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THE BLAST
THE LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM
WALLKILL PUBLIC LIBRARY
| | | Summer Reading Program "Unearth a Story!" | | |
The 2026 Summer Reading Program theme this year is "Unearth a Story!" The library has a ton of upcoming programs around that theme and in celebration of America's 250th. Be sure to check out our library events calendar for July and August to find out more and register for the fun! Library Calendar link: https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/calendar/wpl_programs_events
Get ready to start logging your summer reading to get a chance to win some great prizes. The reading challenges for kids, teens, and adults will all begin on Friday, June 26th. We have a lot of prizes on hand again this year for those who participate, including gift cards to local vendors for the adult summer reading challenge. For the adult prizes we've gotten gift cards to Beck's, Dos Amigos II, Gardiner Collective, Hannaford, Hudson Valley Chocolates, Wallkill Greenhouse, and Wright's Farm! Thanks to the Friends of the Wallkill Public Library for sponsoring those prizes.
Save the dates:
- July 10, 1 PM: SRP Kick-off BBQ and
250th Birthday Celebration
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July 14-Aug. 13:
Summer Reading Program filled with presenters, performances, crafts for all ages, STEM/STEAM activities, storytime, water fun on the lawn, and so much more!!!
| | Online registration for our SRP programs opens on June 19! Sign up today for our great summer programs! | | Art Along the Sidewalk Contest | |
Unearth a Story!
The Library and Vision of Wallkill are teaming up again for this year's Art Along the Sidewalk Contest, which will kick off with the Summer Reading Program. Art Along the Sidewalk allows children and adults to paint a design on a plastic 18x24 "lawn" sign. Use your imagination with the Summer Reading Program's theme of "Unearth a Story." The artwork will be judged at Weekend of Wallkill and prizes awarded. Then the signs will be placed along roadways in the Hamlet for the month of October for everyone to enjoy.
Additional contest and entry information will be available at the library starting June 19th. All artwork must be submitted by September 8th. Contest entry fee is $5. We hope you'll help Unearth some Stories and help Color Our Hamlet!
| | Mahjong for Beginners is back! | | | |
Every Wednesday in July at 6pm
Join our local Mahjong expert, Eileen, for five beginners' sessions at the library. Eileen will teach everyone the basics of how to play. So, if you want to learn Mahjong or brush up your skills, this is the program for you!
Registration is required and will save you a spot for all 5 sessions. Session dates are July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. Register here: https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/17043724
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Teen Dating/ Sexual Harassment Preventions Discussion
for Teens and Parents
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July 14 at 6:30 PM in the Reading Room and Children's Programming Room
This is a split session program for teens and adults, where each group will meet for concurrent discussions about teen dating and sexual harassment.
For the teens:
In an effort to put a stop to teen dating violence we offer an educational presentation to teens where we will define healthy relationships, how to recognize red flags, the reality of teen dating violence, how to get help and resources for support. Our goal is to empower teens with the knowledge and skills to develop respectful relationships and ultimately prevent violence. Presentation and discussion to be led by Sha’nique Ryan, Safe Harbor Coordinator and Community Educator for the Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program.
For the adults:
Are you looking for ways to keep your tweens and teens safe as they enter the complicated, and sometimes challenging, world of dating, relationships, and increased independence?
Join us for a presentation and discussion about the joys and challenges of teen relationships, including recognizing healthy and unhealthy relationships, understanding the dynamics of teen dating violence, recognizing online safety risks, and knowing what actions you can take to help your kids stay safe. Presentation and discussion to be led by Deborah Foley, Erin’s Law Coordinator and Community Educator for the Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program.
Registration is required! We will have pizza for the event.
To register online: https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/16518365
| | Teen Volunteers Needed for SRP | | Museum Pass Spotlight: Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum | | |
Looking for something to do with the kiddos this summer? Why not check out a museum or park pass from the Wallkill Public Library?! In this issue, we're highlighting our Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum passes.
