Great job, Gwyneth!

Congratulations to Gwyneth S., age 11, the lucky winner of this year’s Tween/Teen Summer Reading Program raffle! Gwyneth earned her chances to win by enthusiastically participating in our game sheet challenge and completing extra credit activities. Her dedication and love for reading paid off, and she’s now the proud owner of a backpack filled with exciting card and board games. A big thank you to all our tweens and teens for their hard work and enthusiasm this summer—your commitment to reading made this program a success!

Saturday, September 14 only

Please note: The parking lot for the library (entrance on Park Avenue) will be closed for line painting on Saturday, September 14 but the library WILL BE OPEN!

Please use the Central Avenue parking lot instead. Our handicapped accessible service ramp will be open as usual.

Tuesday, September 17 at 6:30pm

Join us in the Library Reading Room where LeRoy Walden II & Kayla Pierce will be giving their seminar called "How Money Works".

September 17, 2024

10 AM - 9 PM

We at the Wallkill Public Library want to encourage you to come by the library and vote on September 17th! 

What’s on the ballot: 

• We are proposing a budget of $389,646 for the 2025 Library Fiscal Year, which is $8,222 below the tax cap. 
• A vote to fill two open Trustee seats. Incumbents Christine Morelli & Stan Seagren are running for additional terms.

How does this impact you?

What are you getting for that money? 

The Library is more than just a place to grab a few books, though we do still have a great collection of books, ebooks, graphic novels, DVDs, magazines and more for you to borrow. 

• Excellent programming for everyone from babies to seniors 
• Upgrades to computers and digital resources
• Upkeep and maintenance to keep our historic library beautiful
• Supporting our staff, so they can continue providing great service 
• Continued participation in community-wide events and initiatives 

Here are some of the things the library budget supported last year: 

• Expanded Summer Reading Program for young children, teens, & adults 
• Craft programming outreach for Senior Citizens Group
• Offered museum passes for local attractions like Mohonk Preserve, Storm King Art Center, Empire Pass for all NY State Parks, Historic Huguenot Street Tours, FDR Presidential Library and Museum, etc.
• Sponsored the Snow Kidding show before the Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt
• Sponsored the Raptor Show at the Annual Duck Derby 
• Hosted Lego Build and Storytime during the Weekend of Wallkill
• Sponsored Illusionist Show during Holidays in the Hamlet.
• Participated in National Night Out
• Replaced and upgraded the boiler and heating system 
• Improved Wi-Fi access  
• Participated in Digital Navigator Tech Support & Ulster County Cooling Center programs. 

How do I vote?

• Absentee Ballots are available at the library now. Stop in during regular business hours to fill out the application and pick up your ballot. Ballots must be postmarked by September 10 if sent by mail or received in person by September 16 at 5pm (the day before the vote).
• Vote in person on Tuesday, September 17 from 10:00am-9:00pm at the Wallkill Public Library, 7 Bona Ventura Avenue, Wallkill, NY 12589

Turn in your skeletons no later than Sept. 18

Get ready for a spooky, stylish adventure at the Wallkill Public Library! From September 20 to November 2, 2024, the Wallkill Public Library is hosting the Tiny Skeleton Fashion Show, a unique art display where creativity meets the macabre. Patrons were supplied a mini 8-inch posable skeleton to dress in an inventive costume using items from home. Drop in to view their ghoulish creations in our exhibit and celebrate the festive fall season in a fun and artistic way! 

Vote for your favorites during the Weekend of Wallkill!

Mark your calendars and come to the 9th Weekend of Wallkill (WOW) on September 20 and 21. Vision of Wallkill invites everyone to this fun, family-friendly community event taking place on or near the Wallkill Public Library Lawn. Free admission to the public, WOW is a celebration to welcome the Fall season starting on Friday evening and continuing on Saturday. Friday’s events kick off with Lego Building at 5 pm and Storytime at 5:45 pm in the Community Room at Shawangunk Town Hall, followed by a Harvest Egg Hunt on the library lawn at 6 pm. The Weekend of Wallkill Art Show will also be taking place in the lobby of the town hall between 5:30 - 8:00 pm. Artists who wish to participate in the art contest can submit their artwork along with a $5 per art entry by contacting VOW.

On Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, the Wallkill Public Library lawn will be bustling with our “Welcome to the Barnyard” fair where everyone can participate in various activities and contests including the Dog Costume Contest, Floral Centerpiece Design Contest, and Billy-Goat Bingo. Get yourself ready for friendly competitions including the 30-Day Step Challenge and Remote Control Car Races. Bring your remote control car or rent one for $1. Children and adults of all ages can also take part in the Three Little Pigs Construction Puppet Show and paint with Wallkill Rocks. Back again this year, children can take part in the Barnyard Scavenger Hunt, enjoy a pony ride, discover Touch–A–Truck, and pet adorable farm animals at the Petting Zoo. The entire day will be a shopper’s delight with many Hudson Valley craft and food truck vendors present.

WOW will also be a day to meet and greet community partners including local historian Bob Mooney who will give a presentation on Marion Borden and her philanthropic story. End the evening at Popp Pavilion along the Wallkill River with a steak dinner organized by the Wallkill Lions Club (contact a club member for tickets). 

Make Weekend of Wallkill an annual tradition and share on Facebook and Instagram your “WOW” moments with #visionofwallkill and #weekendofwallkill. Contest rules, entry forms, vendor applications, a full list of all WOW programs and other upcoming events are available on VOW’s Facebook and Instagram pages or www.visionofwallkill.com.

Back by popular demand

The Friends of Wallkill Public Library will be selling mums for Weekend of Wallkill, September 20-21. Stop by the mum sale to support the Friends and find out more about their upcoming revitalization meeting on September 26 at 6:30 pm. (See info below.) 

Collecting September 1 through October 19

As part of the Great Give Back, Ulster County libraries are holding a food collection contest. The common goal is to fill up the shelves of local food pantries and to put an end to hunger in our communities!

We’re in it to win it for our community! Please help us with donations of canned/boxed foods and personal hygiene items. All our donations will be shared with the Loaves & Fishes Pantry in Wallkill. Please, no opened or expired food items. 

New Book BINGO for Fall

Dive into the Autumn 2024 Adult Book Bingo challenge at the Wallkill Public Library which runs from September 1 through December 1 for a chance to win a $50 Hannaford grocery card!

Check off your bingo squares by reading diverse genres, and you'll be entered into our exciting drawing. Completing bingos and filling your card earn extra tickets! Embrace the fall reading season and you could be our lucky winner! 

September 26 at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall Community Room

The Wallkill Public Library is looking for volunteers to help guide the Friends of Wallkill Public Library into the future. If you love the library and would like to learn more about how you can help us make it a better place come and join us on 9/26 at 6:30 pm in the Town Hall Community Room. The library director, Dan Perkins, as well as two outgoing Friends, Adrienne Gelfand-Perine & Marla Landsman, will discuss the group's mission, what it is the group has achieved in the past, and where we'd like you to help us take it in the future. Please join us to make the library a better place!

Celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month this September with Wallkill Public Library and the American Library Association! Discover the incredible resources and opportunities available at your local library by signing up for a library card.

This year, we’re thrilled to have Optimus Prime from the TRANSFORMERS as our special ambassador, highlighting that there's more than meets the eye at your local library. Whether you're looking to enhance your skills, find valuable information, or connect with fellow avid readers, a library card unlocks a world of possibilities.

Today’s libraries are vibrant community centers offering much more than just books. At Wallkill Public Library, you'll find diverse programs, story times, book clubs, technology support, job search assistance, homework help, and more. Curious about exploring a new hobby or learning a new language? We have the resources you need.

There’s truly something for everyone at the library. Getting a library card is easy and is an essential step toward academic success and lifelong learning for students. Everyone should have one!

