Serving the residents of Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery, and as a courtesy, residents of West Point, New York

The Library will be closed on Monday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. We will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Essential Oils & Fall Wellness, Tuesday, November 19, 6:00pm. Call to register. Learn the secrets of the healing powers of essential oils. Optional make and take session to follow. Create your own foaming hand soap – pumpkin spice and a multi-purpose house cleaner. The lecture and secrets are free; the optional make and take is $10.

December Book Club – The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. New members always welcome. The book club will meet on Tuesday, December 3, at 1:15pm.

Friends of the Library – New members always welcome. The Friends meet on the first Tuesday of each month. The December meeting will be on December 3, at 5:00pm.

Holiday Cheer at the Library – December 7. The Friends of the Library are hosting their much anticipated annual bake sale and gently used book sale at 10am. Hurry in for delicious home baked goods. They sell out quickly! Be sure to enter the raffle for the Hess toy trucks and for the antique dolls on display now at the library! $2 per chance. Winners will be announced on December 7. All proceeds to support the library. At 11am Santa and his merry elves will be here for photos – thanks to Vision volunteers; and the Kids $1 Store, run by National Junior Honor Society students, will be available; holiday crafts for children will begin at 11am. Children can decorate a gingerbread house, create an ornament, and design a holiday card. Supplies are limited,  but the event is FREE.

Adult Basket Weaving with Robin, Saturday, November 2, 9:30am-3:00pm. Learn to weave this charming jelly jar basket using holiday colors. Class size is limited. Please call for more information!

November Book Club Selection, The English Patient, by Michael Ondaatje – Join fellow book club members on Tuesday, November 5, at 1:00pm to discuss this award winning book. New members always welcome!

Friends of the Library meeting, Tuesday, November 5, at 5:00pm. New members always welcome!

Story Time for Toddlers – September 18, 25, October 2, NO CLASS October 9, continues again on October 16, October 23, October 30, NO CLASS November 6, continues again November 13, November 20, November 27, December 4. Join us each week as we meet new friends, sing fun songs, listen to a story, and work on a craft together. Everyone is welcome, but please call to register.

The October Book Club selection is A Passage to India by E.M. Forster. The group meets on the first Tuesday of each month. Join us on October 1, at 1:00pm. New members are always welcome!

Friends of the Library meeting, Tuesday, October 1, 5:00. New members always welcome!

Monday, October 14 – The library will be CLOSED in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day.

Local Author Talk, October 15, 7:00pm – The Friends of the Highland Falls Library invite the community to meet local author, Mary E. Laders, who will discuss her latest book, Murder at Whispering Pines. Join us on the lower level of the library. Copies of Mary’s books will be available for sale.

Reptile Rally returns on October 22 at 6:00pm! Join educators from Trailside Museums and Zoo to learn about reptiles and a chance to see a few of New York’s native snakes and turtles up close! All ages are welcome. This is a FREE event and Family Friendly.

The Great Give Back 2019 – We are collecting donations in support of the Hudson Valley SPCA during the week of October 19-26. Stop by the library for a list of items. Be part of  the mission of The Great Give Back which is to provide a day of opportunities for the patrons of the Public Libraries of New York State to participate in meaningful, service-oriented experiences.

Universe of Stories – Summer Reading Program, June 28-August 9 – All patrons are welcome to sign up and track their progress.

Scroll below for all activities!

Not yet a patron? Not a problem! It’s easy and takes just a few minutes to complete a library card application. Bring a photo id and proof of residency to our circulation desk for assistance.

Launch Party for Summer Reading Program on Friday, June 28, 2:00pm-4:00pm. Come in to sign up and join in the fun learning to tie-dye. One book bag per family – supplies are limited. You are welcome to bring your own item to tie dye.