The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum (MHDM) is the ideal destination for children and families. With exhibits that focus on early literacy, art, early STEM, health and the local community, the museum welcomes 80,000 visitors each year and provides an educationally rich environment through which children have the opportunity to develop foundational skills, to engage in purposeful play, and to develop interpersonal connections. MHDM provides early learners impactful and nurturing programs and spaces that help foster imagination, creativity, socialization skills and the ability to understand the world around them. With the addition of a new science exhibition and richer and more relevant STEAM programming, it aims to elevate a child’s ability and appreciation for learning through age 12.
The MHDM Pass is good for admission to the museum for 5 people (must include at least one adult, age 18+). Your library card AND a photo ID must be presented with the pass at the museum. The loan period is three days.
The museum is located in the heart of the historic waterfront in Poughkeepsie, just steps away from the Poughkeepsie Metro-North train station, the Walkway Over the Hudson, fabulous restaurants, and two waterfront parks. Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum is located at 75 North Water Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Visit HHDM's website for a complete listing of their exhibits, amenities and hours: https://mhdm.org/
| | Wings Over Wallkill Birdwatching Walks | | |
We had another Wings Over Wallkill Walk at the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge on May 16th, and it was a beautiful day full of beautiful birds.
Come join us once a month at the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge located at 902 Hoagerburgh Rd. from 9am until 10ish as we explore the grasslands in search of our fine feathered friends. Long pants and a good pair of binoculars or camera are highly recommended.
Registration for each event is required.
| | You can also find birdwatching materials and log your bird sightings online at: http://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/birding/i-bird-ny | |
Now through November 1
Come by the library to pick up your I Bird NY Challenge birdwatching sheets and submission forms. The birds you spot and report help the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation track bird populations in NYS, and help with wildlife conservation efforts. For your participation, you'll receive a competition certificate, a commemorative patch, and be entered to win great birding prizes including birding accessories such as spotting scopes and binoculars. Participants may also earn a bonus entry into the prize giveaway by submitting a photo with their bird sighting submission forms to document their experience completing the I BIRD NY Challenge.
| | Speed though your library checkouts with the RCLS Go app | | |
The RCLS Go App makes it easier for patrons to access library services on the go, and we want to keep the momentum going. With higher library traffic in the summer, the RCLS Go app on your phone will speed you through checkouts! If you have your phone, you'll always have your scannable library card with you, even on those impromptu visits.
With the RCLS Go App, you can access and manage your library account anytime. Browse the collection, discover new titles, check out e-content, place holds, create and view lists, and more! Did you know that you can scan ISBN numbers in the bookstore and check if the library system has the item? And if they do, you can put it on hold right from the RCLS Go app!!
Haven't tried the RCLS Go App yet? Click the link to download it today: https://onelink.to/rclsgo Users will be redirected based on their phone's operating system. Download the app. Log in once with your library card number and PIN, and you're good to (RCLS) Go!
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Friday, June 26 4:15-5:30 PM
I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944
Beyond the Book is a monthly book club for tweens, where stories spark real-world adventures!
This month, we’re diving into the thrilling I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis. Join us for lively discussions and—of course—pizza! Come for the books, stay for the fun, and leave with skills that go beyond the page.
Registration is required. Register onlie:
https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/17022647
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Grow Your Own Herbal Tea
Sign up today for our take and make herbal tea growing kit!
Each month register for a new herbal tea kit to grow at home. Kits will include basic instructions and information, a starter pot, starter soil and seeds.
Registration is required. Any take and make kits not picked up within one week of the pick-up date will be offered to the public.
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June 24 from 6:00-7:30 PM
Join Ms. Kim for a night of Wii Sports fun—grab a controller and jump into bowling, tennis, baseball, golf, and boxing! Laugh, play, and maybe show off your skills (or just have a blast trying). Registration is required, and the program is recommended for ages 7 and up.
To register: https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/16717578
| | | "I made it at the library..." | | Crafting with the Seniors | | This month the seniors group crafted patriotic mangets for the fridge! | |
Saturday DIY Essential Oils Room Spray
Patrons had a spray-tacular Saturday at the library, mixing up essential oil room sprays and bug repellent for some seriously scent-sational DIY fun!
