The vote will be held on Thursday, April 23,2026, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the library’s H. Dutcher Community Room. Information about absentee ballots is available from the Library District Clerk, at 518-584-7860, extension 253, or at the library between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. At 7 p.m. on Monday, April 20th, there will be a public hearing on the proposed budget in the H. Dutcher Community Room.

Who can vote?

Any Saratoga Springs City School District resident who is a registered voter is eligible to vote.

What are we voting for?

• Budget: The public will be voting on a proposition to collect $5,552,327 in school district property taxes in Fiscal Year 2026-2027 to operate the Saratoga Springs Public Library. This is a 2% increase over FY2025-26.
• Trustees: There are two candidates for two vacancies on the Library’s Board of Trustees. Carol Daggs, of Saratoga Springs, is running for reelection to an expiring seat, and Nurcan Atalan-Helicke, also of Saratoga Springs, is running to fill a vacancy created by the expiring term of Frank Brady.

What happens if the budget doesn’t pass?

Unlike public school budgets, the law does not allow for any changes if the budget is defeated, and unless the library board decides to hold a second budget vote (highly unlikely), the library would still receive the same amount appropriated in FY 2025-2026. Should the proposed budget not pass, the library board will decide what budget lines and services will be reduced or reallocated.

What will be happening in the coming year?

The Library recently unveiled a new strategic plan continuing our focus on four areas: universal accessibility, and the library as a place, a community convener, and a community leader. Efforts in the coming year will focus on improvements to the library building’s aging automated security and building maintenance systems, and ongoing expansion of outreach efforts into remoter parts of the library district, which spans from Lake Desolation to Saratoga Lake, and includes the large portions of the Towns of Wilton, Greenfield and Milton that lie within the Saratoga Springs City School District.

Additionally, the Library is currently undergoing an internal study of the changing way spaces within the building are used, with an eye toward solutions that meet current use patterns and planning for the evolution of services. Planning for the long-term preservation of the unique local history collection within the Saratoga Room is also underway.

While our collection continues to expand into less traditional areas, and formats for delivering information and content continue to evolve, we anticipate that the Library will continue to be a hub of community activity, and program attendance will continue to grow.

More questions? Contact A. Issac Pulver, Library Director at 518-584-7860

Children’s programming has resumed in the Crawshaw Story Room, and the H. Dutcher Community Room is once again reservable for use by non-profit organizations that are located within or provide a significant service to residents of the Saratoga Springs City School District.

The Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library have opted not to reopen the Friends Coffee Shop, but will continue to offer donation-based coffee service in the Coffee Nook adjacent to the Friends Book Shop. Future uses of the space previously used as a cafe space within the library have yet to be determined, and will be decided by a master space-planning and -use effort currently underway.

The new elevator system, manufactured and installed by Kone, operates on a system of weights and pulleys rather than hydraulics, and, in line with the library’s sustainability goals, is anticipated to use significantly less energy to operate than its predecessor. General construction to prepare the existing shaft for the upgraded system was performed by Plank Construction Services, LLC, of Schenectady.

“We are relieved to have the project conclude,” said Library Director Issac Pulver, “and grateful for the patience of library staff and visitors for the duration of the project.”

We have rearranged and/or added services and collections on the First Floor, including making public computers and printing available, relocated daily newspapers and large print materials, and scheduled more programs in First Floor spaces.

Priority for first-floor computing and seating will be for those with mobility challenges.

While the elevator is out of service, the H. Dutcher Community Room will be unavailable for public booking. The Susman and Glasby Rooms, on the lower level, will be available for booking, however, please keep in mind that these spaces will only be accessible via the stairs, if that is a consideration for members of your group.

In order to provide First Floor program space, the Friends Coffee Shop has suspended most operations for the duration of the project. Coffee is still available for a suggested donation, in the “Coffee Nook” outside the Friends Book Shop, beginning about 9am, while supplies last.

We appreciate your patience while the work is ongoing!

SEASONAL PARKING: As a reminder, the Library Parking Lot is owned by the Library, and all year-round, a library-issued permit is required to park in the lot between 9am and 6pm, on days the library is open. After 6pm, no permit is required. You can find complete information about Library Parking Lot regulations, including eligibility for and how to obtain a Library Parking Lot Permit, and a Q&A about Library parking.

