— Photo by Joe Burke
And the winner is … Sean McGuire won the Altamont Free Library’s annual stuffed-animal scavenger hunt, taking home Shelly the Sea Turtle who has been hiding in various locations around the village all summer long.
This past Monday, we celebrated Labor Day, a holiday dedicated to the working people of this country.
A few years ago, at the height of the ongoing pandemic, I remember being so moved by the daily expressions of appreciation for the people who really make the world go ’round, those “essential workers” that deliver our packages, protect our communities, teach our children, mend our injuries, cook and serve our food, and so much more.
I remember snacks being left on doorsteps for mail carriers, and hand-painted signs thanking doctors and nurses. It was one of the signs that maybe we would emerge from the pandemic as a better, more compassionate society.
It seems like we’ve quickly moved away from that in our pandemic fatigue, but I don’t think we should. I think we should thank the people that help keep our community going as often as we can.
In that spirit, and in honor of Labor Day, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our staff members for the incredible work they’ve done since last Labor Day in keeping our library running and thriving. They are: Erika Peterson, Ann Gainer, Meg Seinberg-Hughes, Claudia LeClair, and Jason Cooper.
I would also like to thank the staff members who have left us over the past year: Ann Cartmell, Jo Ann Mulligan, and Albert Rusch are all much missed, but did amazing work in their time here.
They are each incredible public servants in their own way, and they each contribute tremendously to our success. Next time you see them, please consider thanking them for all they do for our community.
First Monday
Book Club
Please join us for the next meeting of the First Monday Book Club on Monday Sept. 12, at noon. If you would like to join us for our next meeting, please call us at 518-861-7239 or email us at and we’ll make sure that you get all the details.
At that meeting, we’ll be discussing “Bewilderment” by Richard Powers. There will be plenty to discuss, so call today to reserve your copy and join us!
Survey
For the past several months, the Altamont Free Library Board of Trustees has been seeking feedback from our community about what we’re doing well, what we could be doing better, and how we can serve our community better in the future.
We’ve done dedicated surveys for homeschooling families and local educators, focus groups with fifth-graders, senior citizens, and parents of young children, and left drop boxes for paper surveys in several locations around Knox and Berne, including Knox Town Hall, Dollar General in East Berne, Hilltown Healthcare in Berne, and the Berne Public Library.
Most of all, we’ve had an online survey going for the past few months, and we’ve had over 100 responses to it so far. In short, we’ve been very busy, and we’ve collected loads of useful ideas that we’ll use to craft our 2023-25 Long Range Plan of Service. To everyone who’s shared your thoughts with us so far, thank you so much!
We’re beginning to wrap up the feedback collection of our process, but if you’d like to share your thoughts about the Altamont Free Library, we’ll keep our online survey open for a few more weeks. You can find it at https://tinyurl.com/AFL-Survey or through a link on our Facebook page or our website.
It’ll only take about five minutes and, even if you don’t use our library, we’d still love to hear your feedback. (In fact, we’d especially love to hear your feedback if you don’t use the library!) We are so grateful for your time and your ideas. We can’t wait to share our new Long Range Plan with you when it’s ready early next year.
Story time
Now that school is back in session, it might be a great time to introduce your younger-than-school-age friends to story time! Story time is a super fun weekly program where young people can dance, sing, play, and listen to a few stories read by the incredible Miss Ann!
Join us in the Orsini Park Gazebo every Tuesday at 11 a.m. (In case of rain, story time will be canceled, so keep an eye on the library’s Facebook page if it could go either way.) We’d love to make some new friends this fall, and we’d love for your kids to make some new friends too, so please join us!
Over the past week, we’ve had a bunch of young adults come in to return books or just to visit one last time before they leave for college. For a lot of these folks, they spent their young years as Storytimers in the Key Bank basement.
Many of them patiently watched and sometimes helped in the long 2005 to 2012 renovation and transformation of the train station, wondering when the library would finally be able to move in. I can only imagine how excited they must have been as 8- or 9- or 10-year-olds when the ribbon was cut and the doors were thrown open and they could finally use their brand new, beautiful train station library.
It’s been such a pleasure seeing them grow up over the past eight years that I’ve worked here, and seeing them leave has been really bittersweet for all of us.
