July 2025 Newsletter

News from Castleton Public Library - July 2025 View this email in your browser Notes from Our Director:  Summer is in full swing at CPL! Have you signed up for our Summer Reading Club yet? Our program is inclusive of all ages -- including babies/toddlers, preschoolers, kids, teens, and adults. Join the fun and enter to win a $25 Amazon gift certificate (we'll draw 25 winners). You can sign up all summer long!  A listing of our July events and take-home kits is below -- or you can download our Summer Reading Club guide for a full list of our events and take-home kits through the end of the summer.  Planning to visit area museums this summer? Check out one of our museum passes to receive free or reduced admission. Passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for information about our museum pass program. We hope you will join us for a summer full of fun and learning! Best, Melissa Tacke, Library Director Download Summer Reading Guide as a PDF Our Take-Home Kits Take & Make Craft Kit: Patriotic Crafts Pick up anytime through Saturday, July 5. Celebrate the 4th of July with a craft kit and lots of stars and stripes! Take & Make Craft Kit: Summer Suncatcher Pick up anytime from Sunday, July 6 through Saturday, July 12.   Make a colorful suncatcher for your window using contact paper and tissue paper pieces! Take & Make Craft Kit: Emoji Faces Pick up anytime from Sunday, July 13 through Saturday, July 19. Create your own expressive emojis by cutting out construction paper pieces and gluing them onto cardstock faces! Take & Make Craft Kit: Rainbow Scratch Art Pick up anytime from Sunday, July 20 through Saturday, July 26. Make your own colorful, unique scratch art designs using special paper!   Take & Make Craft Kit: Paper Mosaic Art Pick up anytime from Sunday, July 27 through Saturday, August 2. Unleash your creativity and make beautiful paper mosaic art! Our StoryWalks July StoryWalk @Schodack Island - Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer   Location: Schodack Island State Park, 1 Schodack Island Way, Schodack Landing, NY 12156   The StoryWalk begins near the playground and is available anytime!   Enjoy a StoryWalk with your family! Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer will be up all month long. We change the StoryWalk book each month. July StoryWalk @Schodack Town Park - Ten Flashing Fireflies by Philemon Sturges Location: Schodack Town Park, 498 Poyneer Road, Nassau, NY 12123   The StoryWalk begins near the playground and is available anytime!   Enjoy a StoryWalk with your family! Ten Flashing Fireflies by Philemon Sturges will be up all month long. We change the StoryWalk book each month.  Our Other Events Summer STEAM: Starter Seeds Tuesday, July 1, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. Start some seeds the eco-friendly way with newspaper pods! These simple biodegradable pods make planting a breeze and reduce waste. Sprouted plants can be planted directly in the ground when they're ready!   Sunshine Storytime Tuesday, July 1, 6:00 p.m.  Let's enjoy the sun staying out longer with an outdoor storytime geared toward ages birth to age 8! We'll read stories, engage in music and movement, and have time for nature discovery on the library's front lawn!  Summer Goals Vision Boards   Wednesday, July 2, 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. Creating a summer vision board is like crafting a colorful roadmap to your dream summer! Grab some magazines, stickers, and markers, and fill your board with pictures and words that inspire sunshine-filled adventures, fun goals, and positive vibes. It’s a fun way to get excited for the season, stay motivated, and bring your summer dreams to life! Wellness Wednesday Walk Wednesday, July 2, 4:30 p.m. Held outdoors, weather permitting. Meet at the library for a walk down Main Street and the chance to regroup and reflect mid-week on our wellness walk! 4th of July Storytime   Thursday, July 3, 10:30 a.m. At this storytime, we'll learn about why and how we celebrate the 4th of July! 4th of July Crafts Thursday, July 3, 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. Red, white, and blue galore! Celebrate the 4th of July with fun crafts all afternoon at the library.. Little Ones Playtime   Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Little ones ages birth to 5 years are invited to drop in any time on Saturday or Sunday to play with a special assortment of fun toys geared toward young children.  Summer Snacks: Fruit Smoothies   Monday, July 7, 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.  Looking for a cool and refreshing treat on a hot summer day? Fruit smoothies are colorful, taste delicious, and make a perfect healthy snack! Job Seeker Help with Rensselaer County Career Center   Monday, July 7, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.  Looking for a new job or fresh career path? Rensselaer County Career Center is here to help! Professional career services include resume development, interview preparation, job search assistance, and career assessment. After Dinner Book Club: Passing by Nella Larsen   Monday, July 7, 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.  