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Pony Bead Flag Keychains
Celebrating America with pony bead keychains! This month, the American flag.
In July, we will be offering ice cream cone keychain kits to go and in August, football kits.
Sign up starts on June 19 at 8am!
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July's Adult Book Club Selection
We'll be discussing America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie on Tuesday, July 25 at 3:45 PM.
In a compelling, richly researched novel that draws from thousands of letters and original sources, bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph—a woman who kept the secrets of our most enigmatic founding father and shaped an American legacy.
From her earliest days, Patsy Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate, protector, and constant companion in the wake of her mother’s death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France.
It is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first tumultuous days of revolution, that fifteen-year-old Patsy learns about her father’s troubling liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age. Meanwhile, Patsy has fallen in love—with her father’s protégé William Short, a staunch abolitionist and ambitious diplomat. Torn between love, principles, and the bonds of family, Patsy questions whether she can choose a life as William’s wife and still be a devoted daughter.
Her choice will follow her in the years to come, to Virginia farmland, Monticello, and even the White House. And as scandal, tragedy, and poverty threaten her family, Patsy must decide how much she will sacrifice to protect her father's reputation, in the process defining not just his political legacy, but that of the nation he founded. -- from Goodreads.
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Reading ahead?
August's Adult Book Club Selection
We'll be discussing The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable on Tuesday, August 18 at 3:45 PM.
Venice. 1704. In this city of glittering splendour, desperation and destitution are never far away. At the Ospedale della Pietà, abandoned orphan girls are posted every through a tiny gap in the wall every day.
Eight-year-old Anna Maria is just one of the three hundred girls growing up within the Pietà's walls – but she already knows she is different. Obsessive and gifted, she is on a mission to become Venice’s greatest violinist and composer, and in her remarkable world of colour and sound, it seems like nothing with stop her.
But the odds are stacked against an orphan girl – so when the maestro selects her as his star pupil, Anna Maria knows she must do everything in power to please this difficult, brilliant man. But as Anna Maria’s star rises, threatening to eclipse that of her mentor, the dream she has so single-mindedly pursued is thrown into peril…
From the jewelled palaces of Venice to its mud-licked canals, this is a story of one woman’s irrepressible ambition and rise to the top, of loss and triumph, and of who we choose to remember and leave behind on the path to success.
-- from Goodreads.
| | Saturday Morning Book Club | | | | |
The Saturday Morning Book Club will hold their next meeting on Saturday, June 27 at 10:30 AM. They'll be discussing The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg.
In this rich and deeply satisfying novel by the beloved author of The Art of Mending, and Open House, a resilient woman embarks upon an unforgettable journey of adventure, self-discovery, and renewal.
Betta Nolan moves to a small town after the death of her husband to try to begin anew. Pursuing a dream of a different kind of life, she is determined to find pleasure in her simple daily routines. Among those who help her in both expected and unexpected ways are the ten-year-old boy next door, three wild women friends from her college days, a twenty-year-old who is struggling to find his place in the world, and a handsome man who is ready for love.
Elizabeth Berg's The Year of Pleasures is about acknowledging the solace found in ordinary things: a warm bath, good food, the beauty of nature, music, friends, and art. "Berg writes with humor and a big heart about resilience, loneliness, love, and hope. And the transcendence that redeems," said Andre Dubus about Durable Goods. And the same could be said about The Year of Pleasures.
-- from Goodreads.com
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Reading ahead?
July's Saturday Book Club Selection is...
...The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman. We'll be discussing it on Saturday, July 25 at 10:30 AM.
It's never too late for new beginnings.
On the cusp of turning eighty, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs—an active senior community in southern Florida—she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy—and the man who broke her heart sixty years earlier.
