RAMAPO CATSKILL LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWS

September 7, 2026

The RCLS Offices are closed on Monday, Sept. 7th in observance of Labor Day. No delivery on this date.

Winners of the 2026 Battle of the Books

Congratulations to the defending champions from New City Library for taking First Place at the 2026 RCLS Battle of the Books! Second Place went to Josephine-Louise Public Library, and Third Place to the Country Pumpkins of Daniel Pierce Library in Grahamsville. The competitors and coaches from this year's 8 competing teams "went the distance" in the time they invested in preparing and the exceptional sportsmanship they exhibited. Bravo everyone!!

Photos of third, second and first place winners with their RCLS Banners which they will keep for a full year to display at their individual libraries.

Two sessions have been scheduled for discussion of the RCLS 2027 OPERATING BUDGET

Please select your preferred date/time

from the links below to register

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 ~ 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 ~ 10:00am - 11:00am

The same material will be presented at each session.

Minimum number of registrants for session is 5.

RCLS reserves the right to cancel sessions if the minimum is not achieved.

CLICK HERE FOR GREAT INFORMATION FROM ALA!

Summer is winding down, but you can rev yourself up

with these selections from our resident Bookwerm!

Click on the picture to access her latest list...

RCLS 67TH LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST ANNUAL MEETING &

AWARDS PRESENTATION

Friday, September 18, 2026 | 8 AM to 1 PM

Although we have reached capacity for this event;

you may still register to be placed on the waiting list.

CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

& REGISTER/BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST

RCLS CONTINUING EDUCATION

How to Host a Pokemon Club at Your Library (In-Person)

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 ~ 2:00pm - 3:00pm

RCLS Headquarters, 619 Rte 17M, Middletown, NY 10940

Presenter: Pokémon Club Coordinator, AnneMarie VanOrden

Learn about starting, marketing and running an official Pokémon Club. You don't need to know how to play the Trading Card Game (TCG) or know how to pronounce the names of the over 1000 different Pokémon to run a successful club!

1 hour of continuing education credit for library staff

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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

Special Events

Vivid lightning strike on ominous dark sky

CLICK ON THE IMAGE

ABOVE TO REGISTER

Lightning Talk: Be a Social Media Library Star

(In-person & Online)

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Hear from staff engaged in social media outreach at member libraries and learn how they decide which trends to follow, what techniques work the best to reach their target audiences, and how to make the most out of their user base.

Making NYCC Count (Online)

Thursday, October 1, 2026 ~ 2:00pm - 2:45pm

Presenters: veteran NYCC attendees Sioban Sedney and

Taylor Beach from Newburgh Free Library

Attend an engaging online discussion packed with tips and insider advice to help you make the most of your experience at New York Comic Con (20th Anniversary dates: Oct 8-11, 2026). Learn how to navigate the event and how to bring back ideas and information for your library.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

COMMUNITY NEWS

Please share with patrons in your community...

(courtesy of Suffern Free Library)

The Fabulous Rhythm Aces (In-Person)

Sunday, September 27, 2026 ~ 2:00pm - 3:15pm

Suffern Free Library

210 Lafayette Avenue, Suffern, NY 10901

The Fabulous Rhythm Aces are a powerhouse blues and roots ensemble that has become a staple of the Northern New Jersey music scene. Known for their high-energy performances and seasoned musicianship, they specialize in a gritty, authentic blend of Chicago-style blues, Texas Blues, Jump, Swing and Boogie. You'll be dancing in your seat. All are welcome!

VISIT THIS PAGE OF THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE TO REGISTER

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability Book Discussion (Online)

Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope

and Healing in a Divided World

Friday, September 25, 2026

10:00 - 11:00am

Join the first ever RCLS Sustainability Book Discussion! We will discuss the book, and how the concepts and lessons in it can be applied to the ways libraries serve our communities.

Register HERE

"Drawing on interdisciplinary research and personal stories, Hayhoe shows that small conversations can have astonishing results. Saving Us leaves us with the tools to open a dialogue with your loved ones about how we all can play a role in pushing forward for change." [credit: Simon & Schuster]

Related LibGuide: Sustainability by Joanna Goldfarb

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

September 28 is National Good Neighbor Day!

Designated in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter, the holiday reminds us that “the noblest human concern is concern for others.”

Libraries have always been a hub of community life, and libraries around the country are invited to celebrate National Good Neighbor Day.

To aid you, The Hopeful Neighborhood Project has created a free Getting Started Guide for Libraries to make celebrating this holiday as easy as possible. The guide and comprehensive website contain downloadable resources, celebration ideas, book suggestions, children's activities, and more to help you easily create an impactful day at your library.

Over the past several years, libraries have become key community partners for this holiday. Libraries across the country have hosted book clubs, set long dinner tables, set up displays, shown movies, invited special readers for story time, made crafts for elders and leaders in the community, and many, many more things.

Get your FREE Get Started Guide today!

If you have any questions, reach out to The Hopeful Neighborhood Project, manager and sponsor of National Good Neighbor Day at hope@hopefulneighborhood.org

MARKETING EDUCATION

FREE WEBINAR

From Opens to Outcomes: Email Marketing Strategies for Libraries (online)

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 ~ 11:00 AM

Presenters: Cordelia Anderson, CEO and Owner, Cordelia Anderson Consulting LLC;

Maja Adamovic, Product Manager for Vega Promote Academia & Government, Clarivate

Moderator: Tatjana Maric, Product Marketing Manager, Academia & Government, Clarivate

Email remains one of the most effective channels for connecting libraries with their patrons. Yet many libraries struggle to grow subscriber lists, improve engagement and create content that leads to action. This practical webinar is designed to help public libraries strengthen their email marketing strategy and achieve better results.

Marketing expert Cordelia Anderson will share proven tactics for growing and engaging email audiences, improving open and click rates, and creating meaningful content that supports library goals. The second half of the webinar features a live demonstration of Vega Promote, an email automation solution built specifically for libraries. The webinar concludes with a live Q&A.

Who should attend?

Library directors, marketing and communications professionals, outreach staff, programmers and anyone responsible for promoting services and engaging patrons. Register today to learn practical strategies that can help your library build stronger connections, increase engagement, and make every email more effective.

TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE

A Closing Thought...

2 panel cartoon by Tom Gauld white-coated figures entering a computer lab. First panel reads "The novel-writing algorithm has not written a novel yet". Second panel reads "But it has written a series of emails to its editor claiming to be "nearly there" and promising to finish "really very soon".

Have a funny cartoon or 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