Reaching Out to the SchoolsThroughout the year, the Youth Services staff members attended open houses and orientation meetings at local schools and conducted visits to the elementary schools while also providing special programs for the Astor Head Start program. In the fall, the success of the month-long Poughkeepsie Read was partly built on the Library District’s partnership with five local school districts.

Integrating New ArrivalsAs the community continued to grow in 2015, the Library District worked with several partners to integrate new immigrants. Adriance Memorial Library is a trusted destination for recent immigrants and so several local organizations came to the library to share their expertise: Catholic Charities/NYS Office for New Americans spoke about immigration issues; the American Red Cross offered

Citizen Preparedness Training; the Grace Smith House discussed healthy relationships; and Planned Parenthood covered reproductive health.

PPLD is part of the organizing committee of La Guelaguetza Festival, which draws many hundreds of people to Poughkeepsie every summer. The festival highlights the culture of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Supporting SeniorsOne of the most popular programs at the new branch library was Brain Games, offered in partnership with Dutchess County Office for the Aging, which stimulates the mental faculties of senior patrons. Two PPLD staff members stepped in to assist with the increasing number of attendees. Throughout the year, informational programs at both libraries included presentations by Mid-Hudson Regional Licensed Home Care on resources that help older or ill individuals live well at home. Those resources include the Library District’s own Extension Services, delivering library materials to home-bound patrons.

Celebrating a New Branch LibraryOn April 12, 2015, 650 people gathered at the Boardman Road Branch Library for the opening ceremony and celebration. A week later, the new facility drew a standing-room-only crowd as Christina Baker Kline discussed her New York Times bestseller Orphan Train. Since then, the branch has continued to draw attention and praise. The branch also quickly established itself as popular meeting place for community organizations of all shapes and sizes, including Toastmasters, American Association of University Women, AARP Tax Aide, High School Equivalency Class, Jewish Federation of Dutchess County, and the American Sewing Guild.

Supporting Parents and Young ChildrenIn 2015, the Library District offered 631 free programs for toddlers and young children. As much as the children love the activities, their parents are often even more appreciative! When asked why the library is important to her, local resident Zoe Pappadio wrote, “We love the children’s programs; great for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to socialize with their peers.”

Poughkeepsie Public Library District

2015 Annual Report

Community is something we do together. It’s not just a container.David Brain, Sociologist

In 2015, the Library District further expanded its capacity to serve, and bring together, all segments of the community. This proactive engagement on the part of public libraries is now recognized as an important element in building a sense of community. In Better Together: Restoring the American Community, Robert

Putnam and Lewis Feldstein describe public libraries as “bridges” for building social connections. While many places and organizations bring together people of like mind, libraries also have the capacity to bring together different types of people who may not otherwise share experiences with each other.

The opening of the new branch in April sparked an increase in programs and in attendance. Library District staff members frequently reached out into the community, building events and programs in partnership with other organizations.

Promoting the ArtsDuring the year, the Library District worked with local arts organizations, including the Bardavon and Arts Mid-Hudson, to conduct major cultural programs. Meanwhile,

the Mary Wojteki Rotunda Gallery at Adriance Memorial Library displayed the works of several local artists. During a year in which reduced school budgets limited children’s access to books and exposure to the arts, the Library District invited children, tweens and teens to expand their worlds by experiencing great literature, storytelling, art, music, dance, writing and reading of poetry, graphic design and hands-on cross-cultural activities.

Providing a Forum for Community DiscussionsIn a year in which racial inequality again became a contentious issue, the Library District worked with Race Unity Group of the Hudson Valley to offer a series of discussions under the title Exploring Race Together. In December, a new exhibit and six-week series titled Changing America discussed the Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington, two events profoundly linked together in the larger story of liberty and the American experience. On the global level, the Library District partnered with the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley to discuss topics such as human trafficking, and privacy in the digital age.

CommunityBuilding

The Poughkeepsie Public Library District and the Friends of PPLD are grateful to the individuals, businesses, and organizations who contributed to the 2015 Annual Fund. These lists reflect gifts received between January 1 and December 31, 2015, including gifts in response to the Friends’ Appeals. All names are listed as requested by the donor.

