Hamilton Librarian capturing imagination

Hamilton Library summer reading program has plenty to offer

HAMILTON » Amy Sommers has a truly captive audience when she wants to experiment with some new ideas for fun activities at the Hamilton Public Library.

Sommers joined the staff at the library as their new program coordinator and digital services coordinator on May 1, so she is constantly looking for creative ideas for programming that will capture the imaginations -- and the attention -- of even the youngest patrons who visit their library. To get a good idea of how her ideas will translate to a youngster environment, Sommers said she often asks her own daughters Halima, 8, and Nina, 4, to give them a little sampling.

“I have two kids of my own so I get them to try things out first,” Sommers said. “They love any excuse to play with crafts and glue.”

An Ohio native, Sommers has lived in Hamilton for 10 years, coming here when her husband Joel got his job as an associate professor of computer science at Colgate University. She is no stranger to New York, however -- she went to college at Cornell Univer- sity, and it was then that she started to fall in love with the area, she said. An extensive traveler, Sommers said she has visited many libraries over the years, and now plans to use all of that experience to the advantage of the Hamilton library.

“Whenever I was traveling, one of the first places I always visited was the local library,” she said.

Sommers comes to the library with an extensive background in program planning and facilitation, most recently working as a volunteer co-coordinating the farmer’s market in nearby Poolville. She also has a considerable background in environmental science.

In her role as program and events coordinator, Sommers oversees the library’s art exhibitions and programming for all ages. As digital coordinator, she will host classes on technology at the library regularly. She is also there to answer their patrons questions on all digital resources available on library equipment.

One of her first jobs at the library was organizing their summer reading program, including the kick-off ice cream social gala on June 19. This year’s theme is “Build a Bet-

ter Community,” so Sommers started out seeking a variety of ideas on “building.” But then she started to specialize a little more, to make the theme more personal and communityminded, she said.

“I took that idea and then started to look at the whole world as a community itself,” Sommers said of her inspirations. Seeing all people as a single unit, with everyone working towards the good of all, might be somewhat of a lofty subject for the youngsters taking part in the summer reading program, so Sommers then created projects to make sure her activities are interesting and exciting for all ages.

“We can’t make improvements by ourselves, and we will be exploring that aspect through arts and crafts,” she explained.

Sign-ups are continuing, and anyone interested in being a part of the summer reading program should visit the front desk for more information. A full calendar of events during the summer reading program is available at the library and on their website.

Sommers intimated that even now she is planning a special program centered around the solar eclipse coming up in August. Likely, her girls will be the first to learn -- and experience for themselves -- all of the crafty details.

And anyone looking for suggestions of books to read during the summer, or any other time, can visit the library for some suggestions, Sommers added. She feels the library offers a central place for the people of the area to gather together, and one of her favorite parts of the job is being able to meet so many people she might have been able to otherwise.

“The library is a hub of the community, a place where people come together of all backgrounds,“she said. “I love being in Hamilton … it’s a great community.”

Sommers is available throughout the week, but to check her availability or make an appointment to see her call 315-332-1630 or email her at asommers@midyork.org

The Hamilton Public Library is located at 13 Broad St. in Hamilton. For more information on any of their offerings, visit: www.midyorklib.org/hamilton

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PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH BY MIKE JAQUAYS Hamilton Public Library volunteer and board member Maureen Wallace, left, new program coordinator and digital services coordinator Amy Sommers, center, and library director Hilary Virgil Deskiewicz chat after their summer reading program kickoff ice...

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH BY MIKE JAQUAYS Amy Sommers is the new program coordinator and digital services coordinator at the Hamilton Public Library, overseeing the library’s programming for all ages and answering questions on all digital resources available on library equipment.

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH BY MIKE JAQUAYS Amy Sommers, center, poses with husband Joel and their children Halima, 8, and Nina, 4, at the Hamilton Public Library on June 19.