Claverack Library

Letter from the President of the Library Board

November 2009

Dear Friends,

It’s been a wonderful nine years for me on the board of trustees where I’ve witnessed incredible support for our very busy little library. My term is over, but I’m excited about the future of the library. The future is especially promising because Jenny Post has agreed to lead the hard-working, dedicated board of trustees as its president. Jenny is extremely competent and has extensive experience supporting our community with many non-profit organizations. If you don’t know Jenny, please see the brief biography in our fall/winter newsletter. If you do know Jenny, you know that the library is incredibly fortunate that she has agreed to take on this leadership position, as she brings energy, enthusiasm, and expertise to all of her endeavors.

We’ve always been proud of the “free” in the Claverack Free Library and we will do everything we can to maintain the history of giving our community access to all materials for free. That being said, the “free” status has been threatened. As of January 1, 2010, due to New York State cutbacks, the Mid-Hudson Library System will charge every member library additional fees for each item that is borrowed from the system. The final impact on our finances has not yet been determined, but we do know that this will mean additional expenses in our already challenging budget.

In the past nine years the total number of items circulated through our library has increased by 79% (from 17,453 items in 2000 to 31,203 items in 2008). Even more stunning is the more than 1,100% increase in items borrowed through the Mid-Hudson Library System (up from 675 in 2000 to 8,662 in 2008). This growth in items borrowed has been matched by 1,100% growth in items that Claverack has loaned to other libraries in the system. All of this explains, along with providing high-speed Internet access and expanded programming, the increasingly busy hub that is the Claverack Library.

One last request from me. Please keep these new charges in mind, and if you can, please give generously to help us support our community through our free library.

Sincerely,
Susan Roberts