(We are also offering free replacement library cards for the entire month of September, so now is the time to replace your lost card.)

Wednesday, October 9, 5:00-6:30pm

Join us for an "Intro to Home Composting" workshop by UCRRA (Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency)!

Home composting is a great way to manage food scraps like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, stale bread, and other scraps or spoiled foods so they don't go to waste! 

This free workshop is designed for new/beginner composters looking to get started. The class will introduce the environmental and horticultural benefits of composting and the basic principles of how to do it correctly. Then, participants will learn about the various compost bin options and the pros and cons of each composting system. Registration is required.

Dates: 9/28, 10/12 & 10/26 from 8am until 9am

Join Dan Perkins on a birdwatching walk. This walk is for both experienced and beginning birdwatchers. On 8/31, 9/28, and 10/26 we'll be starting on the Wallkill Library Lawn, and taking a walk up the nearby Rail Trail to see what winged friends we can spot.  

On 9/14, and 10/12 we'll be meeting in the parking lot of the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge at 902 Hoagerburgh Rd, Wallkill, NY 12589 for a nice change of venue. We may even have a guide from U.S. Fish & Wildlife for the 10/12 walk! Either way, bring your binoculars, birding guides, and some comfortable walking shoes!

The Saturday Morning Book Club will have their next meeting on Saturday, September 28 at 10:30 a.m. They'll be discussing Hang the Moon by Claire Gibson.

A riveting novel about an indomitable young woman in Virginia during Prohibition.

Most folk thought Sallie Kincaid was a nobody who’d amount to nothing. Sallie had other plans.

Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out.

Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger.

You will fall in love with Sallie Kincaid, a feisty and fearless, terrified and damaged young woman who refuses to be corralled.

Board Game Afternoons

Mondays, 3:00-5:00 PM in the Reading Room

Starting in September! We'll meet in the Reading Room on Mondays from 3-5:00 pm to play classic and contemporary board games like Risk, Mysterium, Sherriff of Nottingham, and Scrabble. For teens and adults.

Textile Tuesdays

The Wallkill Quilter's Circle is sponsored by the Wallkill Public Library. The Circle meets for Textile Tuesdays in the Community Room at the Shawangunk Town Hall on Tuesdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

Bring your present project and your lunch and join us! No registration necessary.

Mahjong meet-ups

Every Wednesday at 1 pm and Thursday at 6 pm the library hosts our Mahjong Clubs in the Reading Room. If you’re a player or just interested in learning, join us! We supply the games and (a limited number of) mahjong cards. Just drop in, no registration required.

Forgot your card? Check one out at the circulation desk to use during the game!

Adult crafting

Grab a project and come enjoy the craft of your choice, whether it's knitting, crocheting, diamond painting, coloring, embroidery, or cross stitch!

Adult Crafting meets on Thursday afternoons between 2-5:00 pm in our Reading Room. No registration is required.

Thursdays from 2pm until 4pm

Having trouble figuring out your new phone? Need some pointers on how to send that photo to your relatives? Until further notice, the Wallkill Public Library will be conducting weekly Tech Support sessions every Thursday from 2 to 4 starting in September. Swing by the library Reading Room if you need a hand, and we'll do our best to get you the answers you need and give you the know how to do it yourself. 

No registration required! Walk-ins welcome.

Recycling made easy

Wondering what's the best way to get rid of those used batteries rolling around in your junk drawer?

The Library accepts used batteries and cell phones to be recycled! You will find the WeRecycle Battery Box located on our window seat. Please use a plastic baggie (found on the side of the box) to place your batteries or cell phones in before placing them in the battery recycle box. Quick, easy, convenient, and environmentally friendly!

Bees & Beekeeping with Miss Jillian!

At our last Saturday pop-up program, Miss Jillian transformed the Town Hall Community Room into an imaginary apiary, bringing the art of beekeeping alive!

