Thanks to all of the friends who took part in our Summer Reading Program this year, which wrapped up last week. It was a bit different than it’s been in years past, but I am so proud of all of the exercising, playing, creating, and especially reading you’ve all done this summer! Great job!

Thanks, too, to everyone who helped us find Rosie Raccoon on her too-short visit to our beautiful Village! You’ll be happy to know that Rosie has found a forever home with the winner of our Rosie raffle, Breanna Evans! Congrats, Breanna! We know Rosie will love living with you! 

StoryWalks

If you haven’t had time to take a StoryWalk yet, you should because they won’t be up forever! Take your favorite young people for a nice walk-and-read around Schilling Park on Maple Avenue to enjoy “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?” by Erik Carle and Bill Marin Jr.

If you’d rather a nice picture book for early elementary-aged friends, check out “What Do You Do With an Idea?” by Kobi Yamada and Mew Besom over at Altamont Elementary School. If you are a tween or teen and love poetry, take a hike over to the trails at Bozenkill Park for a walk through the poetry collection “Sad Birds Still Sing” by the poet Faraway. 

If you’ve already been through the storywalks, please let us know what you thought about them. Would you like to see more of them? What kinds of stories would you like? Let us know! You can always get in touch with us at or give us a call at 518-861-7239. Hope to hear from you! 

Census

By now, more than 74 percent of all households in the Village of Altamont have responded to the Census, which is great! That’s better than the national average, the state average, and the Albany County average, so well done!

But, you know what? I think we can still do better! And we need to, because for every person that doesn’t get counted, the Village loses out on $10,000 in support from the County. 

The bad news is that if you haven’t responded yet, you’re running out of time to be counted! If you haven’t responded yet, you can still do it online at www.my2020census.gov, or by phone at 1-844-330-2020. Take 15 minutes (or less) and filling out your Census today.

Even if you haven't received a mailing from the Census Department yet (or it got misplaced), you can still go ahead and respond to the Census online by going to https://my2020census.gov. Simply click on the button that says “If you do not have a Census ID click here,” and you will be led through a series of questions about your home address, and then get into the Census questionnaire. Census workers are also visiting the homes of people who have not yet responded, to please be on the lookout for them! 

If you have any questions or need help in filling out your questionnaire, send us an email at or call us at 518-861-7239 and we'll do whatever we can to help.  

Book club

in Orsini Park

Mark your calendars, and join us in Orsini Park at noon on Monday, Sept. 7 for an open-air, socially-distant, in-person meeting of the First Monday Book Group. Bring a lawn chair, a mask, and a water bottle, and meet us for a discussion of Lauren Groff’s novel Fates and Furies. We have plenty of copies, so call us at 518-861-7239 to reserve yours today. See you in the park!

Grab & Go

Curbside Grab & Go service is in full swing here at the library and it’s been going really well so far, and it’s been so wonderful to see so many of our friends back in the library after so long.

Here’s how Grab & Go service works:

— Hours of operation for pick-up and drop-off will be noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday;

— Reserve books and DVD’ at http://www.catalog.uhls.org anytime or by calling us at 518-861-7239 beginning June 15;

— When your items are ready, a library staff member will call or email you with a time you can pick them up. Please make an appointment before you come so that we can be sure to have everything ready for you when you get here;

— Your order will be waiting on a table in the library’s vestibule in a paper bag with your name on it. Please follow the directions you will see posted about “traffic flow” and social distancing;

— At this time, the library building and its restroom will remain closed to the public. Printing, computer, faxing and photocopying services are not yet available;

— Returns can be dropped off in the marked boxes in the library’s vestibule during business hours. Due dates for previously checked out materials have been extended into July — overdue fines are not being applied to previously borrowed materials;

— Returned items will be quarantined at the library for at least 72 hours before they are able to be checked in and recirculated; and

— Library users must maintain social distance and wear masks while picking up and dropping off library materials. 

If you have any questions, please give us a call at 518-861-7239. See you soon!

Last week, we introduced our “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” StoryWalk in Schilling Park. This week, we’d like to introduce one in Bozenkill Park!

This one is a little different from our StoryWalk, because instead of a picture book for kiddos, it’s a collection of poems for young adults. This StoryWalk will take you on a walk in the woods through a poetry collection called “Sad Birds Still Sing” by a young poet who writes under the name Faraway.  

This StoryWalk is situated on a wooded trail in Bozenkill Park just off of Gun Club Road in Altamont. The trail begins just beyond the tennis courts on the far side of the park from the parking lot. From there, follow the red blazed trail for about a quarter mile down ending at sign #18 at the side of Bozenkill Creek. (Hint: It’s a little muddy in places sometimes, so don’t wear your nicest shoes.)

