HOWLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY

Hosts a Summer Reading program for youth and adults with over 620 total participants annually, offering themed activities, milestone-based prizes, and incentives. Runs the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative and provides storytimes, interactive play, and early literacy programs for young children.

Offers a Library BINGO program for adults with reading challenges and prize incentives. Distributes Welcome Bags and prize incentives for teen participation in the Summer Reading program. Supports teen engagement through a Teen Advisory Board that helps select programming, resources, and collections.

Maintains and publishes a public calendar for Board of Trustees meetings.

Provides book clubs, STEM workshops, Exploration Kits for in-library use, and a Sensory Support Box with tools to help children regulate and focus during visits and programs.

Conducts community input activities including public surveys, focus groups, one-on-one conversations, community discussions, public sessions, and in-person facility tours to assess library building conditions and gather feedback on facility needs.

Offers a Library of Things collection that includes calculators, musical instruments, museum passes, STEAM kits, video games, sports equipment, board games, arts and crafts kits, WiFi hotspots, GoPro cameras, and kid-friendly educational kits available for free checkout by community members.

Provides free access to regional cultural and natural sites through a lending pass program, offering free general admission for up to six people at participating museums and free vehicle access for one car and four visitors to Mohonk Preserve.

Offers passport application services with online appointment scheduling, charges a $35 execution fee, provides passport photo services for $10, and offers photocopy services for required documents.

Operates a public library providing educational resources, reference services, physical and digital collections, and access to computers and the internet for community residents. Supports personal, educational, and professional information needs through lending materials and maintaining facility access.

Provides one-on-one tech help appointments lasting 30 to 60 minutes to assist patrons with device navigation, digital library platforms, email, internet browsing, social media, and basic productivity software. Offers laptops for in-library checkout and supports access to digital resources for skill development and research.

Operates a free seed exchange program offering flower, herb, fruit, and vegetable seeds, and a spice library that lends small pre-portioned spice samples for recipe experimentation. Hosts a juried community art exhibition celebrating local heritage.

Offers study room reservations for library cardholders up to 90 minutes per day and three times per week, with walk-in availability for groups up to six on a first-come, first-served basis. Maintains the Community Room as a silent study space when not in use for programs.