Our buzz-tastic enthusiasts tried on beekeeping gear, passed around frames from a beehive, and learned some cool facts about these amazing pollinators, such as:

• 🐝 Royal jelly comes out of a nurse bee’s head to feed a baby bee.
• 🐝 Only female bees sting.
• 🐝 Queen bees give birth to up to 2,000 baby bees A DAY.
• 🐝 Worker bees live to 5-7 weeks; queen bees can live up to 4 years.

Thanks for an engaging and informative program Miss Jillian!

Summer Reading Challenge Raffle Winners!

Miss Michelle is THRILLED to report that children in our community read almost 1,200 books during our summer reading challenge! Thanks to everyone for their hard work - we can't wait to read with you again next year!

Below are the randomly selected winners of our summer reading challenge grand prizes - congratulations to all! We hope to have more photos to share in our next newsletter.

Lego Build and Storytime 

As part of the Weekend of Wallkill festivities, join us for a Lego-building workshop and Storytime on Friday, 9/20/24 at 5:00 PM at the Town Hall Community Center - our build theme is "Welcome to the Barnyard"! Registration is not required. You can click on the green button to see this event on our online calendar.

You can then enter your creation in the Lego Sculpture Contest by bringing it to the Vision of Wallkill tent on the library lawn between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM on Saturday, 9/21. Please click on the red button to download a copy of the contest entry form, or click this link to find it on our website home page.

Interested participants can use their own Legos or pick-up a Lego building kit from the Wallkill Public Library starting Monday, 9/16 through Friday, 9/20. We will also have supplies and forms at the Lego build/Storytime event. 

The Lego build/Storytime event and contest are free and open to all ages. Be sure to vote for your favorite! 

Zoe the Therapy Dog Returns!

Zoe is back from summer vacation and will visit us during Storytime on Tuesday, September 24 at 10:30 AM. Zoe loves to join in on the fun - she also enjoys being read to and will take some gentle pets along the way… she might even surprise us with some tricks! Please register each child separately on our online calendar at the following link:

https://wallkill.librarycalendar.com/event/family-storytime-3898.

Fall MogaWorks with Susan Clark!

On Saturday, September 28 at 11:00 AM, we are thrilled to welcome back Ms. Susan for a program of yoga, music, movement… and most of all, fun! We will celebrate fall with apple and leaf themes! This program will be in the Community Room at Town Hall. Please register each child separately on our online calendar at the following link:

https://wallkill.librarycalendar.com/event/mogaworks-susan-clark-4729

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt!

We’ve heard that there have been bear sightings in the Children’s Room! During the month of September, find all 10 bears and enter our raffle to win a bear-tastic surprise! Please submit only one entry per child. 

Banned Books Week

September 22^nd through 28^th is Banned Books Week - check out our upcoming special display featuring some books you may (or may not) know are (or have been) banned...

Ongoing children's programming

Children's Room programming is back to our regular schedule in the Children’s area on our lower level.

• Storytime is on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 AM,
• Crafting Caboodles is on Tuesdays at 11:00 AM, and
• STEM is on Wednesdays at 11:00 AM.
• We also have take-and-make sign-ups again!

Please click on the button below to link to our online calendar to register for these programs.

• Our doors are open for library services including browsing for library materials, making copies, sending faxes, and using the public access computers.
• Our bookdrop is open for contact-free and after-hours returns of library materials. Be sure to secure DVD and BCD cases with rubber bands.
• Curbside delivery of pre-ordered items is available by request. Call the circulation desk at 845-895-3707 to make a pick-up appointment.
• Fine-free returns on everything, except museum/park passes.
• Inter-library loans are available between all RCLS libraries.
• Grab & GO projects with materials necessary for crafts available for pickup at the library.
• In-person programming for all ages!
• Museum passes are available to Wallkill Public Library patrons for Empire Pass, Mohonk Preserve, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, Museum Village, and Storm King Art Center. Plus, more print-at-home museum passes available through the Ulster County InfoPortal on the library’s website.
• We are not accepting any donations of books or DVDs at this time.