— Photo by Joe Burke
Feeding their fine feathered friends: Forty people participated in Saturday's Build a Birdfeeder workshop at the Altamont Free Library.
As you’ve seen from the libraries’ collective announcement, this is a big week for us as we get ready for the first major overhaul of our catalogue in 12 years. However, we’ve still got a ton of neat stuff going on here at Altamont Free Library.
The Dojo
On Friday, March 27, our old friend Ryan Black will be back to lead our teen gaming program, The Dojo at 6 p.m. From board games to card games to video games, we’ll have something for every high schooler (or near high schooler) to get into.
Eat Around the World
Next Monday, March 30, at 6 p.m., we will hold the latest in our ever popular series of Eat Around the World Potlucks, this time featuring the cuisine of the South American nation of Peru. If you love Peruvian food, or if you’ve never tried it and just want to hang out with some nice folks and enjoy a meal, please join us, and bring a dish to share.
Book discussion
The first Monday book discussion group will be meeting on Monday, April 6, at noon to discuss Billy Lynn’s “Long Halftime Walk By Ben Fountain.” This fantastic novel revolves around a young veteran of the Iraq war coming to terms with his sudden fame and the meaning and consequences of modern war.
There will be much to talk about, so please pick up a copy of this acclaimed novel at the library and join us.
Million Pillowcase Project
A bit further down the road, we have a wonderful way to spend a Tuesday during school break. Come down to village hall on April 7, and help the Train Station Quilters achieve their goal of making pillowcases for children in foster care as part of a nationwide effort called the Million Pillowcase Project.
Here’s what you’ll need: One yard of fabric in one pattern, plus 10.5 inches of fabric in a different pattern for the trim. If you need fabric, there’ll be a limited amount of extra fabric available at the event. No prior experience in quilting or sewing is necessary. Please call the library at 861-7239 to register in advance.
Editing workshop
Another very cool event a bit down the road, local filmmakers Frank and Zach Appio will be conducting a video editing class at the library on Saturday, April 18, from 1to 4 p.m., for aspiring photographers and filmmakers ages seven to 14.
This free event will demonstrate the technique of stop motion animation using Legos, smartphone cameras, and the Lego Movie Maker app. Seats in the workshop are limited, so to register, please email the Appios at .
“To Kill A Mockingbird”
With the recent announcement of the upcoming publication of a long-lost second novel by Harper Lee, much attention has been turned to Lee’s masterpiece, “To Kill A Mockingbird.” This classic novel about race and crime in the 1930s’ American South will be the focus of our penultimate Monday book discussion group on Monday, April 20, at 7 p.m.
Weather you’ve read it ten times, you haven’t read it since high school, or if this will be your first time, please join us.
Spring is nearly here and the time for new things is at hand. I’m speaking, of course, about the library’s new online catalog, which Altamont Free Library, as well as every other public library in Albany and Rensselaer Counties, will be rolling out on March 31.
As a reminder (or a primer, if you missed last weeks’ column), there is no cause for alarm: Everything that you love about the library will still be available when we switch systems. You'll still be able to search the catalog, reserve and renew items from your computer or smart devices. In addition, the new catalog will give you the option of searching for newspaper, reference book and scholarly articles from a number of databases that will soon be available to you.
Leading up to the implementation of the new systems, however, there are a few things you should know:
— For ten days before the new system goes live, you will be able to place requests, but we will not be able to fill them until after the new system is up and running;
— If you have suspended holds--requests for items that you have asked not to be filled until after a certain date--those holds will all be filled as soon as the new system goes live or very soon afterwards. To bypass this, the trick will be to delete your hold before March 30, and place it again as a suspended hold after the new system becomes available;
— If you use the "My List" feature of the current catalog to keep track of books you want to read or have read, that list will not be transferred over to the new system. You may email the list to yourself in order to keep that information and start a new list in the new system.
— As with any major technological change, there are bound to be unforeseen hiccups. For this reason, the AFL staff will be available by phone at 861-7239 and e-mail at to assist with any problems that may arise with your account. Furthermore, we will be lenient in applying overdue fines for the week after the new system goes into effect. Please keep an eye on our website, AltamontFreeLibrary.org for news and information about the new catalog system. We will update this site with news as it becomes available.
