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THE BLAST
THE LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM
WALLKILL PUBLIC LIBRARY
| | | Let's Keep the Summer Fun Going! | |
Woo hoo!
We had a great time at the Wallkill Public Library "Red, White & Blue BBQ!" We're thrilled so many of you were able to attend and enjoy a fun day of music, hot dogs, and water activities. Thanks as well to DJ Lammy, Christina's Sweet Treats, Vision of Wallkill, and the Friends of the Wallkill Public Library for helping us make the day great!
If you want to join us for more fun, be sure to check out our Fun Fridays every Friday until 8/14 . We look forward to seeing you! Registration is required. Please register on our event calendar, and be sure to check out all of our other Summer activities while you're there.
Event Calendar: https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/calendar/wpl_programs_events
| | | The kick-off wouldn't be complete without BBQ table art!! | | | |
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 Through 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?!
| | Historic Houses of Shawangunk Exhibit | | The Historical Society of Shawangunk and Gardiner is having a companion exhibition in the Shawangunk Town Hall and Wallkill Public Library through the month of July. The exhibition features historical maps and documents of colonial-era Shawangunk, along with physical objects of the era, that illustrate how our town developed, along with photographs of houses that have survived from that era to today, remaining as vibrant examples of our historical heritage. The exhibit will be on display all through July. | | | New Spanish Language Books at the Library! | |
Muchas Gracias, Amigos!
Many thanks to the Friends of the Wallkill Public Library for their kind contribution to the library in support of our Spanish Language Collection. We've purchased a bunch of new YA (below) and Juvenile (above) Spanish Language books. ¡Pide uno prestado hoy mismo!
| | Summer Reading Program "Unearth a Story!" | | | | |
The Summer Reading Program is underway at the Wallkill Public Library. This year's theme is "Unearth a Story". Come join us for some great summer reading programs, events, and challenges!
Reading challenges for adults, teens, and children have all begun already. Each group will have a chance to win various prizes by participating between now and August 31st. We have some great prizes lined up for a few lucky winners. So, get going on those summer reading lists and then swing by the library for your chance to win in our reading challenges.
Be sure to check out our July and August calendars for the full array of summer reading activities! We have a very full line-up, but registrations will fill up fast! Library Events calendar: https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/calendar/wpl_programs_events
| | Art Along the Sidewalk Contest | |
Unearth a Story!
The Wallkill Public 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. 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!
| | Adult Summer Reading Program | | | | |
Just read a book (e-books count, too!) 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 entry 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 higher your chances are to win.
Adult summer reading is for readers ages 18+. The program runs through August 31. Winners will be announced in early September. Good luck and keep on reading!
| | Museum Pass Spotlight: Storm King Art Center | | |
Looking for something to do this summer? Why not check out a museum or park pass from the Wallkill Public Library?!
This newsletter we're highlighting our Storm King Art Center pass. The pass is good for free admission for two adults and two children under the age of 18 through Storm King Art Center located at 20 Old Pleasant Hill Road, New Windsor, NY 12553. Storm King Art Center is a 500-acre outdoor museum located in New York’s Hudson Valley, where visitors experience large-scale sculpture and site-specific commissions under open sky. While there be sure to check out some of the New on View and Special Exhibitions. Find out more about what you can experience at https://stormking.org.
Pick up the pass at the library and experience some fantastic art in a beautiful outdoor setting!
| | Ulster County Library Association Museum Passes | | |
In addition to all the physical park and museum passes the library offers, we also offer a wealth of passes for museums near and far through the generosity of the Ulster County Legislature, Ulster County Libraries, and Friends of Library Groups. The following passes are available online through our website:
- Bethel Woods Museum (Bethel, NY)
- Borscht Belt Museum (Ellenville, NY)
- FDR Presidential Library & Museum (Hyde Park, NY)
- Guggenheim Museum (NYC)
- Hudson River Maritime Museum (Kingston, NY)
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Complex (NYC)
- Mass MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams, MA)
- Olana State Historic Site (Hudson, NY)
- Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome (Rhinebeck, NY)
- Opus 40 Sculpture Park (Saugerties, NY)
- Thomas Cole National Historic Site (Catskill, NY)
Passes may be reserved up to 30 days in advance and can be printed from home or at the library. Some museums also accept passes displayed on a phone. The pass will only be valid for the date of visit listed on the confirmation page, so request the pass for the day you wish to use it. These passes do not need to be returned.
To make a reservation, visit https://uclib.org/museum/ to see the full list and descriptions of all Ulster County digital museum passes. You will need your library card barcode number and PIN to reserve passes.
| | 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.
| | Mother Earth Monday participants built a wormery. A "worm nursery" is a temporary habitat that allows you to observe worm activity before releasing them into your garden. | | Workshop Wednesday participants created sand candles, some scented with essential oils -- a perfect addition to this summer's outdoor ambiance. | |
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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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, July 25 at 10:30 AM. They'll be discussing The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg.
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
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Reading ahead?
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
| | | Click the titles to link to our online catalog to read descriptions, reviews, and place holds. | | Children's Program Highlights | | During the first full week of the "Unearth a Story" Summer Reading Program, participants in Tuesday's Crafting Caboodles program decorated drawstring bags to carry their library books and goodies that they will collect on their summer adventures. | | |
On Wednesday, children learned various facts about different reptiles and then painted wooden snakes in the STEM/STEAM program.
| | | During Thursday's presentation, patrons saw snakes, lizards, turtles, and alligators (OH MY)! Brian Parkhurst from the Hudson Valley Reptile and Rescue brought many of his rescued reptiles for participants to learn about and meet. At the end of the presentation, everyone had the opportunity to pet Candace, a large common northern boa. | | | Poor air quality on Wednesday and the rain forecast for Saturday made us cancel a couple sessions for the Foam Cannon, but the kids (and adults!) had an AWESOME time in the fun foam on Tuesday and Friday this week. | | Register for Summer Programs Now! | | |
If you haven't registered online yet, there are several Children's Summer Reading Programs that are still available (registration is required for each child attending):
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Family Storytime
(Tuesdays, 10:30-11:00 AM)
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Crafting Caboodles
(Tuesdays, 11:00-11:30/11:45 AM)
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STEM/STEM
(Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30 AM)
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Unearth a Story Writing Club
(Thursdays, 2:00-2:45 PM)
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Various Presenters/Performers
(Thursdays, 4:00-4:45 PM)
Find program details, availability, and registration at https://wallkillpubliclibrary.libcal.com/calendar/wpl_programs_events. If an event is full, we recommend that you register your child so that he/she will be placed on the waiting List.
Please note: If the weather is too hot, too smoky, or too rainy, we will move the above programs to the Town of Shawangunk Community Room (next door to the library).
| | Special SRP Performers & Presenters | | |
Thursday, July 30
4:00 PM
Dino Dig with the
Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum
Get your hands dirty when the Mid-Hudson Valley Children’s Museum brings their traveling Dino Dig program that allows “hands-on” learning about dinosaurs and fossils.
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Thursday, August 6
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
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.
Following the performance, participants will celebrate the finale of the Summer Reading Program with delicious ice cream sundaes.
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Through August 8th for a free Renegades Ticket
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.
| | | 1000 Books Before Kindergarten | |
Way to go, Super Readers!
Congratulations to the following children and their families for earning another tag in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Program:
- Emily C. (200 Books)
- Liam M-C. (300 Books)
- Bryce S. (800 Books)
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.
| | | 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.
| | | 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
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.
| | 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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