Catching Up

Library friends and supporters: I am back from vacation and catching up on my mail and email, which provides the bulk of information in today's post.

• Congratulations to the Friends of the Poughkeepsie Public Library district.  They pledged $250,000 over five years in support of Adriance's capital campaign, and have already donated $150,000 of the pledge.  In 2008, principally with its annual book sale, the Poughkeepsie Friends raised $80,000 in all. 
• The New York State budget problems have lead to the suspension of grants for literacy programs, although it is promised that the grants will eventually be available.
• After a quarter-century decline in reading, studies show that reading fiction is on the increase--whether or not this is fallout from a poor economy is not known. The biggest increase in readership comes from young adults aged 18 through 24.  Although reading fiction is on the rise, reading poetry or drama continues a long slide downward.  It has been a long time since the latest bestseller was the new book-length poem by Lord Byron.
• The Friends of the Pleasant Valley Library are meeting on March 16 at 7:15 pm at the Library to plan details of the Annual Book Fair, scheduled for April 24-26.  Even if you are not now a Friend of the Library, this would be an excellent meeting to attend to see how you can help your Library.  The recent Warm Your Heart sale is now over, having made several hundred dollars that are expected to be used for improving the safety of the Pleasant Valley Free Library for its patrons.