Altamont Library Notes for Thursday, December 29, 2016
You may have noticed by now that your copy of The Altamont Enterprise this week is a little thicker than usual. That’s because this week, you’ll find a special four-page supplemental section of the paper dedicated to the 100-year history of the Altamont Free Library!
This extraordinary document is the product of countless hours of research, writing, and editing by the indefatigable Kristin Casey, to whom the library owes a great debt for all of the work that she voluntarily put into it. Kristin was ably assisted by numerous editors and contributors, including Linda Cure, Keith Lee, Christine Carpenter, and Ron Ginsburg among others. Thank you all.
The publication of this history marks the end of the celebrations of our centennial year. Throughout 2016, we have had many opportunities to reflect on the changes our library has seen over the past 100 years: Changes in our location; changes in our community; changes in reading habits, and changes in our role in the community.
We have grown from a rather exclusive dues-paying organization with 482 books for lending into a determinedly inclusive community resource with over 13,000 books, as well as movies, computers, and more to be borrowed and used by anyone residing in Albany or Rensselaer counties. From our home in the historic Altamont train station, whose renovation was perhaps the ultimate expression of the virtues of community, we look forward to a bright future in our 101st year and far beyond.
Many thanks are due to everyone who has played a role in the celebrations of our centennial. The list of names of those involved would require an additional four newspaper pages to print, but please know that you all have our sincere appreciation and the appreciation of the many generations hence for whom this library will exist.
The library will be closed on Sunday, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day. From all of us on the library staff to all of you, we hope you have a Happy New Year and a wonderful 2017!
New-gadget assistance
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. Call the library at 861-7239 to book an appointment to sit down with a librarian for up to a half-hour to sort out your gizmo issues.
Book discussion
On Monday, Jan. 2, the Noon Book Club will get the new year started by discussing “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats” by Jan-Phillip Sendker. We’ve got plenty of copies set aside, so please join us for what will certainly be a phenomenal discussion.
SongTellers sessions
In the new year, we will be starting a new monthly concert series that we are very excited about. We’re calling it the SongTeller Sessions and they’ll happen on the first Friday evening of each month.
Each performer will receive the same list of 10 questions that they’ll answer through stories and songs.
Our first performer will be local soul rocker Bryan Thomas on Friday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome.
Potluck postponed
We normally hold our monthly Around the World Potluck on the last Monday of each month. For the next potluck, we’ll be sampling the food and drinks of Venezuela. Please join us at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, to join in the festivities and bring a dish to share. If you’d like some help in finding a Venezuelan recipe, swing by the library and pick up one of the cookbooks we’ve got on display.