Schenectady County has released a list of cooling centers residents can visit to stay cool during the upcoming heat wave from Tuesday, June 18, to Thursday, June 20. With temperatures expected in the mid to upper 90s with high humidity levels pushing the heat index up to 100-105°F., the combination of heat and humidity will lead to dangerously high real-feel temperatures, posing significant health risks to the community.
The following cooling centers will be open in Schenectady County:
City of Schenectady
Hon. Karen B. Johnson (Central) Library
Tuesday, June 18 and Thursday, June 20: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
99 Clinton St.
Schenectady, NY 12305
Bethesda House of Schenectady
Tuesday, June 18: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 19: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 20: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
834 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12307
Mont Pleasant Branch Library
Tuesday, June 18: 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m
Thursday, June 20: 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
1036 Crane St.
Schenectady, NY 12303
Phyllis Bornt Branch Library
Tuesday, June 18: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 20: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
948 State St.
Schenectady, NY 12307
Woodlawn Branch Library
Tuesday, June 18: 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 20: 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
2 Stanford Street
Schenectady, NY 12304
Duanesburg/Delanson
Quaker Street Branch Library
Tuesday, June 18: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 20: 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
133 Bull Street
Delanson, NY 12053
Glenville/Scotia
Glenville Branch Library
Tuesday, June 18: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 20: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
20 Glenridge Rd.
Schenectady, NY 12302
Scotia Branch Library
Tuesday, June 18: 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m
Thursday, June 20: 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
14 Mohawk Avenue
Scotia, NY 12302
Glenville Senior Center
Tuesday, June 18 -- Thursday, June 20: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
32 Worden Road
Glenville, NY 12302
Niskayuna
Niskayuna Branch Library
Tuesday, June 18: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 20: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2400 Nott Street E.
Schenectady, NY 12309
Niskayuna Senior Center
Tuesday, June 18: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 20: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
2682 Aqueduct Road
Niskayuna, NY 12309
Rotterdam
Rotterdam Branch Library
Tuesday, June 18: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 20: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
1100 N. Westcott Rd.
Schenectady, NY 12306
Via Port Rotterdam
Tuesday, June 18 – Thursday, June 20: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
93 West Campbell Road
Rotterdam, NY 12306
Rotterdam Senior Center
Tuesday, June 18 and Thursday, June 20: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
2639 Hamburg Street
Rotterdam, NY 12306
Schenectady County’s libraries are always available to be used as cooling centers during regular hours of operation, which can be found at https://scpl.org/branch_libraries/index.html. All branch libraries will be closed on the following holidays: Juneteenth (June 19), Fourth of July, and Labor Day (September 2).
Health and Safety Recommendations
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water and avoid beverages with caffeine or alcohol.
Limit Outdoor Activities: Try to stay indoors during peak heat hours (11:00 AM - 4:00 PM), especially for vulnerable individuals such as children, the elderly, and those with health conditions.
Cooling Centers: Visit air-conditioned buildings such as libraries, community centers, and malls (see list above).
Check on Vulnerable Neighbors: Ensure that elderly family members and neighbors are safe and comfortable.
Never Leave Children or Pets in Vehicles: Temperatures inside cars can quickly become deadly.
Recognize Heat Illness: Be aware of symptoms such as heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and headache. Seek immediate medical attention if you or someone else exhibits these symptoms.
Emergency Contacts
For non-emergencies, contact the Schenectady County Unified Communications Center at (518) 630-0911. In the event of a health or safety emergency, call 911 immediately.