Friday May 10, 2024 
East Greenbush Community Library
EAST GREENSBUSH – 12/9, 6:30p: Virtual Trivia Night (register). Join us via Zoom to compete for bragging rights and prizes! Teams are encouraged, see details on our events calendar.
12/12, 2:30p: Music Concert: Singer/Songwriter Phil Teumim (register). Join us for a wonderful afternoon of music with singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Phil Teumim! Phil’s music is influenced by folk, rock, blues, Celtic, and other genres. His songs are based on personal experiences, family stories, social commentary, and world affairs, ranging from serious to sentimental, from sarcastic to silly, from world peace to seasickness.
12/16, 6p: Cooking: Virtual Hands-On Cooking with Felisha Chandler of CCE(register). Felisha makes cooking easy. Join us via Zoom to make some tasty, fun and healthy recipes. You will need a computer, laptop, or tablet to see and participate in this class. Families welcome!
For a complete program listing for adults, teens and kids or to register, go to https://events.eglibrary.org or call 518-477-7476.
Friends Mini Book Sale in the library is available year-round and is filled with books for all ages! Shelves are restocked often. Adult/Teen book sale case is in the main library next to the public computers and kid’s books are near the Children’s room entrance.
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-8; Sat 10-5; Sun. 1-5. Closed all day on 12/24, 12/25 & 12/26. Closing at 5pm on 12/31; Our digital library is always open: https://eglibrary.org/digital.
North Greenbush Public Library Update
NORTH GREENBUSH – Join our virtual book club at 6:30 PM on Monday, December 20, when we will be discussing Kristin Hannah‘s book “The Four Winds” via Zoom. Set in Texas during the Great Depression, it is a portrait of America and the American Dream and the life of one woman’s courage and sacrifice. For a copy of the book or the meeting link, email library@nullnorthgreenbushlibrary.org.
Put away your wallet and put a smile on your face. Beginning December 1, 2021, all late fines have been eliminated going forward for items checked out at the North Greenbush Public Library. Patrons are still responsible for overdue fines on items checked out at other libraries in the Upper Hudson Library System. Fines for museum passes and wi-fi hot spots, and replacement fees for lost items still apply. Why is the NGPL going fine-free? We believe eliminating late fines advances our core mission, to ensure free and equitable access to learning and opportunity for all, no matter their circumstances; that fines discourage the use of the Library and are a disproportionate barrier to low-income families. When fines were removed during the pandemic, our community proved itself responsible and reliable; fines have added less than 1% to the Library’s income. The complete fine-free policy can be found on our website: northgreenbushlibrary.org
Library hours are Monday through Friday, 10 AM-7 PM, and Saturday, 10 AM-2 PM. Library patrons are required to wear masks; visits are limited to 30 minutes. Any questions? Call the library at 518-283-0303.
Events and Take-Home Kits at Castleton Public Library, 12/12-12/18
CASTLETON – CPL is located at 85 S. Main St., Castleton, NY. All events and kits are free. Questions? Call 518-732-0879.
Cool Science: Frozen Oobleck – Kit available for pick-up through 12/30 – Make frozen, slimy oobleck to play with and learn about solids, liquids, and non-Newtonian fluids!
Take & Make Craft: Snowflakes – Kit available for pick-up through 12/30 – Celebrate winter by making a beaded snowflake ornament and a coffee filter snowflake craft!
Winter Break Fun Pack – Kit available for pick-up through 12/30 – Want some extra fun stuff to do during your break from school? Pick up one of our Fun Packs, which include a science experiment sheet, coloring and puzzle sheets, candy, and a toy! Best suited to kids ages 7-12.
Drop-In Fun at the Library: Build with Keva Planks – Stop in anytime from 12/13-12/18 – Come make a tower or other exciting structure out of Keva Planks!
Teen Time: DIY Spa – Wed., 12/15, 4:00pm – Treat yourself by making your own sugar scrub and bath salt! For teens in 6th-12th grades.
