RAMAPO CATSKILL LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWS
 
JULY 14, 2025

JOIN US FOR THE RCLS
66TH LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST ANNUAL MEETING & AWARDS PRESENTATION
Friday, September 12, 2025 | 8 AM to 1 PM
Registration is REQUIRED
(registration closes September 5th)
 
Keynote Address: AnnaLee Dragon, Executive Director 
New York Library Association (NYLA)
  
 
CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
& TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT
 
If your library would like to bring a display to the event,
please email Anita Baumann (abaumann@rcls.org) for information

 
ANNOUNCING THE
 
2025 RCLS ANNUAL AWARDS
 
RECIPIENTS
 
 
Member Library Adult Program of the Year Award
Nyack and Valley Cottage Libraries
Community Spotlight:
BIPOC Businesses Event
(Valley Cottage Free Library & Nyack Library)
 
 
Member Library Young Adult Program of the Year Award
Teen Podcasting Club
Western Sullivan Public Library
 
Randall Enos Member Library Children’s
Program of the Year Award
Mini Monet
(Chester Public Library)
 
Anthony J. Knipp Library Trustee Award 
Dennis Barnett
(Moffat Library of Washingtonville)
 
RCLS will recognize the awardees at the 66th Annual Meeting 

RCLS Road Trip 2025 is underway!
CLICK HERE to see details to share with your patrons

RCLS Plan of Service Focus Groups
 
RCLS can't develop the next five-year Plan of Service without your input to guide our future. We’ve scheduled a series of focus groups for library trustees, directors, managers, and staff starting in August 2025 and running through October 2025. Your participation is vital—your insights will help shape the direction of RCLS services and priorities.
 
You can find the dates, times, and locations - both online and in-person - by using this link: RCLS Team Report (See page 2)
 
Please ensure that we hear from you; register for one of the sessions we have scheduled using the link below
Calendar – Ramapo Catskill Library System

 
SPECIAL EVENTS

Lightning Talk:
Failing Forward 
(In-Person)
RCLS HQ, 619 Rte 17M, Middletown, NY 10940
Thursday, August 21, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm
 
Not every program, event or policy is a roaring success.  Sometimes they just do not work out the way we hoped. Sometimes they can be a quiet disaster. This Lightning Talk is going to provide a space where you can share those experiences and turn them into learning gold for your colleagues.  In turn, we hope participants will discover they are not alone, and the power of library community can overcome any challenges. 
 
Click on the image below to register for this session full of special energy!
 
Facilitated by Michelle Muller
RCLS Member & Youth Services Consultant 
 

Mark your calendars for the 2025 RCLS Battle of the Books
Saturday, August 23rd ~ 11am-4pm
SUNY Orange campus, Middletown
 Click on the logo pic below for additional information

COMMUNITY NEWS 

LAST CALL...
This affordable evening begins with the arrival of a coach bus at 2:45pm at the Cornwall Public Library (departure promptly 3:00pm).  If you prefer to use your own transportation, the group will meet you there.  49 bus seats and an unlimited number of non-bus seat concert tickets all on a first come-first payment basis.   
Contact Brenda at the library: 845-534-8282

A special AUTHOR VISIT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION opportunity - courtesy of the Newburgh Free Library!
 
REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY JULY 18TH
Register here: 
https://forms.gle/vpGciGbttDhqwXG96
 
Attendees will receive one hour of Continuing Education credit. 

Take me out to the Ballgame...
Library Workers Appreciation Night at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY 
Friday, August 15
Gates open at 6pm. NY Boulders baseball game starts at 7pm
 
Free ticket vouchers available for all library workers
($10 additional family & friends tickets) 
Click here to register yourself or your library for the vouchers
Questions? Contact KristineK@NYBoulders.com
 

Inaugural LARC in the Park 5K Run/Walk and
Kids' Dewey Decimal Dash 
Sunday, October 19 at Rockland Lake State Park
 
Want to get out for a fun, family-friendly community event? Looking to support libraries and library workers? Have you ever thought of running or walking your first 5K? Or maybe you'll be tapering before the NYC Marathon? Whatever moves you, join LARC on race day to set a personal record on this professionally-timed flat & fast course! Be one of the 1st 100 to register for not-to-be-missed swag. Lace up for libraries!
 
For more information and to register: LARCinthePark
Proceeds will benefit the Library Association of Rockland County (LARC)
Scholarship Fund and professional development
 
Questions?  Please contact Tara Borden, Event Committee Chair
Director, West Nyack Free Library 

RCLS CONTINUING EDUCATION
To register, please click on text in BLUE
Credit Hours earned per session are noted below.  Please verify with the individual posting on the RCLS Calendar.
 
Epilepsy Myths and Seizure First Aid (Online)
Thursday, July 24, 2025 ~ 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Presenter: Michelle Quinn,
Community Education Specialist, Capabilities Partnership
Ms. Quinn will speak about some of the myths associated with Epilepsy, the different types of epilepsy, and the symptoms.  In this session, participants will also be instructed in Seizure First Aid.
1 Hour Continuing Education credit
 
Collection Development Series: Jewish Traditional Collections (In-Person)
RCLS HQ, 619 Rte 17M, Middletown, NY 10940
Monday, August 25, 2025 ~ 10:00am - 11:30am
Presenter: Jessica Gordon, Asst Dept Head of Youth Services and Youth Services Outreach Coordinator, Finkelstein Memorial Library
Learn about how Jessica curated their Jewish Traditional Collection. The presentation will cover collections for all ages - not limited to youth services
1.5 Hours Continuing Education credit
 
Open Meetings Law (In-Person)
RCLS HQ, 619 Rte 17M, Middletown, NY 10940
Monday, September 15, 2025 ~ 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Presenter: Kristin O'Neill 
Deputy Director and Counsel for New York State Committee on Open Government (COOG)
1.5 Hours Continuing Education credit
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.

 
RCLS SUSTAINABILITY CORNER
 

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
 

 
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...
 
Share a library-related meaningful quote or a funny cartoon 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
         
Subscribe to receive RLCS Publications via the link below
Sign Up for RCLS Newsletters