Ramapo Catskill Library System 2013 Highlights Serving Public Libraries in Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and southern Ulster Counties since 1959 619 Route 17M Middletown, NY 10940-4395 845-243-3747 FAX 845-243-3739 www.rcls.org RCLS 2013 Highlights STAFF RAMAPO CATSKILL Year Hired Anthony J. Castaldo ........................ 1996 LIBRARY SYSTEM Executive Director: Robert Hubsher Bill Butler ...................................... 1998 Address: Ramapo Catskill Library System *Bill Hagadorn ............................... 2008 619 Route 17M Bill Pagano .................................... 2007 Middletown, NY 10940-4395 Brenda Adams ............................... 1989 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Carol Martin .................................. 1974 Telephone: 845.243.3747 866.364.4329 (outside Middletown area) Chuck Conklin ............................... 2001 FAX: 845.243.3739 Daniel B. Hulse .............................. 1981 URL: http://www.rcls.org David Krawczyk .............................. 2005 E-mail: See website for individual staff Diane Biondi .................................. 1986 e-mail addresses Eileen Kieva ................................... 2011 Established: 1959 Grace Riario .................................. 2012 Counties : Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and Southern Ulster Jerry Kuntz .................................... 1995 Member Libraries: 47 John McClain ................................. 2002 Population Served: 750,795 (2010 Census) John Schneider ............................... 2003 Land Area Served: 2,467 square miles Karen Haeger ................................. 1995 Keith C. Scott ................................ 1988 Kelly Colby .................................... 2012 2013 BOARD OF TRUSTEES *Ken Kile ....................................... 2005 Martha Anderson Leonard M. George ........................ 2009 Carl S. Berkowitz Linda Hendon ................................ 1989 Norman R. Gallagher Patty Velez .................................... 2007 Ira Simon, President Samuel L. Simon Randall Enos .................................. 1982 Lynn Skolnick Robert Hubsher ............................. 2000 Alfred Smiley Rose Marie Reilly ............................ 1992 Patricia Soto, Vice President Ruth K. Daubenspeck ..................... 1979 Mark Specthrie, Secretary Stephen P. Hoefer .......................... 2013 Melvin Wesenberg, Treasurer Sue Scott ...................................... 2013 David Zuckerberg *Part-Time Marilyn McIntosh Italics indicates retired during 2013 (Non-voting Directors Association Representative) Desktop Publishing by2 Ramapo Catskill Library System RCLS 2013 Highlights MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR In 2013 Ramapo Catskill Library For the eighth consecutive year System (RCLS) experienced the sixth the State made available the $14 consecutive year of State Aid cuts. million Construction Grant Program. Staff The final NYS Budget included a Under this program RCLS received Robert Hubsher modest restoration of funds for li- $591,714 to distribute to qualifying Executive Director braries and library systems. Howev- member libraries. The RCLS Board Ruth K. Daubenspeck er, even with the restoration our approved the distribution of those Administrative Assistant funding was 16% below the levels funds to 10 libraries for 11 con- outlined in Education Law. The total struction projects with a total value Eileen Kieva revenue shortfall was $281,944. of $2,659,870. We were very fortu- Communications Assistant This represented an increase of nate to receive an additional Daniel B. Hulse $851 (0.3%) compared to 2012, in $26,250 based on distribution of Development Officer spite of significant cost increases. Construction Grant funds not used The small increase in the revenue by other library systems. shortfall was the result of the antici- In 2013 RCLS had two retire- cates visited all 11 of the legislators pated modest increase in State Aid ments: Rose Marie Reilly, Software that serve our member libraries. A based on the funds received in 2012 Support Technician, (21 years of big THANK YOU to our generous and our efforts to reduce costs. service) and Brenda Adams, Fiscal financial supporters for help in un- The service fee doubled as the Officer and Assistant Treasurer (24 derwriting the cost of the three Li- RCLS Board of Trustees raised the years of service). We hired Sue Scott brary Advocacy Day buses. share covered by the member librar- to fill the Software Support Techni- Thanks to our advocacy efforts ies from 25% to 50%. The total cian position and Stephen Hoefer to when the NYS Budget was finalized, amount of the service fee represent- fill the Fiscal Officer and Assistant Library Aid saw a $4 million legisla- ed 