Through an agreement with the City, while the Seasonal Paid Parking Program is in effect between Memorial Day and Labor Day, payment is required to park in the library lot during hours in which the lot is open to non-permit holders (6pm-9am): Library Lot permit holders may park for free until 9pm, non-permit holders pay beginning at 6pm.

Through the same agreement with the City, enforcement of Library Parking Lot Regulations is done by the Saratoga Springs Police Department, who also enforces parking regulations in City-owned lots and on streets.

The City offers permits for its lots to city residents and downtown workers, and, starting this year, for a fee, Saratoga Springs City School District residents who live outside of the city limits. These permits do not allow for parking in the Library Lot, nor does the Library Lot permit allow parking in City-owned lots. Please visit the City’s parking permit website for information about these programs.

BELMONT ON BROADWAY CELEBRATION: As a reminder, there will be multiple street closures in downtown Saratoga Springs in advance of, and during the Belmont on Broadway celebration on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The library will have special hours that day, closing early at 5pm. More information about closures and activities for Belmont on Broadway.

SUMMER READING: The theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program is “Color our World.” Our Youth Services Department staff are busy visiting schools throughout the district, and registration for the Summer Reading program will begin on June 23, 2025, and a whole summer of colorful activities is planned to run through August 31, 2025.

ELEVATOR UPGRADE PROJECT: Thirty years after the current library building opened, the elevator has reached the end of its useful life. A new elevator is currently being manufactured, and demolition of the current elevator and preparation of the site for installation of the new elevator is anticipated to begin in early July. The upgrade has a projected completion date of mid-November. In preparation for this outage, some collections have been rearranged to be more accessible on the first floor, staff are prepared to fetch materials from the second floor and lower level, and the Friends Coffee Shop will temporarily suspend operations effective June 20, 2025, so that that space can be used for accessible library programs for the duration of the project.

When will the library vote be held?
The vote will be held on Thursday, April 24,2025, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the library’s H. Dutcher Community Room. Information about absentee ballots is available from the Library District Clerk, at 518-584-7860, extension 264, or at the library between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. At 7 p.m. on Monday, April 21st, there will be a public hearing on the proposed budget in the H. Dutcher Community Room.

Who can vote?
Any Saratoga Springs City School District resident who is a registered voter is eligible to vote.

What are we voting for?

• Budget: The public will be voting on a proposition to collect $5,443,458 in school district property taxes in Fiscal Year 2025-2026 to operate the Saratoga Springs Public Library. This is
  a 1.5% increase over FY2024-25.
• Trustees: There are two candidates for two vacancies on the Library’s Board of Trustees. Terence Diggory and Heather Crocker, both of Saratoga Springs, are running for re-election.

What happens if the budget doesn’t pass?
Unlike public school budgets, the law does not allow for any changes if the budget is defeated, and unless the library board decides to hold a second budget vote (highly unlikely), the library would
still receive the same amount appropriated in FY 2024-2025. Should the proposed budget not pass, the library board will decide what budget lines and services will be reduced or reallocated.

What will be happening in the coming year?
FY2025-26 will mark the 30th anniversary of the present library building, and the 75th anniversary of the Saratoga Springs Public Library charter. Plans for commemorating these milestones are currently underway, with announcements to come. The year will also begin with the unveiling of a new strategic plan continuing our focus on four areas: universal accessibility, and the library as a place, a community convener, and a community leader.

In the area of accessibility, the new fiscal year will start with the removal and replacement of the aging elevator, which is anticipated to begin in July and be completed in mid-November. Library staff are currently strategizing how to accommodate library workers and visitors who rely on the elevator for access to the collections and services on the Library’s second floor and lower level, including plans for retrieving materials, temporarily relocating programs, and continuing to expand our outreach services. With staff and services anticipated to temporarily relocate to the first floor, the Friends Coffee Shop will temporarily suspend activity for the duration of construction.

Even with the challenge of being without the elevator for much of the coming year, we anticipate that the library will continue to be a hub of community activity, program attendance will continue to grow, and use patterns for the various formats we make available will continue to evolve.

The complete budget proposal can be found here.

Am I eligible for a LIBRARY PARKING LOT PERMIT?

