Three towns call for Roe Jan library support amid federal cuts

COPAKE — Three towns served by the Roeliff Jansen Community Library have signed a joint resolution calling for support for the library following funding withdrawal by the Trump administration of the Institute of Museum and Library Service.

The resolutions urge the U.S. Congress, including Sens. Charles Schumer, D-NY, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY,and Reps. Michael Lawler, R-17, Patrick Ryan, D-18, and Josh Riley, D-19, to take immediate action to protect the funding guarantees of the Museum and Library Services Act. The act established the IMLS.

The IMLS is an independent agency that supports libraries in all 50 states. Last month, the staff of the agency, which is a major source of funding for libraries and museums, was placed on administrative leave following an executive order by President Trump, who ordered that the agency should be eliminated “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”

The agency’s largest program distributes funding to library agencies in states.

Copake, Hillsdale and Ancram are the three towns that the library is chartered to serve.

The IMLS “... plays a critical role in supporting public libraries through its Grants to States program, which provides necessary funding to state library agencies, including the New York State Division of Library Development,”the resolution states.

The resolution also states that the loss of IMLS funding “could have a ripple effect, disrupting critical services, delaying state aid for libraries, and severely impacting the Mid-Hudson Library System.”

That system supports not only the Roe Jan Library, but dozens of libraries in the Hudson Valley, including the NorthEast-Millerton Library in Millerton, the Amenia Free Library in Amenia, the Millbrook Library in Millbrook and the Pine Plains Free Library in Pine Plains.

The system receives 78% of its operating revenues from the state.

In its resolution the three towns recognized “the indispensable role of the Roe Jan Library in fostering literacy, providing access to technology, supporting workforce development, and strengthening community engagement.”

At its April 9 meeting, Columbia County passed a resolution supporting all county libraries.

Tammy Gaskell, director of the Roeliff Jansen Library, said in a statement: “While the Roe Jan Library does not receive direct funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, we are very dependent upon IMLS funding indirectly. In New York State, IMLS funds support the State Library’s Division of Library Development (DLD), which is funded entirely by IMLS’s Grants to States program.

“The DLD works in partnership with library systems such as our Mid-Hudson Library System to develop services that meet regional and local needs. These services are especially critical to smaller, rural libraries such as ours, which would not otherwise be able to afford the technology support, e-resources, and more that we currently provide.”

“None of the 66 libraries in the Mid-Hudson Library System could do a fraction of what we currently do without MHLS support,” Gaskell wrote.

Latest News

Warriors host Bombers at Amenia's Beekman Park

Warriors left-fielder James Singleton, no. 4, made it to base on all four at-bats he had Tuesday at Beekman Park.

Photo by Nathan Miller

AMENIA — The Pine Plains boys baseball team travelled to Beekman Park in Amenia to face off against the Webutuck Warriors.

The game ended with a Pine Plains win of 13-7.

Keep ReadingShow less
Check-in at Bulk Trash Day
Photo by John Coston

Mickey Stringer of of North East, left, checks in with Chris Virtuoso, volunteering on Saturday, May 12 at the Old Town Garage on South Center Street as a Climate Smart Task Force member. Stringer’s loaded pickup was part of a long line of vehicles along South Center as residents used the opportunity to dispose of air conditioners, mattresses, lumber, and other bulk items. Town Supervisor Christopher Kennan said he didn’t recall seeing such a long line of vehicles in past years.

Millbrook airs school budget, propositions ahead of  May 20 vote

Elm Drive Elementary School in Millbrook.

Archive photo

MILLBROOK — Preparing for the village-wide vote on the proposed 2025-26 school budget scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, the Millbrook Central School District held a public hearing on Tuesday, May 6, to review the budget and hear residents’ comments.

The CSD proposed 2025-26 budget to be voted upon as Proposition 1, showed total expenditures of $35,649,651, an increase of $1,074,576 (3.11%) over the current year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millerton Zoning Board of Appeals hears new variance request for 7-9 Main Street

Ray Nelson, Earthwise Architecture, requested two variances for 7-9 Main St., one to allow a 9-unit floorplan and another to waive the parking requirements for the building, at a public hearing held by the village Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday, May 6.

Photo by John Coston

MILLERTON — Ray Nelson of Millerton presented two possible updated floorplans for the apartment building at 7-9 Main St. to the Zoning Board of Appeals at a public hearing on Tuesday, May 6.

Nelson, on behalf of the building’s owner, is seeking two variances for the property: one allowing a density increase and another waiving the parking requirements for the property.

Keep ReadingShow less