To all of our friends who are leaving Altamont this week for their next big adventure, we wish you the best of luck! We know you’ll do amazing things! (And a few dumb college-y things too, but mostly amazing.) Please come back and visit us when you’re home. You’ll always be welcome back at Altamont Free Library, no matter what stupid color you dye your hair!
Labor Day
The library will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 3 and Monday, Sept. 5 in observance of Labor Day. I hope everyone has a chance to lay down their spatulas and spreadsheets and stethoscopes and enjoy a day or two off in celebration of a job well done.
First Monday
Book Club
Last week, I said that the First Monday Book Group would be meeting on Monday, Sept. 5. Sept. 5 is the first Monday of September but, as noted above, it’s also Labor Day, and the library will be closed.
So, please join us for the next meeting of the First Monday Book Club on Monday, Sept. 12, at noon. If you would like to join us for our next meeting, please call us at 518-861-7239 or email us at and we’ll make sure that you get all the details. At that meeting, we’ll be discussing “Bewilderment” by Richard Powers. There will be plenty to discuss, so call today to reserve your copy and join us!
Ukulele Group
Do you uke? If you do, even if you’re not very good yet, please join our monthly outdoor ukulele meetup. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. in Orsini Park, and we’d love for you to join us. Bring a song or two to share with the group if you like.
This is a fun, inviting way of growing as a player, picking up hints and tips, learning new tunes, and meeting fellow ukesters. We hope to see you in the park!
“Bewilderment” by Richard Powers will be discussed at the Altamont free Library on Sept. 5 at noon. Powers’s novel considers the future of the planet through the eyes of a father raising his young son alone after his wife, an environmental activist, has died in a car crash.
For the past several months, the Altamont Free Library Board of Trustees has been seeking feedback from our community about what we’re doing well, what we could be doing better, and how we can serve our community better in the future.
We’ve done dedicated surveys for homeschooling families and local educators, focus groups with fifth-graders, senior citizens, and parents of young children, and left drop boxes for paper surveys in several locations around Knox and Berne, including Knox Town Hall, Dollar General in East Berne, Hilltown Healthcare in Berne, and the Berne Public Library.
Most of all, we’ve had an online survey going for the past few months, and we’ve had over 100 responses to it so far. In short, we’ve been very busy, and we’ve collected loads of useful ideas that we’ll use to craft our 2023-25 Long Range Plan of Service. To everyone who’s shared your thoughts with us so far, thank you so much!
We’re beginning to wrap up the feedback-collection part of our process, but if you’d like to share your thoughts about the Altamont Free Library, we’ll keep our online survey open for a few more weeks. You can find it at https://tinyurl.com/AFL-Survey or through a link on our Facebook page or our website.
It’ll only take about five minutes and, even if you don’t use our library, we’d still love to hear your feedback. (In fact, we’d especially love to hear your feedback if you don’t use the library!) We are so grateful for your time and your ideas! We can’t wait to share our new Long Range Plan with you when it’s ready early next year.
Summer Reading
Last week, we wrapped up our 2022 Summer Reading Program, and let me tell you: It was fantastic! All summer long, the library was a buzz of activity as young friends came and went, telling us about all the cool books they’d read, and how many jumping jacks they could do, and where they last spotted Shelly the Stuffed Sea Turtle around the village. It’s nice to have a quiet library sometimes, but I’ll take a loud and busy one any day, especially in the summer.
Earlier this week, we picked our Summer Reading Program raffle prize winners, and we’ve tried to get in touch with all of the winners but, if you’re not sure whether you or your kids won a prize, you can check out our website, AltamontFreeLibrary.org, where we have a list of all of our winners posted.
Because we had so, so many participants this year, not everybody will have won a prize, but I am so proud of everyone for all of the drawing, and all of the jumping jacks, and all of the turtle-searching, and especially all of the reading that they all did. You should be proud of them too.
These are not easy times to be a kid. It never is, I suppose, but as a parent, I can tell you that having a safe, happy place in the community where they can be themselves and indulge their interests and their dreams through reading and discovery can make a big difference. We’re so happy to be able to be that place for so many of the incredible kids in this incredible community.
