Library Team came back from an early loss and climbed to third place this time around. Congratulations to Team Nanuet and Coach Angela Krajcar.

A diagram showing how all sixteen teams fared can be seen on the RCLS website. Special thanks to the SUNY Orange English Department and Dept. Head Patricia Sculley for

cosponsoring the event again this year and thanks to all who participated – volunteers, officials, coaches, planners, parents, families, library staff, trustees, and most of all the team members. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.

Sincerely,

Randall Enos

RCLS Youth Services Consultant

Share a library related photo, include a brief caption, your name, position and the library’s name. A photo release is required from recognizable individuals in the photo. Click here for the RCLS photo release. Submit the picture to

rclsmemo@rcls.org with ‘Photo of the Week’ in the subject line.

Randall Enos, RCLS Youth Services Consultant and Battle of the Books Judge, presents their winnings to the 2017 RCLS Battle of the Books Campions representing Daniel Pierce Library, Grahamsville.

September 25, 2017 5 RCLS Weekly Memo

Deadlines

Tuesday, September26 @ 8 a.m. Registration for RCLS 2018 Budget Hearing (9/26)

Wednesday, September27 @ 8 a.m. Registration for BLUEcloud Analytics: Hands-on Workshop (9/27)

Friday, September 29 @ 8 a.m. Registration for BLUEcloud Analytics: Hands-on Workshop, (9/29)

Friday, September 29 SRP Survey

Friday, September 29 Fall Into Books Registration

Friday, October 6 Coordinated Order for Vipre Antivirus Business Licenses for unsupported machines to Diane Biondi, RCLS

Job Openings

Job Postings

Building Your e-résumé

System Calendar

For a complete and up-to-date list of events, including links to additional information, see the RCLS Calendar.

To add information, contact Ruth Daubenspeck.

September-Library Card Sign-up Month

Monday, 25 ANSER, RCLS—9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, 26 Let’s Chat about Customer Services, Pearl River—10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, 26 RCLS 2018 Budget Hearing, Suffern—6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 27 BLUEcloud Analytics: Hands-on Workshop, RCLS 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, 28 Greening Your Library, RCLS—10:00 a.m.

Thursday, 18 LARC-Adult Services, Palisades, 10:00 a.m.

Friday, 29 BLUEcloud Analytics: Hands-on Workshop, RCLS 10:00 a.m.

October

Sunday, 1 Media 101: Truth or Consensus Survival Tools in the Age of Fake News, Bethel Woods: Center for the Arts—4:30 p.m.

Monday, 2 RCLS Teen Librarians, RCLS—9:00 a.m. Battle of the Books Committee | 10:15 a.m. Meeting

Tuesday, 3 NYLA Library Skills Academy, RCLS—9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, 4 Directors Association Executive Committee, RCLS—9:30 a.m.

RCLS Headquarters E-mail and Extension Directory

(845.243.3747)

Robert Hubsher ............ Executive Director ................................................................. 242

Vacant .......................... ANSER Manager and Systems Administrator ....................... 228

Grace Riario ................. Assistant Director & Outreach Coordinator ............................ 233

Chuck Conklin .............. Delivery & Building Maintenance Supervisor ......................... 226

Jerry Kuntz ................... Electronic Resources Consultant ........................................... 246

Stephen Hoefer ............ Fiscal Officer .......................................................................... 223

Dan Donohue ............... ILL/Technical Services Librarian ............................................ 237

Randall Enos ................ Youth Services Consultant .................................................... 240

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