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THE BLAST
THE LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM
WALLKILL PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Summer Reading Program Finale
on August 13!
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The last two weeks of Summer Reading Program events are upon us! In addition to our amazing regularly scheduled programming we've got a lot of great stuff packed into those two weeks.
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Mother Earth Mondays: Clay Day Parts 1 & 2 on Monday, August 3 and Monday, August 10 at 1pm (Ages 8+)
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Unearth YOUR Story Writing Club on Thursday, August 6 at 2pm (Ages 6+)
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Cardboard Explosion with Puppets on Thursday, August 6 at 4pm (Ages 3+)
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Craft & Snack! and Water Works! on Friday, August 7 at 1pm and 2pm (Ages 5+)
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Most of all, do not forget our Summer Reading Program Finale on Thursday, August 13! Magician Conrad Colon will entertain audiences of all ages and "unearth stories" with his storytelling and magic tricks. Following this performance, participants will celebrate the finale of the Summer Reading Program with delicious ice cream sundaes.
Be sure to register for these programs and more on our event calendar found here: https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/calendar/wpl_programs_events
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Thursday, August 6 at 4:00 PM
Cardboard Explosion with Puppets
With help from the audience, puppeteer Brad Shur transforms simple cardboard shapes into elaborate puppet characters and then brings them to life right before your eyes.
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Thursday, August 13 at 4:00 PM
Summer Reading Program Finale:
Dig into Magic
Magician Conrad Cologne will entertain audiences of all ages with his amazing magic tricks and storytelling.
| | Art Along the Sidewalk Art Workshop | | |
August 11, 6-8 PM
Come learn several painting techniques as part of the Art Along the Sidewalk project. We will be giving painting tips on using basic geometric shapes to create artwork, shadowing techniques to create dimension, and sponge painting techniques. This will be a fun workshop with the goal of helping people of all ages create artwork as part of the Art Along the Sidewalk project.
Art Along the Sidewalk is a community art project where those that sign up are given a blank white plastic lawn sign to paint with this year's theme "Unearth a Story". Completed artwork is displayed at Weekend of Wallkill (Sept. 19) and the displayed along the roads in the Hamlet for the month of October to bring some color to Wallkill.
The Workshop will be August 11 from 6pm to 8pm in the Town Hall Community Room (next to the library). If you have already signed up for Art Along the Sidewalk, the workshop is free; just bring the blank sign you received at signup. If you haven't signed up for Art Along the Sidewalk yet, you will be able to at the start of the Workshop ($5 fee) and you will receive a blank sign for painting. Paints and other materials will be provided. You can register or the event at: https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/17262740
| | Adult Summer Reading Program | | |
It's not too late to participate in our Adult Summer Reading Program! Just read a book, e-books, or magazine, listen to an audiobook, or attend a program at the library. Each time you do, we will give you a chance to win one of our amazing adult summer reading prizes. Prizes include $50 gift cards to a number of local businesses (Beck’s, Dos Amigos II, The Gardiner Collective, Hannaford, Hudson Valley Chocolates, Wallkill Greenhouse, and Wright’s Farm) plus a complete 9-volume collection of the Outlander novels.
Participating is easy! Just ask for tickets when you return your library materials or attend a program. The more books you read or listen to, and the more programs you attend, the greater your chances are to win.
Adult summer reading is for readers ages 18+. The program runs June 26 - August 31. Winners will be announced in early September. Good luck and keep on reading!
| | Museum Pass Spotlight: Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum | | |
Looking for something to do this summer? Why not check out a museum or park pass from the Wallkill Public Library?!
Our featured library pass for this newsletter is the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum. The folks from the museum joined us on Thursday, July 30 as part of our Summer Reading Program for a Dino Dig event, where kids got to get their hands dirty digging up dino bones as they learned about dinosaurs and fossils. We invite our patrons to check out one of our Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum passes to keep the fun and learning going! 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.