First Monday
Book Club
Please join us for the next meeting of the First Monday Book Club on Monday, Sept. 5, at noon. If you would like to join us for our next meeting, please call us at 518-861-7239 or email us at and we’ll make sure that you get all the details. At that meeting, we’ll be discussing “Bewilderment” by Richard Powers. There will be plenty to discuss, so call today to reserve your copy and join us!
Ukulele Group
Do you uke? If you do, even if you’re not very good yet, please join our monthly outdoor ukulele meetup. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. in Orsini Park, and we’d love for you to join us. Bring a song or two to share with the group if you like. This is a fun, inviting way of growing as a player, picking up hints and tips, learning new tunes, and meeting fellow ukesters. We hope to see you in the park!
With last week’s concert, we have come to the end of the 2022 Orsini Park Summer Concert Series. As I write this on Thursday, Aug. 4, I don’t know yet whether or not that last concert was a good one or whether we dodged the rain for a fifth week in a row, but what I do know is that, even if that last show was a total washout, this has already been one of the most successful concert series that we’ve ever had.
Every year, I don’t think the series can get any better, and somehow every year it does! The crowds have been larger than ever before. We have raised more money for next year’s series than we ever have before. The kids have been more numerous, and happier, and more beehive-active than ever before.
Most importantly, I have heard so, so many people talk about how grateful they are to live in the place that they do, alongside the neighbors that they do, with such a great park, and such a great library, and such great local musical talent. I’ve been humbled by the gratitude people have expressed for the series, and I am myself enormously grateful for everyone who came out to support the concerts and the library. Thank you all!
So much of the credit for the success of the concert series has to go to Lori McCutcheon, our concert coordinator for the fifth year in a row. Lori booked a fantastic group of bands for us this summer, and we all owe her a debt of gratitude for her work in making everything come together. Thank you, Lori!
There are a lot of great things about my job, but one of the absolute best things is that every year for a few weeks of Tuesdays, I get to welcome all of the hundreds of people who attend our concerts and to watch them talk to their friends and neighbors, and put away their phones, and squirm as happy kids nearly run into each other in their summer-induced frenzy (they almost never do), and listen to great music in a beautiful place.
For a few hours on those Tuesday nights, I feel like I’m the luckiest librarian in the country. Thank you, Altamont, for making those Tuesday nights so special.
Summer Reading
The children’s Summer Reading Program has been a whole lot of fun, but it’s nearly time to wrap it up. Make sure to finish up all of your activities and bring in your Summer Reading Bingo cards over the next week so that you can be entered into our raffles for a ton of fabulous prizes. We’ll be pulling the winners the week after next.
Don’t forget that, all summer long, Altamont has been playing host to a stuffed friend named Shelly the Sea Turtle, and he has been hiding in different businesses all summer long. If you can find Shelly, you can be entered into a raffle for a special prize at the end of the summer. Look for clues on our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on posters at the library.
StoryWalk
If you need to get out of the house with your young folks, and would like to get a bit of reading done at the same time, why not take a StoryWalk at Schilling Park? Read the fun and colorful children’s book “In the Tall, Tall Grass” by Denise Fleming while walking around this lovely little pocket park just off of Maple Avenue in the village of Altamont!
Many thanks to our friends at The Upper Hudson Library System and the village of Altamont for helping make this StoryWalk possible. “In the Tall, Tall Grass” will be up in Schilling Park for the next month or so, assuming the posts stay planted and the signs hold up.
The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
All good things must come to an end, and so too will the 2022 Orsini Park Summer Concert Series. We’ve had four weeks of fantastic shows after an unfortunate rain-out our first week, but we’re going out with a bang as Rusticator wraps up the series.
Rusticator is a long-standing fixture of the concert series, though it’s been a few years since we’ve heard from the band. Their acoustic Americana-inflected pop, rock, country, and folk are just the thing we need to usher in Fair season, so break out your blankets and lawn chairs, gather the kids and bring your neighbors, and meet us out at the gazebo!
Summer Reading
We’re deep into the annual Summer Reading Program fun here, but it’s not too late to come pick up your Summer Reading Bingo card at the library and start earning chances to win fabulous prizes, by having adventures, being helpful, and especially, by reading, reading, reading!
While you’re filling out your bingo card, take a look around for our stuffed friend Shelly the Sea Turtle. All summer long, Altamont will be playing host to Shelly, who is hiding in different businesses all around the village every week. If you can find Shelly, you can be entered into a raffle for a special prize at the end of the summer. Look for clues on our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on posters at the library.
