Library Director's Report - October 5, 2016 


1.	The Public Vote on the proposed 2017 library district budget and
election of Trustees will be held on Tuesday October 4, 2016.  Polls
will be open in the Reading Room of the Middletown Thrall Library (11-19
Depot Street Middletown, NY 10940) between the hours of 8:00am - 8:00pm.
The proposed gross operating budget for 2017 is $3,462,075.00
representing a decrease of .56% from the previous year.  The proposed
budget will increase the tax levy by $12,078.00 or .4% over the previous
year.  Those who wish to vote early before the Library is open (8:00am -
9:00am) can enter the Library from one of two entrances located on the
Depot Street side of the building.  

2.	Congratulations to the "Thrall Brawlers" who participated in the
"Battle of the Books" program that took place on September 10, 2016 at
Orange County Community College.  Many RCLS libraries sent teams of teen
aged participants to the competition where they were quizzed on elements
of a series of books read by participants in advance of the competition.
The teams competed in a game show type format.  The Brawlers represented
us well as they successfully completed several rounds of competition
before being eliminated.  
 
3.	The first meeting of the Local Planning Committee for the
Middletown Downtown Revitalization Initiative will take place at City
Hall on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.  Committee members will discuss
drafting of a strategic plan.    

4.	The Director's Association of the Ramapo Catskill Library System
voted to eliminate the local hold restriction on audio books at their
September 2016 meeting.  This means that audio-books that do not have
any local holds will be sent to fill holds of patrons in other
libraries.  This will result in patrons experiencing shorter wait times
for items that are in demand because there will be more copies available
throughout the system.  Local holds restrictions were eliminated on
print materials in 2015.  

5.	Spanish language promotional fliers for the Library's Homework
help program have been created and are available to the public on both
floors of the library.  

I have attended the following meetings in September: RCLS Continuing
Education Committee, Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, Thrall
Library Remarkable Reads book discussion, and The Orange County Chamber
of Commerce Expo at the Crystal Run Galleria.