It's Summertime Volunteer,

Let’s Build Kingston’s First Mobile Little Free Library!

We have the funding match. Now we need you.

The Friends of Kingston Library are on a mission to bring books where the people are. With a generous gift from the Rotary Club of Kingston and a matching donation from the Friends- we are creating a Mobile Little Free Library (LFL) that will travel to community events, block parties, parks, and gatherings all across the city.

We need help building it.

This Mobile Little Free Library must be:

• Easy to take apart and fit into the trunk of a car
• Built on locking wheels for safe transport
• Light enough for older adults to move easily
• Designed to hold books of all shapes and sizes
• Outfitted with space for the logos of every organization that contributes

This is not a bike or a wagon. We’re looking for a custom-built, wheeled structure that can be pushed or pulled by hand. It must be strong, mobile, and easy to store.

We are looking for fabricators, builders, handy creatives, or community members who know someone who can take this contracted service on. If you have skills to offer or ideas to share, we want to hear from you.

You can also support this project with a financial gift. Every dollar raised ensures this mobile library gets into the hands of our neighbors and makes books more accessible across Kingston. This will be a resource the entire city can benefit from- for years to come.

Contact the Friends of Kingston Library at FoKL@friendsofkingstonlibrary.org to help make this happen. If you recommended fabricators or can take on this contracted service, please reach out!

Donations can also be made by sending a check to our temporary address: Attn: FoKL- LFL

61 Crown St

Kingston, NY 12401

Let’s bring books to every corner of Kingston. Let’s build this together.

Collaborative Opportunity:

The volunteers of the Friends of Kingston Library are always looking for event or messaging collaborations. Does your organization or 501c3 looking for collaborative opportunities or connections that benefit the City of Kingston? If so, we'd love the opportunity to collaborate! Please email us DIRECTLY to coordinate collaborations with our FoKL Executive Committee.

Personal Kingston Library Stories:

Denise Harnly, Volunteer Friends of Kingston Library

Three summers ago, my husband and I drove across the country to settle in Kingston, NY. For thirty-five years, we had lived in Seattle; however, the lure of proximity to our children and grandchildren brought us “back east”.

Two days after arriving, we biked over to Franklin Street to sign up for our Kingston Library cards. This was the beginning of our wonderful Kingston Library story.  We soon discovered the depth and efficiency of the Mid-Hudson Library System. Hard-to-get or new books that I requested would come within a few days, much faster than in Seattle.

After unpacking the many boxes, we began attending the various talks and author readings at Kingston Library. As newcomers to Kingston, it was great to get a sense of the community and go to free events.

At the end of the summer, we attended our first Kingston Library book sale, provided by the Friends of Kingston Library. We were thrilled to find treasures and once again filled our shelves with great books. We found marvelous local histories, fabulous cookbooks, and novels by favorite authors. We were rebuilding our book collection and helping the library.

Throughout the year, I would bring our grandson to the library’s children’s room, where he would select stacks of books on trains, trucks, and planets, depending on the “ interest of the month.”  Now, as a first grader, he reads voraciously, frequently choosing Dog Man or Big Nate books. 



Because of my deep appreciation of what the Kingston library meant to me, I decided to join the Friends of Kingston Library. This amazing small group of volunteers provides support for the library in a myriad of ways. The Friends raise money to support library programs, host staff appreciation events, and supplement the budget to provide more books, CDs, DVDs for everyone. The library is a community hub, and the Friends of the Library are always working to enhance the library.

In less than a year, the newly restored library will reopen on Franklin Street. And more than ever, Kingston Library will be our favorite place to go in Kingston. 

We continue to collect patron experiences of the Kingston Library. It's such a personal relationship, and we want to celebrate it, with your help. Please send us an (up to) 300-word story on why you love your library, or an experience you had at the Kingston Library, and we'll feature as many as we can in our online edition! Libraries are meant to be shared, and so are your stories. Email your stories to fokl@friendsofkingstonlibrary.org Attn: My Story about Kingston Library.

The Friends support Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. screening at Kingston Library

The Friends of the Kingston Library is proud to support the library’s Movies With Spirit screening of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. from 7–10 p.m. Saturday, July 19, in the Community Room.

