Thursday April 18, 2024 
Adult Evening Book Group Meeting at The Troy Public Library
TROY – The Troy Public Library’s Evening Book Group will be discussing Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City on Monday, March 1st at 6:30 PM.
Our monthly book group meets to discuss a wide range of book selections. New members are always welcomed. Monthly participation is not necessary, come for the books that interest you! This meeting will be conducted via Zoom.
This discussion is free and open to the public. Registration is required. To register call the library at 518-274-7071 or online at www.thetroylibrary.org Troy Public Library is located at 100 Second Street, Troy, NY.
Author Conversation with Tom Bulger
TROY – Tom Bulger is a native of Troy, New York. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, 1974. He received a masters in English literature from the University at Albany (1976), and a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Rochester (1986). He was a professor of English literature at Siena College for 30 years. At Siena, he was the founder and first coach of the women’s cross country team for 5 years, and was assistant coach of the men’s cross country team for 3 years. He has been writing about running for over 40 years. For 6 years, he was the Troy Times Record running columnist. He also wrote for the Hudson Mohawk Road Runner’s magazine The Pacesetter. He has been very active with the HMRRC, being its president (1992-3) and as a volunteer at races. He is a member of the HMRRC Hall of Fame. He ran in hundreds of races, with a marathon best of 2:28. His book, A Runner’s Memories, Dreams, Reflections, represents the author’s 40 years of writing about distance running. As a runner and coach himself, he has tried to bring up different topics and stories that would be of interest to distance runners. The book includes descriptions of various races, local, national, and international; brief portraits of a variety of distance runners; advice about training and recovering from injury; and a host of other issues relating to distance running. The overarching purpose of the book is how distance running remarkably parallels one’s existence, and is a metaphor for an individual’s life. Copies of the book are available for sale at Market Block Books.
This program will be presented using Zoom. Joining the presentation will require the installation of the Zoom client on your computer (microphone and speakers required for audio, camera for video) or the Zoom app on your mobile device. This program is free and open to the public. For more information and to register call the library at 518-274-7071or online at www.thetroylibrary.org.
Attention Local Authors! Enter Our Short Story Competition “Pen to Pandemic”
East Greenbush – At the East Greenbush Community Library, we love our local authors! In support of our home-grown talent, the Library, in partnership with the Town of East Greenbush and the Hart Cluett Museum, is hosting a short story competition. The theme is “Pen to Pandemic.” This work of fiction will be set in Rensselaer County during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Any genre is welcome. The word count must be between 1500 to 2000 words. The contest is open to adults 18+ who reside in Rensselaer County. Participants must provide a name for their story when registering for the contest. All stories must be previously unpublished, original stories. Registration begins online January 15th at https://eglibrary.org/pen-to-pandemic/. Submissions must be received by March 15, 2021 (.doc or .pdf format). See eglibrary.org for more information. For questions, contact Jody Squadere, Adult Services Librarian at 518-477-7476 ext, 107.
Stories will be judged anonymously by a joint committee. The judges are Roberta (Bobbie) Reno, East Greenbush Town Historian, Kathy T. Sheehan, County & City Historian at the Hart Cluett Museum, and Frankie Y. Bailey, Professor at the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Albany (SUNY) and published author. Fifty (50) entries will be accepted. One entry per person. Two winners will be chosen (one from each age group; 18-49 and 50+). Winners will be notified by May 1, 2021. The Library will host a public reading for the winners to read their stories and publish their work.
Sisters in Crime, Upper Hudson Chapter – The East Greenbush Community Library and The Albany Public Library Present Murderous March 2021
ALBANY/EAST GREENBUSH – With Guest of Honor Sujata Massey – Winner of the 2019 Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award and Special Guest Alison Gaylin – Winner of the 2019 Edgar© for Best Paperback Original.
The Mavens of Mayhem will be joined by authors from New York City, Western New York, and New England. Free Virtual Conference – March 19th and 20th
For more information and to register: https://upperhudsonsinc.com/murderous-march-conference/
East Greenbush Community Library Services & Programs
EAST GREENBUSH – Hours: Mon, 11-2pm for Returns only; Tue/Thu/Fri 11-6pm; Wed 11-7 pm; Sat 10-2pm; Building closed Sundays; Virtual library is always open! To minimize wait time, please limit the number of visitors to 1-2 family members per household. Information is subject to change, for updates call 518-477-7476 or visit eglibrary.org. Visitors are required to wear a mask, covering both mouth and nose, at all times when in the library or using our drive thru.