As a teenager growing up in 1920’s Brooklyn, Augusta’s role model was her father, Solomon Stern, the trusted owner of the local pharmacy and the neighborhood expert on every ailment. But when Augusta’s mother dies and Great Aunt Esther moves in, Augusta can’t help but be drawn to Esther’s curious methods. As a healer herself, Esther offers Solomon’s customers her own advice—unconventional remedies ranging from homemade chicken soup to a mysterious array of powders and potions.
As Augusta prepares for pharmacy college, she is torn between loyalty to her father and fascination with her great aunt, all while navigating a budding but complicated relationship with Irving. Desperate for clarity, she impulsively uses Esther’s most potent elixir with disastrous consequences. Disillusioned and alone, Augusta vows to reject Esther’s enchantments forever.
Sixty years later, confronted with Irving, Augusta is still haunted by the mistakes of her past. What happened all those years ago and how did her plan go so spectacularly wrong? Did Irving ever truly love her or was he simply playing a part? And can Augusta reclaim the magic of her youth before it’s too late?
-- from Goodreads.com
| | Click the titles to link to our online catalog to read descriptions, reviews, and place holds. | | Children's Program Highlights | |
What's up down in the Children's Room
During the past week's programs, participants painted rocks to add to WPL's Gunky the Snake, participated in sensory activities, and played different games of strategy.
| | Ongoing Children's Programming | |
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
If you are interested in learning more about the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Program, reach out to Ms. Sarah sphillips@rcls.org or speak with someone at the circulation desk.
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TUESDAYS
10:30 AM Family Storytime
Children of all ages are welcome. The books and activities will be centered around children ages 4-10 years of age. Registration is required.
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11:00 AM Crafting Caboodles
Join Miss Sarah for crafts in the Children's Room. We will celebrate a different theme every week by making fun creations! Ages 3+ (younger children may attend, but this may require more assistance from the parent). Registration is required.
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11:30 AM Take & Make Craft
If you aren't able to attend Crafting Caboodles, grab a Take and Make Craft in the bin. Sign on the clipboard for each Take and Make kit you take. While supplies last.
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WEDNESDAYS
11:00 AM STEM Explorers
(STEM moves to 10:30 AM July 15 - August 12)
Ages 4+. A wide variety of topics and activities pertaining to science, technology, and math will be covered. (Younger children may attend, but this activity may require more assistance from the parent.) Registration is required.
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THURSDAYS
10:30 AM Infant and Toddler Storytime
(We take a break from July 9 through August)
The books and activities will be centered around children ages 0 to 2-3 years of age. Music, finger play, and sensory activities for infants/toddlers may also be included. Registration is required.
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Some SATURDAYS
Check Wallkill Public Library events calendar for dates
10:00 AM Family Storytime
Children of all ages are welcome. The books and activities will be centered around children ages 4-10. This will be a "repeat" of the previous Tuesday's story time. Registration is required.
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10:30 AM Crafting Caboodles
Join Ms. Sarah for Saturday crafts in the library Children's Room (for children age 3 & up). This will be a "repeat" of the previous Tuesday's craft.
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10:45 AM Lego Bricks and Building Club
This program is for children ages 3-11 who enjoy building with Lego bricks. During sessions, participants will be able to test the creativity and ability by engaging in Lego building challenges, along with building just for enjoyment.
| | | Click the titles to link to our online catalog to read descriptions, reviews, and place holds. | | Ongoing programming and services | | Stop in for free support for all your tech needs. Digital Navigators are available at the library to help you with all your digital and tech needs. Stop in or call to make an appointment. | | | |
HomeBoost Energy Assessment Kits
Wallkill Public Library and the Ramapo Catskill Library System have partnered with Central Hudson to make HomeBoost Energy Assessment Kits available to our patrons. The kits include a specialized camera that can be attached to your smartphone to check your home for drafts. It also can scan appliances to check their relative energy efficiency. Your energy bills aren't getting any lower, so take advantage of these kits to help bring those bills down.
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Blood Pressure Monitor kits available at the library!
Patrons can now borrow blood pressure monitor kits to help be better informed about their heart health. Each kit comes with instructions and information about how to use the monitors and interpret the results. Kits can be checked out for a period of three weeks.
