Library Director's Report - June 8, 2016 1. I have received the following information with regard to the increases to new York State's minimum wage: " For workers in New York State outside of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties, the minimum wage will increase to $9.70 at the end of 2016 then another .70 each year after until reaching $12.50 on 12/31/2020 - after which it will continue to increase to $15.00 on an indexed schedule to be set by the Director of Division of Budget in consultation with the Department of Labor. 2. The Library has concluded its fine free program. Patrons were not charged fines for late item returns of Thrall Library materials for the Months of April and May 2016. Patrons were charged late fees for items belonging to other libraries and replacement fees for items that were lost or damaged. My original intention was to wave fines only on audiovisual materials (materials for which we currently charge $1.00 per day but I was later notified that our Automated Library System does not have the capacity to apply fines by item type. 3. The Library's 2016 Summer Reading program will begin on Thursday, June 30 2016 and extend through Friday August 5, 2016. This year's theme is "On Your Mark, Get Set: READ. The Library will be hosting a series of special programs for children of all ages that help to promote literacy and prevent a "Summer Slide" or decline in literacy skills school aged children often experience over the school break. This year we have also planned a series of entertainment programs for families that will take place on Thursday afternoon's at 1:00pm. Pre- registration will take place in June and promotional newspapers will be sent out to all of the Elementary and Middle Schools of the Middletown and Pine Bush School Districts. The Friends of Middletown Thrall Library are a contributing sponsor of the Summer Reading Program promotional newspaper. The promotional newspapers will be delivered just prior to the end of school year. I have attended the following meetings in May, Friends of Middletown Thrall Library, RCLS Director's Association, Thrall Staff Meeting, City of Middletown Business Improvement District, City of Middletown Meeting regarding the Warming Station at the United Methodist Church, Promenade Senior Living Center Local History Presentation with Alyssa Masotto.