The evening includes the film, light refreshments and a lively, book club-style discussion.

Beat the July heat and enjoy a thoughtful night out in good company. All are welcome — whether you’ve read Judy Blume’s beloved young-adult novel or not! Expect a friendly, welcoming space where people come together to reflect, laugh and connect.

The film follows 11-year-old Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson) as she navigates the highs and lows of adolescence — from friendships and first crushes to bras and the anticipation of her first period. Raised with no religious affiliation due to her parents’ interfaith marriage, Margaret also sets out on a personal journey to explore questions of faith and identity.

Praised for its warmth and honesty, the film has won 27 critic and festival awards and been praised for its heartfelt storytelling and deep emotional resonance:

·       “A revolutionary coming-of-age tale.” — Fred Topel, United Press International

·       “A cinematic blessing.” — Odie Henderson, The Boston Globe

·       “As lovely, heartfelt and, indeed, deeply radical as the original text.” — Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service

Rated PG–13.

Attendees over age 12 are asked to contribute $10 per person.

For more information, contact organizer Gerry Harrington at 845-389-9201 or gerryharrington@mindspring.com. More details are also available on the new Movies With Spirit Facebook page: tinyurl.com/MoviesWithSpiritFacebookPage.

NYCLU Cheers State Legislature Passage of Freedom To Read Act

NEW YORK, NY – In response to the surge of book bans across New York State, today the New York State Senate passed the Freedom to Read Act, a bill that gives school library staff the authority to curate diverse, inclusive, and developmentally-appropriate book selections that respect students’ rights to learn free from viewpoint discrimination. 

The New York Civil Liberties Union heavily advocated for the Freedom to Read Act, and in response to today’s passage, released the following statement, attributable to Emma Hulse, Education Counsel:

“As extremist book bans surge nationwide, the New York State Legislature took a powerful stand to protect students’ right to read. By legally requiring school districts to maintain diverse and inclusive library collections, the Freedom to Read Act sends a clear message that students’ right to learn free from censorship or viewpoint discrimination is not up for debate. 

“New York is not immune to this growing crisis. Across the state, we’ve seen efforts to ban books about race, gender equality, and LGBTQ rights — books by Black authors discarded, library orders canceled over content about racism and slavery, and read-alouds featuring LGBTQIA+ characters shut down. These actions threaten students’ rights — and erode the foundations of public education.

Finish reading the article on the New York Civil Liberties Union website by clicking here.

One month and change later, the legal battle for Copyright Office control is still in full swing. Now, a preliminary injunction push from fired Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter is taking center stage.

This injunction would enable Perlmutter to “resume her work as Register of Copyrights” and prevent the Trump administration “from encumbering her efforts to perform her duties,” per the text.

As many are already aware, the administration has from the outset defended Perlmutter’s removal (besides the appointment of an acting replacement) as entirely above board. And the clear-cut position is front and center in a newly submitted filing opposing an injunction.

Volunteers and library staff from every corner of New York State converged on Albany February 5th for Advocacy Day: in specific support of our community libraries, the resources we provide and the need for maintaining legislative priorities and funding.

Read the complete MSN article HERE.

Sign the Authors Guild Petition to Reinstate Shira Perlmutter as Register of Copyrights by CLICKING HERE!

The Self-Sufficiency Garden: Feed Your Family and Save Money, by Huw Richards and Sam Cooper

Submitted by Kathryn, Friend of the Kingston Library

Do you have a goal to grow more food for yourself and spend less on groceries? The Self-Sufficiency Garden walks you through a plan to get there with a small garden plot and a few hours a week of work. As a self-taught gardener turned farmer and educator, I've read my fair share of gardening books. I was first introduced to Sam Cooper with his book Kitchen Fermentation and was excited to get a more detailed look into how he integrates his garden and kitchen projects. 

With beautiful pictures of their garden in Wales, the book outlines a monthly plan and  how-tos from sowing seeds to harvesting and preserving. It includes guides for creating "hot beds", compost and other amendments, and season extension methods to garden all winter. For the beginners, it walks through building a garden and utilizing vertical space to get the most of your beds. While some of the information will differ for our region it is overall a fantastic resource for year round food production. Chef Sam provides a pragmatic guide to using your harvest in the kitchen with a flavor chart and versatile ways to use fresh vegetables and herbs in recipes like curries, focaccia, one-pot dishes, ferments and drinks. This book can help organize your plans to grow more, waste less and enjoy your garden bounty.

