1. Amsterdam Free Library –
a place to connect, engage
& discover. 2010 was a year of
exciting changes as we worked to connect
community & open opportunity.
Heart of the Community. 76,215 patron visits to
the library over the past year reminds us that we
continue to be one of the community's most
essential resources. Information, technology,
creativity and a sense of community are delivered
to all of our patrons.
Community Support. Fundraisers and friends
continue to help us support our operations. Budget
cuts still threaten the services we offer, yet our
patrons have been valued partners in lessening that
impact. 2011 will be no different. We need our
community’s support in order to support our
community.
Outreach & Creativity. The 2010 Festival of Windmills
showcased our creative spirit allowing us to engage
our community in an expression of art, history and
culture. More than 50 groups of library friends
decorated windmills for display and auction at a gala
celebration of cultural heritage.
Annual Report 2010
Looking Forward. 2011 will bring a series of new
initiatives along with expanded services to existing
programs. With nearly 1000 new patrons last year, the
library is committed to delivering its vital resources to the
community despite federal, state and local cut-backs.
Summer reading programs, Teen-Tech Week and
computer classes are just a few of the exciting events to
expect in the coming year.
Our Continued Mission. Amsterdam Free Library remains
a resource for ideas, technology and opportunity.
Through the much appreciated generosity of our donors
and supporters, patrons continue to gain access to
essential tools required for success in 21st
Century
education, job markets and civic responsibility.
connecting community. opening opportunity.
Amsterdam Free Library
28 Church Street
Amsterdam, NY 12010
www.amsterdamfreelibrary.org
tel. 518-842-1080
fax. 518-842-1169
HARD-WORK YIELDS RESULTS IN 2010
Patron Visits 76,215
Registered Patrons 8,342
NEW Borrowers 870
NEW Additions 2,191

2. Broadband Technology
Opportunity Program –
Computer centers provide access to
workforce, education and E-Government
services & training.
Leaders in Technology. As one of only 30 libraries
across upstate New York to achieve selection as a
Broadband Technology Opportunity partner, our
library strives to counter an at-risk population and
promote digital literacy training, workforce skills
development and education support.
Public Computer Center. Supplemented by various
state & local job-seeking resources, our 10-unit public
computer center and training staff provide open lab
time for individuals to create resumes, perform job
searches and receive technology instruction to better
prepare for a 21st
Century job market.
Student Education Center. Staffed with a NYS-
certified teacher, the student education center hosts
six computer workstations, a collection of resources in
literature & film and after-school tutoring. As a
committed partner in education, the library works to
ensure all students achieve through learning and
application.
Connect Annual Report 2010
Opening Doors. Your community library is now a hub for
broadband technology. Thousands of patrons who would
not ordinarily have access to the World Wide Web now
have technology at their fingertips. Comprehensive
computer class series, E-services and instant
communications all make for a connected community and
opened opportunities.
Tomorrow’s Vision. 2011 will be a year of growth for the
broadband technology program. Video-conferencing
services will enable local business partners to engage in
professional networking and allow students to explore the
globe through virtual fieldtrips. Language labs will
promote better understanding within our community
while social networking and teen-tech media will foster
increased conversation among our family, friends and
patrons.
connecting community. opening opportunity.
Amsterdam Free Library
28 Church Street
Amsterdam, NY 12010
www.amsterdamfreelibrary.org
tel. 518-842-1080
fax. 518-842-1169
Essential Resources for Thousands in 2010
Computer Center Visits 17,721
Student Comp. Center 5,527
Average Monthly Web Visits 1,500
NEW E-book Subscribers 500

3. Children & Young Adult
Department & Services–
Students and their families get involved in
reading & creating. Group story-hours,
summer reading, crafts and fun are all
found at the library.
Engaging Young Minds. Programs like the library’s
summer reading initiative encourage our youth to
explore learning through literature. The program also
boasts a number of performers from outside
organizations who come to help make stories jump
from the pages and into our world.
Enriching Experience. The library rewards our
participating students with special presentations and
celebrations of their successes like our annual end-of-
summer pizza party. The most valuable prize,
however, is the love of reading that is instilled within
each child who participates in the program.
Getting Crafty. Creative art is a teaching tool the
library uses to help our students appreciate the world
of literature. An integral part of our programs
involves library and family members reading stories
while working on arts & crafts projects with the
children that relate to the theme of the literature.
Engage Annual Report 2010
Express Yourself. All of the library’s programs for children
and young adults incorporate catchy and interesting
themes to help make learning fun. Stories, crafts and art
projects are selected to illustrate each overall concept or
theme. Students use this creative outlet to broaden their
understanding of literature and experience better
communication with family & educators.
It Takes A Village. Amsterdam Free Library is a symbol of
community experience. Various community partners as
well as parents and guardians volunteer their time and
resources in order to make each program successful for
each child who participates. As our family continues to
grow, we welcome you and your family too. Volunteer,
give back and make a difference in your community.
connecting community. opening opportunity.
Amsterdam Free Library
28 Church Street
Amsterdam, NY 12010
www.amsterdamfreelibrary.org
tel. 518-842-1080
fax. 518-842-1169
Fostering Our Future in 2010
Children/YA Circulation (items) 15,906
Dept. Program Participants 3,120
Student Summer Reading (books) 527

4. Throw open the window of
opportunity at your library–
It’s more than shelves full of books;
Amsterdam Free Library is a place of
community gathering, fostering ideas,
making friends and unearthing discoveries.
Talk it out. Bring your book and bring your lunch to
the library’s next Brown-Bag Book Discussion. Each
month our library patrons choose a popular or
interesting title to read independently and then come
together at the library for conversation, food and
interaction with friends.
Master Class. As a supporter and partner in the arts
and humanities, the library hosts several workshops
throughout the year which introduce writing, reading
and poetry to our patrons. The 2010 Writers & Poets
series featured many local artists whose work we
celebrate and whose stories we adore.
Sharing Resources. Our vast collection of resources is
important not only to our patrons, but to members of
surrounding libraries as well. Thanks to lending
agreements, Amsterdam Free Library mutually shares
items with other local libraries to broaden our
availability of material. In 2010, more than 15,000 of
these lending transactions took place.
Discover Annual Report 2010
Time Machine. Thanks to the efforts of library staff and
history specialists, our extensive collection now includes
resources on local history and the American Civil War.
Learn more about the fascinating role Amsterdam and
the surrounding region has played in the unfolding of
history. Discover the mysteries and little-known facts
flanking the shelves of our own historic building.
Let’s Do It Together. Amsterdam Reads is one of the
community’s most exciting yearly projects which asks all
of our library friends to vote for and read their favorite
book together. A great number of patrons tirelessly work
to promote the library and community reading. This
year’s selection of Amsterdam Reads features a local
author who chronicles his life as a jockey in Amsterdam’s
rich history as a thoroughbred racing center.
connecting community. opening opportunity.
Amsterdam Free Library
28 Church Street
Amsterdam, NY 12010
www.amsterdamfreelibrary.org
tel. 518-842-1080
fax. 518-842-1169
LIBRARIES MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Total Circulation of Items 86,867
Items in Library Collection 59,389
Inter-library Loan Transactions 15,284