Annual Fund Contributors

Goldleaf Volume $2000+ First Edition $1000-1999

Collector $500-999

The Lassor & Fanny Agoos Charity Fund American Library AssociationBentley-Holden FundBig Read/Poughkeepsie Fund of the Community Foundations of the Hudson ValleyFanny V.W. Boos Trust Fund of the Community Foundations of the Hudson ValleyThe Vincent & Carol W. Dean Family Charitable Foundation Dutchess County Agency Partner Grant ProgramDyson FoundationFriends of PPLDThe Norman and Jeannie Greene FundMid-Hudson Library SystemNYS through the Office of State Senator Sue SerinoSalisbury Bank and Trust Co.Irving & Gloria Schlossberg Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Dutchess County State of New YorkGeorge Strba Charitable TrustTD Charitable FoundationVassar Brothers Institute Donor Advised Fund of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley

Gail BrittainGannett FoundationHudson Valley Federal Credit UnionJacob & Sarah Nussbaum Fund of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley

Anonymous (3)Eleanor & Martin CharwatTom & Enza LawrencePhillip Lynch & Lila LynchRobert & Eileen NyeRoland & Marion PattersonJoan ShermanHolly Wahlberg

Anonymous (5)Patricia M. BreenBryan C. ChildsAnne ConstantinopleGareth & Mary Pat DaviesSondra and James FarganisDr. & Mrs. Duane HuttonMrs. Barbara M. LouthanGeorge & Linda MannGail & Tom McGlincheyMary McGowanDr. & Mrs. Michael MuffsKip Bleakley O’NeillRalph D. PollardAshok & Nila Shah

Anonymous (9)Mark Aaron & Miriam Zimet-AaronAnnon AdamsDr. & Mrs. Morton A. Alterman Amdursky, Pelky, Fennell, Wallen LawAdrian “Butch” AndersonAnnette BaroneWendy BergerJohn B. BeurketMary Ann BoylanGrace & John CalellaCentral Hudson Gas & Electric CorporationNorma ChangAnn E. Churukian & James E. Costopoulos, Jr.Sharon ClarkeRobert Cook & Kealy SalomonMatthew CousensElaine H. CrosbyStephen & Amity CurrieJune & Clifford DanielsonSusan Deane-MillerDennis M. DengelRuth H. DetjenTheresa & Peter ElmendorfMr. & Mrs. William EnichenBarbara & Harold ErnstMichael & Phyllis GeorgeMary M. GesekJoe & Perry GoldsmithKathleen L. GradyClare & Michael GrahamDonna Gruberg

Warren T. HallHandel FoundationDawn HarknessJohn R. & Mary B. HellerCarol and Gregg HiattDiane HlavatyHoney Bee Child Care CenterJanet E. HuenNina IsabellaMartha Kaplan & John D. KellyGary E. Killmer, Jr.William A. Koeffler, Jr.Joan G. KuchenmeisterBrandon LeeBarbara & Charles Lynch

Karen A. MarkeloffMr. & Mrs. David MeyersonJanet C. MillsBarbara MindelMark, Julia, Nicole & Brenna NelsonFiras NesheiwatCatherine A. NewmanJoan NichollsJim & Terri O’SheaStephanie H. PyrekAmy & Ori RazJohn ReillyRobert & Lori G. RolisonMelanie & Chris RottkampJim & Patty RyanSeal & Stripe, Inc.Celia & Arnold SerotskyBruce Gregory ShackelfordNorma ShirleyJane Barber SmithMary R. SpriggsLesley N. StoneCathy TempleJulie & Camilo TorresShirley TungFrank & Lois Van ZantenJerry & Linda VittoneStephen & Roberta WalshScott WeinerGeorgette Weir & Jean-Claude FouereMichael & Linda WoodJean Mosca Woods

Best Seller $250-499

Bookworm $100-249

September Bike Safety Rodeo

Japanese Tea Ceremony

We love the play groups. Miyah enjoys interacting with the other children. This is our favorite place. We can spend hours enjoying ourselves here. Thank you for the wonderful place to learn and grow!Bridgette Goldstein, Poughkeepsie resident

Karen A. MarkeloffMr. & Mrs. David MeyersonJanet C. MillsBarbara MindelMark, Julia, Nicole & Brenna NelsonFiras NesheiwatCatherine A. NewmanJoan NichollsJim & Terri O’SheaStephanie H. PyrekAmy & Ori RazJohn ReillyRobert & Lori G. RolisonMelanie & Chris RottkampJim & Patty RyanSeal & Stripe, Inc.Celia & Arnold SerotskyBruce Gregory ShackelfordNorma ShirleyJane Barber SmithMary R. SpriggsLesley N. StoneCathy TempleJulie & Camilo TorresShirley TungFrank & Lois Van ZantenJerry & Linda VittoneStephen & Roberta WalshScott WeinerGeorgette Weir & Jean-Claude FouereMichael & Linda WoodJean Mosca Woods

