The Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library has come a long way since its first years in a small space above a bank. This year, it will celebrate its 40th anniversary from its 55,000-square-foot building, amongst a collection of over 160,000 items.
The formal anniversary will be celebrated on Sunday, April 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. Photographic displays of the library’s history will precede cake and a short program on local history by Town of Clifton Park Historian John Scherer and Town of Halfmoon Historian Ellen Kennedy.
April 19 will also signal the launch of new library cards, which will feature a fresh design and come with handy key-tag (a la Price Chopper AdvantEdge cards).
Though Sunday marks the formal recognition, the ruby anniversary will be celebrated with programs throughout the year. Those unable to make Sunday’s event should take note of the Family Festival scheduled for May 16. Author Gordon Korman will appear on April 29, Diane Payette will host a children’s concert of music spanning the last 40 years in the fall and Clifton Park’s Not-so-Common-Players will commemorate the quadricentennial of Henry Hudson’s voyage with a play.
Library patrons are also encouraged to come in and pick up a free 22-minute DVD with pictures of the library’s past.
We were trying to think of something that people could take home as a memento, said Alex Gutelius, the library’s director. `It’s really fun to look back.`
The library is located on Moe Road in Clifton Park, but the modern, environmentally friendly building is only the library’s most recent home.
Its 1969 placement was above National Commercial Bank at the intersection of Routes 9 and 146. A few years later, it relocated to an old schoolhouse on Cemetery Road provided by the Shenendehowa School District, and later found a longtime home on donated land on Clifton Country Road.
Voters narrowly approved the $15 million building in 2004, and it opened its doors in December of 2006. The library grew with each move, both in size and in patrons served. The new building makes use of the latest energy saving materials and techniques, and was recognized last year as a `green` building by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Program.
`It’s an incredible building, and our usage has increased dramatically since then,` said Gutelius.
It is estimated the building’s features and designs reaps $66,000 in energy savings annually.
Check the library’s Web site at www.cphlibrary.org for more information on the 40th anniversary and upcoming events.“