You are eligible for a Library Parking Lot Permit if you meet the following criteria:

• You live or own property within the Saratoga Springs City School District; or you are a member of the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library at the Ex Libris membership level, or higher; AND
• You have a Saratoga Springs Public Library Card in good standing (card is not expired, and fines/fees under $50).

Why is eligibility for a LIBRARY PARKING LOT PERMIT limited to residents of the Saratoga Springs City School district and Friends Ex Libris members?

• While Saratoga Springs Public Library welcomes people from everywhere, we are chartered by the NY State Education Department to serve the residents of the Saratoga Springs City School District, and are funded by taxes levied on property owners within the district. It is our obligation to prioritize the needs of those we are legally chartered to serve, and who fund our operation, when there is unprecedented demand on a limited resource.
• As a courtesy, we have always extended all the privileges of residents to non-residents who support the library by joining the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library at the Ex Libris level or higher.

How do I obtain a LIBRARY PARKING LOT PERMIT?

To obtain a Library Parking Lot Permit, you must:

• Come to the library during our open hours (generally Mon-Thu 9am-9pm; Fri 9am-6pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun Noon-5pm, with some exceptions for holidays and special closings),
• Bring your driver’s license and registration to prove your eligibility (if you don’t yet have a library card, this will likely also suffice as the ID requirement for obtaining one), and
• Register for the permit at the Circulation Desk.
• Names and addresses on all vehicle registrations must match the name and address associated with the library card account.

What are the LIBRARY PARKING LOT REGULATIONS?

• Between the hours of 9am and 6pm on all days the Library is open, parking is limited to 3 hours, and is reserved for Library Parking Lot Permit holders or vehicles parking in designated handicap accessible spaces properly displaying a “Parking Permit or License Plate for Those with Severe Disabilities,” issued by a Department of Motor Vehicles.

• Seasonal Paid Parking

  While the City of Saratoga Springs Seasonal Paid Parking Program is in Effect (generally Memorial Day through Labor Day)

  On days the library is open:

  · Permit holders park for free from 9am to 9pm, and will pay $2 per hour or fraction thereof, between 9pm and 9am.

  · Non-permit holders may park after 6pm, until 9am and will pay $2 per hour or fraction thereof during those hours.

  On holidays the library is closed: All parkers, including permit holders, will pay $2 per hour, or fraction thereof.

  While the Seasonal Paid Parking Program is not in effect: Permits are required between 9am and 6pm on days the library is open, however there are no fees to park.

Where do I park if I want to visit the Library and am not eligible for a LIBRARY PARKING LOT PERMIT?

• There is free on-street parking in the vicinity of the library, particularly on Henry Street and the blocks to the east, but also on Broadway and some streets between Broadway and Putnam Street. Please be mindful of posted regulations, such as those regarding time limits and/or alternate side parking rules.
• There are also two City-owned municipal parking lots across the street from each other, within a block of the Library: one at Spring Street with entrances from Henry and Putnam Streets; and one at Spring Street, with a lower level entrance on Putnam Street, and an upper level entrance on Phila Street. While the City’s Seasonal Paid Parking Program is in effect, the fee for City-owned lots is $2 per hour or fraction thereof.
• Library staff have never been allowed to park in the lot while on duty, so we know from experience that, while it may be challenging at certain times of the year to find nearby parking, it is possible.

I have more than one vehicle. Do I need a permit for each one?

• Yes. Because each permit is linked to a license plate associated with the permitted vehicle, each vehicle must be registered separately. You may register up to five vehicles. Names and addresses on all vehicle registrations must match the name and address associated with the library card account.

Does a LIBRARY PARKING LOT PERMIT guarantee me a parking space?

• No. Parking is not guaranteed. Parking is available on a first come, first served basis.

I have a City Resident Parking Permit or a Downtown Urban Core Worker Parking Permit, will this allow me to park in the Library Parking Lot?

• No. Although the Library and the City are partnering on the permit process, the City’s parking permits allow parking in City-owned and operated lots, only; and the Library Parking Lot Permit only allows for parking in the Library-owned parking lot. Neither permit allows for parking at the parking garage at the Saratoga City Center, which is operated by the City Center.

Can I register for both a LIBRARY PARKING LOT PERMIT and a City Resident or Downtown Urban Core Worker Parking Permit?