Join us the first Monday of each month for a book discussion! Books available at the front desk. Sunny Day Potions   Tuesday, July 8, starts every half hour from 1:00 through 5:30 p.m.  *Starts every half hour: 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30. Bring on the sunshine! We'll create a potion for more sunny days this summer and mix it up together. Every participant will get to bring some of our potion home, too! Sunshine Storytime   Tuesday, July 8, 6:00 p.m.  Let's enjoy the sun staying out longer with an outdoor storytime geared toward ages birth to age 8! We'll read stories, engage in music and movement, and have time for nature discovery on the library's front lawn! Library Scavenger Hunt   Wednesday, July 9, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.  Join us for a fun Library Scavenger Hunt where kids will solve clues, explore the library, and discover hidden treasures along the way. A perfect adventure for explorers of all ages! Schodack Farmers Market   Wednesday, July 9, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.  Location: 1836 Columbia Turnpike, Castleton, NY 12033 Visit the library's table at the Schodack Farmers Market to apply for a library card, check out a book, sign up for summer reading...the possibilities are endless! Wellness Wednesday Walk   Wednesday, July 9, 4:30 p.m.  Held outdoors, weather permitting. Meet at the library for a walk down Main Street and the chance to regroup and reflect mid-week on our wellness walk! Open Mic Night Wednesday, July 9, 6:00 p.m. Musicians and poets - come share your talents! All ages welcome to perform and to watch.   Special Visitor Storytime: Tri-City Valleycats Thursday, July 10, 10:30 a.m. Don't miss your chance to meet Southpaw, the ValleyCats' very best friend and mascot at this special storytime celebrating America's pastime, baseball!   Crime Lab Science with MiSci Thursday, July 10, 4:00 p.m. Recommended for grades 3-8. Learn about forensic science and how evolving technology helps scientists and detectives discover the truth about mysterious criminal cases.   Summer STEAM: Elephant Toothpaste Friday, July 11, starts every half hour from 1:30 through 5:30 p.m. *Starts every half hour: 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30. Ages 8 and up. Younger children welcome with an adult participant. Elephant toothpaste is an exciting, foamy eruption that looks like a giant toothpaste squeeze for an elephant! With just a few simple ingredients, it creates a bubbly, colorful reaction that shoots up and spills over in a mesmerizing cascade.    Tie Dye Bookmarks Saturday, July 12, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. A new take on Tie Dye! Come learn how to make tie dye paper and take home a brand new bookmark to use for all your summer reading! Mad Libs Sunday, July 13, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. By filling out a template with random nouns, adjectives, and verbs, you'll create a one-of-a-kind and hilarious story! This activity is especially fun to complete with friends! Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt Monday, July 14, 1:00 p.m. Held outdoors, weather permitting. Take a walk around the neighborhood with us and complete a scavenger hunt along the way! Children under age 9 must be accompanied by an adult. Fiber Arts Workshop   Monday, July 14, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. For adults and teens ages 16+. Join us for our monthly Fiber Arts Workshop! Whether you're new to knitting and crochet or a seasoned fiber artist, this is the perfect place to share and create in a friendly environment. All skill levels welcome! Yarn and hooks/needles are available to beginners.  Town of Schodack Community Market   Tuesday, July 15, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Location: 1777 Columbia Turnpike, Castleton, NY 12033 Visit the library's table at the Town of Schodack Community Market to apply for a library card, check out a book, sign up for summer reading...the possibilities are endless! Traveling Farm with Winterberry Homestead   Tuesday, July 15, 4:30 p.m. Meet the animals on the farm with Winterberry Homestead! Learn more about agriculture and organic management techniques while meeting and petting your favorite farm animals. Funding for this event provided by Stewart’s Shops Holiday Match Program and Bank of Greene County Charitable Foundation. Sunshine Storytime   Tuesday, July 15, 6:00 p.m. Let's enjoy the sun staying out longer with an outdoor storytime geared toward ages birth to age 8! We'll read stories, engage in music and movement, and have time for nature discovery on the library's front lawn! Beginner Yoga   Tuesday, July 15, 6:30 p.m. Join us for an indoor yoga class geared toward adult beginners, with instructor Barbara Hacker. Please bring your own mat. Summer STEAM: Salt Dough Fossils   Wednesday, July 16, 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Dinosaurs and art meet at this fun STEAM event using a few simple ingredients and some dinosaur skeletons to create a prehistoric artifact: a fossil! Afternoon Book Club: Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross Wednesday, July 16,  1:00 p.m. Join us the third Wednesday of each month for a book discussion! Books available at the front desk. This month's title is Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. Wellness Wednesday Walk   Wednesday, July 16, 4:30 p.m.  