RAMAPO CATSKILL LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWS

MARCH 23, 2026

Note: RCLS will be closed on Friday, April 3rd for

Orange-Ulster BOCES Day. No deliveries on that date.

The Librarians

Film Screenings

Drawing on historical context, The Librarians explores the broader implications for education and public life of library collection standards that include restrictions on race-related and LGBTQIA+ content.

To Register, please use the links below to the individual library's website calendar:

Valley Cottage Library, April 20

[Rockland County]

Albert Wisner Public Library

(Warwick), April 22

[Orange County]

Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library (Monticello), April 25

[Sullivan County]

"The Librarians", a film by Kim A. Snyder superimposed in white text on blue background of old library pocket check-out card with orange and red flames in lower right corner.

RCLS staff will be in attendance at each individual screening,

leading a discussion following the viewing

Questions? Please contact Michelle Muller, RCLS Member and Youth Services Consultant michelle.muller@rcls.org

Under construction placard. Black text in capitals on white board background with twine affixed to upper corners to suspend the sign.

Virtual RCLS Construction Aid Workshop (Online)

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

10:30am - 12:00pm

Presenters: Stephen Hoefer, Chief Financial Officer, and Joanna Goldfarb, Sustainability Innovation Consultant

REGISTER HERE

In-depth discussion on what types of projects are eligible for the New York State Public Library Construction Aid program. Review previously funded projects, the new program timeline, new program developments. Q&A session will take place at the end.

Member Library Directors, Staff, Trustees

are all welcome to attend

(Continuing Education for Library Staff: 2 hours)

Please note: The due date for project applications for 2026 is August 1st.

Mark your calendars for the in-person RCLS Construction Aid Mandatory Workshop for applicants scheduled for Friday, June 12. Click this link to register

As part of your Spring-cleaning activities, make room on your shelves for some of these titles!

Click on the banner below to access the list prepared by

Eileen Acosta of RCLS and Terry Eagle of HKDPL

Spring on the Hill 2026 text on yellow background bisected by diagonal white lines and white lightning bolts with teal blue and magenta outline

Registration is Open!

Spring on the Hill: You've Got the Power

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 ~ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Albany Capital Center, 55 Eagle St, Albany NY

A full day of educational programming to advance your advocacy!

Secure your spot... Registration deadline is May 1st.

Click HERE for more information & to register

RCLS CONTINUING EDUCATION

RCLS Town Hall Sessions Series

Presenters: Grace Riario, RCLS Executive Director & RCLS Consultant team

This is your opportunity to learn more about the services that support the RCLS community. Sessions will be held in person at varying locations.

This program is open to all member library staff, directors, and trustees. When you register, you are invited to submit your questions in advance.

Click on your preferred date, time, & location from the list below

to be taken to the registration page.

2 hours of Continuing Education credit for library staff

2 hours Trustee Education credit for library trustees

To register for any event below, please click on the text in BLUE associated with the session. Credit Hours earned per individual session are noted. Please verify with the event posting on the RCLS Calendar.

Wellness in the Library:

Supporting Staff Needs (Online)

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 ~ 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Presenter: Beth Sousa, Community Engagement Coordinator and community-based social worker

Palatine Library District

Learn about Palatine Library District's effective library-based wellness initiatives, how staff successfully planned and implemented them, and practical strategies on how you can adapt them to your own library

1 hour of Continuing Education credit for library staff

1 hour Trustee Education credit for library trustees

Staying Current with Generative AI Online

Thursday, April 2, 2026 ~ 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Presenter: Nicole Hennig, e-learning developer and AI education specialist, University of Arizona Libraries

The session will cover examples of misleading news stories, statistics taken out of context, scientific studies with major errors, expert predictions that were wrong, and disagreement among experts. Learn methods for sorting through it all for a more balanced view. You can use these methods when teaching information literacy skills to others

1 hour of Continuing Education credit for library staff

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.

