Thirty-Eight Plus One Equals a Special Event

Come join your library colleagues and others from the region in the observance of SENYLRC’s 38th year of existence at our annual meeting. Then come and share in our special celebration of our 1st year of existence in our new office headquarters in Highland.

On June 3rd, the Board of Trustees of the Southeastern NY Library Resources Council cordially invites you to attend the 38th Annual Meeting of the library resources council. This year the meeting will take place at the Terrace on the campus of SUNY New Paltz beginning with registration and continental breakfast at 8:30 AM. The annual business meeting and report of the organization will begin at 9:30 AM and continue until approximately 10:45 AM.

However this year we will do something a little different for the 2nd half of the Meeting. Instead of a featured keynote speaker and lunch, SENYLRC will host a one-time special event – the dedication and open house of our new office headquarters at 21 South Elting Corners Road in Highland. So those attending the Annual Meeting will drive the approximate five miles down Rt. 299 into Highland to attend our open house.

“A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon, and by midnight.” (Robertson Davies, Canadian novelist)

The staff and Board are truly excited about the current and long term possibilities of our new building. With the help of Roundout Savings bank, SENYLRC has secured an annual mortgage that is at least $10 thousand dollars less than projected leasing costs if we remained in our other building. The 7,000 square foot building almost doubles the space we occupied in our former office on Rt. 299. The open air look (with many windows), the addition of several separate offices, a separate and larger computer server room and work room, a home-style and roomy kitchen, comfortable staff lounge, and outdoor landscaping make this building all the more special. Add to this a larger parking area and safer street exit (no longer fighting the traffic to turn onto Rt. 299!) we believe we have found a special place.

But the most exciting possibility about the building is the anticipated renovation of 1,700 square feet in the lower level to accommodate a larger board/committee room, a conference/training room for up to 45 people, plus two new bathrooms, a janitor’s closet and a refreshment serving area. SENYLRC is extremely grateful to Senator Bill Larkin from the 39th Senate District for a legislative member grant of $20 thousand dollars to help with this renovation endeavor. In fact, we are excited about having Senator Larkin participate in our Open House events and helping us dedicate the building. This dedication ceremony will take place at 11:30 AM -- hopefully on the front lawn weather permitting.

Light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served during the Open House.

Special recognition goes to the SENYLRC Building Task Force for a job well done! This board committee was originally chaired by former board member Kevin Gallagher from the Middletown Thrall Public Library and followed by current board member Stan Ploszaj from the Ramapo Catskill Public Library System.

For further information and registration for both the Annual Meeting and Open House click here: http://www.senylrc.org/annualmeeting05.htm

We hope to see you on June 3rd

By John Shaloiko, Executive Director

Southeastern News Online is published by SENYLRC staff.