By DIANE VALDEN
ANCRAM—A hike in usage, especially of digital resources, was among the details relayed in a 2024 report about the Roe Jan Community Library heard at the March 20 Ancram Town Board meeting.
The question is: Will these popular library resources continue to be available in light of federal funding cuts?
Town Councilmember Colleen Lutz, who serves as the library Board of Trustees secretary, hit the highlights about patron usage, programming, funding and spending last year in a report on the Roe Jan Community Library (RJCL).
The report was one of several on varying subjects heard that evening.
The Roeliff Jansen Community Library at 9091 State Route 22 in Copake, is a member of the Mid-Hudson Library System chartered to serve the towns of Ancram, Copake and Hillsdale.
The library is chartered to serve a population of 6,617, a number that does not include thousands of residents whose Census residence is elsewhere, according to the RJCL website (www.roejanlibrary.org).
In 2024, the library developed a new five-year strategic plan for the library’s future.
Ms. Lutz noted that much has changed in the way people use the library since 2019, when the last plan was developed. Noting a “huge increase” in digital usage, she pointed out, in
2019, 14% of the library’s circulation was in digital resources and 1,250 residents used a library account; five years later in 2024, 40% of the circulation was in digital resources and 1,600 residents used a library account.
She reported that the library has seen a 256% increase in the use of eBooks, audiobooks and videos which are accessed using the services Hoopla, Kanopy, NovelNY, NewsBank and Libby—all made available through the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS).
According to the report, last year, there were a total of 218 adult program sessions, 102 teen and children program sessions, 5 general/family program sessions and 40 one-on-one program sessions (tutoring).
Funded through various sources, the library’s 2024 operating budget expenses were $441,952; the library’s income for 2024 was $481,768.
A breakdown of revenue sources includes: Town tax contributions (Ancram, Copake, Hillsdale)=29%; Grants= 13%; Business Partnerships=2%; Fundraising events and contributions=44%; State and County Tax=4%; The Friends’ contributions=3% and Miscellaneous Income=5%.
Compared to other libraries, the RJCL receives (a three-year average) per capita (per person), just $20.10 in public funds, while other Columbia County libraries receive an average of $35.73 per capita and other MHLS libraries receive an average of $56.56 per capita. The RJCL receives far less per capita than other libraries.
Referring to a recent email which is a “call to action,” Councilmember Lutz said the services that small rural libraries, like those in the Mid Hudson Library System provide, will be impacted by the current administration’s efforts to cut the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and funding for the state Division of Library Development, a division that works directly with library systems, such as MHLS, to provide statewide and regional services for local libraries like RJCL.
MHLS helps provide eResources and technology support for the RJCL library at a shared cost. Without funding and their support, it might not be feasible to provide these services to this community.
The email sent out over the Ancram email system says, “The 2018 Museum and Library Services Act makes it clear that IMLS is statutorily required (by Sec 9133 of the law) to send federal funding to state libraries under the Grants to States program (under Sec. 9141 of the law).
“Libraries across New York State depend on state funding to maintain their operations. That funding in turn derives from the Grants to States program of the Museum and Library Services Act. Eliminating this funding would have a negative and, in some cases, devastating impact on libraries in New York State. Rural libraries, like the Roeliff Jansen Community Library, will be among the hardest hit…The library provides free and equitable access to books, digital tools, and innovative programming so that individuals—regardless of background—have the support they need to learn, connect, and thrive. It is a gem of an institution and the only place people can go where they are not expected to buy anything, because library services are always free.”
The email calls on citizens to contact their NY Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressional Representative Josh Riley (D-19th), State Senator Michelle Hinchey (D-41st), and NY State Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-106th) and ask that they defend IMLS’s Section 9141 guarantees to state libraries.
Ms. Lutz asked that the board pass a resolution in support of the library at the meeting. Everyone agreed.
Resolution #19 of 2025 in part urges the U.S. Congress, including Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Riley, “to take immediate action to protect the funding guarantees under Section 9141 of the Museum and Library Services Act” and “calls upon New York State leadership to prioritize state-level funding for the Division of Library Development to mitigate potential federal funding losses.”
The Town of Hillsdale has already passed the resolution and the Town of Copake will be asked to do the same.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com