• It depends.
  • Because they are residents of the Saratoga Springs City School District, everyone who is eligible for a City Resident Permit is also eligible for a Library Parking Lot Permit.
  • Downtown Urban Core workers are eligible for a Library Parking Lot Permit if they meet the eligibility requirements previously outlined.
  • Residents of the Saratoga Springs City School District who live outside of the City of Saratoga Springs are currently ineligible for City Resident Permits.

How do I register for a City Resident Parking Permit or a Downtown Urban Core Worker Parking Permit?

• City Residents may register for City Resident permits online, at this link: City of Saratoga Springs | Patron Portal | Permits (tocite.net), or may visit the Public Works Department in City Hall during their regular open hours. A link to a Q&A about the City Resident Parking Permit is here: Facebook.
• Downtown Urban Core Workers must be registered by their employers, who should contact the City of Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works to verify eligibility, through this online form: Saratoga Springs Request Form (foreaction.cloud)

The City’s Permit Requirement and Paid Parking Program are seasonal. Is the LIBRARY PARKING LOT PERMIT requirement seasonal, too?

• No. The Library Parking Lot will be restricted to Library Parking Lot Permit holders year around. Payment for parking during our closing hours will be limited to the City’s Paid Parking Program season.

Who enforces Library Parking Lot Regulations?

• Enforcement of parking regulations is done by the Saratoga Springs Police Department. Penalties for violations are established by the City of Saratoga Springs.

We are pleased to share the news that at its regular meeting on May 7, 2024, the Saratoga Springs City Council voted unanimously to approve proposed amendments to restrictions put in place in 1991 as a condition of the sale of property that became the Library’s parking lot. Those restrictions prevented us from prioritizing library patron parking, on property owned and maintained by the Library, and forbade charging for parking in the lot.

Recognizing the increasing difficulty for Library users to find parking in the lot caused by continued development in the surrounding neighborhood, and the upcoming implementation of the City’s seasonal paid parking program, we have been working individually with the Mayor and City Commissioners to find a solution that is mutually beneficial to the City and to the Library District, which is geographically equivalent to the Saratoga Springs City School District. The updated “Declaration of Restrictions” prioritizes parking for library users during the majority of our open hours and allows for the lot to be included in the City’s seasonal paid parking program at other times. The Library will continue to be responsible for the maintenance of the lot and the Saratoga Springs Police Department will continue to enforce parking regulations.

Implementation of new regulations will likely correspond with the rollout of the City’s seasonal parking program. Similar to the City’s program of providing permits for City residents and workers to park in City-owned lots, the regulations at the Library-owned lot will include a permit system for registered library card holders who live within the Saratoga Springs City School District. Additional regulations will include:

• Library Lot permit holder parking only between the hours of 9am and 6pm
• 3-hour parking limit between 9am and 6pm
• While the seasonal parking program is in effect, Library Lot permit holders will be allowed to park for free during library open hours, and will pay at times when the library is closed.

Please watch for more information about the rollout of the new regulations.

Sincerely,

A. Issac Pulver, Library Director

Katie Capelli, President, Board of Trustees

The vote will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the library’s H. Dutcher Community Room. Information about absentee ballots is available from the Library District Clerk, at 518-584-7860, or at the library between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. At 7 p.m. on Monday, April 8th, there will be a public hearing on the proposed budget in the H. Dutcher Community Room.

Who can vote?

Any Saratoga Springs City School District resident who is a registered voter is eligible to vote.

What are we voting for?

• Budget: The public will be voting on a proposition to collect $5,363,013 in school district property taxes in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 to operate the Saratoga Springs Public Library. This is a 1.5% increase over FY2023-24.
• Trustee: There are no vacant Library Trustee seats during this election cycle.

What happens if the budget doesn’t pass?

Unlike public school budgets, the law does not allow for any changes if the budget is defeated, and unless the library board decides to hold a second budget vote (highly unlikely), the library would still receive the same amount appropriated in FY 2023-2024. Should the proposed budget not pass, the library board will decide what budget lines and services will be reduced or reallocated.

What will be happening in the coming year?

