Altamont Library Notes for Friday, June 17, 2016

When I applied for the job of Altamont Free Library director, I was told in my interview that, if I got the job, I might have to dress up in a chicken costume at some point. I smiled politely, not sure whether or not that was supposed to be a joke. Well, I got the job and now I know that it was not a joke. We own a chicken costume and I and several good-natured trustees are going to take turns wearing it.

Why are we going to be wearing a chicken costume?

You probably already know the answer, but of course it’s to spread the word about the AFL’s famous chicken barbecue, is tomorrow, Friday, June 17. Tickets for the barbecue are available now at the library and you should get them soon, because this event always sells out.

Tickets are $9 before the event ($10 the day of the barbecue, if there are any left) and you can sign up for either of two servings, at 5 p.m. or at 6 p.m. For that, you’ll get a half-chicken, a baked potato, coleslaw, a roll, a drink and a brownie.

If you let us know ahead of time, we can even make you a vegetarian option. Once you’ve got your dinner, you can bring it home to eat or spread out on the lawn in Orsini Park with your friends and neighbors and listen to Knox’s own Traditional Strings band.

So, be sure to look out for my friends and I dressed in a chicken suit along Main Street. And be sure to join us on June 17.

Beyond that, there’s a bunch of other neat things coming up in the next few weeks.

Book discussion

On Monday June 20,  at 7 p.m., the Penultimate Monday Book group will meet to discuss the “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice (Or the Segregation of the Queen)” by Laurie R. King. This is the first book in King’s phenomenal mystery series following the life as cases of Sherlock Holmes’ protégé Mary Russell. In this novel, Russell first meets an aging Sherlock who finds himself in danger from an old foe.

Movie

Please join us on Wednesday, June 22, at 6:30 p.m. to learn about the lives of garment workers in Bangladesh and their campaign to improve their working conditions through a fascinating and affecting documentary film. The movie will be followed by a discussion of the film led by labor organizer Greg Giorgio.

Africa potluck

Please join us on Monday, June 27 at 6 p.m. for another in our series of fantastic Eat Around the World Potluck suppers. This month we’re letting you choose the African country or region you want to represent. Choose a favorite recipe you’ve made before or one from a country that we haven’t gotten around to yet. There are so many fantastic countries to choose from: Egypt or Morocco to Ethiopia, Kenya or Mozambique. Your choices are nearly endless. Don’t forget to bring a dish to share, and if you don’t already have a favorite African recipe, you can always pick up a cookbook here.

Financial info

The beginning of the summer is the perfect time to get your finances straight and a great place to start is at the library. Please join us on Tuesday, June 28, at 6 p.m. for a workshop called Weathering Stormy Investment Seas. In this presentation, Carol VanValkenburgh, a representative of Foresters Financial will discuss how to make sure your savings and investments are secure even during the most volatile markets.

Opening ceremony

It’s just about time for the summer reading program. The summer reading program is a super fun series of free events and programs at the library that celebrate reading, fitness, and summer fun. Join us on Wednesday, June 29, at 4 p.m. and take part in a torch relay and the lighting of the summer reading flame and climb up on the winner’s platform. Register for the summer reading program and get your BINGO sheet to keep track of your reading and earn prizes. There’ll be fun for the whole family.