StoryWalk
If you need to get out of the house with your young folks, and would like to get a bit of reading done at the same time, why not take a StoryWalk at Schilling Park! Read the fun and colorful children’s book “In the Tall, Tall Grass” by Denise Fleming while walking around this lovely little pocket park just off of Maple Avenue in the Village of Altamont!
Many thanks to our friends at The Upper Hudson Library System and the Village of Altamont for helping make this StoryWalk possible. “In the Tall, Tall Grass” will be up in Schilling Park for the next month or so, assuming the posts stay planted and the signs hold up.
The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
— Photo by Erika Peterson
Wildlife rehabilitator Kelly Martin displays a red-tailed hawk that she has nursed back to health. Martin showed patrons of the Altamont Free Library some of the wild creatures she has helped.
It’s hard to believe that there are only a few weeks left in the 2022 Orsini Park Summer Concert Series presented by Altamont Free Library!
If you’ve been out to any of the concerts so far this summer, I hope that you’ve been as impressed as I always am by the overwhelming feelings of neighborliness and community-heartedness that emerges when people get out in the fresh air and put away their phones for a couple of hours and listen to music and talk with neighbors.
It’s such a beautiful thing to see every week, and I’m so happy that the library gets to be a part of making it happen every year. I hope we see you out in the park for the last few shows of the season over the coming weeks!
StoryWalk
If you need to get out of the house with your young folks, and would like to get a bit of reading done at the same time, why not take a StoryWalk at Schilling Park! Read the fun and colorful children’s book “In the Tall, Tall Grass” by Denise Fleming while walking around this lovely little pocket park just off of Maple Avenue in the Village of Altamont!
Many thanks to our friends at The Upper Hudson Library System and the Village of Altamont for helping make this StoryWalk possible. “In the Tall, Tall Grass” will be up in Schilling Park for the next month or so, assuming the posts stay planted and the signs hold up.
The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
Summer Reading
Have you started your Summer Reading Bingo yet? It’s not too late to come pick up your Summer Reading Bingo card at the library and start earning chances to win fabulous prizes, by having adventures, being helpful, and especially, by reading, reading, reading!
While you’re filling out your bingo card, take a look around for our stuffed friend Shelly the Sea Turtle. All summer long, Altamont will be playing host to Shelly, who is hiding in different businesses all around the village every week.
If you can find Shelly, you can be entered into a raffle for a special prize at the end of the summer. Look for clues on our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on posters at the library. It’s going to be a super fun summer, so come get your Summer Reading Bingo card today!
Summer Concerts
in Orsini Park
The 2022 Orsini Park Summer Concert Series is off and running! Our concert organizer, Lori McCutcheon, put together six Tuesdays of great music with two shows left. All concerts begin at 7 p.m., and are supported in part by the village of Altamont, as well as by donations to Altamont Free Library.
For our next performer on Aug. 2, we’ve got the Red Wagon! The Red Wagon is a guitar- and saxophone-led roots and rock band based in Schoharie that performs infectious originals and clever covers that are sure to delight you. We hope you join us!
The following week, Aug. 9, will sadly be the last show of the season, but we’re going out with a bang as Rusticator wraps up the series. Rusticator is a longstanding fixture of the concert series, though it’s been a few years since we’ve heard from them. Their acoustic Americana-inflected pop, rock, country, and folk are just the thing we need to usher in Fair season, so break out your blankets and lawn chairs, gather the kids, and bring your neighbors, and meet us out at the gazebo!
Ukulele Group
Do you uke? If you do, even if you’re not very good yet, please join our monthly outdoor ukulele meetup. Our next meeting will be Monday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. in Orsini Park, and we’d love for you to join us. Bring a song or two to share with the group if you like. This is a fun, inviting way of growing as a player, picking up hints and tips, learning new tunes, and meeting fellow ukesters. We hope to see you in the park!
If you need to get out of the house with your young folks, and would like to get a bit of reading done at the same time, why not take a StoryWalk at Schilling Park? Read the fun and colorful children’s book “In the Tall, Tall Grass” by Denise Fleming while walking around this lovely little pocket park just off of Maple Avenue in the village of Altamont!
