Spring has sprung at the Cornwall Public Library!

Cornwall Public Library Newsletter - April 2023

From the Director's Desk...

When looking for who was the first NYS Certified Librarian/Director of the Cornwall Public Library I came across an Annual Report dated January 1, 1936. I thought it would be fun to model our fiscal year 2021/2022 annual report after it. For extra fun, I will show the numbers from 1936 in parentheses.

The total number of books in the Cornwall Public Library on January 1, 2021, was 60,050 (7,185) of which 34,434 (4,453) were fiction and 25,616 (2,732) were non-fiction. The total number of resident borrowers was 7,370 (1,075). There was a total of 19,744 (1,427 books only) materials added to the collection.

The total circulation of books for the fiscal year was 103,755 (67,956) of which 78,427 (45,259) were fiction and 25,328 (22697) were non-fiction.

Here are a few other modern, library use statistics, not in the 1936 report: 117,892 other materials were circulated (Audiobooks, e-books, etc.); 35,810 uses of electronic content; 2,021 other print materials, such as magazines and newspapers; and 276,903 electronic materials were available. Currently, we also report how many programs we gave and how many attended them. CPL's total number of programs was 601, with 5,520 attendees. There were 386 youth, 81 young Adults, and 50 Adults signed up for Summer Reading. There were 148 Summer Reading Program events, with 1,474 attendees. Our reference staff answered 4,094 questions. We received 25,261 interlibrary loans from other RCLS libraries and provided 21,766 to other RCLS libraries. We were open 7 days, 63 hours per week, for a total of 2,457 hours per year. We had 23 computers available for use by the public, with 3,994 sessions. Our Wi-Fi, which extends to the exterior of the building, had 83,233 sessions (uses). In total, we had 33,064 people walk through the front doors of CPL.

Charlotte A. Dunaief

Library Director

cdunaief@rcls.org

Easter Weekend Hours

The Library will adjust its hours in observance of the Easter holiday. Please note our special hours:

Friday, April 7 - 9am-1pm

Saturday, April 8 - 9am-4pm

Sunday, April 9 - CLOSED

Library Board of Trustees

Wednesday, April 12

7:00pm

All meetings are open to the public. The current agenda and meeting packet can be found here.

Art Exhibition

"The Collaborative Works of DiMiceli, DiMiceli & Carver"

This exhibit will be on display in the Library Community Room until April 25th.*

*Because this room is also used for programs, patrons are encouraged to call prior to their visit to make sure the exhibit will be accessible for viewing.

Annual Library Budget Vote & Trustee Election

Tuesday, April 18

9:00am – 9:00pm

Library Community Room

Calling all registered Cornwall voters! Mark your calendars and make your plans to cast your ballot in the Annual Library Budget Vote and Trustee Election. Information about the proposed 2023/24 budget, trustee candidates, voter registration or absentee ballots, can be found on the library website.

The public is also invited to attend an informational session on Tuesday, April 11 at 6:30pm in the Library Community Room to answer any questions about the proposed budget.

Exercise your civic muscle at the ballot box. A strong library helps build a strong community!

Community Connections

Songs Of Ireland Concert Highlights 2023

Songs of Ireland Highlights

Toes were tapping and hands were clapping at our "Songs of Ireland" concert on March 19th featuring the band The Parting Glass. People of all ages not only enjoyed the delightful music, but even got up to do a little singing (shout-out to Ken Cashman!) Here are a few highlights in case you missed it. Hope to see you there next year!

Cornwall Connections

Bulletin Board

There's a new outreach bulletin board for the 55+ community in the CPL entryway! This is informal and open to those who might enjoy meeting for a walk, lunch, concert, coffee, community event or shared interest. Going somewhere? Want company? Tack a note to the bulletin board or respond to someone else's note. It's that simple!

Programs For Adults

Midday Matinee

Tuesday, April 4

12:00pm

Enjoy a break in your day and take in a movie. April’s selection is The Fabelmans - Rated PG-13.

A drop-in event - no registration required.

Monday Night Movie

April 10

6:00pm

Enjoy free popcorn and a classic movie. April's selection is the 1971 comedy Harold & Maude - Rated PG.

A drop-in event - no registration required.

AARP Tax-Aide

Select Wednesdays

April 5 & 12

9:00am-3:30pm

IRS certified volunteers are available to prepare tax returns for free. This service is available by appointment only. Appointments are made directly through AARP (the library staff does not take appointments). Please call 1-800-899-1479, M-F, 9am-2pm to schedule.

AARP membership is not required and there are no age restrictions.

Guerrilla Girls: The ART of

Behaving Badly

Thursday, April 13

6:15-7:30pm

via Zoom

Janet Mandel, retired art history / world languages & culture instructor shares how The Guerilla Girls, an anonymous group of activist women artists, have used wit and irony to tackle issues of gender and racial discrimination in the art world and beyond.

Registration is required via the library website. A Zoom link will be emailed to registrants on the day of the program.

Great Decisions

Thursday, April 20

7:00-8:00pm

Join America's largest discussion program on world affairs. April's topic is War Crimes: What are they and how can they be prosecuted? Course briefing books are available for purchase ($22) at the library. There is also a course-reserve copy for review at the Adult Reference Desk. For more information, contact Pam Stockton at pstockton@rcls.org or 845-534-8282.