Thank you for your support and patience through these changes.
In the meantime, there’s some neat stuff coming up this week at the library and two very cool events a bit further out in April.
Bird feeders
To celebrate the springtime, bring your favorite young folks down to the library this coming Saturday, March 21, at 11 a.m. We’ll be building birdfeeders to welcome our feathered friends back from their migrations. We’ll have a bunch of different types to make, so there will be something to make for every skill level.
Book club
Do you have a second grader in your life who’s crazy about reading? Bring them to our Second Grade Book Club on Sunday, March 22, at 2:30 p.m. Erika Peterson will be leading a discussion of “The Magic Tree House vol. 2: The Knight at Dawn.” The following Sunday, March 29, at 2:30 p.m., we’ll meet again to discuss the third book in that beloved series, “Mummies in the Morning.”
Adult book club
Our Penultimate Monday Book Club will be meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 23, to discuss “Flora” by Gail Godwin. This acclaimed novel tells the story of a precocious 10-year-old girl and her struggling caretaker, set against the backdrop of the anxious final months of World War II.
Dojo
On Friday, March 27, at 6 p.m., our old friend Ryan Black will be in to lead out teen gaming program, the Dojo. We’ll have something for every high schooler (or near high schooler) to get into, from board games to card games to video games.
Million Pillowcase Project
A bit further down the road, we have a wonderful way to spend a Tuesday during school break. Come down to village hall on April 7, and help the Train Station Quilters achieve their goal of making pillowcases for children in foster care as part of a nationwide effort called the Million Pillowcase Project. Here’s what you’ll need: One yard of fabric in one pattern, plus 10.5-inches of fabric in a different pattern for the trim. If you need fabric, there’ll be a limited amount of extra fabric available at the event. No prior experience in quilting or sewing is necessary. Please call the library at 861-7239 to register in advance.
Video editing workshop
Another very cool event a bit down the road, local filmmakers Frank and Zach Appio will be conducting a video editing class at the library on Saturday, April 18, from 1 to 4 p.m., for aspiring photographers and filmmakers ages seven to 14. This free event will demonstrate the technique of stop motion animation using Legos, smartphone cameras, and the “Lego Movie Maker” app. Seats in the workshop are limited, so to register, please e-mail the Appios at .
On March 31, the Upper Hudson Library System, covering all of the public libraries in Albany and Rensselaer counties including Altamont Free Library, will unveil a new circulation system and a new online catalogue called Encore.
If you use the catalogue from your home computer, the new system will look different, but all of the same functions that you use now will still be available through this new system. You'll still be able to search the catalogue and reserve and renew items from your computer or smart devices.
In addition, the new catalog will give you the option of searching for newspapers, reference books, and scholarly articles from a number of databases that will soon be available to you.
Leading up to the implementation of the new systems, however, there are a few things you should know:
— For 10 days before the new system goes live, you will be able to place requests, but we will not be able to fill them until after the new system is up and running;
— If you have suspended holds — requests for items that you have asked not to be filled until after a certain date — those holds will all be filled as soon as the new system goes live or very soon afterwards. To bypass this, the trick will be to delete your hold before March 30 and place it again as a suspended hold after the new system becomes available; and
— If you use the "My List" feature of the current catalogue to keep track of books you want to read or have read, that list will not be transferred over to the new system. You may email the list to yourself in order to keep that information and start a new list in the new system.
As with any major technological change, there are bound to be unforeseen hiccups. For this reason, the Altamont library staff will be available by phone at 861-7239 and email at to assist with any problems that may arise with your account. Furthermore, we will be lenient in applying overdue fines for the week after the new system goes into effect.
Please keep an eye on our website, AltamontFreeLibrary.org for news and information about the new catalogue system. We will update this site with news as it becomes available.
Thank you for your support and patience through these changes.
In the meantime, we’ve got some neat events coming up this week.
eReaders 101
Flummoxed by your Nook? Curious about the Kindle? Ready to throw your iPad across a room? Let us help.