Anonymous (10)Doris K. AdamsLynne AndersonDavid & Mary BagleyPatricia A. BaroneMs. Arlene BarresiPeter S. BergamoC. E. BodleyKaren BrewsterMargaret & Colin BrittonVickie D. ByrdRichard & Linda CantorAlbert J. & Peggy Ann CarlsonJohn & Jeannie ChenetteCarl E. ClarkMr. William J. Clarke, IIIDick & Norene CollerCommunity Foundations of the Hudson ValleyChristine CuttlerFrank & Louise de LeeuwMillie DeNittoBrian & Filomena DimiskoSean Eagleton & Kathleen EagletonMr. & Mrs. Jack EffronMichael E. EffronDavid G. FerenzEdwin E. FitchettJudith Elkin & Eugene FleishmanJudith & Alan FoxClarence J. Furman & Joan W. FurmanMarch Gallagher, Esq. M. Gregg & Ruth Aldrich GauMarion J. GhoshFanny Dean GordonKent and Fredrika GroffThe Harding ClubSteven HenstebeckJoan M. HerrmannThe HespenheidesMuriel HorowitzJanet HoustonLarry HughesMartin & Anna HutchinsonHV ShredEdwin L. JobaCharlotte JonesNancy Kappler & Kenneth FosterMaha & Ahmad KatnaniBeverly Kaufman & David BloomJacqueline L. KleinMuriel Lampell

Wordsmith $50-99Anonymous (10)Mia AndersonNaomi C. AnolickArlington Teachers’ AssociationVictoria BalfourWilliam & Susan BarbashAmy Blumberg ColeCarol & Bill BogleJudith P. BuckFrederick P. BunnellJean G. BurnsMrs. Joann CarpenterJennifer CavanaghKathlyn P. ChrisfieldLinda Bartles ClarkeAlan & Julie ColeAngelo F. & Rosemary CorridoriMr. Jack Cupelli & Mrs. Donna M. CupelliNatalie Howard DavisSharon O. DeckMr. & Mrs. Robert DeikLillian DePasqualeToni & Alex FarkasSusan FarrandAnn FosterMr. & Mrs. Kenneth FredericksMr. & Mrs. Robert GibbsJackie & Earl GravesThe Gregory FamilyPeter GumJolie Aleen Hamer-ConroyThe Rev. & Mrs. Robert HamlynEllen HellerAnthony & Barbara HerlesArturo Hidalgo-EspinosaDiane M. Houghtaling

Family of Readers $25-49 Manuel & Margaret LiuJoe LowenbraunMain PrintingMichael R. MakarChristine ManningGerry MatusiewiczDeborah MautoneJames W. McCarthyArthur & Ruth McCombKatri McEwenGilbert McKenzieLinda A. MiloneMarcus J. MolinaroJohn F. & Jacquelyn J. MoriartyLiz & Tom MurphyCarol & Ken NeisserThomas NisongerMr. & Mrs. James M. O’BrienMrs. James O’ConnorJoan T. PaquetEric PerfectoPhilip PetersNancy J. PfirmanLaura PilkingtonAnn PinnaCal & Susan PolikoffR. P. PolivkaMarla RathbunEugene & Jewel RatzlaffMatthew Kurdziel & Barbara Roberts-KurdzielPablo, Andres, Nikhil Rollan-SharmaLeola Y. Ruffin-McPheeVirginia SaundersMrs. Arthur E. ScottElayne & Harold A. SeamanAnn Marie ShershinLigija SimanaviciusEllen & Rocco StainoMr. & Mrs. William Richard StarkSuzi & Herb StollerStorage DepotMs. Mary M. StuewerPatricia Sullivan, OPThe Three ArtsLeonard & Suzanne TuretzkyMrs. Joan VenugopalMuriel F. VerdibelloHarlow E. WaiteThomas & Pegeen WallDeborah WeltschThe Ziskind Family

Anonymous (12)Roberta AntonettiSteve Baitinger & Joan SvensonSusie BuckAlison CampJohn & Nydia CarlsonJoyce A. ChatfieldEllen & Larry DanzigerWilliam R. DoddMary H. FeldmannRoy FitzmauriceBrenda GoldsteinKezia Gleckman Hayman

Darwin Lee HillPolly D. HoeGreg HorneMichael P. JasperAslean KrouserNanci KryzakRudolph E. LaparLinda LettieriRose Mary LibrettiDave & Judy LongacreJulien Louis-FerdinandLila MatlinD. Miller

Gloria E. MillerMargaret G. NicholsEllen M. O’SheaDean ReidMara E. RinaudoRon & Marilyn Rosen and Courtney & Mariah RobishawPatricia SmithMr. & Mrs. Michael TomaskoValere S. VoorheesMarie D. Walsh

