Red Hook Public Library Report for May 2026
by Trustee Uku, Liaison · June 8, 2026 · AI assistance from Claude
The Library Board of Trustees met on May 21, with Martha Tepepa presiding in the absence of President Anna Greig.
The Library ran 55 programs in April with 799 attendees, including me and my tiny human sidekick. Teen programming in particular grew, as did foot traffic.
One patron shared that her son had never finished a book before attending the Library’s “Bad Guys” book party. He won Book 1 in an escape room, finished it that evening, and is now on Book 12. A new resident stopped by the day after moving in to share that she and her wife chose Red Hook because of the Library.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library officially launched in Red Hook on May 22. As previously reported, the program mails free books monthly to children from birth through age five, thanks to a collaboration between the RHPL, Tivoli Library, the Town, and United Way. Bravo, y’all!
==> picture [288 x 260] intentionally omitted <==
The Library conducted an ADA audit and found most of the building meets standards. The remaining work (adding railings along the ramp from the parking lot) is estimated at $100K–$150K. Grant opportunities are being explored. The automated rear door has shipped.
Programs coming up include a Summer Reading Treasure Hunt sponsored by the RH Chamber of Commerce, a babysitting class with CPR training and certification, and an LGBTQ+ Oral Histories Training for teens, in collaboration with Historic Red Hook.
Reminder: The Library will be recruiting 2 new Board members this summer. Might 1 be you?
Finally, the Library’s finances remain on track. The share of the monthly mortgage payment applied to principal now exceeds the share applied to interest. The end of the mortgage is nigh.
Next Library Board of Trustees meeting: Thursday, June 18 at 6:00 PM on the uppermost floor.