By Beth Offenbacker
For Rhona Koretzky, travel is an extension of what libraries do best: open doors to learning, connect people, and strengthen community. As a board member and travel coordinator for the CPH Friends, she brings neighbors together for educational journeys that also raise money for library programs.
A Librarian’s Instinct to Explore
Books and exploration have always shaped Rhona’s life. Raised by educators, she studied English and theater at SUNY Geneseo and initially planned to teach. During college, she realized she wanted a different path: “I’m not going to be a classroom teacher. I’m going to be a librarian.”
Rhona worked as an elementary school librarian, at Crandall Library, and ultimately spent 28 years at Saratoga Springs Public Library, where she retired as a librarian and continues part-time. She holds library cards at libraries in New York and London. Her love of books and libraries now fuels her passion for travel, inspiring curiosity about art, history, culture, and people.
Travel With a Community Purpose
The CPH Friends had an established travel program when Rhona assumed the position of travel coordinator in 2009. The program was expanded under her leadership until the world came to a halt with the COVID pandemic. When travel resumed post-COVID for people, community interest surged in excursions like the program offers. Today, Rhona helps select package tours from Collette (a travel company) that balance cost, cultural value, enjoyment, and accessibility, generally aiming to offer one domestic and one European trip each year.
A core reason that the Friends has affiliated with Rhona and Collette is the quality of experience that the program provides. “Collette offers the best travel insurance program in the industry,” Rhona said, “and it’s quite reasonably priced. You can cancel for any reason up to the day before and get a cash refund – and there’s an online sign up using a secure server, which makes registration easy.
She does not build itineraries from scratch; instead, she evaluates established Collette tours and looks for ways to enrich them with theater, museums, local food, or optional activities. That flexibility lets travelers choose a pace that fits them – from a museum visit to a more demanding hike – while still sharing the larger group experience.
“There is a lot of emphasis on culture, food, and wines,” Rhona said. For example, the CPH Friends’ most recent trip to Southwest England included time spent in London, including the British Museum, and a side trip to Cornwall with an exploration of the works of author Daphne de Maurier, who was from Cornwall, as well as viewing sites that were used in the filming of Poldark.
Occasionally the CPH Friends partner with other libraries for trips. Last year, a combined trip to European Christmas markets included participants from the Friends of the Schenectady County Library.
Groups typically include about 30 to 35 travelers, but some tours are geared to smaller groups of 24. The range of ages and abilities is broad, and the chief expectation for travelers is simple: arrive on time and be ready to take part in the activities that interest them. Rhona’s own enthusiasm is essential. “How can I convince others if I’m not bought into it?” she asks.
The Return That Matters Most
The program’s value extends beyond the itinerary. It supports the CPH Friends’ fundraising for library programs, delivers an educational experience aligned with the library’s mission, and creates relationships that often continue after travelers return home. The trips often with Two Towns One Book themes!!
Lynne Van Wormer has traveled with the group to Ireland and Colorado and plans to join a Northern California tour in September 2027. “It’s about seeing cultures that I’ve not seen before and making new friends,” she says. “I’m still getting together with those friends for dinner.”
For Rhona, that is the strongest measure of success. Travelers meet, connect, and sometimes plan future trips together. “What’s even more important than the program is the result – the friendships,” she says.
Adapting for the Future
The program has adapted based on the changing needs of participants, such as by providing a range of activities based on differing needs. For example, some longtime travelers now prefer shorter or less strenuous experiences. Attracting younger travelers is a goal, although Rhona notes it can be challenging because many are still working or raising families.
Rhona’s response is pragmatic: select appealing destinations, explain the expected activity level, and preserve meaningful choices within each tour. The goal is not simply to fill seats; it is to sustain a program that remains welcoming, educational, and financially responsible.
Join the Next Journey
The CPH Friends will hold a travel Information Session on Tuesday, October 6, from 5 to 7 pm at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library. The featured 2027 opportunities are Discover the Gems of the Adriatic Coast (Venice, Croatia, and Slovenia) and California Dreamin’, a Northern California itinerary. Registration for both trips is open. More information is available here.
Prospective travelers are welcome to attend on October 6 to learn about the tours and meet others who share an interest in travel.
An educator at heart, Rhona truly is the spark behind this program and the Information Session is an opportunity to meet her as well. “I get to go to awesome places and help people learn something,” she says with a big smile. “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to coordinate this program and partner with such a fantastic library and community. I can’t imagine a better ‘second act’ for myself.”
Learn more about past trips hosted by the Friends at these links:
https://friendsofcphlibrary.org/blog/our-successful-venture-to-the-north-country/
https://friendsofcphlibrary.org/blog/christmas-on-the-danube/
https://friendsofcphlibrary.org/blog/amazing-travel-with-the-friends/
https://friendsofcphlibrary.org/blog/a-fabulous-trip-to-the-ny-botanical-garden/