Walking Storytime at Schodack Island State Park – Thu., 12/16, 10:30am – Children from birth to age 5 are invited to join us for stories, rhymes, and movement while we follow a story along a walking path together. We’ll meet at the beginning of the StoryWalk (near the playground) at Schodack Island State Park, 1 Schodack Island Way, Schodack Landing, NY 12156. If weather is iffy, call us at 518-732-0879 that morning to make sure it’s still on.
Bridge Club – Fri., 12/17, 10:30am – Come play bridge with us! Geared toward beginners and players who need a refresher.
Sand Lake Town Library Meetings and News
SAND LAKE – Intro to Google Apps Suite on December 14, 6pm will be our final technology class for the year. In this overview, learn what tools are available free with a Google or Gmail account, how to import and edit documents and files created in other software tools, and best practices for making use of Google’s apps. We’ll take a short tour of 4 of the most popular tools – Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms. This session will be held online via Zoom. Skill Level: Beginner The registration link is on our website: sandlaketownlibrary.org.
Stop by the library to check out the SLT Library Friends Harry Potter display and raffle, then pick up a HP-themed craft to take home. The next Friends meeting is Tuesday, December 14, 6:30pm.
This is the time of year when many people have a renewed interest in family history. Start exploring yours with Ancestry.com available from home through your public library through December 31.
If you’re looking for ways to get involved in your community, we’re looking for new trustees for 2022. We’d love to have your insights and ideas; come help us build a stronger library to meet the community’s present and future needs. Our next Board meeting is Thursday, December 16 at 6:45pm at the library.
Check the Community Calendar at sandlaketownlibrary.org for events around town. Submit events to info@nullsandlaketownlibrary.org.
Library Hours: M-TH 11 – 8; F 11 – 3; Sat 10 – 2. Closed December 24 – 26 and December 31 – January 2. Call 518-674-5050 for more information.
SML Awarded Grant for Community Survey
STEPHENTOWN – This year the Stephentown Memorial Library embarked on a community research & conversation project made possible through an American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities Grant. SML conducted a town-wide survey to learn how residents feel about living in Stephentown.
The survey was conducted during the summer and received 224 responses. Written reports were prepared for partnering organizations and three virtual conversations were held over Zoom to present the research to town government, organizations, and community members. The conversations included a presentation of the data as well as discussion of ideas surfaced and healthy debate on the perspectives represented in the results.
“We were thrilled to learn through this research that satisfaction with the quality of life in Stephentown is very high overall” explains SML Trustee and project lead Sarah Thompson, “however, we also learned that many town residents experienced feelings of isolation during the pandemic.” Since the research showed that attending in-person and/or virtual town events had a very positive impact on satisfaction with the quality of life in Stephentown and helped offset these feelings of isolation, one recommendation coming out of the conversations with town residents and town organizations was to not only host more events in town, but to communicate more effectively to make sure residents are aware of them.
“SML is extremely grateful to the ALA for awarding our small rural library this significant grant,” says Board President Jennifer Peabody. “It allowed us to engage with library patrons and the broader community in some creative new ways. We believe that the conversations that have occurred around the research will continue to evolve and spur actions to enhance the quality of life in Stephentown, and the Library looks forward to being a part of the positive change.”
“Human” Music and Film Event
TROY – Join us at the on Saturday, Dec. 11, 3:00pm at the Troy Public Library for this live music and film event. “Human” is a film accompanied by music and poetry. The film is composed of a series of vignettes, each inspired by a unique aspect of being human. The length of the film is 45 mins, and afterward there will be optional space for any questions or discussion. Bobby Kendall is a musician/filmmaker living in Schenectady, NY with his wife and two daughters. After obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Skidmore College and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from Purchase College, he has been pursuing music and film in the capital region for over a decade. In the Jazz idiom, he has been fortunate enough to share the stage with greats such as Jimmy Cobb, Louis Hayes, Ray Anderson, Mark Vinci, Ralph LaLama, Cyrille-Aimee, Matt Simons, Giacomo Smith, Glen Zaleski, and many more. Since 2016, he has been a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Schenectady County Community College as a bass instructor. Two of his previous films, accompanied by live, original scores are: “When An Alien Robot Crash-Lands In Troy, NY” (2015), and “Dreams” (2019).
