A letter from Voorheesville Public Library Director, Sarah Clark: 

Dear Patrons, In the interest of public health, the Voorheesville Public Library will be closed until further notice. We are trying our best to follow the recommendations of social distancing during this challenging time. We know this is disappointing news, and we will do everything we can to make more electronic material available.

We understand that many of you are avoiding public places, and we would like to remind you all that e-books, audiobooks, magazines, and videos are available for free with your library card. We also offer full access to The New York Times, among other information databases for free through our website.

Our wifi is available across much of our parking lot, and we are working quickly to improve the signal.

If you need assistance using any of our resources, or have any questions, please contact us via . Librarians will be available to answer your emails during our regular business hours.

The book drop is closed; please hold on to your library materials. Due dates for all materials have been extended. Fines will not be charged during this closing. 

Everyone’s cooperation and understanding on this matter is very much appreciated. Any further changes to library services will be detailed on our website and shared through as many communication channels as possible. Be well, Sarah

Library services from home

As many of you know, your local library has many services that can be accessed from home. Here is a list of just a few:

— Overdrive: You can download e-books and audiobooks from Overdrive. You sign in with your library card number. You can borrow up to 10 items at once. You don’t even need to worry about remembering to return them. They will just disappear once your time has expired;

— Libby or Flipster: You can access online magazines using the Libby or Flipster apps. Many of your favorite magazines are available;

— Catalog: You can order items through the online catalog. When they are delivered to the library, you’ll be notified by phone or email. Just call us from your car and we will check them out to you, and run them out to your car. No need to come in if you don’t want to;

— NY Times Digital: You can access the NY Times from home. Access the library website, and click on the box for New York Times. Your access code will pop up. Use this to activate your home access. 

For help with any of these services, please email or call 518-765-2791.

Museum passes

Many museums, galleries, and zoos are closing temporarily, in the interest of public health. Please be sure to call ahead if you are thinking of visiting one of these.

Help us kick off the very first Voorheesville Public Library Repair Café event at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 14. Bring something small you need repaired, and learn how to repair it. Enjoy a coffee and some pastries as neighbors share their skills and knowledge. You can even sign up to share your skill for the next event. Don’t throw it away…repair it!

Lucky’s Adventures

At 10:30 a.m., on Friday, March 20, children ages 3 and up, with their families, are invited to meet Lucky and her “mom”, Elizabeth Macy, as they share their story with a reading from one of Lucky’s books, and an art activity. Books will be available for sale. Please register.

Healthy Family Meals

Children ages 5 to 13, with an adult caregiver, are invited to learn how to make nutritious, delicious, and affordable meals as a family. Join the educators from Cornell Cooperative Extension at 12:30 p.m., Friday, March 20, for a food demo. Lunch will be served. You will go home with new ideas and recipes for meals, snacks, and desserts. This program is part of the “Healthy Family Series” presented by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County and Blue Shield of Northeastern New York. Please register.

Listening Party

Register now for this Sunday, March 22 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Déjà vu listening party. Meet up from 2 to 3 p.m. to listen to and talk about the 50th anniversary of this famous foursome. 

Social Networking for Beginners

Drop by at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, for an hour-long introduction to Social Networking. This will be a broad overview of the pros and cons, and then will focus in on specific popular social networking sites as examples. This introduction does not cover setting up profiles or actually using any of these sites; it is a topical overview. Registration not required.

An Evening with Tim O’Shea and Friends

Join us from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., March 25 for an evening of Irish Music, Song and Dance. Singer-guitar player, Tim O’Shea, traveling on a US tour from Killarney Ireland, will be stopping in Voorheesville to perform traditional Irish folk music. Tim will be performing with fiddler Paudy Timoney, and Andrew Colletti, Irish Step Dancer. If you love Irish music played with passion and fervor you’ll love this performance. Please register.

Save the Date

Join Dr. Thomas Kersting, psychotherapist, nationally recognized speaker, and author for an interactive workshop on Thursday, April 30, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Voorheesville CSD Lydia C. Tobler Performing Arts Center. Dr. Kersting will explore the research about the device-dependent world our children live in and how it is affecting their physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. This program is made possible by the generous contributions from the Voorheesville Public Library through “Bullet Aid” from Senator George Amedore, Voorheesville Friends of the Library, Voorheesville PTA, and St. Matthew’s Church.  

Please be sure to fill out the Voorheesville Public Library survey that was recently mailed to all district residents. Hand-marked paper surveys can be returned by mail or dropped off at the library or the Voorheesville Hannaford.

If you prefer, the survey is also available online @www.voorheesvillelibrary.org. 

