RAMAPO CATSKILL LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWS
 
September 9, 2024
THANKS TO ALL FOR A TERRIFIC
RCLS 2024 ANNUAL MEETING
& AWARDS PRESENTATION

Almost 150 attendees (Library Directors, Trustees, Friends, Staff, Legislative Representatives, and Honored Guests) gathered together on Friday, September 6th.  Our speakers, Lisa Kropp, NYLA President, and Emily Drabinski, ALA President, addressed topics of concern to the library community with passion, warmth and humor.  Their presentations energized everyone to continue doing their part to be a light for their individual communities!
Sincere thanks go out to all who participated in the 50/50 Raffle, either by purchasing tickets or outright donations!!  RCLS will be sending a check in the amount of $538.00 to the Freedom to Read Foundation to support their work in defending librarians against legal action.
Wonderful displays were provided by member libraries.  Awards were presented, and our congratulations go out once again to all the winners!
Many thanks to everyone for being part of the festivities and we look forward to seeing you at the 2025 event...

2024 Battle of the Books Winners  
14 Teams from participating libraries throughout the System were 'battle tested' while exhibiting their knowledge of this year's book selections.  ALL the Teens and their coaches deserve to be congratulated for their preparation and "fighting spirit"!!
 Congratulations go out to
Newburgh Free Library
(2024 Champion)
 
New City Public Library (2nd Place)
 
Moffat Public Library (3rd Place) 

RCLS, QuickBooks, and YOU!
 
Looking to organize & streamline the financial operations and reports of your organization? 
RCLS offers Consulting Services provided by our Business Office
for Intuit QuickBooks®️ accounting software 
(A value of $65 per hour, free to member library staff)
What can the RCLS QuickBooks (QB) Consultant help you with?
Creating purchase orders * Setting up bill payments * Reconciling bank statements * Developing financial reports * Invoicing * Preparing deposits * Budgeting basics in QB
 
The RCLS QB consultant is available to member library staff only by appointment.  Use this link to visit our website for more information and to schedule an appointment: 
Consultation Services - RCLS: Business Services - LibGuides at Ramapo Catskill Library System
 

September is
Library Card Sign-up Month!
Click on the picture below for full resources provided by ALA

FALL INTO BOOKS
Thursday, October 24, 2024 ~ 9:00am-2:30pm
Location: 321 S. William Street, Newburgh, NY 12550
Cost: $100 (includes breakfast & lunch – book sales are additional)
For detailed information CLICK HERE
Registration deadline is September 24, 2024
Questions?  Contact Michelle Muller, michelle.muller@rcls.org

COMMUNITY NEWS
 
GOSHEN PUBLIC LIBARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES 
Music Connects Us 
Presented by the Library and Music for Humanity
A three event Fall series
(co-sponsored by “Michael Dorf Presents”
and “City Winery Hudson Valley”)
All concerts are free of charge and are scheduled 2:00-4:00pm
REGISTER via the Goshen library calendar
by clicking on the artist names below
 
Saturday, Sept. 14 E'lissa Jones
Saturday, Oct 5 Kurt Henry & Cheryl Lambert
Saturday, Nov. 9 Violet Willows
 



RCLS CONTINUING EDUCATION
To register for any session, please click on the title in BLUE
Credit Hours earned per session are noted below.  Please verify with the individual postings on the RCLS Calendar.
 
Kind, but with Spine: Constructive Confrontations and Establishing Boundaries
Thursday, September 12, 2024 ~ 10:00am - 12:00pm
(rescheduled from Sept 9)
In-Person session at RCLS Headquarters
619 Rte 17M, Middletown
Alicia Collumbell, Outreach & Partnership Specialist, Nassau Library System, will present on constructive confrontations and establishing boundaries with patrons and with co-workers
Credit hours - Library Staff: 2 hours of Continuing Education
[This session will not provide Trustee Education credit]
 
Voter Engagement: The Suffrage Timeline (online)
Monday, September 16, 2024 ~ 1:00pm - 2:30pm
This interactive session (hosted by the League of Women Voters) will move participants through a simulation regarding the right to vote. Information regarding programs and services for member libraries to engage with their communities will be provided
Credit hours - Library Staff: 1.5 hours of Continuing Education
[This session will not provide Trustee Education credit]
 
 Training: Freedom of Information Law
Thursday, October 10, 2024 ~ 1:00pm - 2:30pm
(rescheduled from Oct 3)
In-Person session at RCLS Headquarters
619 Rte 17M, Middletown
An overview of the Freedom of Information Law, New York’s access to records statute, will be provided by Kristin O'Neill, Deputy Director and Counsel for New York State Committee on Open Government (COOG)
Credit hours - Library Staff: 1.5 hours of Continuing Education;
Library Trustees: 1.5 hours Trustee Education 
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 24-48 hours prior to the event.

 
RCLS SUSTAINABILITY CORNER 
Sustainable Libraries 
Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week
September 13-29, 2024
 
Sustainable Hudson Valley (SHV) along with Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley and Chronogram Media are encouraging groups to hold events that include climate solutions. SHV will help promote your event through a Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week website and provide a calendar where all partner-sponsored events (that fit the spirit of the Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week) will be posted. The website will be updated regularly with new information. Your organization will be responsible for managing and implementing your climate solutions event. 
Submit your event here
 
Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week is designed to link and promote actionable climate solutions in the Hudson Valley through a diverse array of high-quality events large or small.
Need more information? Please contact Joanna Goldfarb, RCLS Sustainability Innovation Consultant 845-243-3747 ex. 240

MARKETING EDUCATION
For details on registration, 
click on the session title in blue
---------------------------------------------------
  
Why Your Nonprofit's Logo Is Not Your Brand
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 ~ 1:00 PM
(20 Minute Mini-Webinar)
Explore the critical distinction between logos and brands
 
Crafting and Maintaining Effective Patron Policies for Community Success
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 ~ 3:00 PM
This session will cover the ten most common
patron-facing policies and offer guidance on selecting
and tailoring them to meet your library and
community needs for safe and effective operation

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
 
 
A host of resources have been collected for
you to use in your library
CLICK HERE
and see what's available 
in the Banned Books Week box in the very center of the page of Digital/Social Media Toolkits
 
 
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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