Roxbury Library Association

We still have so many beautiful items at the Holiday Bazaar, and now you’ll find 50% off all jewelry originally priced $25 and under! Stop in during library hours to browse - many pieces are worth far more than they are priced, so half-price is a terrific bargain.  Your Christmas shopping was never so easy and affordable!

AND, most importantly, you’ll be helping the Roxbury Library meet our operating expenses.  Everybody wins!

The Roxbury Library will be closed on the following dates:

Saturday, December 23 and Monday, December 25:  Closed in observance of Christmas

Saturday, December 30 and January 1, 2024:  Closed in observance of New Year’s

Monday, January 15, 2024: Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

The Roxbury Library staff, volunteers, and Board members recently attended a meeting of the Roxbury Town Board and made the following presentation:

The support of the Town Board is vital to the day to day operations of the Library, and we could not function without these funds.  We are here tonight with our volunteers, staff, and Library Board members to ask that the  Town contribution to the Library be increased from the proposed $20,000, which would represent $8.90 per capita annually.  While we deeply appreciate the contribution, our operating costs have increased along with the cost of living.  The Town’s previous contribution has been $17,500 since 2019 with total tax income per capita chartered to serve at $7.79: at this rate, we rank #37 of the 42 libraries within the Four County Library System in terms of local government contribution.

The Roxbury Library is unusual in what we offer to our community at large.  In addition to the usual library services we offer free WiFi, four patron computers, printers and copiers including a wireless option, and a fax.  Many local residents who don’t have WiFi at home use ours for free and a large number of people come in to print various papers:  return shipping labels, DMV and DSS paperwork, etc.  We have a Notary Public on staff, services free of charge.  We now have a lighted front outdoor area for WiFi users as well, creating a safer space after dark.  We are the only source of public computers, printing, and WiFi in town.

During COVID we were open for abbreviated hours as well as for curb-side service, which we still offer.  This was extremely important during the pandemic:  when so many businesses in town were closed - we were available.  We’ve since reopened with expanded hours including an early start on weekdays of 8:30 which has been convenient for many of our patrons.  We’ve hosted Tuesday Forums throughout the year, a Summer Reading program in conjunction with RCS, a Saturday presentation for First Time Home Buyers, a Breast Cancer Survivors Support Group, school groups, a new Toddler reading group, a non-fiction reading group, and a poetry group is being organized by Writers in the Mountains.  We are also the major collection point for the local food pantry donations.

There are four major sources of income besides the Town contribution for the Library, including the Thrift Shoppe, Silent Auction, Holiday Bazaar, and the Annual Appeal letter is sent to all postal customers in the RCS district of Roxbury, Grand Gorge, Denver, Vega, and Halcottsville.  We watch every penny spent, and we are careful stewards of funds.

The Thrift Shoppe income is a crucial part of our financial picture and during 2022 provided approximately 25% of our total income.  The Thrift provides an invaluable service to the Roxbury community by offering low-priced quality items to all and also donating clothing to families in need and to school children at RCS.

We’ve recently been awarded two grants - one primarily to update a dangerous electrical situation and the latest one will provide us with six new computers.  But, without additional assistance for operating expenses:  heating oil, utilities, salaries, snow plowing, etc., new technology and safer electrics will not keep our doors open.

The Roxbury Library is the hub of our community: it’s the one place where all can gather - long term residents, new residents, visitors, and those passing through.  Thank you so much for your support.

As you drive by the Roxbury Library between dusk and dawn, you’ll see our Library looking friendly and light!  The Library offers free WiFi, so users after hours will now have a lighted, safer outdoor area to use.  In addition to the outside lighting, we were also able to update our interior electrical outlets as well as new fan/lights in our rest rooms.

Earlier this year, we were also able to purchase a wireless copier, allowing our patrons to print directly from cell phones or tablets.  We are the only source for this service in Roxbury, so offering the ability to print was very important to residents as well as visitors.

All this work was made possible by a grant from the Community Fund for South Central New York.  Our sincere thanks to all at the Community Fund, as well as a big thank you to Jeff Haynes of Haynes Electric.

Come one, come all to the 2023 Roxbury Library Holiday Bazaar!  This year’s Bazaar will be up and ready for you on Saturday, November 4 at 10:00am.  The Bazaar will run through December 7, and includes lovely better jewelry, decorative items, many new gift items, and a large selection of Vera Bradley purses and wallets.  Holiday decorations only will be set out beginning Wednesday, November 1.

Stop in and do your holiday shopping early!  All proceeds will go to the Library to offset our increasing operating expenses.  Thank you so much for your ongoing support!

Stop in during Library hours to browse through our collection.  We’re including some of the newest titles!

Our first Toddler Time with Ellen and Maggie was a fun morning with some sweet little folks and their grammies.  Ellen read a story, gave them a little craft to do, and all enjoyed a snack.

Next Toddler Time will be Friday, December 29, at 11:00am.  Mark your calendars for this special time with your toddler!

A few updates and reminders to our Library schedule:

Wednesday, October 18:  Breast Cancer Survivor’s Support Group 5:00pm:  all are welcome to attend.

Saturday, October 28:  Toddler Time! 11:00am with Ellen, Lacey and Maggie

Saturday, November 4:  10:00am, Holiday Bazaar begins!  We have more items than ever this year!

Saturday, November 11:  OPEN!!  10:00am - 2:00pm

Wednesday, November 22 and Thursday, November 23:  CLOSED for Thanksgiving Holiday

Saturday, December 2:  Drawing for Quilt!  Tickets still available:  $1 each or 6 for $5.00

It’s Toddler Time at the Roxbury Library!

Join Ellen, Lacey, and Maggie on Saturday, October 28 at 11:00am for a story, a little craft and a snack.

Call the Library at 607-326-7901 for more information.

The Breast Cancer Survivor’s Group will meet Wednesday, September 20, in the Roxbury Library.  We will begin at 5:00pm.  Call Ellen at 607-326-4340 for more information.  Please stop in for good and caring conversation.   We welcome all to this group.