Altamont Library Notes for Thursday, January 2, 2020
Now that the holidays are behind us, many of us are left trying to figure out how the heck to use the new techno-goodies we’ve received. For everyone who takes to new technologies like a fish to water, there are five of us who are utterly befuddled by new devices.
But fear not, that’s what the library is here for. Whether it’s a new phone, laptop, tablet or eReader that won’t do what it’s supposed to do, we can (probably) help!
Call the library at 518-861-7239 to book an appointment to sit down with a librarian for up to a half-hour and sort out your gizmo issues. And hey, if we can’t help you, it just means that you’re not alone in your confusion.
Fine freedom
At the beginning of 2019, we started an experiment: If we didn’t charge overdue fines for children’s books, would books suddenly stop coming back? As it turns out, just about every book we checked out came back more or less on time, or at least no later than they ever were before.
Even better, due to this policy, we were able to forgive old overdue fines and allow children who had had overdue fines before to return to the library as borrowers in good standing. All in all, the experiment has been a complete success!
It’s been such a success, that we’re expanding the fine-free program in 2020 to young-adult books! From now on, no matter whether you’re a kid, a parent, a teacher, or anyone else, children’s and young-adult books checked out here (even if we have to get them from another library) will not accrue overdue fines.
In addition, if you have existing overdue fines on an Altamont Free Library youth card, we’ll clear them. Patrons with overdue children’s and young-adult books will still be notified through their normal channels and, after 28 days, the book will be considered lost and the borrower responsible for the cost of the item, but if it comes back after that, the fine will be cleared.
We hope that many of our friends take advantage of this experiment, so spread the word!
Ukulele Meetup
Do you play ukulele? Are you interested in learning more or meeting other ukesters and learning a few new tunes?
Join us for our monthly ukulele meet up on Tuesday, Jan. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. The first hour will be for new players to learn hints and tips from more seasoned players, and the second hour will be an old-fashioned song swap!
Don’t worry if you don’t have a uke yet. There are always extras to pass around.
Book Club meets
Did you resolve to read more books in 2020? To meet new people? To spend more time at the library?
Boy, have we got the group for you! Join our First Monday Book Club for our first meeting of the new year on Monday, Jan. 6, at noon. We’ll be discussing Lisa Wingate’s recent novel “Before We Were Yours.” This affecting novel tells the story of a young girl, abducted along with her siblings in 1939, and the generational reverberations of that crime.
I Love My Library Gala
The social event of the winter is only a few weeks away! The always-anticipated annual I Love My Library Gala is coming up on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 at the Community Room at Altamont Village Hall.
Invitations will be in the mail soon and tickets will be available at the library this week. If you haven’t attended in the past and are interested in receiving an invitation, please get in touch with us. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we need your support.
You’ll enjoy a fantastic dinner and homemade desserts, exciting live and silent auctions, and the delightful company of your fellow library supporters.
This year we will be honoring the many contributions made to our community by Kristin Casey and Linda Cure, two longtime friends, board members, and volunteers whose dedicated service to our library and our village are a shining example for us all. Please join us!