A drop-in event - no registration required

The Lorraine Weinberg

Memorial Opera

Sunday, April 23

1:00-4:00pm

Announcing the return of this popular program that honors a devoted CPL patron who loved the opera. This year's feature is a showing of Akhnaten by composer Philip Glass.

Refreshments, generously provided by the family of Lorraine Weinberg, will be served.

A drop-in event - no registration required.

A Whirlwind Tour of Music History: 1,000 Years in 60 Minutes!

Friday, May 5

2:00 - 3:00pm

The Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Russell Ger helps make sense of music history, guiding participants through the entire past millennium of western music in a matter of minutes, and offering a better understanding of how this whole intricate music puzzle is composed.

Space is limited. Registration via the library website opens April 12.

The Girl from Ipanema &

the Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim

Tuesday, May 9

6:30 - 7:45pm

Discover how Rio de Janiero comes alive through the Bossa Nova sound, specifically looking at the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Presented by Rick Feingold, Bergen Community College professor.

Space is limited. Registration via the library website opens April 9.

A Demonstration in the Art of Floral Arranging

Thursday, May 11

1:00-2:30pm

Master Gardener Barbara Wexler-Hall demonstrates floral techniques to create stunning arrangements sure to beautify your home.

Registration via the library website opens April 11 to the first 40 flower enthusiasts.

Teen Tech Tutoring

Tuesday, April 18

4:00-5:00pm

Got tech questions? Let our savvy teen volunteers assist you. Bring your devices and your questions. No appointments needed - first come, first served.

Creative Writers

Mondays

11:30am-1:30pm

Always open to new members. A virtual option can be made available if needed. Call the library at 845-534-8282 for more info.

Member's Choice

Book Group

April 5 @4:00pm

Under a White Sky

by Elizabeth Kolbert

New members are always welcome. Please call 845-534-8282 if you need a virtual option.

Mystery Book Group

April 20 @2:00pm

The Fiancée

by Kate White

New members are always welcome. Please call 845-534-8282 if you need a virtual option.

Out & About

Book Group

April 19 @7:00pm

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone

by Benjamin Stevenson

Join us in April at Mama Theresa's for some food, drinks & lively discussion. New people are always welcome! To help coordinate with the restaurant, we are asking anyone planning to attend to register via the library website.

Book Chat & Chocolate

April 27 @7:00pm

The Most Fun We Ever Had

by Claire Lombardo

New members are always welcome...and chocolate is always served!

6-Hour Defensive Driving Workshop

Saturday, April 15

Wednesday, April 19

WAITLIST ONLY

8:45am - 4:00pm

Sponsored by AARP

Register in person at the library with payment (cash or check) to confirm registration - $25 for AARP members; $30 for non-members.

Make checks payable to AARP. Cash payments must be exact change only. Participants must bring driver's license and AARP card (if applicable) to class.

Empires of the Mediterranean

Cruise from

Athens to Venice

October 17-27, 2023

Take in all the riches of this fabled region with Friends of Cornwall Library and World Wide Travel of Cornwall. On this Viking cruise participants will: discover the Acropolis & the ancient ruins of Olympia; delight in the beauty of Corfu; explore the medieval warrens of Kotor, Dubrovnik & Zadar; and enjoy a visit to Koper for an in-depth exploration of Slovenia.

For additional info or to book, contact Manuela Mocan at 845-534-4333 or Brenda Goldfarb at 845-534-8282. Flyers with additional information are available at the library.

Programs for Kids & Teens

Family Story Time

Select Tuesdays

April 4 & 11

9:30am OR 10:30am

Enjoy a story time with the whole family. Registration is required and opens via the library website one week prior to each class.

Adults only need to register their

child(ren) - not themselves.

PJ Story Time

Select Wednesdays

April 5 & 19

6:30pm

All Ages Welcome

Wear your PJs, bring a favorite cuddly, and enjoy stories & songs at the library.

Registration is required and opens via the

library website one week prior to each program.

Saturday Morning Story Time

April 29

9:30am

Enjoy a special story time for the whole family on the weekend. Space is limited. Registration is required and opens via the library website one week prior to the program.

Dog Tales

Select Mondays

April 3 & 17

6:00-7:00pm

Grades K-12

Come read independently to a furry friend from Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause.

Please register via the library website for a

15-minute time slot of your choosing. Registration opens one week prior to each program.

Art Afternoon

Tuesday, April 11

4:30pm

K-12th Grades

Working with Oil Pastels

Experiment with blending colors using this fun medium.

Registration is required and opens via the library website one week prior to the program.

Timothy Mumford Memorial

Poetry Competition

March 8 - April 12

Calling all poets ages 5-18! It's time once again for our annual poetry contest. Participants may enter up to TWO original poems. Our judges will select a top poem for each age group, along with a "Best Overall" poem for all entries.

Please refer to the library website for complete competition and submission rules. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, April 12th.

All are invited to attend our Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 30 @1:30pm

Chess Time

Saturday

April 1

11:00am - 12:00pm

All ages and skill levels are welcome. Bring a friend or play with someone new. An instructor will be available to answer questions.

A drop-in event - no registration required.

Vote Day

Family Story Time

Tuesday, April 18

10:00am

A Drop-In Event

Come cast your ballot in the library budget vote and enjoy a family story time too! The story time will be outside on the portico, rain or shine. Kids will also have an opportunity to vote in their own special election. See you there!