LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Ramapo
Catskill Library System

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across the great State
of New York are reflective of certain exemplary institutions whose
purpose is dedicated to serving the community and the needs of its citi-
zenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 50th Anniversary of Ramapo Catskill Library System on Sunday,
October 25, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The Ramapo Catskill Library System (RCLS) is a non-profit,
cooperative public library system chartered in 1959 by the New York
State Board of Regents; RCLS works cooperatively with its member
libraries, provides coordinated services, guidance, training, support
and leadership to member library trustees and staff to sustain their
effort to be responsive, proactive, vital community institutions that
meet the changing needs of their users in Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and
southern Ulster counties; working in cooperation with member libraries,
RCLS helps to raise awareness about library services and works to elimi-
nate barriers to library access and use; and
WHEREAS, The RCLS serves 47 chartered public libraries in urban,
suburban and rural settings encompassing a total of 2,467 square miles
with a population of 739,977 (2000 US Census); each library has its own
Board of Trustees and Director and its headquarters is located in
Middletown; and
WHEREAS, RCLS is a member of the Southeastern New York Library
Resources Council (SENYLRC), which is a state funded, multi-type library
cooperative that offers multi-county interloan; it is also affiliated
with the New York State Association of Library Boards (NYSALB), the New
York Library Association (NYLA), and the American Library Association
(ALA); and
WHEREAS, Steeped in a proud and distinguished history, RCLS may take
just pride in its purposeful growth, as it looks forward to continuing
to serve the educational, cultural and intellectual needs of the commu-
nity; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Ramapo Catskill Library System; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Ramapo Catskill Library System.