Blood Drive, Monday, July 1, 1:00pm-7:00pm. Give the gift of life by donating blood on Monday, July 1. As a thank you from the New York Blood Center, each donor will be given a voucher for either 2 Mets tickets or a $5 Dunkin card. Donors who are between the ages of 16-19 years old, will receive a $15 Dunkin card.

Essential Oils for Children, Monday, July 1, 3:30pm-4:30pm. Learn how the benefits of essential oils may help children sleep, focus better, stay healthy and much more! Please call to register you and your child. The lecture is free. Stay after and participate in our Make & Take activity: Essential Oil Infused Play Dough. There is a $10 fee for optional make and take.

Adult Basket Weaving – Saturday, July 13, 9:30am-3:00pm – Welcome back to Robin Ingram as she teaches us how to make a continuous weave basket. Limited class size. This class is filled. Call to be included on the wait list. Next basket weaving class is scheduled for November 2, 2019!

Cupcake Decorating Demonstration & Make and Take, Thursday, July 18, 10:30. Watch Bear Mountain Bakery bakers decorate cupcakes, then try one on your own!

Read With Rosie, Our  reading therapy dog – Tuesday afternoons from 3:30pm-4:30. Call for an appointment.

Summer Writing Essay Contest – Writers of all ages welcome! Stop in at the library for contest rules. All submissions must be received by August 1. Everyone will receive a gift for submitting an essay and a prize will be awarded for best overall essay within each age group. The theme is the Appalachian Trail.

Poster Coloring Contest – Stop at the Circulation Desk to ask for the Universe of Stories poster to color for a fun contest!

Students Book Buzz – Join 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students each Wednesday at 3:30pm to talk about the cool books you are reading. Come in to see which mystery HFIS staff member will lead the conversation each week! Not reading anything right now? Not a problem, come anyway and join in some fun games!

Story Time for ENL Families – Come to the library on Wednesdays at 3:30pm for a very special story time led by a mystery HFIS staff member.

Special Book Buzz, Thursday, July 18, 6:0opm – Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery. Join in the conversation about this extraordinary true story about a grandmother’s journey as a thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail. It is a great opportunity to explore Stan Goldblatt’s photo exhibit in the library community room.

PreK Summer Time Story Time – The next 4-week session of  PreK Story Time begins on Wednesday, July 17, at 10:30am. Sign up now for July 17, 24, 31, and August 7.

August Book Club – The August book club selection is Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. The book club is always looking for new members! Join them for their next meeting on Tuesday, August 6, at 1:30pm.

Learn to Sew a Lavender-Scented Sachet Bag, Thursday, August 8, 3:30pm – Sit with librarian Jane Reilly as she teaches students how to sew a lavender-scented sachet bag. Students will work on both the sewing machine and learn to use a needle and thread. Please call to register for this free event.

Thinky Dinky author talk with Angie Sommerfeld Johnson, Tuesday, August 13, 4:30-5:30pm. Angie will discuss her mindfulness activity book, written for students in K-5th grade. She will also show us the interactive e-book. This book is a great introduction for children to explore and talk about their feelings. This is a family event and guaranteed to be fun! Books will be available for sale.

Hobby Quest’s Flying Machines – Wednesday, August 14, 3:30-4:30pm. Build a model airplane from scratch that actually will fly! Registration must be received by August 5. Cost per child $6.

Watch for more Summer Reading Event announcements – coming soon!

July Book Club – The July book club selection is The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. The book club is always looking for new members! Join them for their next meeting on Tuesday, July 2, at 1:30pm.

Parking Lot Construction Update: Many thanks to all our patrons for their patience and cooperation during the parking lot construction. The work is nearly completed but the lot is open for library patron parking.

Thank you West Point-Highland Falls Rotary Club!  If you noticed the cleaned up gardens and beautiful plants, be sure to thank the members of the West Point-Highland Falls Rotary Club for all of their help with the gardening work earlier this month.