Many thanks to our friends at the Upper Hudson Library System and the Village of Altamont for helping make this StoryWalk possible. “In the Tall, Tall Grass” will be up in Schilling Park for the next month or so, assuming the posts stay planted and the signs hold up.
The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
Summer Reading
Have you started your Summer Reading Bingo yet? It’s not too late to pick up your Summer Reading Bingo card at the library and start earning chances to win fabulous prizes, by having adventures, being helpful, and especially, by reading, reading, reading!
While you’re filling out your bingo card, take a look around for our stuffed friend Shelly the Sea Turtle. All summer long, Altamont will be playing host to Shelly, and they’ll be hiding in different businesses all around the Village every week. If you can find them, you can be entered into a raffle for a special prize at the end of the summer. Look for clues on our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on posters at the library. It's going to be a super fun summer, so come get your Summer Reading BINGO card today!
Summer Concerts
in Orsini Park
After a rain cancellation our first week, the 2022 Orsini Park Summer Concert Series, is off and running! Our concert organizer, Lori McCutcheon, has put together six Tuesdays of great music running through Tuesday, Aug. 9. All concerts begin at 7 p.m., and are supported in part by the Village of Altamont, as well as by donations to Altamont Free Library.
For our next performer on July 26, we’ve got the Ultimates! The Ultimates were one of the biggest hits at last year’s concert series, playing rock and pop classics that will make you want to get up and dance! So break out your blankets and lawn chairs, gather the kids and bring your neighbors, and meet us out at the gazebo!
Planning for
the future
Altamont Free Library is planning for the future and we need your help! Every three years, the trustees of the Altamont Free Library create a new Long Range Plan of Service, and this year is one of those years.
Over the course of the next few months, we will ask our community to give us feedback in a variety of ways. We might pop in at your seniors’ luncheon, or set up a table at your baseball game, or ask you a few questions while you’re at one of our summer concerts.
The way we get most of our information though is through an online survey. In order to better serve you and our community, please take our short 5- to 7-minute survey to let us know whether you use the library, how you use it, and what we can do better for you in the future. You can find it at https://tinyurl.com/AFL-Survey or through a link on our Facebook page or our website. We are so grateful for your time and your ideas!
— Photo by Joe Burke
Community members can check out a beautiful pocket park, Schilling Park off Maple Avenue in Altamont, while their young friends enjoy the children’s picture book, “In the Tall, Tall Grass” by Denise Fleming.
As you may have noticed, Altamont Free Library is one of the few libraries around that still requires patrons to wear face masks inside the library. It’s a policy that we’ve had in place for almost two years now, and it’s served us well. Over the past few weeks, we’ve gotten a few questions about why we still have this policy, so I thought I’d explain ourselves.
First of all, when I say that this policy has served us well over the past few years, I mean that not a single member of the library staff has tested positive for COVID even once over the past few years. But we’re a small staff in a small, sometimes crowded building, and if one of us gets it, there’s a pretty good chance that we’ll all get it.
We don’t have a large enough staff to be able to easily deal with more than one sick staff member at a time without having to close the library for an extended period of time while we quarantine and recover, and we think that having to shut the library down during our busiest season would be awful for our community.
Finally, we don’t know what medical vulnerabilities our patrons might have and it’s not our business to ask. To protect everyone, we ask that all patrons wear a mask so that nobody is prevented from coming in because of fear for their health.
We know it’s annoying for some community members. We know that some of you would rather not do it. We know that a few community members may even refuse to use AFL while we have this policy in place, and we truly regret that circumstance. (We can always figure out a way to help you get the materials that you need if that’s the case. Just email me at director@altamontfreelibrary.org.)
However, I think a greater good is served for most community members by keeping this policy in place for the time being. I sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding.
Summer reading
Have you started your Summer Reading Bingo yet? It’s not too late to come pick up your Summer Reading Bingo card at the library and start earning chances to win fabulous prizes, by having adventures, being helpful, and especially, by reading, reading, reading!
Once you’ve off and running on your bingo card, join us on Thursday, July 21 at 6 p.m. for an up close and personal visit with the Llamas of Wunsupana Farms! If you participated in our Summer Reading Program last year, you know how cool these llamas are, and we’ll learn all about them from their owner, Teri Conroy, and her 4-H volunteers. (A word of caution: If the day is too hot, we’ll have to postpone this program. Llamas don’t’ like the heat!)