This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The Arts Center of the Capital Region.
This program is free and open to the public. Registration is necessary. For more information and to register, call the library at 274-7071 or online at www.thetroylibrary.org. The Troy Public Library is located at 100 Second Street, Troy, NY.
Children’s Holiday Shopping Day
NASSAU – On Saturday, December 11th, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., children may shop for family and friends at the Nassau Library “store” which will be set up in the library’s community room at 18 Church St. in Nassau Village. They will be able to choose from a variety of knickknacks, holiday ornaments, books, costume jewelry and other seasonal items. Prices are guaranteed to be affordable, and the library’s volunteens will be on hand to help wrap gifts. The library will gladly accept donations for the sale (both gift items and wrapping material) until Wednesday, December 8th. When considering making a donation, please ask yourself if the item is in like-new condition and if it is something a family member would truly enjoy receiving. Cider and donuts will be served while children shop!
Masks will be required for everyone entering the library, and social distancing will be encouraged. For more information call 766-2715.
December Events at North Chatham Free Library
NO. CHATHAM – Celebrate the Holidays with Terry A La Berry and Friends – Sunday, December 12 at 3pm – Join Terry Hall for a fun and festive kids’ concert streamed live on Zoom with singing and dancing. Terry’s friends are guitarist and vocalist Erin Laundry and bass guitar and additional vocals by Tish Merwin. Children will be able to make requests during the show. Terry has been the drummer for Folk Legend, Arlo Guthrie, since 1975 and continues to tour the world with him as well as performing for kids. Terry Hall or Terry A La Berry (a nickname fondly coined by Arlo Guthrie himself) is known worldwide for his remarkable expertise as a drummer. For the last 15 years Terry has fronted, Terry A La Berry and Friends and released seven award-winning CDs of largely original material.
Registration is required. Email mail@nullnorthchathamlibrary.org for a Zoom link.
This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered in Columbia County by the Greene County Council on the Arts dba CREATE Council for Resources to Enrich the Arts, Technology & Education.
Nature and American Art – Wednesday, December 15, 6:00PM – 7:15PM. Experience the natural beauty of the United States through the eyes of artists in New-York Historical Society’s collection. Discover how an evolving understanding of science and the emergence of early conservation movements shaped the 19th-century work of naturalist John James Audubon and the landscape painters of the Hudson River School.
Registration is required. Email mail@nullnorthchathamlibrary.org for a Zoom link.
This program is presented by the New-York Historical Society and sponsored by the Columbia County Libraries Association.
Calling All Harry Potter Fans!
SAND LAKE – The Sand Lake Town Library Friends are celebrating the magic of Harry Potter that began 20 years ago on the big screen and 24 years ago in print! Here are three ways to join the celebration: (1) Enter to win one of 20 different Harry Potter items on display now at the library. (2) Come to the Sand Lake Town Library on Saturday, December 18th from 10:00-noon for more Potter magic, including a dramatic reading of some memorable Harry Potter quotes and scenes, crafts and raffle drawings. (3) Share your photos and memories of the Harry Potter movies or books to #sltlfriends, email sltlfriends@nullgmail.com or write them on the poster boards in the library as we “remember all” the magic…Find our info at www.sandlaketownlibrary.org/friends/ or at the library.
Rensselaer Public Library
RENSSELAER – Gingerbread House Photo challenge. Submit pictures of your decorated gingerbread house to be shared online by the Rensselaer Public Library. All submitted photos will be entered into a prize drawing for a gift card. Please submit entries to Notices@nullRensselaerlibrary.org before December 18 and include contact information. Finished houses can also be displayed at the library, contact them for more information.
Computer help- call the Library at 462-1193 to get an appointment for one-on-one help with computers, tablets, smart phones or using the internet.