When the wind howls across the mountains and evenings settle in early, the Plateau’s libraries offer something better than hibernation – a cozy refuge filled with stories, conversation, and connection.
It’s the perfect season to retreat indoors, and the Hudson and Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community libraries invite everyone to do just that – to gather, learn, and share in a winter rich with community spirit. Both the Hudson Library in Highlands and the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library are proving that books are only the beginning of what makes these spaces so vital to mountain life.
At Hudson Library, there’s a new face behind the desk and plenty of fresh ideas in motion. Jessica Pollock, who became librarian in November, brings 13 years of experience and an enthusiasm for making the library a lively gathering spot.
A native of El Paso, Texas, Pollock has worked in everything from youth to reference libraries, but it was Highlands that captured her imagination.
“I saw the job posting and thought it looked like a beautiful small town with lovely, friendly people,” she says.
Pollock is already shaping a dynamic lineup for the new year. The Kids Zone returns in January with Lego Club, Art with The Bascom, and a Winter Craft Workshop on January 29. Weekly Story Times continue to welcome families for reading and play, while Tech Time returns after a brief holiday hiatus to help patrons master the digital tools of modern life. And come April, a new program, Community Coffee with the Mayor, will follow Friday town meetings — an informal chance to sip, chat, and share ideas about life in Highlands.
Across the mountain in Cashiers, the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library remains a hub of creativity and connection. Children can dive into the joy of Wednesday Storytimes at 10:30 A.M. or explore science and imagination through the Tuesday Afterschool STEAM program at 3:45 P.M. For grown-ups, Cashiers Knitters meet every Wednesday morning at 10:00 A.M., pairing conversation with craft, while Tech Time offers one-on-one digital help at the same hour. On Thursday afternoons, the library’s movie screenings roll at 3:00 P.M., a cozy way to spend a gray winter afternoon — popcorn included.
Both libraries share the same mission: to be gathering places where neighbors meet, ideas spark, and everyone feels welcome. Whether you come for a story hour, a helping hand with your tablet, or just a quiet corner and a good book, the libraries of the Plateau are ready to warm your winter days.
For complete schedules and updates, visit fontanalib.org/highlands and fontanalib.org/cashiers.
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