In addition to the information available on this Q&A, the Castleton Public Library will offer two Library Funding Proposition Community Information Sessions about the funding proposition on Wednesday, May 6. One session will be held at 1:00 p.m. and another will be held at 6:00 p.m. Sessions will be held in person at the library (85 S. Main Street, Castleton, NY 12033).

Members of the public who have questions about the funding proposition may also contact Library Director Melissa Tacke by phone at 518-732-0879 or by email at [email protected].


See Q&A below - You can also download the Q&A as a PDF here.

What is the library asking the community to decide in the May 2026 vote?
Castleton Public Library’s Board of Trustees is asking voters in the Schodack Central School District to consider approving an increase in the tax paid by property owners in the district to fund a portion of the operating expenses of the library. The total levy amount for voter consideration is $162,000, which, if approved, would be an increase of $3,000 (approximately 1.9%) over the current levy of $159,000.
 
What is the date and location of the vote?
The proposition will appear on the ballot at the Schodack Central School District School Budget Vote & Board Election, held in the Maple Hill High School Gym on Tuesday, May 19, from 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Maple Hill is located at 1216 Maple Hill Road, Castleton, NY 12033.
 
What is the library funding proposition that will appear on the May 2026 Schodack Central School District ballot?
The language of the funding proposition that will appear on the ballot is as follows:
“Pursuant to Education Law, Section 259, shall the Board of Education of the Schodack Central School District be authorized to levy and collect an annual tax, separate and apart from the annual school district budget, in the amount of one hundred sixty-two thousand dollars ($162,000), which shall be paid to the Castleton Public Library for the support and maintenance of the library; with this appropriated amount to be the annual appropriation until thereafter modified by a future vote of the electors of the Schodack Central School District?”
 
If the proposition is approved, will property owners in the district pay a $162,000 levy in addition to the current $159,000 levy?
No. If the proposition is approved, the library tax levy would change to $162,000. This would be an increase of $3,000 (approximately 1.9%) over the current levy of $159,000.
 
If the proposition is approved, would the library be funded or operated by the school district?
No. The school district does not fund, operate, or govern the library in any way. The school district, in compliance with NYS law, provides the mechanism for the vote to occur. If the proposition is approved, the school district will levy and collect the library tax and pay those funds to the library.
 
How would the library's funding change if the proposition passes?
If the vote passes, $162,000 of the library’s budget would come from taxes paid by property owners in the Schodack Central School District. Funding from the Town of Schodack and the Village of Castleton-on-Hudson would remain the same. The library would continue to receive small amounts of income from New York State, Rensselaer County, the Friends of the Castleton Public Library, grants, and donations.
 
What happens if the proposition doesn’t pass?
If the proposition does not pass, the tax levy paid by property owners in the district to support the library will remain at $159,000.
 
Why is the library pursuing a vote?
Continuing to shift our funding model to voter-approved measures increases transparency, awareness, and community control over the cost of public library services. Under a NYS Board of Regents directive, public libraries are urged to shift tax support from general appropriations by municipalities to a direct public vote. This shift provides taxpayers with the ability to determine the desired level of public library services.
 
How is the library currently funded?
The majority of library’s operating budget is funded by three public funding sources:

• $159,000 (47.7% of library budget) – Tax levy paid by property owners in the Schodack Central School District
• $92,500 (27.7% of library budget) – Appropriation from the Town of Schodack
• $10,000 (3% of the library budget) – Appropriation from the Village of Castleton-on-Hudson. In addition to this appropriation, the Village also provides a number of in-kind services to the library, including space, utilities, and administration of payroll and benefits.

The library also receives small amounts of income from New York State, Rensselaer County, the Friends of the Castleton Public Library, grants, and donations.
 
Why is the library’s funding proposition appearing on the school district ballot?
Castleton Public Library is pursuing a vote on the Schodack Central School District ballot because the majority of our users reside in the school district.
 
How will this affect school taxes?
The library’s proposition deals with a proposed increase to the library tax paid by property owners in the district. The proposition does not impact school taxes. The school tax funds the school district, while the library tax funds the library. The library tax and the school tax lines appear separately on the school tax bill and are paid at the same time, but the school district and the library remain two separate entities.
 
If approved, how will this affect my tax rate in future years?
Any future change in the library tax rate would require voter approval at that time.
 
Who is eligible to vote?
Voters must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen. Advance registration is not required. However, voters will be asked to swear or affirm that they are residents of the Schodack Central School District and have been for at least 30 days prior to the vote.

The Castleton Public Library is seeking a part-time Library Aide. Weekly schedule generally includes four four-hour shifts on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  

Routine Duties: 
Helping customers at the front desk, shelving library materials, operating the copier and fax machine, performing routine clerical tasks, assisting with program preparation, and answering the telephone. Full civil service position description is below. 

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate has strong customer service skills, is detail-oriented, and can efficiently use a computer for work tasks. A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Prior library experience is preferred, but not required.

Pay Rate: 
$18.75 per hour. 

Schedule: 
The hours for the position are generally as follows: 
Mondays, 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Tuesdays, 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesdays, 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Fridays, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.


How to Apply: 
Send a letter of interest, along with a Rensselaer County employment application (available here), by email to [email protected], or by mail to Castleton Public Library, 85 S. Main Street, Castleton, NY 12033, Attn: Melissa Tacke. Applications must be received by Thursday, January 8. 

Rensselaer County Civil Service Commission Official Job Specifications:
Library Aide
Distinguishing Features of the Class: This position involves performing the duties of charging and discharging materials and related circulation duties at the circulation desk. Additionally, incumbents sort and reshelve library materials as necessary. Performance of related routine clerical tasks may be required. This work requires no prior knowledge of library work as employees are trained on the job. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Library Director, Librarian, or higher-level library employee. Does related work as required.
Examples of Work:
Charges and discharges library materials;
Sorts and reshelves books and library materials; 
Logs in and processes all periodicals and prepares current magazines for shelving, maintains back number stacks and routing; 
Maintains files of vertical file material and publisher's catalogs; 
Maintains use and acquisition statistics; 
Responds to routine questions regarding library rules, hours of operation and location of materials; 
Responds to requests from library patrons to assist with research, interlibrary requests and the use of computers and audio-visual equipment; 
Typing, filing, and data searches as requested by higher level Library Employee; 
Assists in periodic inventory of library materials and AV equipment; 
Maintains inventory of supplies and suggests items for acquisition; 
Assists in preparation of lists of missing books and books to be discarded;
Oversees the general condition and appeal of the library and its displays;
Performs related routine clerical tasks, including changing books, filing cards, writing and forwarding of over-due notices.
Full Performance Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics: Ability to acquire a working knowledge of library rules and procedures; ability to understand and carry out written and oral directions; ability to deal in a personable and friendly manner with library patrons; accuracy; tact and courtesy; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.
Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from high school or possession of high school equivalency diploma.
ADOPTED: March 25, 1992. CSC MTG. REVISED: March 18, 2004. CSC MTG.