Bring whatever eReader you’ve got (or take a gander at one of ours before you buy one yourself) on Monday, March 16, from 6 to 8 p.m., and we’ll help you download books to it and troubleshoot any basic problems you might be having.
Adult trivia
Adult Trivia Night is back. Hosted by our very own Mary Beth Mulligan, bring a team and BYOB to this brain twisting trivia contest on Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m. Entrance is $5 and the winning team takes half of the door.
Birdfeeder for kids
Celebrate the first day of spring on Saturday, March 21, at 11 a.m., by building your very own birdfeeder. We’ll have supplies for several different types of birdfeeders, so there’ll be something for a kid of any age to do.
Second Grade Book Club
Do you have a second grader in your life who’s crazy about reading? Bring them to our Second Grade Book Club on Sunday, March 22, at 2:30 p.m. Erika Peterson will be leading a discussion of “The Magic Tree House vol. 2: The Knight at Dawn”.
The following Sunday, March 29, at 2:30 p.m., we’ll meet again to discuss the third book in that beloved series, “Mummies in the Morning”.
Book club
Our Penultimate Monday Book Club will be meeting at 7 p.m., on Monday, March 23, to discuss “Flora” by Gail Godwin. This acclaimed novel tells the story of a precocious ten-year-old girl and her struggling caretaker, set against the backdrop of the anxious final months of World War II.
— From Grimm Biz Seminars & Coaching
Staff appreciated: The new director of the Altamont Free Library, Joe Burke, far left, speaks with library supporters Kelly Pickering, second from left, and Meg Seinberg-Hughes, right, along with part-time library employee Albert Rusch at the March 1 open house, held to show appreciation for the library staff.
Happy Seuss Week!
Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to children of all ages as Dr. Seuss, was born on March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Every year, schools and libraries all over the United States and across the world celebrate his birthday.
One of the great joys of being a Altamont Free Library worker is that we get to share books that we enjoyed as children to new generations of readers. Earlier this week, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit two classes at Altamont Elementary School to read some of Dr. Seuss’s most beloved stories.
I would encourage all of you to take this opportunity to revisit some of Dr. Seuss’s books. Perhaps you will find meanings and metaphors in some of his books that you might have missed as a younger reader.
Consider, also, the historical and biographical context in which the stories were written. “The Sneeches,” for one example, was published in 1961 in the midst of the American civil rights movement, and its central message — “Sneeches are Sneeches and no kind of Sneech is the best on the beaches” — speaks to the superficiality of differences between people.
Seuss was out in front of the environmental movement, publishing “The Lorax,” a warning about the consequences of not respecting our natural resources, in 1971. Examples of his forward thinking abound.
On top of which, Seuss is just plain fun to read especially aloud. His tongue twisters and nonsense words and driving, rhythmic meter make his books an instant hit with kids of every age. So, come by the library and save some room in your tote bag for a few of Dr. Seuss’s greatest hits.
Felting
Originally scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25, our Pinterest Craft Night will now be held on Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. Jan Hornbach will demonstrate and assist us in the very cool technique of felting. Please join us.
eReaders 101
Flummoxed by your Nook? Curious about the Kindle? Ready to throw your iPad across a room? Let us help. Bring whatever eReader you’ve got (or take a gander at one of ours before you buy one yourself) and we’ll help you download books to it and help troubleshoot any basic problems you might be having.
Adult trivia
Adult Trivia Night is back. Hosted by our very own Mary Beth Mulligan, bring a team and BYOB to this brain twisting trivia contest on Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m. Entrance is $5 and the winning team takes half of the door.
Build a birdfeeder
Celebrate the first day of spring on Saturday, March 21, at 11 a.m., by building your very own birdfeeder. We’ll have supplies for several different types of birdfeeders, so there’ll be something for a kid of any age to do.
As the absolutely ridiculous weather of this past month continues unabated, it is, maybe, some consolation that, over the past week or two, we here at the Altamont Free Library have started thinking ahead to planning our Summer Reading Program. Some might say that planning so far in advance is a kind of coping mechanism, to help us focus on warm thoughts to get us through this cold spell.