Held outdoors, weather permitting. Meet at the library for a walk down Main Street and the chance to regroup and reflect mid-week on our wellness walk! Special Visitor Storytime: Reading Rats Thursday, July 17, 10:30 a.m. The special visitor we'll be learning about at this storytime is furry with a long tail and loves to crawl around! Can you guess what it is?  Acting and Improv Games for Kids and Teens Thursday, July 17, 4:30 p.m. Join local actor and director Brian Sheldon for an afternoon of creative acting exercises and games!  Disney Paper Bag Puppets Friday, July 18, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Join us for a fun and creative crafting session where kids can make their very own Disney paper bag puppets! Get ready to bring your favorite Disney characters to life with just a few supplies and your imagination. Don't miss out on this magical opportunity to create, play, and take home your new puppet friend! Family Dice and Card Games Saturday, July 19, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bring your family or some friends (or both!) to the library on Saturday for a day of games! Pool Noodle Monsters   Sunday, July 20, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Come make your own unique monster using part of a pool noodle and craft supplies! Guided Storywalk @ Schodack Town Park   Monday, July 21, 1:00 p.m. Location: Schodack Town Park, 498 Poyneer Rd., Nassau, NY 12123 Held outdoors, weather permitting. Let's meet at the Schodack Town Park for a walk with a story along the way! Bingo Night for Kids and Teens   Monday, July 21, 6:00 p.m. Recommended for kids age 5 and up. Play Bingo at the library! Learn number and focus skills with the chance to win cool prizes! The game starts at 6:00 p.m.; we'll see you there! CPL Board of Trustees Meeting Monday, July 21, 7:00 p.m. Monthly meeting of the library's Board of Trustees. Members of the public are welcome to attend.  Make Your Own Kinetic Sand Tuesday, July 22, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Join us to mix your own kinetic sand, stay and play, and then bring some home too! Sunshine Storytime Tuesday, July 22, 6:00 p.m. Let's enjoy the sun staying out longer with an outdoor storytime geared toward ages birth to age 8! We'll read stories, engage in music and movement, and have time for nature discovery on the library's front lawn! Beginner Yoga Tuesday, July 22, 6:30 p.m. Join us for an indoor yoga class geared toward adult beginners, with instructor Barbara Hacker. Please bring your own mat. Summer Snacks: Mug Cakes Wednesday, July 23, 12:00-5:00 p.m. There’s a cold, unexpected ingredient in this easy, compact recipe that makes this an ultimate summer snack! Schodack Farmers Market   Wednesday, July 23, 3:00-7:00 p.m. Location: 1836 Columbia Turnpike, Castleton, NY 12033 Visit the library's table at the Schodack Farmers Market to apply for a library card, check out a book, sign up for summer reading...the possibilities are endless!   Wellness Wednesday Walk   Wednesday, July 23, 4:30 p.m.  Held outdoors, weather permitting. Meet at the library for a walk down Main Street and the chance to regroup and reflect mid-week on our wellness walk! Friends of CPL Music on the Lawn: Scarlett Fever   Wednesday, July 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m.  Held outdoors, weather permitting. The Friends of CPL will be selling meatball subs, hot dogs, strawberry shortcakes, and drinks from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Music is 6:00-7:30 p.m. Presented by the Friends of CPL. Special Visitor Storytime: Therapy Pig   Thursday, July 24, 10:30 a.m. Come meet a pig! We’ll be reading a story about pigs and then meeting and learning about a therapy pig. Rocking Piggies   Thursday, July 24, 10:30 a.m. After meeting the therapy pig, make your own pig using a folded paper plate to create a rocking motion. Summer STEAM: Shrinky Dinks   Friday, July 25, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Shrinky Dinks are a magical craft that lets you draw, design, and then watch your creations shrink and harden in the oven! As the plastic curls, twists, and then flattens into a mini version of your artwork, it feels like a tiny transformation happening right before your eyes. Come make your very own magical keychain with us! Build with Big Blue Blocks   Saturday, July 26, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Come to the library for a day of endless imaginative play! The large foam blocks are just right for creative construction and pretend play for any age. Tissue Paper Flowers   Sunday, July 27, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Create vibrant, oversized tissue paper flowers that make a bold statement at any event or in your home. Easy to make and full of color, they're the perfect way to brighten any space. Book