Hello, former librarian here who loves libraries! I often try to seek out a library to visit when I…read moretravel. I noticed that this branch of the Troy Public Library was near the area I was exploring, so I walked in and was surprised at the historic building - it's very unique, but a bit crowded. I was greeted right away by friendly and smiling librarians - love that. I had fun looking at the new books section, and I did use the restroom (you need a key from the desk to access it). This library doesn't seem like a spot you could really hang out and work or read for hours, but it had a good selection of new books and a small children's area.

This building is beautiful, and there is a great history about it on the library's Wikipedia page…read more Unfortunately, the day I visited, some work has been going on outside, so the exterior isn't quite visible at the moment. But the interior is quite interesting, even better that it's a library! It might take a nice stroll through to get the lay of the land. Rest rooms might be a bottleneck, some of the ones on the upper floor are currently closed, and you need the key from the front desk to use the ones on the ground floor. I'm also very glad that this library is part of my local library system. As much as I enjoy going to the library in my town, I'd certainly make the trip over to Troy to read and do stuff here.

Easy access as it's near the entrance. Surprisingly short line. Speedy service from a skilled clerk.read more

Today, July 24th, 2025 I went to the DMV in Saratoga Springs, NY. I had to renew my driver's…read morelicense and I also needed to update it to the "Enhance" so that I can fly on a plane. Gee, I remember when all you needed to fly on a plane was to buy a plane ticket...but I digress...I got to the DMV around 12:00 in the afternoon. I was the second one on line. I had everything before hand filled out so I wouldn't have to wait that long. The DMV clerk by the name of Bethany took care of me. I was all done by 12:15 PM! She was great! The whole DMV in Saratoga Springs, which is in the Wilton Mall is run very, very smoothly. I have done a lot of business there and they never disappoint. They really know what they are doing and just want to say THANK YOU to Bethany for making my experience a very pleasant one!

This is where I first voted. Since then, the town hall has been rebuilt - probably more than a…read morequarter century ago as of now - and it was much needed, offering significantly more now. It's not fully high-tech yet, as a lot of the older records are still in large, ornate, books. But those records are very well organized, as we found out a few years ago when needing to obtain some family records. The staff are quite friendly and helpful. They offer services for seniors such as free photocopying. Be sure to drive by on December nights to check out the Christmas tree in the front of the building.

The Scotia Library is easy to spot as you pass by Collins Park on Mohawk Avenue. (Especially in the…read morespring and summer when the flower garden is a popping!) Housed in the Abraham Glen House, which was built in the 1730s and a part of the National Register of Historic Places, this local gem went through a restoration in recent years. Schenectady County made sure historic renovation standards were met during design and execution of the renovation, which included a new addition providing space for community programs and events, as well as restroom, sidewalk and curb updates improving accessibility for visitors. The staff of the Scotia branch of the SCPL system is wonderful! The librarians are always incredibly kind - a truly warm and welcoming bunch. In my visits over the years, I have witness dozens of exchanges with patrons and community members and have been impressed with the interactions I've seen - full of knowledge sharing, question answering, resource finding, and all with a heavy dose of genuine human connection. I often find something new to appreciate during my visits to the Scotia library. Most recently, I enjoyed walking through local students' art that was on display and taking a stop at the jigsaw puzzle table, fit with a sign explaining the benefits of puzzling and encouraging patrons to take a break to put some pieces together during their visit. Though this is a smaller branch, it has a decent collection of reading materials to choose from the shelves. (If you ask me, though, the magic of any county library system is the ability to request from other branches and have them delivered to your local library for future pick-up.) The bulletin boards and announcement flyers are always displaying upcoming events in the library system and the community as a whole.