The Highland Falls Library driveway and parking lot will be closed beginning the week of May 6 and remained closed to all traffic for a few weeks. The infrastructure of the parking lot will be undergoing necessary repair work. Traffic barriers will be placed in the driveway to prevent drivers from entering the parking lot. Construction equipment and construction materials will be staged in the lot.

Please do not attempt to drive around the barricades during the project. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and sincerely thank everyone for their cooperation during the construction process.

Story Time for Toddlers – Spring Session for four weeks: May 15, May 23, May 30, and June 4. Join us at 10:30am to play, make new friends, sing, read a story, and do a craft. It is sometimes silly and sometimes messy but always fun! Please call or stop by the library to register. Everyone is welcome!

May Book Club Discussion – In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick – Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 1:30pm. Join fellow book club members as they discuss Philbrick’s historically factual account of the tragedy of the whale ship, the Essex, in the Pacific Ocean.

‘Local Storytellers’ featuring Allison Pataki, Beatrice Copeland, and Owen Pataki – Sunday, April 28, 2019, 4:00pm. Free and Open the Public. Join local storytellers Allison Pataki, Beatrice Copeland, and Owen Pataki for a panel discussion on their work and craft. Allison is a New York Times bestselling author of The Traitor’s Wife, The Accidental Empress, SISI: Empress on Her Own, and Where the Light Falls. Beatrice is a filmmaker who has written and directed several short films including Erstwhile which was filmed in her hometown of Garrison and shown at the Cannes Film Festival. Beatrice is currently adapting Allison’s memoir Beauty in the Broken Places for the screen. Owen is a US Army veteran and is a screenwriter/filmmaker. He is co-author of Where the Light Falls with his sister Allison Pataki.

Celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 27, 10:00am-2:00pm – The Highland Falls Library is teaming up with the Community Garden at Holy Innocents and The Highlands Garden Club to host a special day celebrating Earth Day. The theme for this year is Sustainability. Visit the exhibits on sustainable energy through solar power, conservation through efficient energy use and home retrofits, recycling, end composting and more. Crafts and face-painting for the children!

Lecture: Using Creativity to Move Through Grief – Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 6:00pm. Free Program. Join us at the library to meet local writers Amanda Russell and Cara Martinisi. They will share the creative tools we all can use to help move us forward when dealing with grief.

Lecture: Early West Point Landscape presented by Dr. Jon Malinowski – Tuesday, April 16, 2019, 6:00pm. Free program. All are welcome to attend this lecture by USMA Geography professor Dr. Malinowski who will discuss geographic and architectural history, pre-Civil War, including buildings which are no longer standing.

Spring Pysanky Class with Paula Holt – Friday, April 12,2019, 6:00pm-7:30pm. Free program for adults. Learn this fun and easy and very creative craft of Ukrainian folk art on eggs using a beeswax resist method. Class size is very limited. Please call or stop by the library to register.

Celebrate Poetry Month with Miriam Rice – Tuesday, April 9, 2019, 7:00pm. O’Neill High School Senior Miriam Rice will read from her book of poetry, The Tide. All are welcome to attend this very special evening.

Spring Into Reading Read Alouds – Tuesday, April 9, 2019, 5:00pm. Free program for elementary school children. An entertaining hour of stories presented by Fort Montgomery Elementary School teachers, presented by the FMES Community Engagement Team.

Essential Oils program returns with tips for Spring Living – Tuesday, April 2, 2019, 6:00-7:00pm. Lecture is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend. Following the lecture is an Optional Make & Take session to create a “seasonal roller”. There is a $10 cash fee for materials. Please call or stop by the library to register for the program and interest in the optional make & take activity.

Story Time for PreK – Four-week session: March 20, March 27, April 3, and April 10. Join us on Wednesday at 10:30am for puzzles, songs, stories, crafts, and friends! Please call or stop by the library to register. Everyone is welcome!