Supporters

Mary & Minkailu JallohSally A. JohnsonSheila KnightsPeggy KraftJudith E. Kufert-ShapiroMrs. William KustasPete & Jean LeRoseSteven & Cecile LindstedtElaine LipschutzMatricia MadoryMrs. Joan MageeCora Mallory-DavisMrs. Eleanor K. MarrRoy & Hilda MerolliLinda MerrellMr. William MillerF. Kennon & Mary L. MoodyAlice & George OlewnickMarion J. PaskeyCary Phillips-AuerbachMs. Barbara J. PostNazarey B. PrabhakaraDon RainMrs. Esther F. ReismanBarbara & Elton RenfroeAndrew & Kari RieserKen & MaryAnn SambellsAndrew & Carol SchmidtMr. Thomas R. Shaker, Jr.Sisselman FamilyLena T. SmolonStan & Eileen SteinbergJoseph TockarshewskyJoanne TuthillMr. Harold E. VeederLeonard & Ellen ViggianoKathleen L. Wong

Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities.R. David Lankes, Director of the Library and Information Science Program at Syracuse University

November Star Wars event

Twenty-fifteen was a very productive and fulfilling year for our Poughkeepsie Public Library District. PPLD continues to provide an outstanding service to the families of the city and town of Poughkeepsie and the surrounding area. It is more than a book resource… it offers Toddler Times, Brain Games, knitting groups, even Toot and Scoot!!

One of the outstanding accomplishments of 2015 was the addition of the new Boardman Road branch in an attractive and warm environment. The library opened on April 12 with city and town representatives attending. The popularity of the new branch has continued throughout the year.

In the summer of 2015 the Library District offered “Blind Date with a Book” for the third summer, with 55 respondents. In addition, the November election brought another successful Library District budget vote! The year ended with a very successful Poughkeepsie Read. This included six weeks of programs around the title of The Grapes of Wrath, successfully coordinated by Jewel Ratzlaff.

In December, the District signed a contract with Mid-Hudson Interpreter Service to provide American Sign Language interpretation at events where there is a need for such service. This service was activated in January 2016. Plus, we now offer Bilingual Story Times!

A very special thank you to the Friends of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District volunteers and George Mann, President. On October 20, they opened a beautiful new Book Store in the south side of the Boardman Road Branch Library. State Senator Sue

Serino attended the opening ceremony and was so impressed she returned in November to visit the rest of the library!

Finally, a warm and heartfelt note of appreciation to all the staff at the Library District for all they offer. And a long, happy, well-deserved retirement to Lauren Muffs, Assistant Director for Public Services.

Margaret M. Prescott, 2016 President, Board of Trustees

2015 Financials

Representing the City of Poughkeepsie: Lila LynchEdna LyonsJoan Nicholls, Secretary Fred Timm

Representing the Town of Poughkeepsie:Grace CalellaAnne Constantinople, PresidentSondra FarganisTom McGlinchey, Treasurer Margaret PrescottMiriam Zimet-AaronMary E. Moore, Vice President

Tom Lawrence, Library Director

2015 Board of Trustees

Memorial and Honor Gifts

Message from the Board President

Adriance HonorsHonoring:Suzanne ChristensenStephen SalandNorman Greene (not shown)

In Memory of Jacques Cohen Anonymous In Memory of James de Guire Laurel de Guire

In Memory of Dolores Haight Alan & Julie Cole Matthew Kurdziel & Barbara Roberts-Kurdziel Jennifer Cavanagh Arlington Teacher’s Association Linda A. Milone

In Memory of Sylvia Kurkhill Catherine A. Newman In Memory of Bob LominskiAnonymous In Memory of Liz Moesel Ann Pinna In Memory of Louis Pelky June & Clifford Danielson James W. McCarthy Mrs. Jean G. Burns Amdursky, Pelky, Fennell, Wallen Law Sharon O. Deck In Memory of Diane Pozar Pete & Jean LeRose

In Memory of Mildred Hecht Siegel Ellen Heller In Memory of James Y. Tung Shirley Tung In Memory of Bruce Wally Joan Nicholls In Memory of Mildred & Joseph Weiner Scott Weiner In Honor of Adrienne McCalley Kent and Fredrika Groff

Revenue Real Property Taxes and PILOT $6,439,473PILOT Payments 119,469Library Charges 7 3 , 331 Interest and Earnings 7 , 579 Grants 41,456State Aid 273,773Gifts & Donations 127,049 Miscellaneous 49,225Interfund Transfers 70,098 Use of Fund Balance 139,397

Total Revenue $7,340,850

Expenditures Salaries & Wages $3,007,044 Employee Benefits 1,331,981Library Materials & Information Services 586,308Equipment 37,136 Circulation & OPAC Management Fees 47,178 Operations 917,218 Debt Service 1,413,985

Total Expenditures $7,340,850

2015 by the NumbersTotal visitors: 347,558

Items Loaned: 359,272

Reference Questions: 15,290

Public Computer Log-Ins: 133,938

ProgramsThe two libraries offered 2739 public programs during the year.Adult: 1420

Teen: 167

Tween: 69

Elementary: 223

Early Childhood: 407

Non-library programs: 453

Total program attendance: 39,565

Community Day