Altamont Library Notes for Wednesday, August 19, 2020
— Photo from Joe Burke
The Altamont Free Library has put up a second StoryWalk; this one is at the Benjamin Crupe Bozenkill Park on the edge of the village. The story is actually a collection of short poems called “Sad Bird Still Sings” by a poet who writes under the name Faraway.
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!