0.25% of the total budgets of all Treasurer position. tive restoration, thereby raising member libraries. The highest per- We also celebrated several service funding from the Executive’s budget centage of a single library’s budget milestones – Bill Hagadorn (5 years) of $81.6 million up to $85.6 million represented by the service fee was and Bill Butler (15 years), both driv- + $1.3 million towards MTA re- 2.77% and the lowest was 0.14%. ers for our delivery service and John funds and $14 million for construc- As a means of helping our mem- Schneider (10 years) Assistant Net- tion aid. Thank you to all who ber libraries to support the needs of work Administrator. reached out to their legislators to their users we were able to add a make the case for this restoration. reader’s advisory resource called When we speak with one voice our NoveList Select. This resource is Lend Your Voice! message carries. Still about 16% fully integrated into the online public Tuesday, March 5, 2013 was New below full formula funding, the battle access catalog. Library users are of- York Library Association (NYLA) continues over the next year but for fered suggestions about other titles Library Advocacy Day. A total of now, congratulations to the Ramapo and authors that may be of interest 113 staff, trustees, Friends, students Catskill Library System community to them based on their interest in a and Library Champions, from RCLS for speaking up and keeping the particular title or author. Purchasing and Mid-Hudson Library System pressure on until the end of this this resource with Central Library (MHLS) joined nearly 900 other ad- budget negotiation – you made a funds allocated by the State, we vocates from around the State to difference. were able to reduce the cost and bring our message about the im- provide the resource to all member portance of libraries and library sys- libraries. tems to our legislators. RCLS advo- RCLS 2013 Highlights 3 Legislative Breakfast and Specthrie. Representing Ulster Annual Meeting County, Carla Randazzo Amthor was elected to the Board for a full- Ira Simon, RCLS Board President, term ending December 31, 2018. welcomed 154 attendees, including She will be replacing Al Smiley. 10 legislators or their representa- From Harris, NY in Sullivan County, tives, to the RCLS 26th Legislative Helen Rados was elected to fill the Breakfast and 54th Annual Meeting Board seat being vacated by Ira Si- on Friday, September 20 at The mon. Her full term will end Decem- Fountains at the Wallkill Golf Club. ber 31, 2018. Seven co-sponsors helped to un- Karen LaRocca-Fels and derwrite the event: Chuck LaRocca Annual Meeting Awards Gold Sponsors - Lightower Fiber The Member Library Adult Pro- Networks, Nugent & Haeussler, Michele Murphy from the Orange gram of the Year Award, a plaque P.C., Orange County Trust County Legislature and Cora Ed- and check for $500, was presented Company, and the RCLS Board wards of the Sullivan County Legisla- to Karen LaRocca-Fels (above), Di- of Trustees ture who equally endorsed the work rector of the Cornwall Public Library Silver Sponsors – Friends of the of libraries. for the program “Civil War Sesqui- Cornwall Public Library, Greg Ten Library Champions addressed centennial Lecture Series.” Townsend of Marshall & Sterling the group on what the library means An Honorable Mention Certificate Insurance and SirsiDynix to them. was presented to Ginny Neidermier, Robert Hubsher, RCLS Executive Numerous member libraries’ dis- Director of the Josephine-Louise Director presented a document he plays added to the success of the Public Library in Walden for the pro- developed – Return on Investment overall program. gram “Sacred Books of Walden’s (ROI) for Services Provided by After the Breakfast many attendees Great Religions.” Ramapo Catskill Library System: stayed for the Annual Meeting at The Member Library Youth Pro- Monetary Value of Services for Eve- which Stephen Hoefer, RCLS Fiscal gram of the Year Award, a plaque ry Dollar Spent. The document Officer and Assistant Treasurer, pre- and check for $500, was presented graphically shows the cost of RCLS sented the 2014 RCLS Budget. to Michelle Muller (below), Head of services for continuing education, Four seats – two seats for Orange Youth Services at the Goshen Public consulting, cataloging, delivery and County and one seat each for Sullivan Library and Historical Society for the digital content compared to their and Ulster counties on the RCLS program “Medieval Mania.” value in services given to member Board of Trustees needed filling at No nominations were received for libraries. The Automated Network this meeting. Karen Weitzner of Go- the Anthony J. Knipp Library Trustee Services (ANSER) cost to value is shen was elected to fill a vacant Or- Award. also displayed in this document. ange