I, on the other hand, think that we are just super enthused by the theme of the Summer Reading Program: Every Hero Has a Story. I invite you to start thinking about it, too.
Who are your heroes? What makes a person a hero? Do you have a story of heroism to tell? Which would you choose: flight, invisibility, or weather control?
If you’d like to be involved in our Summer Reading Program, please get in touch to let us know what your super library power is.
Until then, we’ve got some great programs and events coming up at the library.
T(w)een Night
On Friday, Feb. 27, we’ve got a double header of events for teens and tweens. First up, our old friend Ryan Black will be in to lead out teen gaming program, The Dojo at 6 p.m. From board games to card games to video games, we’ll have something for every high schooler (or near high schooler) to get into.
After that, Erika Peterson will be leading our teen book discussion group in a dialog about Dave Egger’s The Circle at 8 p.m. Come on in and bring a friend.
Staff Appreciation Day
Here’s a note from my bosses: On Sunday, March 1, the library board of trustees will host a staff appreciation reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Everyone in our community is invited to join us at the library on that afternoon to visit with our staff and thank them for all they do to help make the library such a vibrant and welcoming place.
Refreshments will be served. We look forward to spending time with you on March 1.
Well that’s very nice, isn’t it? To add my own thanks to the trustees’, I’d just like to say that the staff here at the library is the best I’ve ever worked with. Deserving special praise is Mary Beth Mulligan, our wonderful assistant director. I hope to see you all there.
Book discussion
At noon on Monday, March 2nd, the library will host a discussion of The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. This beloved 1997 novel tells the story of Dinah, portrayed as an almost insignificantly minor figure in the Old Testament, but whose story is expanded and brought vividly to life along with the stories of many other women who appear at the periphery of famous Bible stories.
Our noon book discussion group always has an interesting spin on the books we read, so even if you’ve read The Red Tent already, you’ll be sure to leave with a new perspective on an old story.
Felting
Originally scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25, our Pinterest Craft Night will now be held on Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. Jan Hornbach will demonstrate and assist us in the very cool technique of felting. Please join us.
— Photo by Joe Burke
Fun for all ages: Christine Carpenter leads a yoga class for kids and adults at the Altamont Free Library on Take Your Child to the Library Day, Saturday, Feb. 7.
Another amazing “I Love My Library! Gala” is in the books and a wonderful time was had by all. I’d like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who came out last Saturday evening to support their library.
Special thanks are due to Amy Martin and Erika McFarlane, the principal organizers of the gala, our honorees for the evening; Pat Spohr and Tony Kossmann, our trustees; and all of the volunteers who helped out keeping the show running smoothly. We were honored by the presence of Congressman Paul Tonko, State Senator George Amedore, Albany County Legislator Travis Stevens, and Altamont Mayor James Gaughan, among many other Altamont luminaries.
I have said it and I’ll say it again: I have never, anywhere, seen a library so warmly embraced by its community as the Altamont Free Library is. It is the community’s support that makes the Altamont Free Library the special place that it is and allows us to continue hosting all of the story times, potlucks, book clubs, craft nights, and summer reading programs we all enjoy so much. Thank you.
After all of last week’s excitement, we have yet another busy and exciting week to look forward to. The young folks will be out of school, so please bring them on down to the library to keep them learning and growing over the break.
Valentine’s crafting
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. This year, instead of the usual Hallmark card, make a card by hand at the library! It’ll mean so much more to your loved ones.
This Friday, Feb. 13, at 4 p.m., we’ll be holding a card-crafting session for people of all ages. We’d love it if you’d join us.
Oscar Movie Sunday
There are only two Sundays left until the Oscars! This Sunday, Feb. 15, at 3 p.m., we will be showing the Oscar-nominated How to Train Your Dragon 2.
Best Animated Feature nominee is a family-friendly tale of heroism, bravery, and, above all, dragons! We’ll make the popcorn.
Second-Grade Book Club
If you are in (or around) second grade, you’re probably not reading this. But if you know someone who is, and who would like to join our young folks book discussion group led by Erika Peterson, please send them our way.
