RAMAPO CATSKILL LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWS
 
JULY 28, 2025

JOIN US FOR THE RCLS
66TH LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST ANNUAL MEETING & AWARDS PRESENTATION
Keynote Address: AnnaLee Dragon, Executive Director 
New York Library Association (NYLA)
  
Friday, September 12, 2025 | 8 AM to 1 PM
Registration is REQUIRED
(registration closes September 5th)
 
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

RCLS Fall 2025 Professional Development Scholarship 
Applications being accepted!
 
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 awards are $1000
Fall 2025 Scholarship Application deadline is Aug. 5th
Further information, including guidelines, may be found here
RCLS PD Scholarship - RCLS: Professional
Development Opportunities
 
Questions?  Please contact Michelle Muller, RCLS Member & Youth Services Consultant
michelle.muller@rcls.org

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.
 
Please ensure that we hear from you; register for one of the sessions designated for your role with the library via the
Calendar – Ramapo Catskill Library System

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

 
SPECIAL EVENTS

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 

 
A special AUTHOR VISIT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION opportunity - courtesy of the Newburgh Free Library!
 
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.
 
Lightning Talk: Failing Forward 
(Hybrid Session: In-Person @ RCLS HQ & Online)
Thursday, August 21, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Facilitator: Michelle Muller 
RCLS Youth and Member Services Consultant
Join three presenters from Member Libraries to hear more about how they used their less than successful programs to adapt and learn for future programming. These quick ten-minute talks will provide insight on how to evaluate your programs and gain valuable information for generating future success.
Presentations will cover programs aimed at multiple age groups and audiences, so any library staff member involved in programming is encouraged to attend!
2 Hours 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
Roots Library Leadership Summit
August 6th via Zoom from 1:00 to 4:00 ET
 
 This event is completely virtual and free!
 
Anyone interested in sustainability in libraries is encouraged to attend and can benefit from the discussions. The SustainRT leadership hope you will join in all day - from the opening keynote, to lightning talk presentations by various library sustainability groups, to a Strategic Planning session.
 REGISTER HERE

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Help protect libraries and win your way to the 2026 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago! From now through December 31, join the For Our Libraries Fundraising Challenge and raise your voice—and funds—for the future of libraries.
 
The top 10 fundraisers will receive free registration to ALA Annual, and one grand prize winner will earn an all-expenses-paid trip! Whether you're a book lover, advocate, or library worker, this is your chance to make an impact. Click the image below for more details and to get started!

 
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
         
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