Altamont Library Notes for Thursday, April 10, 2014

The snow is melting, the skies are clearing, and small glaciers are beginning to slide around under their own power in shadier areas, like cold, sleepy vampires that melt in a hurry when they finally meet with Mr. Sun. It’s the perfect time of year to bounce out the door, stretch your legs, and then bounce right the heck back in again because, let’s face it, it’s still pretty nippy out there.

A slideshow of strides

As the snow melts, the mountains begin to seem like a more inviting prospect. Still, some of us may need some “oomph” to get up those mountains, and a slideshow at the Altamont Free Library  by author Alan Via might be just the thing.

Via, a winter 46er (the Adirondack 46 High Peaks), a 35er (of the Catskill 35 peaks above the 3,500-foot mark), a NE111 (the Northeast’s 111 mountains higher than 4,000 feet), and one of those few-and-far-between hikers who has hiked, bushwhacked, or slogged all of the Adirondack and Catskill’s hundred highest peaks.

Right now, he’s working on the NEHH (New England Hundred Highest), VT100’s, Catskill 200 Highest, and NYS 300 lists, laughing all the way that these lists will surely outlive him. The slideshow is on Thursday, April 10, at 7 p.m. No actual mountain climbing will be required on the part of the audience.

Read to a Dog

On the Saturdays, of April 12 and April 26, a lab-golden therapy dog named Frankie will be at the library between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Kids are invited to come read with her, in a relaxed, safe, and comfortable environment – and besides, who wouldn’t want a reading buddy who runs to come see you?

Muppet puppets

On April 16, at 3 p.m., the release of the newest Muppet film will be celebrated with something for school-aged kids. Our make-your-own-Muppet program lets them make their own unique goofy puppets with their own teeth, eyes, noses, horns, hair, etc. Afterwards, a rousing chorus of “Mah Na Mah Na” will be in order, so make sure they bring their singing voices!

The future

On a somewhat more somber note, the library is currently seeking input from members of the community about what the library means to them, and how it can best serve everyone — not only right now, but in the future, as well.

This means that we will be hosting two different hour-long community conversations. The first is on Thursday, April 24, from 7 to 8 p.m., and the second on Saturday, April 26, from 9 to 10 a.m. Please come share your thoughts and ideas about what our library means to you.

All interested members of the community are encouraged to attend, whether they use the library or not. RSVP at 861-7239.