Lovers Button Making   Monday, July 28, 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. Book lovers unite! Create a fun wearable button to let everyone know about your love for reading. The Magic of Electricity with MiSci   Monday, July 28, 4:00 p.m. Recommended for youth going into 2nd-8th grades in the fall. What is electricity, and where does it come from? Explore the different types of electricity and see how it is generated and used in this shocking program! Summer STEAM: Boat Building and Race   Tuesday, July 29, 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. This boat-building STEM project encourages children to design and construct their own floating vessels using materials like paper, foil, or recycled items. See how far your boat can go or how much weight it can carry. There will be a race every half hour, so get your boat in tip top shape and see what it can do!  Town of Schodack Community Market   Tuesday, July 29, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Location: 1777 Columbia Turnpike, Castleton, NY 12033 Visit the library's table at the Town of Schodack Community Market to apply for a library card, check out a book, sign up for summer reading...the possibilities are endless!   Sunshine Storytime Tuesday, July 29, 6:00 p.m. Let's enjoy the sun staying out longer with an outdoor storytime geared toward ages birth to age 8! We'll read stories, engage in music and movement, and have time for nature discovery on the library's front lawn! Beginner Yoga Tuesday, July 29, 6:30 p.m. Join us for an indoor yoga class geared toward adult beginners, with instructor Barbara Hacker. Please bring your own mat. Yoga for Kids Wednesday, July 30, 12:00 p.m. Recommended for ages 3-9. Jen from Prancing Pony Yoga will be here to host story-based yoga for kids at the library! Wellness Wednesday Walk   Wednesday, July 30, 4:30 p.m.  Held outdoors, weather permitting. Meet at the library for a walk down Main Street and the chance to regroup and reflect mid-week on our wellness walk! Write Your Life: Memoir Writing for Adults Wednesday, July 30, 7:00 p.m.  In this monthly workshop-style class, we will complete writing exercises that spark creativity and share our own pieces with the group in an effort to hone the craft of storytelling. Special Visitor Storytime: Police Thursday, July 31, 10:30 a.m.  We’ll read a book about police officers, then get to meet a real-life officer from the Schodack Police Department and see a police car! All ages welcome. Make Your Own T-Shirt Bag Thursday, July 31, 1:00 - 6:00 p.m.  Turn an old T-shirt into a stylish and personalized, no-sew tote bag. Join us for this fun, eco-friendly craft. Bring a favorite old t-shirt to repurpose or choose from an available assortment at the library. Kids Cook Around the World: Mango Lemonade   Friday, August 1, 11:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m. Come for the cool, refreshing drink on a nice summer day. Stay for the origin story and your passport stamp! Stuffed Animal Sleepover: Camping Edition Friday, August 1 - drop off any time from 3:00-5:00 p.m. (Join us for a special storytime at 4:30).  Pick up on Saturday, August 2 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Our Stuffed Animal Sleepover is back, with a new summer twist! Send your stuffed animals to the library for a camping field trip. Drop them off anytime between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Friday. We will hold a special storytime at 4:30 p.m.! Then, come back to pick them up on Saturday anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to find out about all of their adventures -- and receive a goody bag for yourself, too! Make Your Own Puzzle   Saturday, August 2, 11:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m. Stop in to color your own design on a blank puzzle you can take home and put together! Paper Airplane Construction and Competition Sunday, August 3, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Competitions begin on every half hour. Build, test, perfect, and compete! Design the ultimate paper airplane and see whose flies the farthest. Ready, set, launch! How far can yours fly?   Digital Library Resources Check Out Our Digital Collections! The Upper Hudson Library System hosts a great collection of ebooks, digital audiobooks, digital magazines, and streaming video, resources for research, and more! Click here to visit our page about digital resources.  Borrow a WiFi Hotspot Did you know that we loan WiFi hotspots? They can be borrowed for 14 days -- all you need is your library card! Hotspots are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can only be checked out and returned at CPL. Call 518-732-0879 or email [email protected] for more information.  WiFi Inside & Outside Our Building Our WiFi is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can access the public WiFi on the front lawn, or alongside the building on Stimpson Avenue (the signal is strongest near the front of the building). Just look for the network called "Castleton Public Library." There's no password to connect!  Copyright © 2025 Castleton Public Library, All rights reserved.