RAMAPO CATSKILL LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWS
 
JANUARY 12, 2026
NOTE: RCLS offices are CLOSED Monday, January 19th
(Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday) - No deliveries
 
2026 RCLS 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 application deadline is February 2nd, 2026 
 
To access the scholarship application and obtain further information, including guidelines, please visit the LibGuide on the RCLS website using the link provided below
RCLS PD Scholarship - RCLS: Professional Development Opportunities - LibGuides at Ramapo Catskill Library System
 
Questions?  Please contact: Michelle Muller, RCLS Member & Youth Services Consultant michelle.muller@rcls.org

The first Bookwerm flyer for 2026! Click on the picture below for some recommendations to immerse yourself in this winter

Library Advocacy Day in Albany
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
 
General Information & Bus transportation sign-up available on the RCLS Calendar
 
Questions?  Sign up for one of the information sessions listed in the
RCLS Continuing Education section below
 
RCLS CONTINUING EDUCATION
To register, please click on the text in BLUE associated with the session. Credit Hours earned per session are noted below.  Please verify with the individual posting on the RCLS Calendar.
 
That All May Read: An Overview of the NYS Talking Book & Braille Library (Online)
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 ~ 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Presenter: Laurenne Teachout, NYS Talking Book and Braille Library Senior Librarian 
Questions? Please contact Meaghan Doyle, RCLS Community & Digital
Engagement Consultant, meaghan@rcls.org or 845-243-3747 x235
1 Hour Continuing Education Credit for library staff 
 
Library Advocacy Day
Overview & Information (Online)
Jen Park, RCLS Government Relations Specialist, reviews information surrounding the 2026 Library Advocacy Day taking place February 3rd. Ample time will be provided for Q&A.
Select ONE session from the dates/times linked below
Monday, January 26, 2026 ~ 10:00am - 11:00am
Thursday, January 29, 2026 ~7:00pm - 8:00pm
1 Hour Continuing Education Credit for library staff
1 Hour Trustee Education credit for trustees
 
 Lightning Talk:
Community Connections and Partnerships
(Hybrid format: In-Person / Online)
Thursday, January 29, 2026 ~ 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Facilitator: Michelle Muller
 RCLS Member & Youth Services Consultant
Note: In person attendance will be at
RCLS Headquarters, 619 Route 17M, Middletown, NY
 1.5 Hours Continuing Education credit for library staff 


CIVICS EDUCATION COHORT
FINAL Chance to participate 
RCLS is partnering with the League of Women Voters to provide in-depth informational sessions, workshops, and conversations surrounding Civics Education in a cohort setting. All sessions will take place virtually.  
     Ramapo Catskill Library System blue logo on white background   League of Women Voters red and blue logo on white background  
Westchester Library System blue and purple logo on gray background
Registration will close Thursday, January 15
Registration open only to RCLS and WLS member libraries.  
More than one person per library may participate
 
January 15 at 2p: Election security and integrity 
Speaker: Kristen Stavisky, Co-Executive Director, NYS Board of Election
 
February 12 at 2p: Understanding absentee ballots
Speaker: Monica Ferguson, League of Women Voters
 
March 19 at 2p: Moderating/Hosting a non-partisan forum for candidates (best practices and logistics) 
Speaker: Dare Thompson, League of Women Voters
 
April 9 at 2p: Combatting Mis-Dis-and Mal-information: Staying Aware and Activating Truth
Speaker: Chelsey Cartwright, Program Manager, Democracy Truth Project
 
May 7 at 2p: Civics programming for libraries 
Facilitators: RCLS & League of Women Voters
 
Participants are expected to attend all sessions. If a session must be missed, participants are expected to watch the recording of the session. Further, it is expected that participants complete the program with the intention of hosting and/or supporting one or more voter registration events/programs.
 
To sign up to participate in this program, use the "Fill out form" link below
Library System Civic Engagement & Education Cohort – Fill out form
Questions should be addressed to Jen Park, RCLS Government Relations Specialist jen@rcls.org

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
CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO REGISTER FOR MARKETING MINDS 
 
Marketing Minds:
Monthly Meetup (Online)
Tuesday, January 20, 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
 To register, click on the image below

Please share with your patrons...  Click on the image above or use the QR Code to be taken to the registration form.
Questions?  Please contact Tracy Dunstan or Morgan Strand at Nyack Library (845) 358-3370


Welcome Sprout!!!
In May of 2025, a call was put out to the community asking for their help... "Design Our Library's New Mascot!" Submissions rolled in, and a winning entry identified in August.  A contest was then held to decide the name for the cunning bear cub produced by Elana Sahagun, a local library user and digital artist. A naming contest was held in December - the library received votes online via their social media and from the local school children through a collaboration with the school librarians.  
Sprout is a black bear cub like the ones seen locally all year long in the Bashakill area. Future plans include having a Sprout costume made so that they can do outreach events. The graphic below is the announcement the library made to their community.
 

 
RCLS SUSTAINABILITY CORNER

Icons - Ornate Snowflake - White      Icons - Ornate Snowflake - Blue      Icons - Ornate Snowflake - White
Joanna Goldfarb, RCLS Sustainability Innovation Consultant, suggests taking a quick look at a few tips provided by the EPA Indoor Environments Division to help keep everyone healthy in the new year. Click on the logo pictured below to access their recommendations to help you "Be Prepared this Season for Winter Weather!"
 

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
America the Beautiful:
RCLS celebrates America 250
January: I Love NY Libraries
 Click on the image below to visit the January
LibGuide of Programs and resources!
To start off the year, let's celebrate libraries and all we do for the community! These programs and resources will not only spread library love but also prepare staff and patrons for NYLA Advocacy Day in February. 

Follow us on Social Media graphic with QR codes for RCLS Instagram, Facebook and X accounts
 
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... 
   
 
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