To learn more about programs or to register go to: https://events.eglibrary.org (registration is required unless noted).
3/1: Monday Night Book Chat, 7 pm on our Facebook page (no registration required)
3/2: Virtual Storytime, 10 am
3/4: Women’s History Month: Eleanor Roosevelt, 6:30 pm
3/5: Winter Reading Challenge ends
3/15: Pen to Pandemic Short Story Contest submission deadline; Monday Morning Book Discussion 10 am; Monday Evening Book Discussion 7 pm
3/17: Virtual Adult Trivia Night: Women’s History Month theme, 7pm
Visit kids blog “Check It Out with Charlie” at https://eglibrarykids.wordpress.com/. Readers Advisory Services https://eglibrary.org/adults/recommendations/ and Kids Book Bundles https://eglibrary.org/children/book-bundles/. Fill out the online form with your preferences, we’ll select books to match and put them on hold for you! You can also call 518-477-7476 for help.
Borrow Laptops and hotspots! Kids tablets, movies-on-the-go, and audiobooks from Playaway. No car stereo or DVD player required.
Free Webinars, Articles, Workshops & Resources with topics in technology (for beginners to advanced, go to https://bit.ly/egtechtalk), business, career skills, education, and more at https://eglibrary.org/popular-subjects/ee/.
North Greenbush Public Library Update
NORTH GREENBUSH – Hurry, hurry, hurry! Our Winter reading challenge is wrapping up! Drop off your completed bingo sheets by Saturday, February 27, in the library’s book drop or email them to library@nullnorthgreenbushlibrary.org. Winners will be announced on March 1.
And beginning March 1, a St. Patrick’s Day theme story-time kit, for ages 3 to 7, will be available for take-home. Each kit contains one free book, a book-themed craft, and a list of songs and activities for caregivers to try. Call the library to request one and pick up using Grab ’N’ Go.
Slated for March 23 at 6:30 PM, our virtual book club will discuss ”The Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline. Based on the orphan trains that existed from 1854 until 1929, when over 200,000 homeless, orphaned, abused, or abandoned children were sent to live in the Midwest, the novel captures the harsh conditions that the children lived under. Call the library to reserve a copy and obtain the Zoom meeting link.
Our hours remain Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat from 10 AM to 2 PM and Tues/Thurs 3-7 PM. For Grab ’N’ Go and appointments call the library at 518-283-0303. As always, anyone entering the building must wear a mask.
Services & Events at Castleton Public Library, 2/28-3/6
CASTLETON – CPL is located at 85 S. Main St., Castleton, NY. All events are free. Questions? Call 518-732-0879.
Castleton Public Library is open for walk-in service with limited capacity & services. Check www.castletonpubliclibrary.org or call for current info. We also offer curbside pick-up!
Events:
Cool Science at Home: Salt Crystals – Kits available for pick-up 3/1-4/3 – Make your own salt crystals & learn about the crystallization process.
Take & Make Crafts: Food Fun – Kits available for pick-up 3/1-4/3 – Make a variety of fun, food-themed crafts – just don’t try to eat them!
Teen Time: Candy Sushi – Kits available for pick-up 3/1-4/3 – For teens in 6th-12th grades only. Create your own delicious candy sushi at home!
Share-a-Joke Challenge – Submit your videos from 3/1 through 3/29 to enter to win a prize – Send a brief video of you telling one of your favorite jokes to youthservices@nullcastletonpubliclibrary.org and you’ll be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift certificate (3 winners drawn randomly!). For all ages. The deadline to send your videos is 3/29.
Virtual Storytime with Miss Joelle – Wed., 3/3 – Join Miss Joelle for a story & rhymes/songs you can enjoy at home! A new video is posted every Wednesday. Full playlist: tinyurl.com/CPL-storytime
Friends of CPL Bottle & Can Drive – This fundraiser is ongoing! – Location: 6 Center Redemption, 550 South St., Rensselaer, NY 12144. When you take returnable bottles & cans to 6 Center, let them know that you’d like to donate to the Friends of Castleton Public Library.