Book Lecture – Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at 7:00pm. The Friends of the Highland Falls Library invite you to meet author Nancy McCann Vericker who will discuss her book Unchained: Our Family’s Addiction Mess is our Message. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

Collectibles Show – Saturday, March 16, 2019, 11:00am-2:00pm. See what your neighbors are collecting! Newly expanded to include new displays upstairs and downstairs at the library.

Basketweaving Class for Adults – Learn how to weave a twill market basket with Robin Ingram, an instructor with the Westchester Area Basketmakers Guild. Saturday, March 9, 2019, at 9:00am. It is a beginner class using start-stop weaving technique. There is a $20 fee that includes registration and materials. Deadline to register is March 1.

March Book Club – Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. New members always welcome. Join in the discussion on Tuesday, March 5, at 1:00pm

Essential Oils 101 & Winter Wellness – NEW DATE! Rescheduled to Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 6:00pm. Looking for more energy, better sleep, less stress, better focus, help maintaining a healthy weight, and support for every system in your body? Join us for this FREE lecture and discover the basics of the benefits of using essential oils. Following the conversation is an optional Make & Take. There is a $10 materials fee if you decide to stay and make a jar of Everything Cream – the cure for just about all that ails you! Please call to register.

Soup and a movie to Warm Your Hearts – The Friends of the Library invite adults only to enjoy a cup of homemade soup, coffee, tea, and dessert while watching Julie & Julia. Bring your own mug on Saturday, February 9, 2019, at 11:00am. Admission is free but call to let us know you are planning to attend.

Story Time for Toddlers – Join us each Wednesday at 10:30am on February 6, 13, 20, 27 for puzzles, singing, a story or two, and an activity. Please call ahead to register.

Book Club – February book selection is be White Teeth by Zadie Smith.  Join the lively and always interesting discussion on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 1:00pm. New members always welcome!

Reading with Dogs – Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. A program for school age children offered weekly at the library. Fifteen-minute appointments are available beginning at 3:30pm. Please call ahead to register.

Have you been naughty or nice this year? Let Santa know. He will be arriving at 10:30am for you to take pictures with him. He may even have treats for you! Vision will be decorating the library inside and out in preparation of the Big Guy’s arrival!

The Friends of the Library will be hosting their annual bake sale from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Find the perfect homemade sweets for your holiday table.

Need a gift? The Friends of the Library will open their used book sale corner for browsing. There will also be a $1 gift table for school children to shop. National Junior Honor Society students will be running this activity. Free gift wrapping available!

Still looking for something to do at the library on December 1st? Join the fun and make a gingerbread house and ornament and a Christmas card from 11:00am to 2:00pm.

Upcoming Programs for Children:

Story Time for Toddlers – 10:30am or 1:00pm

Story Time Dates:
September 26, October 3, 10, 17
November 14, 21, 28, December 5

Fun Balloon Art by Gwendy – Saturday, October 27, 10:00am. Free and fun program for the whole family. Stop in and learn how to twist balloons into art. Everyone can do it and the balloons don’t pop. Come by and try it. It’s lots of fun!

Eeerie-Sistable Read Alouds – Tuesday, October 30, 5:00pm. Halloween is not just for candy anymore, stop by for an hour of entertaining and eeerie-sistable Read Aloud stories! Get ready for a FabBoolous time! Hosted by the FMES Community Engagement Team and the Highland Falls Library.

Upcoming Programs for Adults:

Mah Jongg Every Monday at 1:00pm

Book Club Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, Tuesday, November 6, 1:00pm

Pysanky Class with Paula Holt Friday, October 19, 6:00pm-7:30pm. Learn the folk art of beeswax resist decorating on eggs. An adult craft that is sure to help you de-stress. Please RSVP by calling 446-3113. Seats are limited.

Film Night Friday, October 26 at 7:00pm. The Friends of the Library invites all adults to the deep, dark dungeon of the library for a ghoulish night of fun and laughter. Be Prepared! Beware! There will be tricks and treats! Admission is free but please RSVP to the library by 10/22. Call 446-3113.