This review for the Scotia branch. This very tiny and cute branch library sits in an historic…read morebuilding, which was a private home from the early 18th century until the early 20th. It may be, as far as we can tell, the oldest library building in the state (dating to 1707 - the sign in front saying 1730 is inaccurate) - possibly the whole country. When it was converted into the Scotia Library in the 1920s, the librarian's family lived upstairs for decades, until it was converted into a small community/reading room after being absorbed into the Schenectady County system; it is now inaccessible because of safety and capacity concerns. Unfortunately the medieval basement, with its many odd additions and nooks and crannies, is also not open to the public, but if you ever get a chance for a tour, seize it. Because it's an old house dating back practically to the Dutch period that has had numerous alterations and renovations (there was once an attached small dairy barn), the layout is idiosyncratic. There's a reading nook opposite the circulation desk, and to get to the children's room in the back you have to meander through four different rooms. It lacks a bit of lounge space, and has only two computers for public access to both the catalog and internet resources. That said, there's a comfy and cozy vibe to the place the library patron may well find pleasing on uncrowded days, and the tiny collection does try to address general readership. The branch has suffered from funding issues, although it's still open five days a week (closed Wednesdays and Sundays), most days are only part-time. Check out the Schenectady County Public Library website (scpl.org) for current hours. You can still get interlibrary loan from any branch and return items from other branches here. I will add there's a huge advantage to patronizing this library for families: it's adjacent to Collins Park, with its large fields, lake (although the swim beach seems to be permanently closed for undisclosed reasons), and playground equipment and sports courts, and across the street from that is Jumpin' Jacks Drivein, for your summer gross fast food eating pleasure. Right now they're tearing up the roadbed on one of the Freeman's Road bridge spans across the Mohawk for replacement, so there's a whole string of cheap entertainment for the younger set right now. There's also a Dunkin Donuts right across the road from the library, although it requires navigating a somewhat weird crosswalk setup to get there, it can be done without reparking the car.

Love this library.. people are nice and has really convenient hours unlike the one closest to my…read morehouse.

This is the 'best' tasting springs in Saratoga, and I've tried them all. And by best, I mean this…read moreone has that nice mix of salt/blood/iron and a smell of rotten eggs. But the water is great and I've never gotten sick from it. When I was in Saratoga in April 2024 this spring was still turned off. The Big Red Spring inside the Race Course is back on as of June 2024 and I think the taste of it as about as close as you are going to get to Hathorn Spring No. 1

Do you was a free bottle of carbonated drink....just get your own bottle and fill them up for free…read moreat this spring. Hathorn Spring No. 1 is located on the Northeast corner of Putnam and Springs Streets, right in the heart of Saratoga Springs. The spring was scovered in 1866, by a workman, Samuel Freeburn, while digging an excavation for Congress Hall.The spring is named after Henry H, Hathorn owner of the Congress Hotel. The natural spring has a tap running 24/7 and is highly-carbonated water of an Alkaline-Saline flavor noted for its high mineral content, and renowned as a digestive curative. The water tastes a Lil salty and fell a tiny bit of carbonation that can cause a tingle.

The striking monument at the Knickerbacker Parks Memorial Playgrounds is easily visible from quite…read morea distance. It's located on a steep grassy slope at the rear of the playground complex next to the buildings and athletic field of Lansingburgh High School. The memorial playgrounds offers everything for the active family ---baseball, softball, football, and soccer fields, basketball courts, outdoor skating rink, hockey arena, a big playground, tennis courts, bike paths, and a 400 Meter Oval Track. We walked over from the baseball monument and it was a long challenging walk up the incline and around an endless chain-link fence. The monument is a huge granite obelisk at the top of a rolling slope near a bike trail. It might be easier to access the monument from the bike trail.... The view from and around the monument is gorgeous - a sweeping panorama of trees, valleys and green athletic fields. Sadly, the view around the monument is much better than the condition of the monument itself - we saw quite a lot of painted graffiti everywhere. The inscription on the obelisk reads: Thomas Adams Knickerbacker Helen Louise Knickerbacker Given in memory of his father and mother by John Knickerbacker There is also an engraved portrait of the two Knickerbackers. I unsuccessfully researched who exactly Thomas and Helen Knickerbacker were. I believe their son John (1866-1947)was a congressman,

We had the pleasure of attending the open house of the new fire department today! All the…read morevolunteers at this Company are such incredible people. Very welcoming and genuinely love what they do. Thank you from the community for taking time out of your life to provide such amazing service to the people.