RAMAPO CATSKILL LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWS
 
July 1, 2024
NOTE: The RCLS Offices are closed Thursday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.  
No delivery services on that day.
Fall 2024
Professional Development Scholarship
 
 
 
The Professional Development Scholarship seeks to improve the skills and abilities of our member library staff who wish to attend a professional development program or course but are unable to due to budgetary constraints.  Scholarship awards are $1000 and will be awarded after submitting the evaluation report and proof of course completion.
DEADLINE TO APPLY IS AUGUST 9TH
 
For Guidelines and Application Form
PLEASE CLICK HERE
 

 
The combatants are training
for victory...
 
 
Join us on Sunday, August 25th to cheer on the Book Warriors!
 
To learn more CLICK HERE
 

JOIN US FOR THE RCLS
65TH ANNUAL MEETING
Friday, September 6, 2024 | 8 AM to 1 PM
 
Guest Speaker:  Lisa Kropp, President,
New York Library Association (NYLA) 
Keynote Address: Emily Drabinski, President, 
American Library Association (ALA)
  
 
The morning will begin with a buffet breakfast followed by Annual Awards ceremonies and a brief business meeting
which includes elections to the RCLS Board of Trustees.  Displays by member libraries will be on view throughout the event. 
A special 50/50 Raffle will be held to benefit the work of
The Freedom to Read Foundation
 
Registration is REQUIRED
(registration closes August 30th)
 
CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
& TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
 

SPECIAL MENTION
"Toast of the Town"

Congratulations to Joanna Goldfarb, RCLS Sustainability Innovation Consultant, on being recognized for all her terrific contributions to the library profession!
Joanna has received the 2024 Children's Librarians of Orange/Ulster/Sullivan Counties Award which honors 
an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to, or impact on library
services to children and CLOUSC
AND
the "40 Under Forty" Award from the SUNY New Paltz Alumni, which publicly honors 40 alumni under the age of 40 who have achieved significant success in their chosen fields and are active in their communities
 
COMMUNITY NEWS

 
SUNSHINE HALL FREE LIBRARY IS
ON THE TRAIL OF BIGFOOT!
Come learn more July 3 at 6PM
As part of the "Adventure Begins at Your Library!" Summer Reading Program activities, Sunshine Hall Free Library is excited to welcome producer, lead Investigator and New Jersey native Mike Familant as he shares his adventures researching and tracking down the truth behind North America’s most iconic cryptid, Bigfoot.
This program is appropriate for all ages!!
 
For additional information, please use the link below to the library's website posting: 
Mike Familant: Live! Searchin’ America Tour ’24 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Photos courtesy of Goshen Public Library
Goshen Public Library Celebrates
World Bee Day
with New Outdoor Biodiversity Learning Area 
On Monday, May 20, 2024, the Goshen Public Library and Historical Society, in partnership with Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R), celebrated World Bee Day with a community program highlighting the vital role of pollinators and the importance of native plant diversity in maintaining ecological balance.
 
This event also marked the grand opening of the Goshen Public Library and Historical Society’s Outdoor Biodiversity Learning Area. The new space is dedicated to inspiring a love of nature and providing environmental education through interactive learning experiences in meadow and wetland environments.
 
For more information, visit 
www.goshenpubliclibrary.org

RCLS CONTINUING EDUCATION
 
Continuing Education is on 'pause' for the month of July as our System
gears up for the new Koha ILS
Courses will start up again soon - keep your eye on this space for announcements!
 
PLEASE NOTE: If you sign up for one or more of the many 
RCLS programs and/or continuing education opportunities,
save your registration confirmation email which will
contain the link for any ONLINE session.  
You will also receive a reminder email approximately 24 hours prior to the event.

 
RCLS SUSTAINABILITY CORNER 
 
Community Reuse Grant
Awardees will receive up to $5,000 to fund their project
High quality, sustainable, and replicable projects will be prioritized
 
Examples of eligible projects include (from the grant website):
  • Implementation Projects and Pilot Programs
  • Repair programs (repair cafes, etc.)
  • Rental and lending programs (tool lending library, etc.)
  • Materials redistribution (reuse store, clothing swaps, etc.)
NOTE: This grant is meant for reuse initiatives, projects that focus on recycling initiatives will not be considered. Reuse is any activity that lengthens the life of an item, either for its original purpose or for a new purpose. Recycling is the reprocessing of an item into a new raw material.
 
Applications must be received no later than
August 30, 11:59 p.m.
 CLICK HERE to access the grant webpage
 
MARKETING EDUCATION
For details on registration, 
click on the session title in blue
---------------------------------------------------
 
The Psychology of Virality:
Why We Share and Engage with 
Certain Viral Content
Wednesday, July 3, 2024 ~ 12 pm ET (1 hour)
Unlock the mysteries behind viral content in this insightful exploration of digital behaviour. This session delves into the psychological triggers that prompt us to share and engage with online content.
 
Digital Safety and Privacy for Librarians 
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 ~ 2:00 PM
 
Join Melody Karle for this webinar on digital safety and privacy from a librarian's perspective.  
How do we help patrons in this area and what guidance should and can we offer them in protecting themselves online? What are the best tools and resources? What privacy and digital safety issues might we be overlooking in our own library? Melody will also discuss how AI and social media complicate these already challenging issues.
 
 
Outreach Service to Communities
 
Spread the word!
Use the tools on the page linked below to help promote the I Love My Librarian Award in your community.  Your patrons may nominate YOU!  Winners receive monetary prizes and national recognition!
 
PROMOTIONAL TOOLS
 
 

 
RCLS Marketing Services LibGuide
Click the link above to view the Guide and schedule a meeting to talk about your marketing plans with Dave Cosco, RCLS Marketing Manager. Phone: 845-243-3747 ext. 245 or via email at marketing@rcls.org
 
 
 
A Closing Thought...
 
 
 
 Did you find something of note that library staff can relate to? Send us your submissions to end our newsletter with a smile.
 

Ramapo Catskill Library System
619 Route 17M 
Middletown, NY 10940
845-243-3747
www.rcls.org
 
   
 
 
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