This month, the group will be meeting on Sunday, Feb. 15, from 2 to 3 p.m. to discuss The Magic Tree House #2: Knights at Dawn. Should be a great time.
Book Club madness!
We have two different book clubs discussing two different books this coming Monday, Feb. 16.
First up at noon will be our snow-delayed discussion of Geraldine Brooks’s Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague. This widely hailed 2001 historical fiction novel is set amid an outbreak of the plague in 17th-Century England.
Next up, at 7 p.m., is our discussion of Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. This novel examines the causes and consequences of a school shooting and should provoke a fascinating conversation. Please join us.
Bird walk
Break out your long underwear and dust off your binoculars (we’ll bring extras), because it’s time for winter bird watching. Led by our resident birder Dan Capuano, this much-beloved event is sure to make you chirp with joy.
On Thursday, Feb. 19, the group will leave from the library at 9 a.m. for a one-hour trek around the village to see what birds there are to be seen. The kids will be home from school, so, if there are any junior members of the Audubon Society out there, bring them along. First-timers are welcome.
Teen Trivia
Are you in grade 6 or older? Don’t let your brain cells get weak over winter break.
Come strain your brain at Teen Trivia, hosted by our very own Mary Beth Mulligan, on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. We’ll provide the snacks and the questions; you bring your friends.
It is going to be a big week here at Altamont Free Library with two of our favorite events of the year.
Take Your Child
to the Library Day
For many children, the library is their first window to a larger world and their first educational experience outside the home. Saturday, Feb. 7, is Take Your Child to the Library Day. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring your kiddos to the library, especially if it is their first time.
We will have all kinds of neat things going on from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. First, we will have a special kid/adult yoga class led by the fabulous Christine Carpenter. Then we will have a special story time with stories and songs all about libraries.
After that, make your own cool necklace or stretch bracelet out of book beads. It will be a lot of fun, so please join us.
The I Love My Library!
Gala
Also on Saturday, Feb. 7, our biggest fundraiser of the year is coming up. The I Love My Library! Gala will take place at the Altamont Community Room at Village Hall from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and will feature a fantastic dinner and dessert, entertainment, neighborly camaraderie, and live and silent auctions.
This year’s honorees are two of AFL’s guiding lights, Pat Spohr and Tony Kossmann. You will get to hobnob with friends, neighbors, and friendly, neighborly elected officials. Our community's involvement is what makes AFL unique among libraries, so please come on down to support your library. See you there.
Oscar Movie Sundays:
The Boxtrolls
Every Sunday in February, join us for a viewing of a family-friendly Oscar nominated movie. This coming Sunday, Feb. 8, we will be showing The Boxtrolls, a stop-motion animated movie from the makers of Coraline.
The Boxtrolls was nominated for Best Animated Feature, so it must be pretty good. We will make the popcorn.
YA Book Discussion Group Postponed
Our Young Adult Book Club discussion of The Circle by Dave Eggers has been postponed. Please join us on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. for a discussion of this widely lauded novel about technology, privacy, and the role of social media in our lives.
Story time
As always, we will be holding story times on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for preschoolers and on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. for toddlers. Come on by and check out the nifty new shadow puppet theater we made.
Program Guide
Our February Program Guide is out. You can pick a copy up at the library or find it on our website at AltamontFreeLibrary.org to check out all the neat events we have coming up this month.
Boy, oh boy. We’ve got such great stuff coming up here at Altamont Free Library. Let’s get right to it.
The Dojo
This coming Friday, Jan. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m., AFL will host The Dojo, our young adult gaming club. Whether you’re into card games, board games, video games, or any other kind of games, there will be something cool for everyone. As a special inducement, our recently departed (like, he got a new job departed) Library Assistant, Ryan Black will be back to lead this monthly event. Black is Back!
Book discussion
As we enter the thick of winter, when spring feels like it will never come and you can’t remember the last warm day, there’s just nothing better than curling up with a good book that put things in proper perspective. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks fits the bill nicely. This novel is set in a small mountain village beset by the plague in 15th Century England. This reminds us that things could be much worse in our own small mountain village. But really, this is a wonderfully written and widely acclaimed book that should provoke a fascinating discussion. Please join us at noon on Monday, Feb. 2, for the discussion. Unless you’re sick. There’s no sense in tempting fate.
