Recent News
Budget 2010-2011 News!
In creating the 2011 budget for Ellenville Public Library & Museum, the Board of Trustees carefully considered higher costs in overall library operating expenses, increased library use, and the current economic climate. For the second consecutive year, The Board is pleased to inform our community that they were able to lower the annual budget percentage increase, resulting in only a 5.4% rise in the amount of funding to be raised through taxes.
In 2009, Ellenville Public Library & Museum had over 72,440 visits. Our circulation of books and other materials went up by 7%, for a total of 84,492 items borrowed, and our staff answered over 4,000 reference questions. Our public programs were attended by over 5,000 people from our community and neighboring towns, and the Community Room was used by dozens of non-profit and human service organizations. People continue to enjoy our library as a cultural and educational resource, attending book discussions, storytimes and workshops, visiting the Gallery Link and Deyo Terwilliger House museum, browsing the Internet or simply wandering the stacks in search of an idea or story. When our patrons ask us, “how do you do it all?”, we have to answer that we do it with your patronage and support. It is our working together with our patrons that continually inspires us; helping someone with a job search, a student with a homework assignment, watching our community’s children grow from storytime to the creators of their own life stories.
The Board of Trustees is committed to ensuring that our community receives excellent value for its support of Ellenville Public Library & Museum, and all of us at the library share their goal of providing our community with the materials and services it needs, wants and uses in these challenging economic times.
Adult Literacy Tutor Training
Ellenville Public Library & Museum is pleased to welcome 6 new ESL Volunteer Tutors to our literacy program. The new volunteers completed a 12 hour training workshop last May in using the Laubach way to English method. Congratulations on a job well done!
Volunteer Tutors must be 18 or older, and have their High School Diploma or GED. The “Laubach Way to English” is the program taught, and all materials will be provided.
You don’t need to speak a foreign language to be a tutor! You just need to offer one hour a week, and have a desire to help a neighbor. This is a very rewarding experience for both tutors and their students. Please register by May 4. For more information and to register call Catherine Tatunczak at 647-5530. Next training: Sept 2009.
Currently, we have 25 Volunteer Literacy Tutors in
our program, as well as 35 active students, with many more on our wait list.
Picture: Mary Coniker and Joan Gahn, two of our Volunteer Literacy Tutors, with Literacy Program Coordinator Catherine Tatunczak.
Tree Planting Workshop
Library patrons learned how to chose and plant a tree when Ryan Trapani from the Catskill Forest Association was at Ellenville Public Library on April 15. Ryan taught us about location, climate, and which fruit and flower trees do best in this region. Tips on preparing soil, planting and nurturing new trees were shared, and participants were able to get some hands on experience as we planted a native "Pagoda Dogwood" from Catskill Native Nursery outside Deyo/Terwilliger House Museum. Pictured here are Ryan Trapani, Asha Golliher, Board Member Debbie Stack, Former Board Member Laurie Friedman and patron John Nodar.
Pruning and Pest Control
Patrons thoroughly enjoyed Charlie Blume's presentation on Pruning and Pest Control, the second workshop in the IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS series. Charlie is a Certified Arborist from Lucky Dog Farm, located near the Rondout Reservoir. Look for more workshops with Charlie at Ellenville Public Library & Museum this Fall when he returns to talk about Heirloom Apples and cider making!
Journal Making
Jillian Koehnken of Minnewaska State Park taught a group of all ages how to hand make a simple journal or scrapbook out of paper, recycled cardboard, magazines and our imaginations in celebration of Earth Day in April. Everyone took home their unique book at the end of the evening. Look for more Journal Making workshops at EPL&M with Jillian this summer!
Myrna Jargowsky
Showing beaders of all ages how to make
a daisy bead stitch for a bracelet or ring at Saturday's workshop. Watch for more workshops with Myrna at the library this coming Summer.
Basic Beading Workshop
Patrons make bracelets at the Basic Beading workshop. A good time was had by all, and everyone went home with new jewelry to wear!
Times Are Tough, and Libraries Are Thriving
People are flocking to libraries after forsaking Barnes & Noble or ditching their HBO service and subscriptions to Netflix.
Times Are Tough, Libraries Are Thriving
The bad news about the economy is good news for libraries as people flock to libraries and forsake Barnes & Noble, HBO and Netflix to save money.
Times Are Tough, Libraries Are Thriving
Though feeling the economic pinch, too, local libraries offer books, films, music, lectures and live entertainment.