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. Explore their website at: https://mhdm.org/
| | I Bird New York Backpacks! | | |
Wallkill Public Library has teamed up with the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation as part of their I Bird New York Lending Library program. As part of the program we've added two I Bird NY backpacks to our lending library. The backpacks are available for loan to patrons and each has one pair of binoculars and reference materials about birding in New York including an I BIRD NY Pocket Guide to NYS Birds, a binoculars tip strip, a Beginner’s Guide to Birding booklet, and additional materials to help people get started with birding.
The backpacks are a great addition if you're planning to check out one of our Mohonk or Empire passes, or if you're planning to join our Wings Over Wallkill programs (see below). Why not swing by and check out a backpack this weekend?
| | 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.
| | Workshop Wednesday last week had patrons working wool into faux rocks.
They made multi-layer & color geodes! | | It was a big program with little plants! We provided containers, growing substrates, little plants and tiny decorations for these super cool terrariums. | | Crafting with the Seniors | | Seniors made stamped sunflower book bags at our monthly senior craft program. | |
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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Friday, August 7, 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 theDust Bowl, 1935 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 online:
https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/17056656
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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
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Reading ahead?
September's Adult Book Club Selection
We'll be discussing Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt on Tuesday, September 14 at 3:45 PM.
After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.
Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.
Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.
Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.
-- from Goodreads.
| | Saturday Morning Book Club | | | |
August's Saturday Book Club selection is...
... The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. We'll be discussing it on Saturday, August 22 at 10:30 AM.
Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.
In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.
-- from Goodreads.com
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Reading ahead?
September's Saturday Book Club selection is...
... The Time Hop Coffee Shop by Phaedra Patrick. We'll be discussing it on Saturday, September 26 at 10:30 AM.
Welcome to the Time Hop Coffee Shop, where wishes can come true…
Greta Perks was once the shining star of the iconic Maple Gold coffee commercials, the quintessential TV wife and mom. Now fame has faded, her marriage is on the rocks, her teenage daughter has become distant and Greta’s once-glittering career feels like a distant memory.
When Greta stumbles upon a mysterious coffee shop serving a magical brew, she wishes for the perfect life in those past Maple Gold commercials. Next thing she knows, Greta wakes in the idyllic make-believe town of Mapleville, where the sun always shines and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and second chances fill the air. Given the opportunity to live the life she dreamed, Greta is determined to rewrite her own script. But can life ever be like a coffee commercial? And what will happen when Greta has to choose between perfection and real life, with no turning back?
-- from Goodreads.com
| | | Click the titles to link to our online catalog to read descriptions, reviews, and place holds. | | New DVDs Coming in August | | Click the titles to link to our online catalog to read descriptions, reviews, and place holds. | | Children's Program Highlights | | Congratulations to Peyton! |
You have 1000 reasons to be proud!
Peyton is Wallkill Library's first young patron to reach 1000 books in our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program! We're so proud of Peyton and her parents, and we look forward to lending her more books to dive into. The fun doesn't stop at 1000 books. Well done!
If you're interested in participating in 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, please stop by the Wallkill Public library and speak to our staff. We'll get you and your pre-K child started on their 1000 book journey.
| | | Return of the Foam Cannon! | |
The Foam Cannon is back by popular demand!
On Saturday, September 5 at 11am we'll have the foam cannon ready on the Library lawn for one last blast of bubbles before school. Bring a bathing suit and towel! All ages are welcome but be sure to register! The foam cannon draws a crowd.
Register at: https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/17276858
| | | Dino Week at the Wallkill Public Library | | Summer Storytime with Guest Author Lily Bergeron | | |
Thanks to Lily Bergeron, who joined us for Summer Storytime during Dino Week at the Wallkill Public Library and read her book "Bergasaurus: The Nervous Rex". The kids got to enjoy the story of Bergasaurus on his first day of school as the only dinosaur in town. Thanks to Lily for sharing her story with us! We had a great time with her! Following the story the kids got to work on Dino coloring sheets and paint wooden dinosaurs.