We also have a blood pressure monitor set up in the library where patrons can swing by and test themselves while at the library. We encourage everyone to come by to use them.
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Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange
Looking for a cozy winter activity? Stop by the library and pick up or drop off a jigsaw puzzle as part of our winter puzzle exchange!
We have over 50 puzzles ranging from 150 to 1,008 pieces—perfect for solo puzzlers or the whole family. There’s something for everyone, so come find your next challenge today!
Donating a puzzle? Please count the pieces and place them in a zippered plastic bag before putting the puzzle in the original box. We do our best to ensure every puzzle is complete, but if you discover missing pieces, kindly report it and return the puzzle to the circulation desk.
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New York Times All-Access!
Get the New York Times online access (yes, including Games!) as a Wallkill Public Library patron. News, recipes, podcasts, the Wordle archive — it’s all yours. Unlock your access by clicking the link for instructions on how to explore New York Times content at the library or at home (or anywhere else!).
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Food Pantry Donations
Wallkill Public Library continues to accept unexpired, nonperishable and canned food donations, as well toiletries. All donations go to the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry at the Wallkill Reformed Church. If you are able to give, please feel free to drop off your donations at the library during regular operating hours. If you are in need of assistance, please check out Loaves & Fishes website for information on when they are open: https://wallkillreformed.org/Loaves-Fishes-Food-Pantry
Thank you to everyone who is able to lend a hand to their neighbors during hard times.
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Tech Support
10:00-4:00 PM weekdays
The Wallkill Public Library offers Tech Support from 10-4 on weekdays. So, if you're having issues with your cellphone, tablet, or other technology please stop by the front desk of the library. We'll be happy to lend a hand if we can.
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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 for a come-as-you-please work session.
Bring your present project and your lunch and join us! No registration necessary. New members always welcome!
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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!
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Pinochle has a new day!
Pinochle
Tuesdays, 1-3 PM
in the Library Reading Room
Pinochle at the Wallkill Public Library has been moved from Thursdays to Tuesdays from 1pm to 3pm. People of all skill levels are invited to attend, even first-time players who'd like to learn the game.
Registration is required: https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/17009912
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Battery 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!
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Clynk Bottle & Can Collection
Stop by the circulation desk to grab a Clynk bag and tag, then simply:
- Fill the bag with aluminum cans and plastic bottles eligible for the NY bottle deposit.
- Donate your filled Clynk bag by dropping it off at the Clynk collection area located at the entrance of your local Hannaford grocery store. Follow the instructions on or next to the Clynk door.
Together, we can all make a positive impact on the environment and help the library at the same time!
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Lend-A-Pole Program
Thanks to the Federated Sportsmen’s Clubs of Ulster County (FSCUC), patrons are able to borrow fishing poles from the library!
The FSCUC donated a Lend-A-Pole cabinet filled with poles, tackle boxes, and informational pamphlets to the library. Patrons can check fishing poles out just as they would a museum pass or book. Borrowers also get to take out – (and keep!) - a tackle box, as the FSCUC will replenish the supply when it gets low.
Ask at the circulation desk for assistance.
| | Business services available at the library | |
Copy & Print
Copying and self-service printing is available from our public access computers.
- Letter size B&W $.10
- Legal size B&W $.20
- Letter size Color $.30
- Legal size Color $.40
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Fax
Faxes can be sent and received at a charge of $1.00 per page.
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Scan
Scan documents to your portable USB drive. There is no charge for this service!
| | Local Vaccination Clinics | | Library services at a glance | |
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Our doors are open for library services including browsing for library materials, making copies, sending faxes, and using the public access computers.
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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.
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Fine-free returns on everything, except museum/park passes.
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Inter-library loans are available between all RCLS libraries.
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In-person programming for all ages!
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Museum passes are available to Wallkill Public Library patrons for the Empire Pass, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, Historic Huguenot Street Tour Pass, Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, Mohonk Preserve, and Storm King Art Center. Plus, more print-at-home museum passes available through the Ulster County InfoPortal on the library’s website.
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