The North Country Library Crawl aims to get people out and about to visit not just their local library but surrounding locations throughout the region. The October event was primarily organized by Allison Mandeville, who serves as the director of the Champlain Memorial Library.

The Library Crawl originally ran the first weekend in June 2023. While it was considered a success, many participants, or crawlers, asked for more time than just a couple of days to visit all of the stops throughout Franklin, Essex and Clinton counties.

Organizers listened. The event is slated to return for the entire month of October.

Crawlers will be able to pick up a library “passport” at the first location they visit. A librarian will place a stamp in the document at each different location they visit. Anyone who visits at least five separate libraries can drop off their passport at their final library stop of the month.

Saranac Lake Free Library (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Completed passports will be entered into a drawing to win a collection of books.

“Every single library is very unique and special in its own ways,” said Tupper Lake Public Library Director Courtney Carey.

Several of the region’s libraries are highlighted below.

–

Lake Placid

Lake Placid Public Library (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

–

The Lake Placid Public Library overlooks Mirror Lake and provides 180-degree glimpses of the water from the lake’s west shore. The library’s property extends directly up to the lake itself, and visitors can take advantage of a small picnic area to read, eat or relax.

Whiteface Mountain, Mount Whitney and Cobble Hill can all be seen from the library towering above Mirror Lake to the east.

“The land alone that the building stands on would go for millions,” Assistant Librarian Madonna Barney said.

Assistant Librarian Linda Blair is in her 48th year with the library.

“People tell me all the time, ‘This library is magic,'” she said.

The Lake Placid Public Library first opened its doors in 1886. Over the decades, a cascade of physical and textual expansions took place, with several additions to the original structure dovetailing a growing collection, notably expanded when, in 1954, the library joined the Clinton-Essex Library System. Franklin County would join shortly thereafter, creating the triumvirate of counties that the library system covers today.

The Lake Placid Public Library is located at 2471 Main St., Lake Placid. Its phone number is 518-523-3200 and the library’s website can be found at lakeplacidlibrary.org.

–

Saranac Lake

–

The Saranac Lake Free Library boasts a wide array of collections, exhibits and workspace.

“We’re in a pretty unique situation here,” said Saranac Lake Free Library Director Jake Widrick.

He noted the library’s Adirondack Research Room, which houses a special non-circulating collection of books, periodicals and photographs, among a long list of other materials, pertaining to the Adirondacks.

The room can be accessed for research at no charge, although appointments — which can be reserved online or by calling the library — are recommended and a set of strict rules dictate how the collection can be used.

Widrick also highlighted the library’s Dickert Wildlife Collection and Cantwell Community Room, both in the library’s basement. Coming off of an early-season visit from Santa at the Cantwell Room on Monday, Widrick said the library was offering a lot of unique programming throughout the month.

“We’re also doing a lot of programming (this October) … and just finished setting up the Fibrary Exhibit (Monday),” he said.

The Fibrary Exhibit, which features fiber arts of all kinds from local artists, officially opens Friday and will remain on display through November. Local fiber artist Suzanne Hokanson will discuss her show “Plattsburgh Works” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. during the opening.

Widrick invited people to come and take advantage of the library’s computers and ample desk space for various tasks.

“We have a lot of friendly and free-to-use workspace. We’ve seen a lot of people coming into the library recently to take advantage of this space that we have available for remote work and collaboration,” he said.

A full schedule of events can be found on the library’s website.

The Saranac Lake Free Library is located at 109 Main St., Saranac Lake. Its phone number is 518-891-4190 and the library’s website can be found at slfl.org.

–

Tupper Lake

–

The Tupper Lake Public Library, also known as the Goff-Nelson Memorial Library, is a community fixture that also makes for a worthwhile stop for visitors traveling through the area.

“We here at the Tupper Lake Public Library work really hard to be as connected to the community as we possibly can. That’s working with the town, village, local businesses, really anything and everything we try to be as involved and partake in,” Carey said.

She added that the library is a “gorgeous building with lovely large windows” and opened in 1972.

“The architecture is gorgeous here. We post a wide array of programs, especially for children. We’re working on teen programs and literacy programs for the fall and winter. We really pride ourselves on trying to be the hub of the community. We’re located in the perfect spot for people all around to come and visit,” Carey said.

The library’s current building was spurred by an, at the time, $150,000 bequest in 1969 from the late Mrs. George (Charity Goff) Nelson.

“The new Goff-Nelson Memorial Library is one-story, spacious and open, without any interior support, affording a sweeping view of Raquette Pond and Mt. Matumbla,” the website states.

Carey lauded the library’s staff for helping to create a warm, friendly and welcoming atmosphere for community members and visitors alike.

“Our staff is extremely friendly and gregarious. They always love to talk about not only our collection and things to do in Tupper Lake. You’re not just visiting the library, you’re visiting Tupper Lake,” she said.

Carey said her staff is always willing to point people to all of the “amazing features” and events happening around the town at any given time. She also noted that the library has a children’s room that features a train set for kids to play with and socialize with each other.

The Goff-Nelson Memorial Tupper Lake Public Library is located at 41 Lake St., Tupper Lake. Its phone number is 518-359-9421 and the library’s website can be found at tupperlakepubliclibrary.org.

–

AuSable Forks

–

The AuSable Forks Free Library, in addition to hosting a full slate of events through October, capitalizes on the area’s artistic legacy. Rockwell Kent, a famous American painter, lived at the Asgaard Farm, in AuSable Forks.

“I believe (the library is) becoming an artist’s hub,” said AuSable Forks Free Library Director Sue Anne Walton. This month, the library will offer three painting workshops put on by local painter and photographer Rob Fountain.

Walton said the workshops will focus on pastel landscape painting and will run from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 12, 19 and 26. They are free and open to anyone, regardless of skill, although interested participants are asked to call the library in advance to register.

October is a busy month for the AuSable Forks Free Library. Tom Gomez, a local musician, will perform on Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. On Oct. 20, the library will host December Wind, a Native American folk band. A songwriting workshop series begins on Oct. 23 with Carl Rubino. The library will also host a Trivia Night on Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

More details, including updates leading up to the events, can be found on the library’s Facebook page.

Walton attributed the library’s charm, above all else, to the people who come through its doors.

“It’s evolved into a community space. Artists gather, writers gather and we have a big basement with many uses. It goes from a coffee house to a clay workshop, for example,” she said.

The AuSable Forks Free Library is located at 9 Church Lane, AuSable Forks. Its phone number is 518-647-5596 and the library’s website can be found at ausableforksfreelibrary.com.

–

Other libraries

–

The other libraries in the Tri-Lakes region listed below will be participating in the North Country Library Crawl.

– Wilmington: Wilmington E. M. Cooper Memorial Public Library, 5751 state Route 86, Wilmington, 518-946-7701, wilmingtoncooperlibrary.org

– Upper Jay: Wells Memorial Library, 12230 state Route 9N, Upper Jay, 518-576-4335, wellsmemoriallibrary.com

– Keene: Keene Public Library, 10928 state Route 9N, Keene, 518-576-2200

– Keene Valley: Keene Valley Library, 1796 state Route 73, Keene Valley, 518-576-4335, keenevalleylibrary.org

–

More information

–

Addresses, directions and other libraries throughout the North Country can be found at cefls.org.

Those seeking to participate in the North Country Library Crawl should check library hours in advance, especially if they are venturing beyond their regular library. Many smaller communities’ libraries across the Adirondacks operate on limited hours.