Elting Memorial Library

ELTING IS A COMMUNITY-CENTRIC LIBRARY, OFFERING ACCESS TO A BROAD RANGE OF INFORMATION, DIGITAL AND TRADITIONAL READING AND AUDIO MATERIALS, FREE WI-FI, PERSONALIZED TECHNOLOGY HELP, A LIBRARY OF THINGS, COMPUTERS ON SITE AND TABLETS FOR BORROWING, A THRIVING LOCAL HISTORY ROOM, EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGE GROUPS, ALONG WITH INVITING SPACES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO WORK AND MEET. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 56,311 LIBRARY VISITS IN 2021.THE HIRING OF A NEW DIRECTOR IN 2021 BROUGHT AN INFUSION OF FRESH IDEAS AND PROGRAMS, AND A REVAMPED WEBSITE SUPPORTING DIRECT ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SERVICES. THROUGH THE SITE, PATRONS CAN RESERVE A STUDY ROOM, SIGN UP FOR A LIBRARY CARD, BOOK A TECH HELP SESSION, BORROW MUSEUM AND PARK PASSES AND ACCESS DIGITIZED HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS, DAILY NEWSPAPERS, AND DOWNLOADABLE AND STREAMING BOOKS, VIDEOS AND MUSIC. THERE IS ALSO AN EXTENSIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AT THE LIBRARY.

COLLECTIONS: ELTING'S MORE THAN 7,500 RESIDENT CARDHOLDERS BORROWED OVER 103,000 ITEMS IN 2021, AND 6,267 ITEMS WERE ADDED TO THE LIBRARY'S PRINT AND DIGITAL COLLECTION. PRINT MATERIALS REMAIN POPULAR IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THE DEMAND FOR DIGITAL ITEMS IS INCREASING, WITH MORE THAN 13,000 BORROWED IN 2021. THIS INCLUDES EBOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, STREAMING MUSIC AND MOVIES.NEARLY 300 ITEMS WERE BORROWED FROM THE NEW AND EXPANDING LIBRARY OF THINGS, WHICH INCLUDES HOME AND YARD TOOLS, CAMPING EQUIPMENT, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, YARD GAMES AND TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING INTERNET HOTSPOTS AND TABLETS.THE CHILDREN'S ROOM IS A FAVORITE SETTING IN THE LIBRARY, AND NEARLY 25,200 ITEMS WERE BORROWED THERE IN 2021. THERE WAS AN EXTENSIVE WEEDING AND REARRANGEMENT OF THE COLLECTION, FOLLOWED BY THE ADDITION OF MATERIALS TO UPDATE THE OFFERINGS AND FILL IN GAPS.ONE OF ELTING'S UNIQUE ASSETS IS THE HAVILAND-HEIDGERD HISTORICAL COLLECTION. HHHC WAS AMONG THE RECIPIENTS OF A $349,000 NEH GRANT FOR THE PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND DIGITALIZATION OF PRE-CIVIL WAR COLLECTIONS.DURING THE YEAR, HISTORY ROOM STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS GIVE ASSISTANCE WITH RESEARCH, INCLUDING FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING OF A BLACK HISTORY AND CULTURAL CENTER, AND FOR THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF NEW PALTZ'S ICONIC SKY TOP TOWER AT MOHONK.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS: EARLY LITERACY-FOCUSED ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING KITS WITH BOOKS AND MANIPULATIVES, A PARENTING COLLECTION, STEAM-INSPIRED PROGRAMS, TUTORING SERVICES AND AGE-SPECIFIC STORY TIMES ILLUSTRATE THE BREADTH OF PROGRAMMING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. IN THE POST-VACCINE PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES WERE OFFERED -- INCLUDING MORE THAN 70 STORY TIMES (INCLUDING BABY LAPSITS AND PAJAMA STORYTIMES), 20 CRAFT-RELATED PROGRAMS, MUSIC AND MOVEMENT PROGRAMS, LIVE-ANIMAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND SCAVENGER HUNTS. PROGRAMS ARE BOTH CHILDREN- AND FAMILY-FOCUSED AND ALIGN WITH THE LIBRARY'S PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM INVOLVED 167 CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS.PROGRAMMING FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS INCLUDE TRIVIA NIGHTS, A HALLOWEEN HAUNT IN THE LIBRARY COURTYARD, WINTER-BREAK BOOK CLUBS AND PARTICIPATION IN A REGIONAL BATTLE OF THE BOOKS COMPETITION.THE SPACES FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS WERE IMPROVED, WITH PHASED RENOVATION AND REORGANIZATION OF THE CHILDREN'S ROOM, ALLOWING FOR EASIER ACCESS AND INTERACTIONS WITH MORE SEATING AND OPEN FLOOR SPACE. A TEEN AREA WAS CREATED IN ANOTHER SECTION OF THE LIBRARY, WITH FOUR TEEN COMPUTERS, COMFORTABLE SEATING AND STUDY SPACES.

ADULT PROGRAMS: THE LIBRARY'S MORE THAN 300 PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS IN 2021 SUPPORT ELTING'S MISSION OF PROMOTING LITERACY AND LIFELONG LEARNING, BUILDING COMMUNITY AND FOSTERING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. THERE WERE BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON PROGRAM OPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.AN ADULT PROGRAMMER POSITION WAS ADDED IN 2021, HELPING TO EXPAND THE BREADTH AND VARIETY OF OFFERINGS -- WHICH FOCUS ON EDUCATION, CULTURE, SOCIAL CONNECTION AND ENTERTAINMENT. THERE WERE SEVERAL MEET-LOCAL-AUTHOR EVENTS AND POETRY READINGS, TRIVIA NIGHT, PAINT AND SIP, AND A MANDALA PAINTING WORKSHOP. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDED MEDICARE 101 AND DIY BUILD A WEBSITE WORKSHOP. ELTING ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A COMMUNITY-WIDE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION.THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM INCLUDED AN INCENTIVIZING RAFFLE FOR ADULTS. A WEEKLY KNITTING GROUP AND MONTHLY BOOK CLUB OFFER SOCIAL CONNECTION, AS DO THE POPULAR MOVIE NIGHTS AND THE MUSIC IN THE GARDEN CONCERTS. THE LIBRARY IS ALSO A SITE FOR THE VIBRANT GEOCACHING NETWORK IN NEW PALTZ. OUTREACH TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY INCLUDES A FOOD PANTRY AND A FREE BOOK SHED.