We need YOU to Volunteer with the Friends?

The Friends of Kingston Library is in need of volunteers who can help support our mission to support the Kingston Library and the community it serves.

We are in need of key volunteers who can assist with event planning, outreach and promotion as well as general administrative tasks- especially social media and our quarterly newsletter:

• Represent FoKL at local community group meetings
• Participate in community efforts and events
• Recruiting Supporters and Friends
• Grant, sponsorship and major donor development.
• Data entry and data management.

What skills can you contribute to FoKL?



Our volunteers average 2-3 hours a month in supporting the FoKL and the Kingston Library: our monthly meeting, committee efforts and individual efforts on behalf on the Friends.

We are 100% volunteer driven, so we all know how hard it is to carve time from work, friends and hobbies. By just giving an hour or two a month, you can make a HUGE difference in how FoKL can impact the City of Kingston and the library community we are dedicated to serve.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The monthly Friends of Kingston Library is scheduled for the SECOND TUESDAY of the month from 6-7pm. So Tuesday, August 12th.

Can't attend in person? Here is the ZOOM option. It's the SAME every month:

Friends of Kingston Library

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85020236289 

Meeting ID: 850 2023 6289

Passcode: 515727

FoKL volunteers are happy to present to community groups and businesses our message and mission in an effort to explore collaborative opportunities and underwriting opportunities for Kingston Library and FoKL events and efforts!

Peoples Place:

Farm Stand: This seasonal program which runs until the end of October offers free fresh produce from local Hudson Valley Farms. It begins every Tuesday at approximately 8:30am and goes until 10:30am or until produce runs out, whichever comes first. No ID is required for this program. Please bring your own bags. 

Radio Kingston:

Radio Kingston’s Community BBQs are Back!

Fridays from 12–2pm at the Radio Kingston Park.



Join Radio Kingston’s bi-monthly Community Lunches; a summertime tradition filled with delicious food, great music, and even better conversation. Come spend your lunch hour in the sunshine with neighbors, friends, and local organizations from around the city as we build community one meal at a time.

Save the dates:

Thursday, July 3rd

Friday, July 18th

Friday, August 1st

Friday, August 15th

Friday, August 29th

MHLS Library Road Trip- through October 18th

Visit the Mid-Hudson Library System Member Libraries & Earn Souvenirs!

Did you know the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) is home to 66 unique libraries? That’s 70 main & branch library locations for you and your family to explore throughout Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, and Ulster counties.

Between June 6th and October 18th, we invite you to visit as many MHLS Member Library locations as you can – learn about the different programs and services each library offers to its community and earn souvenirs along the way!

Click here for more information!

Kingston NY Rotary

Kingston Uptown Business Association (KUBA)

Click image Above for more info!

THANK YOU to the volunteers who compiled the information in this newsletter: Susan R., Erica F., Heather A., Denise H., Kathryn B.

and Heather O.

FoKL: Friends of Kingston Library

Temporary Address: 61 Crown St Kingston, NY 12401

FOLLOW US:

Your membership at any level ensures the mission of the Friends of the Kingston Library (FoKL) to “generate support for Library programs, to increase community awareness of the library, to encourage greater use of the library and its resources and to join with other Library advocacy groups for Library support in this region.”

As a member of the Kingston Library Friends Group, you directly impact our efforts and the positive benefits to our community. Your additional support by becoming involved with the Used Book Sale, fundraising projects, special events, helping with administrative efforts will aid in making sure we run smoothly. Our mission is possible only with the support of our community and dedicated contributors like you.

You make all the difference in making sure Kingston Library is so much more than books!

Make sure you complete the Membership Form application!

Perhaps your organization wants to underwrite or collaborate? Respond to this email!

CURRENT OFFICERS:

The Friends of the Kingston Library is an organization dedicated to improving library services in Kingston. Members of the Friends also promote public use of the Kingston Library and appreciation of its value as a cultural and educational asset to the community.

THANKS FOR FORWARDING THIS EMAIL TO A NEIGHBOR!