To encourage folks to check this StoryWalk, we’re running a contest with some awesome prizes. Check out our Facebook or Instagram pages for all the details.

Many thanks to the Upper Hudson Library System for the idea, and to the village of Altamont for the space. Thanks, too, to Jo Ann Mulligan for selecting these poems to share with the community.

Both the “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” and “Sad Birds Still Sing” will be up in Bozenkill Park for the next two weeks or so, assuming the posts stay planted and the signs hold up. We’ve got one more StoryWalk coming, so keep your eyes peeled!

Census

By now, more than 75 percent of all households in the Village of Altamont have responded to the Census, which is great! That’s better than the national average, the state average, and the Albany County average, so well done! But, you know what? I think we can still do better! And we need to, because for every person that doesn’t get counted, the Village loses out on $10,000 in support from the county over the ten years before the next Census. 

On Wednesday, Aug. 26   from noon to 5 p.m., professionals from the Census Department will have a table set up outside the library, and they would be happy to help you fill out your census questionnaire, or answer any questions you have about the Census. 

In the meantime, if you haven’t responded yet, you can do it online at www.my2020census.gov, on paper when you receive your form in the mail, or by phone at 1-844-330-2020.  Take 15 minutes (or less) and filling out your Census today. Also, starting last week, Census workers will be visiting the homes of households that have not responded yet. Please be on the lookout for them! 

If you have any questions or need help in filling out your questionnaire, send us an email at director@altamontfreelibrary.org or leave a message on the library's voicemail at 518-861-7239 and we'll get right back to you. 

Grab & Go

Curbside Grab & Go service is in full swing here at the library and it’s been going really well so far, and it’s been so wonderful to see so many of our friends back in the library after so long.

Here’s how Grab & Go service works:

— Hours of operation for pick-up and drop-off will be noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday;

— Reserve books and DVD’ at http://www.catalog.uhls.org anytime or by calling us at 518-861-7239 beginning June 15;

— When your items are ready, a library staff member will call or email you with a time you can pick them up. Please make an appointment before you come so that we can be sure to have everything ready for you when you get here;

— Your order will be waiting on a table in the library’s vestibule in a paper bag with your name on it. Please follow the directions you will see posted about “traffic flow” and social distancing;

— At this time, the library building and its restroom will remain closed to the public. Printing, computer, faxing and photocopying services are not yet available;

— Returns can be dropped off in the marked boxes in the library’s vestibule during business hours. Due dates for previously checked out materials have been extended into July — overdue fines are not being applied to previously borrowed materials;

— Returned items will be quarantined at the library for at least 72 hours before they are able to be checked in and recirculated; and

— Library users must maintain social distance and wear masks while picking up and dropping off library materials. 

If you have any questions, please give us a call at 518-861-7239. See you soon!

Hey young friends! Join our annual summer reading program! Things will be a little different this year than last, but just like in years past, there will be Summer Reading Bingo cards, prizes, and a very special stuffed raccoon hiding around the village. Stop by the library to pick up a Bingo Card, and like us on Facebook, or check out our website for all the details! Happy reading! 

Rosie Raccoon

Have you met Rosie Raccoon? She’s going to be hanging around Altamont this summer, and she’d love to make some new friends, but first you have to find her. Last week, Rosie was hanging out with some bunnies learning to knit a scarf. Did you see her? 

If you’d like a clue to help you find her this week, check out the sign in our vestibule, or like us on Facebook and look for a clue there. If you do find Rosie, come let us know where she is, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a pretty great prize at the end of the summer!

Returning materials

Ever since March 15, when we temporarily closed the library due to the COVID-19 epidemic, we’ve been pushing back the due dates on library materials that were checked out before we closed. Now that we and many other libraries have reopened for curbside pick-up and return, those due dates have started coming up, and it is time for those items you may have had for several months now to be returned.

We will not be charging overdue fines on those items if they are returned late, though other libraries may do so. In many cases, other library users are waiting for the items you have, so please drop off your library materials either in the return bins in our vestibule when we are open, or in the outside drop box when we are closed.

As a reminder, we will set all returns aside for three days before our staff check them back in, so that we can be sure that any lingering trace of coronavirus becomes inactive. Thank you for your help in getting circulation back to something like normal!

Grab & Go

Curbside Grab & Go service is in full swing here at the library and it’s been going really well so far, and it’s been so wonderful to see so many of our friends back in the library after so long.