YA book discussion group
One last event for Saturday, Feb. 2 is our Young Adult Book Club, we will be discussing The Circle by Dave Eggers. This novel is set in a social media company and will undoubtedly provoke an interesting conversation about the roles of technology and privacy in our everyday lives. If you’re in middle school or high school and love reading, please join us at 7 p.m. for this event.
Take Your Child to the Library Day
This is going to be fun! Saturday, Feb. 7, is Take Your Child to the Library Day here at AFL. This is a great opportunity to bring your young folks to the library and let us introduce them (or reintroduce them) to all the library has to offer. Festivities kick off at 10 a.m., as we stretch our muscles and our minds with adult kid yoga led by the fabulous Christine Carpenter. We’ll also have crafts and story times throughout the day. It’ll be a hoot and a great way to start off a library filled day, ending with…
The I Love My Library! Gala
Our biggest fund-raiser of the year is coming up, also on Saturday, Feb. 7. It sells out every year, so get your tickets at the library while there are still a few left. The I Love My Library! Gala takes place at the Altamont Community Room at village hall from 5 to 9:30 p.m., and will feature a fantastic dinner and dessert, entertainment, neighborly camaraderie, and live and silent auctions. Our community's involvement is what makes AFL unique among libraries, so please come on down to support your library. See you there!
— Photo by Joe Burke
Selfie: The enthusiastice new director of the Altamont Free Library, Joe Burke, is eager to meet the community.
Hi. I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Joe Burke and I’m incredibly proud to be the new director of the Altamont Free Library.
The Altamont Free Library is unique among the libraries in the Capital District. I have never seen a library so wholeheartedly embraced by its community. So many volunteers contributed to the 2012 renovation of the Altamont train station. So many continue to donate their time, energy, and expertise to making the library the vibrant, dynamic institution that it is. This dedication inspires me and many others throughout the Capital District.
I am excited to now be a part of this incredible organization.
The welcome I have received so far in my few days on the job has been overwhelming. I already feel the support — and responsibility — of such a unique library that means so much to so many. I look forward to getting to know all of you better as we work together to make sure your library is meeting your expectations.
I would like to acknowledge library’s former director, Judith Wines, for the incredible job she has done here. I know that I have big shoes to fill.
I’d like to thank Mary Beth Mulligan and the rest of our staff for the superb job they have done, and continue to do, in holding the library together day in and day out. Finally, I’d like to thank our trustees who give so much of themselves to shape the ideal library for the village of Altamont.
Together, we will build on the incredible work already done, and continue to push for new and exciting ways your library can be a part of your life and your community.
Now, let’s get to work!
First up, we will be holding a book club meeting on Monday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m., with discussion about Tracy Chevalier’s historical fiction, Last Runaway.
Please join us for our monthly Around the World Potluck on Monday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. This month, we will be highlighting food from Scotland, so bring a dish to share!
Our eighth annual I Love My Library! Gala will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, at 5 p.m. at Village Hall. Tickets will soon be available at the library, and donations for the silent auction are still being accepted. I hope you will join us, and please make sure to introduce yourself.
As we get ready to begin a new year, we look back at 2014 and say, “What a year this has been.” The Altamont Free Library has gone through some major changes but our mission has stayed the same.
We are committed to serving you all to the best of our ability. We would like to thank everyone who helps make the library such a bright spot in town. The library would not be the special place that it is without the support of our patrons and members of the community.
Creative ideas
Do you have an interesting talent or suggestion that you would like to share with us? We are always looking to try something new. We know that there are plenty of folks out there with creative ideas and the library is just the place to bring those ideas to life. Please contact us to get things started.
Display case
The library has a beautiful display case in the entryway and our meeting room has space available to hang local artwork. If you have a collection for our case or something special to adorn our walls, please contact the library.
Goodbye to 2014 and welcome to 2015 and all that it brings. May you all have a Happy New Year.