New hours at Roe Jan Library

COPAKE — In response to requests from patrons, the Roeliff Jansen Community Library is now open on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.“Sunday hours are helpful for students and anyone who works weekdays,” said library Director Carol Briggs, “plus since we started construction we’ve had many requests from weekenders for Sunday hours so they can more easily can take advantage of our great new facility.”Earlier in the spring, based on library usage, hours were expanded on Wednesday and adjusted on Fridays. With the addition of Sunday hours the library is now open 47 hours a week. In addition to Sunday, the library is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.The Roe Jan Library is one of only two Columbia County libraries open on Sundays.Since the opening of the library’s new building last November, visits to the library are up 100 percent and more than 500 new library cards have been issued. Hundreds of people come to programs at the library each month.The library board noted it couldn’t expand its hours if there weren’t so many loyal and hardworking volunteers. Fifty-three volunteers have helped staff the library since the new facility opened; now it is looking for volunteers to help with programming, publicity and fundraising events. Potential volunteers should leave their names at the circulation desk or visit www.roejanlibrary.org and click on “Join Us” to learn more about volunteer opportunities.The Roeliff Jansen Community Library, which is chartered to serve Ancram, Copake and Hillsdale, is located at 9091 Route 22 in Copake, approximately a half-mile south of the light at the intersection of routes 22 and 23. For information on hours, events and more, go to www.roejanlibrary.org.Submitted by said Howard Van Lenten, president of the library’s board of trustees.