Here’s how Grab & Go service works:

— Hours of operation for pick-up and drop-off will be noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday;

— Reserve books and DVD’ at http://www.catalog.uhls.org anytime or by calling us at 518-861-7239 beginning June 15;

— When your items are ready, a library staff member will call or email you with a time you can pick them up. Please make an appointment before you come so that we can be sure to have everything ready for you when you get here;

— Your order will be waiting on a table in the library’s vestibule in a paper bag with your name on it. Please follow the directions you will see posted about “traffic flow” and social distancing;

— At this time, the library building and its restroom will remain closed to the public. Printing, computer, faxing and photocopying services are not yet available;

— Returns can be dropped off in the marked boxes in the library’s vestibule during business hours. Due dates for previously checked out materials have been extended into July — overdue fines are not being applied to previously borrowed materials;

— Returned items will be quarantined at the library for at least 72 hours before they are able to be checked in and recirculated; and

— Library users must maintain social distance and wear masks while picking up and dropping off library materials. 

Things will be different, and we’re still figuring some things out, so please bear with us as we make the necessary changes that will allow us to offer the services you need, while protecting the health and safety of our community.

We’re so excited to be getting back into the library and continuing our work with and for you all! If you have any questions, please give us a call at 518-861-7239. See you soon!

Ever since March 15, when we temporarily closed the library due to the COVID-19 epidemic, we’ve been pushing back the due dates on library materials that were checked out before we closed. Now that we and many other libraries have reopened for curbside pickup and return, those due dates have started coming up, and it is time for those items you may have had for several months now to be returned.

We will not be charging overdue fines on those items if they are returned late, though other libraries may do so. In many cases, other library users are waiting for the items you have, so please drop off your library materials either in the return bins in our vestibule when we are open, or in the outside drop box when we are closed.

As a reminder, we will set all returns aside for three days before our staff check them back in, so that we can be sure that any lingering trace of coronavirus becomes inactive. Thank you for your help in getting circulation back to something like normal! 

Farmers’ market

Keep an eye out for the return of the Altamont Farmers’ Market, which will be returning it’s home under our overhang as early as this week. Altamont Orchards and Fort Hunter Farms will trade off duties, and they’ll be here a few days a week for the season. 

Summer

Reading Program 

Hey young friends! Join our annual summer reading program! Things will be a little different this year than last, but just like in years past, there will be Summer Reading Bingo cards, prizes, and a very special stuffed raccoon hiding around the village. Stop by the library to pick up a bingo card, and like us on Facebook, or check out our website for all the details! Happy reading! 

Museum and

Empire passes 

Now that summer’s here, it’s a great time to head to a park or a museum, and we’ve got just the thing to help you get there. Empire Passes give you free access to New York State Parks and Beaches.

We have two of them and they go out for three days on a first-come, first-served basis. The Fennimore and Farmers Museums in Cooperstown and the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts just reopened as well, and we have passes for those too!

Our only request is that you return them to our library (instead of at another library) right after you’re done with them so that we can get them cleaned up and ready to go back out. 

Grab & Go

Curbside Grab & Go service is in full swing here at the library and it’s been going really well so far, and it’s been so wonderful to see so many of our friends back in the library after so long.

Here’s how Grab & Go service works:

— Hours of operation for pick-up and drop-off will be noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday;

— Reserve books and DVD’ at http://www.catalog.uhls.org anytime or by calling us at 518-861-7239 beginning June 15;

— When your items are ready, a library staff member will call or email you with a time you can pick them up. Please make an appointment before you come so that we can be sure to have everything ready for you when you get here;

— Your order will be waiting on a table in the library’s vestibule in a paper bag with your name on it. Please follow the directions you will see posted about “traffic flow” and social distancing;

— At this time, the library building and its restroom will remain closed to the public. Printing, computer, faxing and photocopying services are not yet available;

— Returns can be dropped off in the marked boxes in the library’s vestibule during business hours. Due dates for previously checked out materials have been extended into July — overdue fines are not being applied to previously borrowed materials;

— Returned items will be quarantined at the library for at least 72 hours before they are able to be checked in and recirculated; and

— Library users must maintain social distance and wear masks while picking up and dropping off library materials. 

Things will be different, and we’re still figuring some things out, so please bear with us as we make the necessary changes that will allow us to offer the services you need, while protecting the health and safety of our community.

We’re so excited to be getting back into the library and continuing our work with and for you all! If you have any questions, please give us a call at 518-861-7239. See you soon!