Speaking of wildlife, have you met our stuffed animal friend Shelly the Sea Turtle yet? All summer long, Altamont will be playing host to Shelly, and starting July 5, they’ll be hiding in different businesses all around the village. If you can find them, you can be entered into a raffle for a special prize at the end of the summer. Look for clues on our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on posters at the library.It's going to be a super fun summer, so come get your Summer Reading BINGO card today!
Summer Concerts
in Orsini Park
After a rain cancellation our first week, the 2022 Orsini Park Summer Concert Series, is off and running! Our concert organizer, Lori McCutcheon, has put together six Tuesdays of great music running through Tuesday, Aug. 9. All concerts begin at 7 p.m., and are supported in part by the Village of Altamont, as well as by donations to Altamont Free Library.
For our next performer on July 19, we’ve got the always fantastic Shades of Gray! Shades of Gray have been far and away the favorite performer of our last few Summer Concert Series, and we can’t wait to see what old favorites and rock classics they break out this time. We have a special sponsor for this concert in Montgomery Tree Service LLC, to whom we are grateful for their financial support. So break out your blankets and lawn chairs, gather the kids and bring your neighbors, and meet us out at the gazebo!
Family Feedback
Story Time
On Tuesday, July 19, we’re going to try a different kind of Storytime. All year long, Altamont Free Library is asking for feedback from our community to help us put together our new Long Range Plan. As part of that, on July 19, we’re going to have a community conversation with the parents and caregivers of young children to try and learn how we can serve you better. It’ll be happening at our usual story time time, 11 a.m. in Schilling Park instead of Orsini Park, and while we speak with you parents and caregivers, we’ll be keeping the children busy with a special story time conducted by a trio of amazing friends: AFL’s own Miss Ann and Miss Erika, as well as Thacher Park Wildlife Educator Shannon Duerr.
They’ll read stories, lead activities and crafts, and then monitor the kiddos on the Schilling Park playground so that the adults can have a conversation within sight and earshot of the children. We really want as much input from caregivers of children as possible, so please consider joining us for this very special story time!
Enterprise file photo — Michael Koff
Wildlife rehabilitator Kelly Martin, pictured here with an injured northern saw-whet owl, will be at the Altamont Free Library on July 14 to introduce kids to her menagerie
Last week, we kicked off our always wildly anticipated children’s Summer Reading Program! Come pick up your Summer Reading Bingo card at the library and on Tuesday, July 5, start earning chances to win fabulous prizes, by having adventures, being helpful, and especially, by reading, reading, reading!
Once you’ve off and running on your bingo card, join us on Thursday, July 14, at 6 p.m. to meet some local animal friends. We’ll be joined by a variety of wild local animals as Wildlife Rehabilitator Kelly Martin teaches us all about our animal neighbors and about her years of experience in reintegrating animals into the wild. Her owl presentation last year was a huge hit, so don’t miss this one!
Speaking of wildlife, have you met our stuffed animal friend Shelly the Sea Turtle yet? All summer long, Altamont will be playing host to Shelly, and starting July 5, Shelly will be hiding in different businesses all around the village. If you can find Shelly, you can be entered into a raffle for a special prize at the end of the summer. Look for clues on our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on posters at the library.
It’s going to be a super fun summer, so come get your Summer Reading Bingo card today!
Summer Concerts
Last week, we also kicked off the 2022 Orsini Park Summer Concert Series, and it was so, so good to be back! Our concert organizer, Lori McCutcheon, has put together six Tuesdays of great music running through Tuesday, Aug. 9. All concerts begin at 7 p.m., and are supported in part by the village of Altamont, as well as by donations to Altamont Free Library.
Our next performer on July 12, we’ve got Jules Olson! Jules is an upstate-based singer-songwriter, who blends soul, folk, and pop music into beautiful, captivating original songs. It’s so nice to see you all back in the park after a year away, so break out your blankets and lawn chairs, gather the kids and bring your neighbors, and meet us out at the gazebo!
