Altamont Library Notes for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

As COVID cases have ticked back up locally over the past few weeks, we’ve gotten a few questions from patrons about whether we are keeping things as they’ve been since the beginning of summer, or whether we’re going back to patrons needing an appointment to use the library. The answer is that, for right now, we’re keeping things as they are: No appointments needed, and no time limit for your visit. Another thing that will not change is our masking policy.

Some libraries had eased their restrictions on masking, but nearly all of them have since returned to where we have always been: All patrons over the age of 2 must wear a mask covering their mouth and nose while using the library, regardless of vaccination status.

The New York State Department of Health continues to strongly recommend that masks be worn in indoor settings where the people’s vaccination status is unknown. Many of our patrons are young children, have medical vulnerabilities, or are — for whatever reason — unvaccinated, so at any given time, there may be unvaccinated people in the library who are especially vulnerable to the Delta variant.

The best defense against COVID remains what it has always been: Wash your hands frequently; maintain social distance; and wear a mask, especially when indoors. For anyone who hasn’t done so already, please get vaccinated as soon as you are able to do so.

If you prefer not to wear a mask, we continue to offer Grab & Go service that you are more than welcome to use. The board and I will review this policy at each board meeting going forward. If you have any questions about this, give me a call at 518-861-7239 or send me an email at . On behalf of the entire staff and board, we appreciate your patience and support.
 

Schilling Park

Storywalk

Have you checked out our StoryWalk at Schilling Park yet? If not, you should! Read the positive and vibrant children’s book It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr 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. It’s Okay to be Different will be up in Schilling Park for a little while longer, assuming the posts stay planted and the signs hold up.

Even better, did you know that Altamont Free Library is only one of many libraries hosting StoryWalks throughout the Capital District? The wonderful Guilderland Public Library has put one up in Tawasentha Park, and the equally wonderful Voorheesville Public Library has one in Wallace Park in Voorheesville, and there are many more besides those! For a full list of all the StoryWalks in Albany and Rensselaer Counties, go to UHLS.org/storwalk. Collect them all, and let us know which ones you liked.

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.