We’re not sure, yet. Though Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s stay-at-home order expires on May 15, certain regions of the state, as you know from watching the news, will be still be locked down for a bit longer. That will most likely include the Mid-Hudson area, so don't plan your library visit just yet.

We’re currently working on our own reopening plan for when the time comes, and the new normal will include curbside pickups, appointments at the public access computers, and certain hours designated strictly for high-risk users such as those ages 65 and up. Like the state itself, we’ll be taking things slow to make sure our patrons and staff stay healthy.

Believe us, we miss you as much as or more than you miss us! Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for updates regarding our reopening and more.

In an effort to get the word out about our future plans, we have added the email addresses of any active patrons to our Wallkill Public Library email “Blast” (if you were not already on the list!) so if this newsletter is new for you… Welcome!

This is one of the fastest, most efficient way to keep you informed about what is going on at the library during this “stay-at-home” period.

Until we reopen, enjoy the online resources available with your library card, many of which are detailed in this newsletter. You can leave a message at the library if you have a question – 845-895-3707 (or email, if you have Internet, [email protected] ).

Feel free to click “unsubscribe” at the bottom of this newsletter if you wish to be removed from our list.

Children’s Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. For the second year in a row, celebrations will be held in both Spring (May 4-10) and Fall (Nov 9-15). In the past, the library has participated in the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards voting process in the weeks leading up to Children’s Book Week. Due to the current pandemic, all voting will take place during the November 2020 celebration.

This year, in lieu of in-person celebrations for Children’s Book Week, Miss Tara decided to install a StoryWalk® on the library lawn. Start at the Little Free Library and follow the storyboards around the fence to read the book Caps for Sale .

Thanks to the Ulster County legislature, who had the foresight to fund the Ulster County Library Association’s initiative to develop a broad range of online resources for users of all ages, Wallkill library users have access to one of the strongest digital collections in the region. You can find these by clicking the Reference & Research tab on our website and navigating to the Ulster County InfoPortal .

InfoPortal resources include eBooks and audiobooks, as well as streaming video and music to provide much needed entertainment and distraction. They also include TumbleBooks and TumbleMath , a collection of books, quizzes and lesson plans for parents who suddenly find themselves providing ancillary education as their children’s instruction moves online. In addition, the InfoPortal provides online education for people who find themselves needing to learn new skills to perform their jobs in unexpected ways, as well as resume-building and resources for those seeking employment after being furloughed or laid off.  

 

Your library card gives you free access to all of this digital content and more. So whether you’re homeschooling, job-hunting, or just want to relax with a good movie, keep the InfoPortal in mind!

The last thing anyone needs to worry about these days are library fines! Due dates for all materials that were checked out prior to our closure have been automatically extended until June 1 (and if needed, due to the fluidity of the re-opening schedule, they can be extended further.)

When we re-open, all returns will be fine-free for the first three months. (That will be an excellent time to return any overdue items you had before the closure… wink, wink!) So for now, hang on to your library items – our bookdrop, and those of other RCLS libraries, are currently closed for safety.

Families have been logging in Tuesday and Thursday mornings for songs and stories with Miss Tara. Last week, we read a few spring favorites including My Garden by Kevin Henkes and The Rainbow Book by Kate Ohrt. 

If you are interested in joining Virtual Storytime via Zoom , email Miss Tara at [email protected] for links to weekly sessions.

Join Miss Christine for a Felted Penguin Zoom session, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12.

Email Christine Adams at [email protected] for the Zoom link and information on supplies.

Due to COVID 19, Newspaperarchive.com is making their database of historical newspapers free to libraries for a limited time. This database includes several historical local papers from Jeffersonville, Youngsville, Port Jervis, Middletown, Newburgh, Haverstraw, Nyack, White Plains, and Poughkeepsie.

Access, by request of NewspaperArchive.com, can only be from a link on the RCLS web site, and requires a library card number. Also, each user must register with NewspaperArchive.com, which requires getting a verification email.

This informative and accessible guide for young readers defines the coronavirus, explains why everyday routines have been disrupted, and lays out how everyone can do their part to help. With child-appropriate answers and explanations, the book addresses several key questions. Download the ebook from Candlewick Press.

Also on the site...

Stay home with Candlewick Press – check out activities from some of your favorites characters like Judy Moody, Where’s Waldo, Maisy, Mercy Watson, author Kate DiCamillo, and more!

Nickelodeon teamed up with two astronauts on the International Space Station to demonstrate how slime reacts to microgravity and had kids reproduce those same demonstrations back here on Earth. It makes for an amazing 15-minute virtual field trip!

While the Mohonk Preserve is closed right now, their award-winning Environmental Education team will be sharing ways you can explore nature outside your front door. They'll be posting new activities daily from Monday – Friday, so keep checking back for new ways to get into nature! Be sure to watch past Nature Nugget videos - they've been providing great online activities since March 24!

I just discovered this site after watching a highly informative and entertaining animated video on the brie(f) history of cheese . (Who doesn’t love cheese, especially when it’s animated and there's a pun in the title?) After some more browsing, I found a wealth of other videos, an especially topical group on viruses, a 10-episode series called Think Like a Coder full of programming puzzles, a series called There’s a Poem for That which pairs classical and contemporary poems with great animation, A Day in the Life historical series, Awesome Nature , series on relatable math and science topics, and student TEDtalks. With all this content, there’s something educational for every interest! Great for tweens, teens, and adults!

A new video series by Manatee Libraries in Florida introduces children in the U.S. to folk tales, myths, and lore from other countries. Children will meet people (virtually) from around the globe; learn some geography; and get a feel for other countries through stories. The videos are well-produced and engaging for a wide age range. The first visit is to Kenya to meet the Maasai people.  

Have you ready EVERYTHING in your house during the stay-at-home pause? Caught up on all those old magazines? Re-read books because you didn't have any new reading material? Are you a late-comer to the world of ebooks and audiobooks? It is not too late to start! You will be glad you did! All you need is your library card number and your PIN.

Depending on your device, you can use the Libby app or Overdrive. Click the button for step-by-step instructions and videos, and helpful resources to get you started reading on your phone, tablet, or computer. Be sure to check out the additional resources, too! Need some more help? Contact Julie for tech support, [email protected].

The short amount of time that it takes to fill out your 2020 US Census now will determine how resources that benefit our area are allocated in the next decade. Be counted!

Visit the 2020 Census site below to get the facts, see why your answers matter, and how the data impacts our community.