Wallkill Public Library
December packed with fun!
 
With Thanksgiving already but a memory, the holiday season is in full gear. Remember to schedule in some of the many great activities the library has planned throughout the month!
  • Yes, we are open the day after Thanksgiving, and are pleased to offer Game and Puzzle Friday! Come in and play, then stick around for the 10:30 a.m. Family Story Time and 11:30 a.m. Shel Silverstein Story Time.
  • The Fiction Book Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at the library. This month's selection is Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants. 
  • Imagination Playstation will be cancelled just for Thursday, Dec. 1. We apologize for the inconvenience and can't wait to see you Dec. 8!
  • Sunday, Dec. 4, is the town's annual Tree Lighting Festival at 4 p.m. at the Town Hall. Celebrate the holiday season with your community and enjoy music, refreshments, and a visit from Santa!
  • Books Alive! is back for its seventh season! Registration and orientation for ages 8+ and their parents will take place Monday, Dec. 5, from 4-5 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 8, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. You need not attend both sessions - they're scheduled for your convenience. Play practice will begin Jan. 3 for 8- to 10-year-olds and Jan. 4 for 11- to 14-year-olds, and will run from 3:30-5:30 p.m. The performance is scheduled for Saturday, March 10.
  • The Friends of the Wallkill Public Library are meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the library.
  • Saturday, Dec. 10, the library is offering Gift Making for Kids, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., for ages 5+. Drop your children off and let them get creative while learning about the spirit of giving! Space is limited, so be sure to register soon (a $5 fee for supplies is required when you sign up).
  • Please note that the Library Board of Trustees will be meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the library. These meetings are open to the public.
  • Due to a staff training session, the library will be open from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21. There will be no Story Time or Book Buddies that day.
  • Those who have watched their children get inspired at Miss Christine's Wednesday Art Workshops will get a treat the evening of the 21st, when an Art Show featuring the kids' work will take place from 6-7 p.m. Come enjoy refreshments and see what your children have been busy creating! They've put a lot of work into their displays and deserve a big round of applause!

Keep in mind, also, that Story Time, Mommy and Me, and Book Buddies are in session throughout the month, in addition to our other regularly scheduled programming, like Let's Play and Imagination Playstation. Check out our online calendar for a full schedule of events, or call the library at 895-3707.

Hot new releases coming soon 

 Keep an eye out for the latest bestsellers, scheduled to hit our shelves during the month of December. Love in a Nutshell, by Janet Evanovich, D.C. Dead, by Stuart Woods, Home Front, by Kristin Hannah, and Breakdown, by Sara Paretsky are just a few of the blockbusters due in. 

We've got some hits from the box office expected soon, as well, including Cowboys and Aliens, Sarah's Key, and Crazy, Stupid Love.

For a complete list of December releases, visit the Monthly New Releases section of our website.

Special offer for the visually impaired 
Last week we told you about RISE, a 24-hour radio information service for the blind and print disabled in New York's Capital Region and the Hudson Valley. The service employs a team of volunteers who read articles from local and national newspapers, popular magazines, and books to those who would otherwise be unable to access such information.
Those interested in receiving this service can request a special receiver, which is loaned free-of-charge to applicants currently registered with the New York State Commission for the Visually Handicapped or the Library of Congress Talking Books Program or others who have a condition that impedes access to printed material. If you're interested in requesting such a receiver, the application form can be downloaded here.
The toll conditions such as macular degeneration are taking on people's vision is tragic, but the good news is there are more services and better technology than ever before to assist those coping with a vision impairment or blindness. In addition to programs like RISE, the American Foundation for the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind provide a host of valuable services and information to those struggling to adjust to a new and sometimes challenging lifestyle. The New York State Talking Book and Braille Library is another important resource that lends braille and recorded books and magazines as well as the equipment needed to use them to residents throughout New York.
And here's a tip for those struggling to read certain Lilliputian websites (some of which, we all know, can be a challenge even for those with the best eyesight): If you hold down Control and press the "+" key, the entire page will zoom in. To zoom back out, hold down Control and hit the "-" key.
As always, we're eager to answer any questions you may have on materials we have available here at Wallkill as well as those that can be accessed online and through other venues. Don't hesitate to call or stop in and talk to us!

Great deals for the holidays 
 
The Friends of the Wallkill Public Library's Holiday Raffle continues until the Dec. 12 drawing. First prize is an Amazon Kindle; the Nook Simple Touch is second prize. Tickets are available at the library at $3 for 1 ticket and $10 for four.
Keep an eye out for this year's Holiday Discounts, too! From Nov. 28 until the end of the year, show your library or key card at businesses throughout our area and receive special bargains! Some of this season's participants include Chocolate Dreams, Heavenly Creations, and Chela's Market. For a full list of participating businesses, stop by the library Monday!
Reference site of the week....
Medline Plus provides Information on over 650 diseases and conditions. There are also lists of hospitals and physicians, a medical encyclopedia and a medical dictionary, health information in Spanish, extensive information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, health information from the media, and links to thousands of clinical trials.
The site is updated daily and produced by the National Library of Medicine, so you can be sure the information you're getting is accurate.
You can access this valuable tool through our website (click on "Online Research Tools" and then go into the "RCLS Reference and Magazine Article Databases"), or visit the site directly at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/.
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