Story Time
in Orsini Park
Speaking of Orsini Park, story time in the park is back! Every Tuesday at 11 a.m. (please note the new time!), gather your young ones and join Miss Ann out for some super fun stories, songs, and activities. In order to keep things safe and socially distant, we’re going to be spreading out on the lawn in our summer home, Orsini Park!
If you’ve never visited us before, Orsini Park shares a parking lot with the library, so it’s easy to find. Please bring a blanket and/or a lawn chair for you and your young people to sit on. In the event of rain, storytime will have to be canceled for the week unfortunately, so be sure to check our Facebook page for updates. We’ll see you in the park!
Family Feedback
Story Time
Well, story times are usually in Orsini Park, but on Tuesday, July 19, we’re going to be doing something a bit different. All year long, the Altamont Free Library is asking for feedback from our community to help us put together our new Long Range Plan.
As part of that, on July 19, we’re going to have a community conversation with the parents and caregivers of young children to try to learn how we can serve you better. It’ll be happening at our usual story-time time, 11 a.m. in Schilling Park instead of Orsini Park.
And, while we speak with you parents and caregivers, we’ll be keeping the children busy with a special story time conducted by a trio of amazing friends: AFL’s own Miss Ann and Miss Erika, as well as Thacher Park Wildlife Educator Shannon Duerr.
They’ll read stories, lead activities and crafts, and then monitor the kiddos on the Schilling Park playground so that the adults can have a conversation within sight and earshot of the children. We really want as much input from caregivers of children as possible, so please consider joining us for this very special story time.
— Photo by Joe Burke
Shelly the Sea Turtle, hanging out here at the Altamont Free Library, will be hiding in different places around the village this summer. “If you happen to spot Shelly, come let us know where, and you’ll be entered into a raffle for a very special prize at the end of the summer,” says Joe Burke, the library’s director.
Happy Independence Day! The library will be closed on Monday, July 4th, as we rest up for the wild week ahead!
Next week, we’re kicking off our always wildly anticipated children’s Summer Reading Program. This year, our Summer Reading Program is all about animals, and it’s going to be wild! Come pick up your Summer Reading Bingo card at the library and on Tuesday, July 5, and start earning chances to win fabulous prizes, by having adventures, being helpful, and especially, by reading, reading, reading!
On July 5, you can also start looking for our stuffed animal friend Shelly the Sea Turtle. All summer long, Altamont will be playing host to Shelly, and, starting July 5, Shelly will be hiding in different businesses all summer long. If you can find Shelly, you can be entered into a raffle for a special prize at the end of the summer. Look for clues on our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on posters at the library.
The first event of our Summer Reading Program will be a visit from Katrina Talbott, a wildlife biologist with the state’s Department of Environmental conservation, on Thursday, July 7, at 6 p.m. in front of the Orsini Park Gazebo. Katrina will teach us about the wild animals that live all around us and how we can safely interact with them. It’s going to be informative and interesting, so don’t miss it!
It’s going to be a super fun summer, so come get your Summer Reading Bingo card today!
Summer Concerts
Next week, we’re also kicking off the 2022 Orsini Park Summer Concert Series! Our concert organizer, Lori McCutcheon, has put together six Tuesdays of great music, kicking off on Tuesday, July 5, and running through Tuesday, Aug. 9. All concerts begin at 7 p.m., and are supported in part by the village of Altamont, as well as by donations to Altamont Free Library.
First up, on Tuesday, July 5, at 7 p.m., we’ve got The Cougars! The Cougars are an exciting local band who play infectious rock covers. Don’t miss them!
It’s going to be so nice to see you all back in the park after a year away, so break out your blankets and lawn chairs, gather the kids, and bring your neighbors, and meet us out at the gazebo!
Story time
in Orsini Park
Speaking of Orsini Park, story time in the park is back! Every Tuesday at 11 a.m. (please note the new time!), gather your young ones and join Miss Ann for some super fun stories, songs, and activities. In order to keep things safe and socially distant, we’re going to be spreading out on the lawn in our summer home, Orsini Park!
If you’ve never visited us before, Orsini Park shares a parking lot with the library, so it’s easy to find. Please bring a blanket and/or a lawn chair for you and your young people to sit on. In the event of rain, story time will have to be canceled for the week unfortunately, so be sure to check our Facebook page for updates. We’ll see you in the park!