December 2025 Newsletter

News from Castleton Public Library - December 2025 View this email in your browser Notes from Our Director:  As fall turns to winter and the year comes to a close, it's a great time to visit CPL. Check out a book or a movie to enjoy on a cold winter evening, or venture out to enjoy our classes and events. See below for a complete list of our December events, including a number of fun events for kids during the school break from December 20 through January 4! Also, save the date for our new Winter Reading Challenge for all ages, which will begin on January 2! We'll have information about the Winter Reading Challenge in our January newsletter.  Best, Melissa Tacke, Library Director Download our December calendar as a PDF Our Take-Home Kits Take & Make Craft Kit: Snowy Owl Pick up anytime from Sunday, November 30 through Saturday, January 3. WHOOO doesn't love an adorable owl craft? Pick up your snowy owl craft all month long! Weekly Events Learn & Play Storytime Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. - December 4, 11, 18 (no storytime on Dec. 25). Children from birth to age 5 are invited to enjoy stories, rhymes, music, and movement! Our Other Events Job Seeker Help with Rensselaer County Career Center Monday, December 1, 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 Monday, December 1, 7:00 p.m. Join us the first Monday of each month for a book discussion! This month's selection is The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong. Books are available at the front desk. Drop-In Tech Help Thursday, December 4, 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. Stop in anytime with tech questions that our on-site tech guru can help to answer. Marble Run Fun   Saturday, December 6, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Build a unique maze for a marble to go through, then drop a marble in and watch it work! Holidays on the Hudson Sunday, December 7, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Join us for the annual tree lighting!  We will be making special ornaments for the Village Tree, singing carols, enjoying festive treats, and will even have a very special visit from Santa!  This event is proudly co-sponsored by the Village of Castleton-on-Hudson, Castleton Public Library, Castleton Fire Department, and the Castleton-on-Hudson Main Street Association. Fiber Arts Workshop   Monday, December 8, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. For adults and teens 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. Teen Scene: Design a Mini Journal   Tuesday, December 9, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  For teens in 6th-12th grades. Start with a blank journal as your canvas and use our art supplies to make it fancy and fun! Open Mic Night   Wednesday, December 10, 6:00 p.m. Musicians & poets - come share your talents! All ages welcome to perform and to watch. Holiday Cookie Swap Saturday, December 13, 11:00 a.m. Perfect for entertaining! Here’s how it works – BAKE: Bake 4 dozen of your favorite holiday cookies. BRING: Bring cookies in one container. Please do not separate into portions ahead of time. PRINT: Bring a copy of your recipe to share. SWAP: We’ll divide the cookies equally among the bakers. Lava Lamps   Saturday, December 13, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. Discover the science behind how lava lamps work, and make your own simple lava lamp!  Little Ones Playtime   Sunday, December 14, 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. CPL Board of Trustees Meeting   Monday, December 15, 7:00 p.m. Monthly meeting of the library's Board of Trustees. Members of the public are welcome to attend.  Afternoon Book Club   Wednesday, December 17, 1:00 p.m. Join us the third Wednesday of each month for a book discussion! This month's selection is Exposure by Ramona Emerson. Books are available at the front desk. Write Your Life: Memoir Writing for Adults Wednesday, December 17, 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. The World of Tea   Saturday, December 20, 11:00 a.m. For adults and teens ages 15+. Join us to explore different varieties of tea from around the globe! You'll create your own signature tea blend, and take some tea samples to brew at home. Secret Agent Academy   Saturday, December 20, 2:00 p.m. For kids and teens ages 8-15. Do you have what it takes to be a secret agent? Join us to explore codebreaking, learn how to write in invisible ink, design your own spy gadget, and test your memory and observation skills.  Sunday Stories   Sunday, December 21, 11:30 a.m. Stop by for a weekend storytime and activity geared toward families with young children (ages birth-8) featuring crafts, music and movement, books, and fun! Adult Crafternoon: Tissue Paper Candle Holders   Sunday, December 21, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Ages 18+. Design a beautiful votive candle holder to dress up your decor or give as a heartfelt gift! Magic Flashlight Art   Monday, December 22, 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. Learn how to "illuminate" your art with this cool trick! Waterless Snow Globes   Tuesday, December 23, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Create your own magical winter scene with a waterless snow globe craft—no water, no mess, just whimsical charm! STEAM Lab: Melting Snowman   Friday, December 26, Held on the hour starting at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, and 2:00. Explore states of matter and chemical reactions with a frosty-fun science experiment. 3D Paper Snowflakes   Saturday, December 27, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Come learn how to make 3-D snowflakes to celebrate the changing season! All ages welcome. Pool Noodle Monsters   Sunday, December 28, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Come make your own unique monster using part of a pool noodle and craft supplies! Kids Cook Around the World: Guacamole Monday, December 29, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. In our final installment of Kids Cook Around the World, we won't have to travel far! Learn about guacamole's origin, make your own version, and give it a taste test! New Year's Crafts   Tuesday, December 30, 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. Ring in 2026 with creativity and fun by designing your own decor and accessories! Hot Chocolate Tasting   Friday, January 2, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Warm up with a cozy hot chocolate tasting featuring a variety of flavorful blends and delicious toppings for the ultimate winter indulgence. Winter Reading Challenge   Friday, January 2, through Sunday, February 22 Get a kickstart on your 2026 reading goals with our Winter Reading Challenge! All ages are welcome to participate. Stop in to the library anytime during the challenge to pick up your Bingo sheet. The more Bingos you complete, the more raffle tickets and chances to win you earn! Build with Keva Planks   Saturday, January 3, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Want to build something cool? Drop in and make a tower or other exciting structure out of Keva Planks! High-Protein Chocolate Mousse   Sunday, January 4, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The start of the new year is typically a time to redirect our attention toward healthy eating habits. Come learn how to make a high-protein, low-calorie dessert with a surprising ingredient. 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.