FY2023-24 was another busy year for programs, and we anticipate that attendance at programs for children and seniors, particularly, will continue to grow. Similarly, we anticipate that our efforts to provide library services at locations in the district beyond the library building will expand.

The ways library materials are used continues to change with publishing trends: print books and magazines continue to be borrowed heavily, and use of library-provided electronic resources such as e-books and audiobooks and streaming movies continues to grow. While use of movies and music on disc media continues to be strong, it is declining. We anticipate that our growing “library of things” beyond traditional materials will continue to expand. Budget allocations for these material types reflect these changes.

The new year will also mark the beginning of a new multi-year program of capital improvements addressing the age of the building and reflecting changes in the way spaces within it are used. The first phase of the program will focus on replacing the elevator, improved space for the archival collections of the Saratoga Room, and upgraded and expanded meeting and program spaces.

Next to the display are individual shoe box cards of survivors as well. Pick one up and take it home, and share the experience with others. Each card has photos, a video QR code, and a message from the survivor(s) that was purposefully shared for future generations to hear.

Along with this temporary, interactive exhibit, we will also be hosting a Holocaust survivor who will be speaking at the library on Sunday, March 10, at 1 pm, and a book talk and short screening of Finding Kalman: A Boy in Six Million, a rich and strong story of memory, self-discovery, and creation. Don’t miss them!

For additional resources relating to regional history, the Saratoga History Room offers a collection from Shi’ara Tfille and the Jewish Community Center that contains the materials from an exhibit that was done at the Center on the Jewish soldiers and their families from Saratoga who fought in World War II. Come into the room to access the collection and understand more of the history; researchers may find our online finding aids for this collection useful as well.

Similarly offered is the Sophie Goldstein Saratoga Jewry Collection, comprising audio interview recordings with Jewish residents of Saratoga Springs by librarians Sophie Goldstein and Florence Susman. For this collection, there is a digital, online collection exhibit, as well as a finding aid for researchers looking for more detailed information.

Visiting the Saratoga Room in-person to be provided a more in-depth walkthrough of the collections is always a welcomed treat for us to guide you through.

Saratoga Springs Public Library: delivering resources and experiences that engage, entertain, educate, and empower our entire community.

If you don’t have time to learn a new thing right now, we understand that too. Although the old website was accessible for a little while after the new website was released, web server upgrades outside of our control forced us to shut it down. If there’s anything you want or need from the old website, please reach out to the web administrator for assistance.

Statement:

The Saratoga Springs Public Library respectfully acknowledges that it is located on the ancestral lands of the Mohican, the Mohawk, and the Abenaki Peoples. We thank them for their enduring stewardship of this land.

Purpose:

By acknowledging Indigenous people, we pay respect to those who first lived here and to communities who follow in caring for this land. We honor the significance of traditional relationships to these sacred lands and waters. We recognize the ongoing impacts of colonialism and oppression, and we commit to honor truth telling and Indigenous voices as we realize the full history of our many peoples.

Links to Resources

The Library and other organizations and institutions offer many resources about our local history if you are seeking to gain a deeper perspective of the Native Americans who still live on this land.

• Saratoga Springs Public Library Saratoga Room
• Ndakinna Education Center
• Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community
• Syracuse Peace Council Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation (NOON)

Because our current health crisis is disproportionately affecting People of Color and working poor people, and given our present national reckoning with systemic racism, implicit biases, and unearned privileges, we are recommitting to fostering racial justice, socioeconomic inclusion, and human dignity by committing to undertake a review of policies, procedures, and practices in order to identify and eliminate barriers to service. To that end, at its regular meeting on July 13th, the Board of Trustees of the Saratoga Springs Public Library adopted a Racial and Social Justice Policy, and our policy review has begun.

The first policy change resulting from this review process is that, at that same meeting, the Board voted unanimously to, effective July 1, 2020, eliminate overdue fines. Meant as an incentive for borrowers to return library materials on time, so that they may be shared with others, there is growing sentiment that overdue fines may discourage library use by the very people who may benefit the most from our services.

Within the next several weeks, we hope to restart our paused planning process, and will be reaching out for input from you about your aspirations for our community, and imagining how the library can help to achieve them. We anticipate many thought-provoking conversations over the next several months, and remain grateful for your support.

Wishing you wellness,

Ike Pulver, Library Director