| | | We kept the dino theme going during Wednesday's Summer STEM program with a Dino Build, where participants used foam "Dino Bones" to build their own dinosaurs. The dino creations that the kids came up with were terrific and ranged from the realistic to the fantastic. | | Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum's Traveling Dino Program | | This past week, the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum visited the Wallkill Public Library with their traveling Dinosaur Program. Children learned about dinosaurs, pretended to be dinosaurs, nibbling on hanging leaves with grabbers, and knocking over block towers with their fake dinosaur tails. | | These two superheroes dressed to run, jump, and leap in the air during the Never Stop Moving 365 activities. | | Ms. Sarah with some of our SRP superhero volunteers! | | Unearth Your Story Writing Club | | The theme of this year's Summer Reading Program is Unearth a Story, so we've decided to let our young aspiring writers unearth their own story at our "Unearth Your Story Writing Club". It's every Thursday at 2pm until August 6. | | |
Monthly Take and Make Crafts will be available in the Children's Area (in a labeled bin near the basement stairs).
If your child is interested in one, please write his/her name and age on the Take and Make clipboard near the bin. Crafts will be first come, first served until they are gone.
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Potato, potaaato... they aren't just chips, mashed or baked at the library.
Check out these cool prints made from carved potato stamps!
| | This week's craft with our dirtcup snack was seed bombs! Seeds and soil encased in clay, ready to be placed where you'd like flowers to grow. | | |
At last week’s Snack & Craft program, participants created cool frames with objects from nature... rocks, sticks, shells and more.
Snackers compared organic carrots... store bought vs locally farm grown from Taliaferro Farm in New Paltz. While farm carrots weren't as colorful and pretty, they have more nutrients and the tastes were worlds apart!
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The WPL Summer Reading Challenge is underway! If your child (toddler through 18 years old) is interested in earning prizes - possibly a free Renegades ticket for a child with the purchase of one adult ticket - stop by the library to pick up the information sheet, reading logs, and free swag. If your child promises to read this summer, he/she may adopt a "Book Buddy" to share his/her reading adventures this summer.
Turn in your reading logs by August 8 to qualify for a Renegades game ticket. Final logs should be handed in by the end of August for final prizes.
| | | Congressman Pat Ryan’s
Summer Reading Challenge Is Back! | | |
Summer reading keeps kids curious, confident, and connected — it’s how we make sure every child comes back to school ready to learn, grow, and thrive.
That’s why I’m very excited to launch a second year of my Summer Reading Challenge. I am consistently so impressed with Hudson Valley students, and I think this is a great way to recognize them and their commitment to education. So, whether you’re enjoying the nice weather in one of our beautiful parks or making a splash at a Hudson Valley pool this summer vacation, make sure you bring a book!
Students who want to participate should fill out the form linked below. Participating K-8 students who read five or more books between June 23rd and August 31st will receive a Congressional Certificate of Achievement.
| | | Click the titles to link to our online catalog to read descriptions and place holds. | | New Children's Books about Firefighting | | Ongoing programming and services | | |
Summer is upon us and things are heating up. Come beat the heat at the Wallkill Public Library. We are a designated cooling center for Ulster County during out regular operating hours, and we'll have bottled water on hand for those who need it.
Our regular operating hours are:
- Mondays 10-6
- Tuesday thru Thursday 10-8
- Friday 10-6
- Saturday 10-2
Keep cool and stay safe during the summer heat, and if you find yourself stuck inside why not grab a book or movie from the library to keep you busy?!
| | | 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 -- knitting, crochet, quilting, rug hooking, sewing, embroidery, needlepoint, cross stitch, or any other handcraft -- 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
Tuesdays, 1-3 PM
in the Library Reading Room
People of all skill levels are invited to attend, even first-time players who'd like to learn the game.
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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.
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Give the gift of life... Blood!
The Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis as donations fell to a 4-year summer low. Hospital needs are exceeding donations, risking patient care. All blood types are needed, but the situation is especially critical for type O.
The next local Red Cross Blood Drive is on Thursday, August 20 between 1:00 and 6:00 PM at the Wallkill Hook, Ladder & Hose Co. sponsored by the Wallkill Reformed Church.
Don't wait — register to donate now: https://rcblood.org/donate
| | | 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, Innisfree Garden, 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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