RAMAPO CATSKILL LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWS
 
November 20, 2023
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! 
Please note:  The RCLS Office will be closed on Thursday, November 23rd & Friday, November 24th in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.  
No delivery service on those dates.
 
RCLS HQ: A Guided Tour
Wednesday, December 6th, 2023
9:30-11:00 am
In-Person - 619 NY 17M, Middletown, NY 10940
 
~ Visit our departments ~
~ Meet the staff ~
~ Discover valuable services ~ 
 
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
(A waiting list has been created.  Tours are being planned for the future. Please add your name to the waiting list to be notified when the next Tour is scheduled.)
 
This session is open to library workers and trustees within the Ramapo Catskill Library System only and will generate 1.5 Continuing Education credit hours for library Staff.  This session does not apply towards Trustee Education credit.
Questions may be addressed to Meaghan Doyle, RCLS Community Engagement & Talent Development Specialist
meaghan@rcls.org
 

  BECOME A DIGITAL NAVIGATOR!
 
The application for Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley Winter 2024 session, which will run January 2024 - March 2024, is open for individuals affiliated with libraries
and organizations in the Hudson Valley. 
 
 
If you are interested in applying to be trained as a
member of the Winter 2024 cohort,
please see the information here: Winter 2024 Application
 Applications are due on Tuesday, December 19 at 12:00 pm
Questions?  Email Meaghan Doyle - meaghan@rcls.org
 
The program is open to anyone who works at a library or a community-based organization that would like to offer Digital Navigator services to their patrons. This cohort is open to individuals who have previously trained as a Digital Navigator and those who are new to the program.
 

 
Click on the picture to view the latest recommendations from the Bookwerm...

 

 
COMMUNITY NEWS
 

 
PLEASE SHARE
This event is open to all communities - anyone is welcome!
 
Any questions, please contact Teen Librarian Sioban at ssedney@rcls.org
 
 
LGBTQ+ Family
Meet Up with GLESN Mid-Hudson
Saturday, December 2, 2023 ~ 2:00-3:00 PM ~
Newburgh Free Library Storyhour Room
124 Grand Street, Newburgh NY 10550
 
Families with LGBTQ+ identifying (or questioning) children and/or caregivers are welcome for a meet up at the library to foster discussion, build community, and participate in meaningful activites rooted in LGBTQ+ topics. This program is presented in partnership with GLESN Mid-Hudson
 
REGISTER HERE
 

 
 
 
Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library invites you to visit to their traveling exhibit
“Real People, Real Climate, Real Changes”
on display until December 30, 2023
in the lower level gallery of the main library
Admission to this exhibition is free of charge 
 
In support of the exhibit, the Library is presenting the free event
“Climate Dialogue for Young People”
Sunday, December 10 at 2 PM, for people age 12-30 
Presenter: Raymond Mosquea, Coordinator of the Village of Haverstraw Climate Smart Communities Task Force 
For more information and to register
for the program, click here
 
The interactive, museum-quality exhibit demonstrates how Earth’s climate is changing and how those changes affect people’s lives around the country and the world. Interactive stations allow visitors to experiment with lowering their carbon footprint and measuring rising sea levels. 
The exhibit was developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Center for Science Education
 

    
Patrons from all RCLS Libraries are invited to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to see 'Back to the Future - The Musical!'
on Broadway in the new year.
CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Questions may be addressed to: Karelisa Kimmel kkimmel@rcls.org
 

 
 

 
PUZZLE RACES at LIBRARIES! 
GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT FOR PATRONS OF ANY AGE 
 
Jigsaw Puzzle Race Extravaganza 
 I had 4 teams of 3. We started at 6 PM and I let them go until 7:45 PM. The winners had 8 pieces left. We gave out prizes to all the teams that participated. The puzzle remained upside down until the start time. The teams had so much fun racing to the finish. ~  Sue Melnyk, Adult Services
 
Jigsaw Puzzle Race
...started at 11am...and we were done by 1pm. ...ultimately ended up with 4 teams of 2-3 people participating.  I used a 300 piece puzzle and each puzzle was in a brown bag on each table prior to the race. The winning team completed their puzzle in 50 minutes. The winning team won a roll-up puzzle mat, sorting trays and a new puzzle to complete at home. ~ Kimberly O'Sullivan
 

RCLS CONTINUING EDUCATION
 
SAVE THE DATES - Registration opening soon!
 
December 5, 2023  at 10:00 am
Open Book, Open Play: Engaging Toddlers and Preschoolers
in Storytime (online)
This workshop provides tools to engage young children in book sharing
and imaginative play. Through this approach, children develop verbal and
visual literacy as well as fine- and gross-motor skills.
 
December 15 at 2:00 pm
Exploring Race and Representation in Picture Books (online)
Learn how to select picture books that reflect the lives and identities
of all.  We’ll survey the range of representation in recent picture books and discuss how to use books to talk to about race. We’ll share tools on how to build a book collection that fosters inclusivity.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To register for the session below,
please click on the title
 
 Communicating with Elected Officials
In-Person at RCLS HQ, 619 NY Rte 17M, Middletown, NY 10940
Presenter: Jen Park,
RCLS Government Relations Specialist
Friday, January 5, 2024 ~ 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
During this session, participants will learn where to find information focused on their elected officials, craft a message with this learned information, and practice engaging in public speaking with the crafted messages. "Library voices" will be elevated as we learn about our elected officials and how to best communicate with them.
 
2 hours credit: Continuing Education for library Staff / 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 Zoom link for any ONLINE session.  
You will also receive a reminder email approximately 24 hours prior to the event.


MARKETING EDUCATION
 
For details on registration, click on the title line below
 
Social Media 102 (Online)
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 ~ 3:00 PM ET
 
Learn a few advanced social media tips and tricks,
elevate your social media presence through micro strategies,
and activate your advocates!
 
Library Branding 101: Thinking Beyond Logos and Trademarks (Online)
Thursday, November 30, 2023 ~ 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
This presentation will focus on library branding and the presenter will describe how branding is related to the “essence” or “spirit” of the organization. The library’s “brand” represents the feelings and experiences associated using all the different touch-points of the library. Lastly, the presenter will touch upon the concept of personal branding, as it applies to library workers.
(RCLS library staff may register to attend under the SENYLRC Council)
 
Outreach Service to Communities
 
CALLING ALL VETERANS: GET SUPPORT TODAY!
VetNow is dedicated to our veterans, ensuring they receive the benefits they've earned. Connect with a LIVE VETERAN NAVIGATOR today for help with housing, education, employment, healthcare, and more. Access these crucial VetNow resources with your RCLS member library card by clicking HERE.
 
Need a card? Visit any of our 47 member libraries to get yours and discover tailored services for veterans. Locate a list of RCLS library locations HERE.

 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...
 
Courtesy of Nancy Wendt, Suffern Free Library

 Did you find something of note that library staff can relate to? Send us your submissions to end our newsletter with a smile.
 
Share your library news via the RCLS News!
Send your article to abaumann@rcls.org
Ramapo Catskill Library System
619 Route 17M 
Middletown, NY 10940
845-243-3747
www.rcls.org
 
   
 
 
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