Library Closed Tomorrow

The library will be closed Saturday, August 30th for the Labor Day weekend BUT the library will open at 5:00pm for the Library Forum.....A reading by Roberta Allen and Carolee Schneeman.

Library Budget & Board Vote

TOWN-WIDE VOTE ON LIBRARY BUDGET AND BOARD

A proposed operating budget of $537,772 for the Woodstock Public Library in 2009 will be placed before the Woodstock electorate in a referendum Thursday, September 4th. Four members of the 11-member Woodstock Public Library District Board of Trustees will also be elected. Regularly registered voters in the Library District covering the entire township are eligible to vote. The polls will be open from 12 noon to 10 p.m. in the library at Tinker Street and Library Lane. The projected budget plan calls for $493,402 to be derived from Town taxes. The money from taxes represents a 17.8 percent rise over 2007 and 2008’s corresponding amount of $418,696. The new budget as a whole is $537,772, 15 percent above the 2008 total of $466,782. Anticipated grants from the Mid-Hudson Library System, New York State and other agencies make up the difference between the total budget figure and the amount to be raised by taxation. Library Director, D.J. Stern said that last year’s budget defeat forced the Library to operate on an austerity budget. Materials budgets for adults and children were decreased. There are no plans for renovation in the near future. According to Library Board President, Margo McLoone, the increases in the budget are generally attributable to increasing costs due to changes in the economy. The staff will be given a 3% raise. The materials budget will return to about the same amount as in 2007. The slump in the economy means Woodstock residents will need the Library more than ever. The Library faces rising costs to run the facility such as heating oil and electricity, but it has not had an increase in funding since 2007.Five people are running at large for four openings on the Board. People running for the Library Board are as follows:

Cassia Berman is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, with time at Columbia University's School of the Arts MFA Writing Program. Cassia is a poet, writer and editor whose work has been widely published. She also teaches T'ai Chi and Qigong, and has taught writing workshops. She has lived in this area for more than 20 years.

Elaine Hammond, a 27-year resident of Woodstock, is a Clinical Nurse Specialist who has BSN and MSN from Pace University as well as an AAS from FIT. She has also worked as a Mental Health Counselor and has volunteered at Meals On Wheels and Family of Woodstock.

Will Nixon is a writer and journalist who recently published a poetry collection, My Late Mother as a Ruffed Grouse. He has served on the board of the Woodstock Land Conservancy, The Catskill 3500 Club and Hudsonia. Will has lived in Woodstock since 1996.

Jesse Jones has lived in Woodstock since 2000. He is a mathematical researcher and has worked in the fields of medical imaging, finance, investment and medicine. He has also served as Book Review Editor of Applied Mathematical Finance. He has been one of the organizers of the Woodstock Cycle, a creation and performance process for area composers.

Katryna Barber is a teacher who moved to Woodstock from Washington State six years ago. She is Secretary of the Onteora Marching Band Booster Club, and a member of the Woodstock Time Bank and OHS Parent Liaison Committee. She is also a gardener and designer.

Additional information about the budget is available on the library’s website.
www.woodstock.org

Notice of Election

NOTICE OF ELECTION
REGISTERED VOTERS OF THE TOWN OF WOODSTOCK
SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 12 NOON TO 10 PM
IN THE WOODSTOCK LIBRARY

The amount in the proposition is $537,772
Vote Yes or No

The Names of the candidates are:
Cassia Berman
Jesse Jones
Will Nixon
Katryna Barber
Elaine Hammond
There are four positions open and five candidates, so vote for up to four candidates.

Applications for absentee ballots for the September 4, 2008 Woodstock Public Library District election are available now at the library. They can be obtained during library hours: Tues. 10-6; Wed. 10-8; Thurs. 10-6; Fri. 10-6; Sat. 10-5 or you can call 679-2213 for further information. Election of Board of Trustees members and budget vote will be on the ballot.

Library Fair a Success

Thank you volunteers and attendees for making the 77th Annual Woodstock Library Fair such a great success. We honor our many volunteers for their energy and commitment, as well as all the local businesses that contributed. Thankfully rain held off until the late afternoon and a good time was had by all. Thank you all for your hardwork and devotion to the Woodstock Public Library.

The Library Fair is sponsored by the Friends of the Library with support from Bank of America.