Special Events

Social Care Network Information Session

For Libraries (Online)

TODAY Monday, March 23, 2026 ~ 3:00pm - 4:00pm

https://npwestchester.org/event-6596200

Learn about:

NY State's Social Care Network

Enhanced Medicaid Client Support

Potential Reimbursement to Libraries

[Hudson Valley Care Coalition, Inc. covers Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester Counties. www.hudsonvalleycare.org ]

Koha Essential Reporting (Online)

Monday, March 30, 2026 ~ 10:00am - 11:00am

Join Alex Carver for a tour of Koha's Reports module

and to learn which reports should be run regularly

to keep your collection clean and orderly.

Open to all Circulation Staff, Info Tech Staff, Member Library Staff,

Reference Librarians, Tech Services Staff or others who use Koha reports

REGISTER HERE

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO REGISTER FOR MARKETING MINDS

Marketing Minds:

Monthly Meetup (Online)

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

10:00am - 11:00am

Moderator: Dave Cosco, RCLS Marketing Manager

Participate in active, conversational space where we work together, share experiences, and learn from one another. Participants are encouraged to bring topics and questions to the table.

Note: This session is not eligible for CE credit

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Librarians

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

5:30pm - 7:45pm

Join the Newburgh community for an evening at the Main Library on Grand Street

-- view the film screening

and take part in the

discussion to follow

REGISTER HERE

Is there something special coming up at YOUR library that you'd like to share with the library community? Did you host a great event or program and want to brag? We'd love to highlight your events & accomplishments!

Please email your submission (include flyer, brief description, press release, photos, or other information) to abaumann@rcls.org to be featured in an upcoming issue of the bi-weekly RCLS News

RCLS SUSTAINABILITY CORNER

Starting and Maintaining a Library of Things (Online)

Monday, April 13, 2026 ~ 10:00am - 11:30am

Presenter: Hazel Onsrud

public librarian at Curtis Memorial Library

Learn how to identify community needs, select and manage nontraditional lending items, develop effective maintenance and circulation practices, and evaluate the collection over time. Bring a pencil and a sheet of paper and leave with a rough plan and resources to make it happen.

REGISTER HERE

Contact her to schedule a visit at your library! jgoldfarb@rcls.org

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Applications for the April 2026 cohort are open!

Open to individuals who work at libraries and nonprofit organizations in the following counties: Columbia, Greene, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester. You must be currently employed or have regular volunteer hours and have the support of your institution. This is the third Digital Navigator Cohort and will run from April 2026 - July 2026.

Digital Navigators are trained, trusted guides who help library patrons with various technology needs. Navigators assist anyone needing a device, secure free or low-cost internet service, and much more. To learn more about the work of Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley, you can view the website here. Once trained, Navigators will meet with patrons and provide data on those interactions via intake and exit forms. Meetings are twice a month as a group. All meetings and training sessions will be held online via Zoom.

APPLY HERE TO BE A DIGITAL NAVIGATOR

Applications are open until Monday, April 6 at 12:00 pm.

Please note this is a competitive application as space is limited in the program.

FIRST MEETING: Tuesday, April 7: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm (Training)

Questions? Contact:

Kerstin Cruger, Mid-Hudson Library System, kcruger@midhudson.org

Funding for this program has been provided by the Mid-Hudson Library System in partnership with the Southeastern NY Library Resources Council, Ramapo Catskill Library System, and Westchester Library System.

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...

Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are. Mason Cooley, Professor Emeritus of College of State Island.

Thanks to Lynn Skolnick for sharing this month's closing thought!

Tickle the funny-bone of your colleagues with a cartoon or share a

library-related quote that would resonate with the RCLS community...

Send your submissions to abaumann@rcls.org!

Ramapo Catskill Library System

619 Route 17M

Middletown, NY 10940

845-243-3747

www.rcls.org

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NOTE: Some images in this publication are AI assisted