LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Castleton Public Library upon the
occasion of celebrating its 100th Anniversary on March 7, 2009

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 is 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 commend
the Castleton Public Library upon the occasion of its 100th Anniversary
to be celebrated at an Open House on Saturday, March 7, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The Castleton Public Library was opened in 1906, in a small
building behind the McKnight Firehouse on First Street; early supporters
of the library included children's book illustrators Dorothy Lathrop and
Mrs. Samuel Cheney; and
WHEREAS, The Castleton Library Association was formed in January of
1908, with Arthur C. Cheney as its President; the library was granted a
charter by New York to serve the residents of the village of Castleton
on April 1, 1909; for nearly two decades, the town of Schodack
contracted with the library to provide services to its residents as
well; and
WHEREAS, The library moved to its current location at 85 South Main
Street in 1927; at that time the library shared the site with the
Castleton Village and Schodack town offices, occupying the southern
rooms to the right of the main hallway; in 1969, the town of Schodack
offices moved, and today, the library fills the entire right half of the
building; and
WHEREAS, In the mid 1970s the Castleton Public Library joined the
Upper Hudson Library Federation; this significantly broadened patron
choice by providing access to the interlibrary loan system, a gateway to
thousands of additional books and media in other participating
libraries; and
WHEREAS, In 1977, Claire Goodlow and Alice Walsh began cataloging the
library's contents; volunteers, Sharon Bamberger, Barbara Gershman, Jean
Hutchings and Nancy Wasson have also helped with this incredible task
throughout the years; and
WHEREAS, Since 1999, Darlene Miller has served as the library's
esteemed director; a former preschool teacher, she has worked tirelessly
to expand the children's programming and community outreach offered by
the facility; she leads regular toddler and preschool story hours,
organizes teen game nights, book discussion groups, family movie night,
informational meetings on a variety of topics and has forged a close and
cooperative relationship with the schools and civic organizations in the
area; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Darlene Miller has been instrumental in bringing
the highly successful New York State Summer Reading program to the
library annually; and
WHEREAS, The Castleton Public Library has been awarded recognition
from the Upper Hudson Library System, New York Library Association and
nationally by LIBRARY JOURNAL who named it runner up "Best Small Library
in America" 2008; and
WHEREAS, Such success enjoyed by the Castleton Public Library is in
direct correlation to the efforts of the many individuals who have
supported the development of the library over the years, including the
Friends of the Library organization as well as a diverse group of volun-
teers; and

WHEREAS, Equally commendable is the Castleton Public Library's super-
bly-skilled staff, whose involvement is and has always been character-
ized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncom-
promising standard of excellence in all of their efforts on behalf of
the library and the population it serves; and
WHEREAS, Steeped in a proud and distinguished history, the Castleton
Public Library may take just pride in its purposeful growth, as it looks
forward to continuing to serve the educational, cultural and intellectu-
al needs of the community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Castleton Public Library upon the occasion of celebrating
its 100th Anniversary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Darlene Miller, Director, Castleton Public Library.