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COHOES, N.Y. — The Cohoes Public Library held its first Summer Reading Kickoff in Van Schaick Park on Sunday afternoon.

“We’re here to kick off summer reading,” said new library director Ray LeMay. “We’ve been through a lot of trials and tribulations but we’ve turned a page and we’re very excited.” A free event, LeMay said they wanted to go out into the community and provide the public with an easier way to get involved.



The main goal of the event was to encourage community members to sign up for the library’s summer reading program — which runs until August 17 — or sign up for a library card. It wasn’t just a table with a sign-up sheet, however. The library had a range of events with face painting, a bouncy house, Stewart’s ice cream, lawn games, a DJ, storytime, and an on-the-ground hot air balloon that visitors could walk inside.

There were also two raffles. One was a 50-50 raffle from the Friends of Cohoes Library. The other was from the library itself with prizes and tickets that will extend throughout their summer reading challenge.

Though they gave some prizes Sunday, more prizes will be drawn at the programming’s finale event on August 17 when the challenge ends. Readers — in both the adults and kids challenges — can earn more tickets as they read throughout the month. This is the first year they’ve had a kickoff and Library Aides, Elizabeth Mayforth and Michelle Lee said Sunday’s event was LeMay’s brainchild.

Sunday’s event i.

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