2021 Fair Cancelled
May 1, 2021 – Because of the pandemic currently afflicting the United States and the inability to predict when it will be safe to meet for community activities, the Stone Ridge Library Board of Trustees has decided to cancel its annual Library Fair that was scheduled for early June. This would have been the 75th annual Library Fair. The Fair is the Library’s signature event, with thousands of Marbletown residents coming to buy books and plants, eat strawberries and hamburgers, and meet with their neighbors. “We know how important an event it is,” said Board President Susanne Warren. “But the safety of our neighbors, our volunteers and our staff comes first.”
The Library is now considering an event this fall that might include a plant or book sale that mimics the Fair, but on a smaller scale. The issue was discussed at the Board’s April meeting, which was held via a remote Internet connection. The Board decided to cancel the Fair at this time because it was at the point of having to reserve tents and various other items. Also, the Library had to begin to assemble volunteers and vendors, who have been so generous with their time and money each year, Warren pointed out.
The Library is now closed, of course, as are all public institutions that interact extensively with the public. Last year the Library had nearly 55,000 visitors and sponsored hundreds of meetings and group events. “We are doing a number of these programs remotely,” noted Library Director Jody Ford. Although the library is not currently lending physical items, many of its services are available on-line. Storybook readings can be found on the website and on Facebook; poetry and book groups have been meeting through Zoom. And staff members are sharing their experiences with digital study programs like Universal Class and Mango via Facebook. Overdrive and Libby provide e-books and audio books.
Ford said the Library is moving ahead with staff training and renovation projects while closed. A new front circulation desk, that has been in the planning stages for months, continues to move forward. Construction is scheduled to be started on this in the summer. “We are beginning to think about how we will open the building once the Governor lifts the directive to work from home,” Ford said in her monthly report. The stoppage of work is now set to last until May 15 when Gov. Cuomo will revisit the question.
When the Library does reopen, there will be a Plexiglas shield between the library employees at the front desk and patrons. Markers on the floor will show six-foot distancing while patrons are in the building. The Library continues to research best disinfection protocols for safe handling of library materials when it reopens. During the closure of the Library, Ford said she has been purchasing e-books rather than physical books. Those books are still available to patrons electronically.
The Board also discussed the financial issues that the Library closure will bring for its budget. The Library revenue from the Fair will be lost and money from various other sources will be considerably diminished, most notably from book fines. The Library is currently revising the expectations from its 2020 budget. For now, however, the Library’s main base of revenue is secure. In late March the Library received its annual funding of $277,964 in taxpayer money. This tax money largely pays for the Library’s main operating costs, including salaries and utility costs. And $12,500 is anticipated from the town of Rochester, which covers Library memberships for Rochester residents.
“We are on solid ground for now,” Warren noted, citing the taxpayer money and a reserve that the Library keeps for emergency moments such as this. Ford added, “We do miss seeing the patrons and sharing book ideas and chats. Nonetheless, the library is moving forward to welcome patrons when the library is able to reopen.”
The 73rd Annual Stone Ridge Library Fair was a huge success!
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who pitched in to make this one of the best Library Fairs ever. And special thanks to all the new and returning volunteers who made the event run so smoothly.
In true community spirit, we all came together to celebrate the day! We thank everyone who helped, and all of those in the community who came out to enjoy the festivities.
Next year’s Library Fair is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 2020.
Our thanks to:*
Volunteers, one and all, for a wonderful Fair. And thanks to Dave & Roma Simpson set-up and traffic control, Aqua Check, UC Sanitation Health Department, NYS Troopers Kingston Barracks, Garden Makers, Emmanuel’s Marketplace, Stewart’s Shops, Stone Ridge Wines, Tim Hunt, Flemming Realty, Express Tech, George Moylan Funeral Home, Key Bank, High Meadow School, Marbletown Community Center, Marbletown Reformed Church, A Day in The Shade, Kelder’s Farm, Rondout Valley Honor Society/Coordinator Tara Hyland, Stone Ridge Library Foundation, SRL Saturday Knitters, Book and Gift Donors, Plant and House Plant Donors, Library Board and Staff, Bonnileu Banyard, Mary Swan, Julianna Arms and her toy team, Diane DeChillo (Volunteer Coordinator), Rosemary Deen/Daylilies, Matthew Seaman/Photos, Judith Schneller & Linda Still (Shortcakes), Ethan Plank with Barbara Seaman and Sarah Robertson & Family (Artisanal Bread), Binnewater–Leisure Time Ice, Freskeetos, Johnny on the Spot, Marbletown First Aid, UCRRA, Empire Waste, Bruderhoff @ Rifton, Ulster County Probation, Half Moon Books, Terri and Steve Massardo (Sound), Lisa St. John (Master of Ceremonies), Breakaway with Robin Baker, Trio Mio, BLOOM directed by Debbie Lan, RVHS Vocal Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Lucas Rau, CHERRIES/Allyson Reidy (Food), Kay Sutka, Plant Chair, New Paltz Agway, Augustine Nursery, Catskill Native Nursery, Christian’s Greenhouse, Country Flowers, Davenport Farms, Herzog’s, Hortus Conclusus, Nancy Cobb Landscape Consultant, Phantom Gardener, RVHS Future Farmers of America (FFA), Saunderskill Farms, Veronica’s Gardens, Victoria’s Garden, Wallkill View Farm, Country Flowers, Mountain View Gardens. Special thanks to year round book sorters Linda Worden and Ann Cahill and their team.
*If we missed your name, let us know and we will give a shout out right away!
Sincerely,
Jody Ford
Director, Stone Ridge Library
Click on a picture to scroll through in a larger size.
Thank you to the photographers of this years Library Fair, Matthew Seaman and John Currie.
Donations of Books/CDs/DVDs
The Library welcomes book donations. Books donated are re-sold at the annual Library Fair, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 2020. Proceeds from the Library Fair are used for the operating budget—computers, books, salaries, supplies, etc.
“We are thankful for book donations from the community,” said Library Director Jody Ford. “But we recently have had to update our procedures due to the large number of unsaleable books that have been coming in.” When books are moldy, dusty and damaged, we cannot sell them and we must discard them. Hiring a dumpster is costly, and so the need to cull and discard the increasing percentage of donations has cut significantly into the potential profits of the book sale. “More importantly, all donated books are sorted by volunteer community members, so we ask that donations be clean and free from mold, dirt and dust to safeguard them in their work.
“We are happy to accept books in excellent condition,” said Ford. “And we look forward to upholding the long tradition of the Book Tent, the Library Fair’s most popular feature.”
The Library asks that books in excellent condition be brought during library hours. Textbooks, encyclopedias and medical books are not included in the books sale and should be recycled by the owner along with other books that cannot be sold. For information on municipal recycling centers: Marbletown Transfer Station, Town of Rochester Transfer Station.
