Friends Grants 2025

Each year the Friends of the Library awards grants to the Library to support programs, collections and library operations. The approved list of grants, as of February 18, 2025, is as follows:

Youth & Family Services
Programming  & Supplies – $6,500
The library is dedicated to providing enriching and educational experiences for children of all ages by offering engaging and educational experiences. In 2024, they provided 188 programs targeted at children ages 0-5 with 10,295 participants, and 74 programs targeted at children ages 6-11 with 6,283 participants. We plan to continue to provide high caliber youth programming in 2025. Additionally, we provided more than 3,500 Take & Make Crafts for families to create together at home. 

  1. STEAM Workshops: We aim to organize STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) workshops tailored for children, where they can participate in hands-on activities and experiments. These workshops will encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. 
  2. Guest Performers: We plan to invite guest performers such as musicians, storytellers, and puppeteers to entertain and inspire children through live performances, workshops, and interactive educational sessions. These interactive sessions will spark imagination, satisfy curiosity, and promote literacies.  
  3. Take & Make Crafts: We will provide monthly thematic craft activities with instructions and supplies for families to complete together. 

Teen Program Supplies – $2,000
As a crucial community hub, the East Greenbush Community Library recognizes the importance of supporting our teens, especially during the critical after-school hours. To enhance the Library’s existing youth and family services, funding was requested to enable the Library to provide nutritious snacks, essential period supplies, engaging reading materials, and personalized book boxes. These services aim to foster a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes health, well-being, and educational engagement among teenagers.

  1. Teen Snacks: To cater to teens who frequent our teen space after school for homework, relaxation, tutoring, or group projects, we offer nutritious snacks. This initiative not only alleviates hunger but enhances concentration and participation, thus enriching our library as a space conducive to learning and interaction. 
  2. RIF (Reading is Fundamental Books): In collaboration with other UHLS libraries, we distribute books to teens, encouraging them to share these reads with peers. This program fosters a community of shared learning and enthusiasm for reading among teenagers.   
  3. Teen Book Boxes: Inspired by popular subscription box services, we offer books containing 1-2 library books selected based on individual interests, along with snacks and other supplies. This personalized approach aims to enhance reading enjoyment and continued library engagement.  
  4. Programming & Supplies: We will continue to provide high quality teen programming for teens. In 2024, we held 77 programs for teens with 1,007 attendees. Regular programs include Anime Club and The Friday Thing. Other popular programs will be provided such as cooking/baking classes, craft/art classes, movie showings and more

Adult & Information Services
Programming – $8,400
The Library is dedicated to providing engaging and enriching experiences for adult and intergenerational audiences in the community. Their programming, ranging from seasonal reading programs to book clubs, workshops, and educational seminars, aims to cultivate inspirational lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and community connections. In 2024, the library hosted 327 programs tailored for adults aged 19 and older, attracting 5,147 attendees. Additionally, we hosted 31 intergenerational programs with 2,692 attendees. With your generous support, we aim to further enhance the quality and reach of our adult and intergenerational programming. By offering a diverse range of events that cater to the interests and needs of our patrons, your contribution will enable us to secure experts, acquire necessary materials, and effectively promote our events, ensuring maximum participation and impact.

Collections
Hoopla – $3,515
Hoopla offers a diverse and accessible digital library experience, and its resources are especially crucial in our effort to provide equitable access to information and entertainment for all community members. With the increasing demand for digital content and the growing need for accessible resources, our library is keen to continue to fund our Hoopla collection to better serve our patrons. 

Museum Pass Program – $3,225
The Friends have generously funded the museum pass program since 2009. We currently have 27 passes from 24 institutions located in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Museum passes are available to borrow by East Greenbush Community Library cardholders and Friends of the East Greenbush Community Library. Their request for funding covers the current cost of the passes with a small cushion for some likely price increases plus the cost to cover the addition of six new passes.

2024 Grants Issued

 

Subject East Greenbush Card UHLS Card UHLS MyCard
Library Card Registration Free to any individual who resides or pays taxes in the East Greenbush Community Library taxing district or Town of Schodack. Cards expire and must be renewed every three years.

Free to any individual who volunteers or works at the EGRN Library. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

Free to partner educational agencies with verified employment. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

Those that live outside the UHLS area may purchase a temporary card at the price established by our Table of Fines and Fees. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

All ages eligible. Youth under age 16 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who provides acceptable identification for them.

Card blocked at $5 or more in replacement costs or fines/fees

Fines vary according to individual library rules and UHLS resource sharing rules. The EGRN Table of Fines and Fees are applicable for items which are checked out from the East Greenbush Community Library

 Free to residents residing in a community served by a UHLS library.

All ages eligible. Youth under age 16 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who provides acceptable identification for them.

UHLS library cards expire and must be renewed every three years.

Card blocked at $5 or more in replacement costs or fines/fees

Fines vary according to individual library rules and UHLS resource sharing rules. The EGRN Table of Fines and Fees are applicable for items which are checked out from the East Greenbush Community Library

 The UHLS MyCard is a fine-free, limited-access library card for youth. It is intended to address multiple barriers to serving youth and families, including:

  • Barriers to access related to fines (e.g. computer access, checking out materials)
  • Parents not present for a child’s library card registration
  • Previous fines on a child’s card

Free for youth residing in a community served by a UHLS library.Applicants 18 and under who are applying for a limited use, UHLS Youth Only MyCard, need to provide name, address, and date of birth.UHLS library cards expire and must be renewed every three years.Youth ages birth to 18 can register unaccompanied, or with the help of a caregiver or relative who is not the child’s parent/guardian.This card may be used at all UHLS Libraries except for the Colonie Town Library.

Card blocked at $10 or more in replacement costs.

No fines for late items
Limits on # of Materials Borrowed Unlimited checkouts Unlimited checkouts Limited total items: Can only have 3 items checked out on their card at a time
Types of Items All eligible item types. All eligible item types except Museum Passes, ILL, and Hot off the Press. Active paid members of the Friends of the East Greenbush Community Library have access to all lending collections. Only items eligible to be borrowed are books (any age level), juvenile and young adult (teen) audiobooks, and juvenile and young adult (teen) DVDs.
Databases/Digital Content EGRN and UHLS subscription databases and digital content UHLS subscription databases and digital content Only items eligible to be borrowed are books (any age level), juvenile and young adult (teen) audiobooks, and juvenile and young adult (teen) DVDs.
Interlibrary Loan Nationwide UHLS Libraries UHLS Libraries
Program Registration Unlimited except by limited program capacity Preference given to resident cardholders Preference given to resident cardholders