Device Advice Drop-In

Drop-in technology help is the first Wednesday of the month, March 4, from 10 to 11 a.m. We will assist you with your questions about using the library’s digital services. Bring your device and account information with you, and we will show you how to download ebooks and audiobooks as well as other online services.

Family Green STEAM Program

Explore, Play and Learn at a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) program especially for children ages 3 through kindergarten with parents/caregivers. Join Ms. Amy and Ms. Lisa from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., on Saturday, March 14, for a magical celebration of all things green.

Come get your green on with some St. Patrick's Day themed STEAM stations, which will include rainbow magic milk, four leaf clover counting, green slime making, and design your own leprechaun traps! Botley the coding robot will be joining us as well and together we may be able to catch that pesky leprechaun! Please register.

Repair Café

Help us kick off the very first Voorheesville Public Library Repair Café event at 1 pm, Saturday, March 14. Bring something small you need repaired, and learn how to repair it.

Enjoy a coffee and some pastries as neighbors share their skills and knowledge. You can even sign up to share your skill for the next event. Don’t throw it away — repair it!

Tea Program

The history of teapots is colorful and as exciting as tea itself. If you are passionate about tea and interested in tea ware, please join us from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. We’ll discuss the evolution of teapots in different countries and cultures. If you bring your favorite teapot, there will be a variety of teas which you can brew yourself and enjoy. 

Toddler Yoga & Music Time

Bring your toddler and join us for a fun, creative and playful free yoga class that allows the youngest of yogis to use their imaginations as they learn simple yoga poses, playful breathing exercises and relaxation.

Toddlers, ages 22 months through 3 years old with a caregiver, are invited to join us from 6 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, for a class that incorporates songs, musical instruments, and games as an introduction to Yoga. Tricia Kandefer is a certified yoga instructor, who specializes in working with young children and families. Please register

Register

Registering for programs helps us to determine supply needs. Unless otherwise indicated, registration is requested for all programs. You can register in person, by phone at 518-765-2791, or by using our online calendar at http://voorheesvillelibrary.org/calendar.asp. You do not need to be a resident of Voorheesville to attend a program.

Do you consider yourself to be an M&M expert? Oh sure, you know the difference between regular and peanut M&Ms, but can you identify some of the more obscure flavors?

Stop by the Voorheesville Public Library at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16, for a blind M&M taste test, and find out just how many flavors you will recognize. Please register

Breakout Challenge

Families, teens, and adults are all welcome to try and solve the Breakout Challenge beginning at 2:00pm, Monday, Feb. 17.  Form a team of 4 to 6 players and register to receive a 40 minute time slot, or sign up solo and we’ll group you with others.

Early closing

In observance of Presidents’ Day, the library will be closing at 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17.

Zunon reads her book, “Grandpa Cacao”

Join us from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Feb. 18 to as local author/illustrator, Elizabeth Zunon, shares the story of her grandfather in her most recent book “Grandpa Cacao: a Tale of Chocolate, From Farm to Family”.

This beautifully illustrated story connects past and present as a girl bakes a chocolate cake with her father and learns about her grandfather harvesting cacao beans on the Ivory Coast of West Africa. Chocolate is the perfect treat everywhere!

Join us for an exciting morning that will include an interactive presentation, a hands-on activity, and chocolate sampling. For ages 4 to grade 3 and families. Please register.  

Strengthening Families Workshop

Provided by an expert team of educators from the Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Strengthening Families program is a fun, interactive workshop that allows parents/caregivers to spend special time with their children and help them to be successful in the teen years. Its goal is to empower families. Parents/caregivers and their children will learn ways to build on existing strengths, improve communication skills, and have fun together as a family.

Topics discussed will include: how to set limits while supporting growth, what kids and parents need from each other, developing emotional awareness, the challenges of friends and peer pressure, keeping family love alive and giving compliments. Join us from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18. A pizza dinner will be provided by the library at 6 p.m. For grades 5 to 8 with caregivers. Please register.

Kids’ Movie Matinee

Join us at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, for a 2019 PG movie about a “young lion prince, who flees his kingdom after the murder of his father.” Will he ever learn the true meaning of responsibility and bravery?

Popcorn and refreshments will be served. For more information or movie title, stop by or call the library at 518-765-2791.

Register

Registering for programs helps us to determine supply needs. Unless otherwise indicated, registration is requested for all programs. You can register in person, by phone at 518-765-2791, or by using our online calendar at http://voorheesvillelibrary.org/calendar.asp.

You do not need to be a resident of Voorheesville to attend a program.