Annual Reports to the Community

Join Library Director, Michele as she shows you how to make a beautiful holiday wreath for your home using discarded books.

Free. All materials supplied. Ages 16 and up. (Must be comfortable using hot glue gun.) Contact library to register; space is limited.



(**AS OF 11/29/18: WORKSHOP IS FULL!!!**)

Happens in the East Room.

Join us for a fundraiser for the Pleasant Valley Library with author, Susan Orlean, in the Sanctuary at Murray's, at 73 Broadway in Tivoli, NY. This event is hosted by Oblong Books and Music in collaboration with Murray's, as well as additional marketing and promotional support provided by Bard Written Arts.

(In light of the recent tragic fire that destroyed Pleasant Valley Free Library, Tivoli Free Library have generously requested that any proceeds from our upcoming event with Susan Orlean  originally earmarked to support Tivoli Library, will now go to support the rebuilding effort for Pleasant Valley.)

Tickets available online only: $10.00 (May be applied in full to the purchase of a book by the author at this event.)
Susan Orlean, hailed as a “national treasure” by The Washington Post and the acclaimed bestselling author of Rin Tin Tin and The Orchid Thief, reopens the unsolved mystery of the most catastrophic library fire in American history, and delivers a dazzling love letter to a beloved institution—our libraries.

On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual false alarm. As one fireman recounted later, “Once that first stack got going, it was 'Goodbye, Charlie'.” The fire was disastrous: It reached 2,000 degrees and burned for more than seven hours. By the time it was extinguished, it had consumed 400,000 books and damaged 700,000 more. Investigators descended on the scene, but over thirty years later, the mystery remains: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library—and if so, who?

Weaving her life-long love of books and reading with the fascinating history of libraries and the sometimes-eccentric characters who run them, award-winning journalist and "New York Times" bestselling author Susan Orlean presents a mesmerizing and uniquely compelling story as only she can. With her signature wit, insight, compassion, and talent for deep research, she investigates the legendary Los Angeles Public Library fire to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives. To truly understand what happens behind the stacks, Orlean visits the different departments of the LAPL, encountering an engaging cast of employees and patrons and experiencing alongside them the victories and struggles they face in today’s climate.

She also delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from a metropolitan charitable initiative to a cornerstone of national identity. She reflects on her childhood experiences in libraries; studies arson and the long history of library fires; attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; and she re-examines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the library over thirty years ago. Along the way, she reveals how these buildings provide much more than just books—and that they are needed now more than ever.
Filled with heart, passion, and unforgettable characters, The Library Book is classic Susan Orlean, and an homage to a beloved institution that remains a vital part of the heart, mind, and soul of our country and culture.

Susan Orlean has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1992. She is the author of seven books, including The Orchid Thief, which was made into the Academy Award–winning film Adaptation.

(Susan Orlean image by Gasper Triangle.)

Calling all teens! Come make DIY holiday cards! We will have plenty of paper, glue sticks, buttons, newspapers, and crafting supplies. Pizza will be served special thanks to Broadway Pizza of Tivoli.

Ages: 11-18. Happens in the East Room. No need to sign up.

Come celebrate the holidays outside the Tivoli Firehouse on Broadway in Tivoli, NY.

Horse & wagon rides, crafts for kids with the Tivoli Free Library, tasty things, holiday craft fair, visit with Santa Claus, and tree lighting at 4:30pm.

We will be crafting: Candy Cane Mice using felt, pom-poms, and candy canes. (While supplies last.)

Following at 5:00pm, meet up across the street to Murray’s for a free live performance of A Christmas Carol , Charles Dickens’ classic story about generosity and sharing, performed by Theater on the Road upstairs in The Sanctuary. Delicious refreshments will be offered.

Event is free and for all ages. Co-sponsored by: Historic Red Hook, Tivoli Free Library, Village of Tivoli, and Murray's.

Join us for some seasonal art. Paint your own winter scene! It can be from a book, a photo, or your imagination! Bring any inspirational materials with you. There will be art books on hand, plus, acrylic paints, and art supplies. Led by Program Coordinator, Laura.

Materials provided. Perfect for young children. No need to sign up, just come by!

Laura has a BFA in Graphic Design from SUNY New Paltz. She enjoys working with paper and collage. She also is a painter who has exhibited her work in galleries in Woodstock, NY and Kingston, NY.

(The Magpie by Claude Monet (1868-69))

The Funshine Merrymakers rock the house with their kid-friendly antics: funny skits, magic tricks, and silly songs with loads of audience participation. Plus, fun surprises. Join us for this fun-filled evening!
Rainbow the Clown and Happy Dan have over 40-years’ experience entertaining children of all ages.  Most recently they have performed at the: Rosendale Chili Bowl, High Meadow School, Mohonk Mountain House, Rail Trail Cafe, and Duzine Elementary School in New Paltz, NY. They are both creative, silly, and compassionate global citizens who believe in a better world for one and all. 

"You filled the room with joy and everyone from toddlers to grandparents were completely transfixed. Your gift to our community is priceless."  - The Children's Center of New Paltz

All ages. Free. Happens on the Third Floor.