Fine-Free Access Model

Hosts community blood drives in collaboration with the American Red Cross and provides space and logistical support for public engagement events, serving as a multi-use community and cultural center.

Conducts regular board meetings, maintains comprehensive operational policies and forms for public access, employs a Library Director, and publishes annual and periodic reports to the community on finances, programs, and services. Developed and implemented a strategic plan for 2022–2025 to guide organizational direction.

Provides free library services to the general public in Claverack, New York, including access to a modern, fully accessible 11,000-square-foot facility with dedicated spaces for children, teens, local history, and community use. The library maintains a collection of books and resources and offers handicapped-accessible facilities, public computers, printing, photocopying, faxing, and 24/7 free public WiFi.

Offers regular in-person and virtual programs tailored for youth, teens, and adult patrons, including educational, cultural, and recreational activities such as line dancing classes, fiber arts gatherings, and presentations on Indigenous cultures using authentic artifacts.

Operates with a 2026 operating budget of $284,470, supported by public funding from the Town of Claverack ($111,000), Columbia County, the State of New York, and the Town of Taghkanic, with $162,964 covered by non-public funding sources. Previously raised $2.8 million through a capital campaign to fund construction of the new library facility, opening debt-free.

Provides access to digital books, audiobooks, magazines, language-learning platforms (Mango Languages), genealogical databases (HeritageQuest Online), and animated educational content (TumbleBook Library). Participates in shared OverDrive collections via Libby and enables access to New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library digital resources through eCards.

Hosts monthly book club meetings for adults, offers chair yoga and T'ai Chi classes, provides Mah Jongg instruction and informal play sessions, and leads a coworking club for community members.

Hosts rotating art exhibitions featuring local artists, typically lasting two months, and displays artwork from youth participants in the Summer Reading Logo Contest and school-based projects such as student self-portraits focused on global issues.

Provides book bundles containing 5 to 10 items on specific topics, including books, audiobooks, DVDs, and CDs, based on patron requests, with processing completed within 2–3 days.

Hosts weekly Story Time sessions for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers featuring books, music, movement, and hands-on creativity; maintains online story time resources and offers Story Time Kits for home use. Also hosts interactive storytelling programs centered on themes like dinosaurs.

Maintains and lends board games, card games, puzzles, STEAM kits, “Stay Sharp” cognitive challenge kits, and museum pass kits containing admission passes and related books.

Provides free access to meeting rooms for educational, civic, cultural, and artistic organizations serving the community.

Provides inter-library loan services through the Finger Lakes Library System, enabling patrons to request materials from other member libraries.

Hosts interactive musical programs for children that include ukulele instruction and song creation.

Lends books, audiobooks, DVDs, Blu-Rays, video games, and museum and park passes for specified periods with automatic renewals if no holds are placed. Allows up to 50 books, 5 audiobooks, 5 DVDs, 2 video games, and 5 new books per account. Implements a fine-free policy for overdue materials.

Provides access to four public computer stations with high-speed internet and Microsoft Office software, free Wi-Fi during operating hours (including in the parking lot), mobile WiFi hotspots for checkout, and free printing, scanning, faxing, and copying up to daily limits, with fee waivers for job seekers.

Hosts an annual summer reading program featuring science experiments, live animals, hands-on art, music, and performances for all ages, with reading tracking, weekly prizes, and an end-of-summer raffle.

Provides leadership and management for library operations, supports library services through operational and public assistance functions, and maintains compliance with state educational standards through a charter from the Regents of the State University of New York. The library is governed by a board that holds regular monthly meetings.