Westerlo Library Notes for Friday, March 11, 2016

The Westerlo Board of Library Trustees will meet on Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m. at the library.  This is an open public meeting.

Read to Angus the Dog

Angus will be back this Friday, March 11, from 5 to 6 p.m. (new time). Contact the library to register your child for a 15-minute reading session, or just drop in to “Check it out!”  (Librarians love saying, “check it out.”)

If your child is self-conscious about reading aloud or reluctant to read at all, he or she may feel more comfortable reading to a dog.  Because dogs aren’t judgmental, the child relaxes, pats the attentive dog, and focuses on the reading  Another benefit is the joy children get from being around a dog.  Angus is a registered therapy dog. Our thanks to Laura Tenney for volunteering her time and sharing Angus with us.

Quilting group

The library’s quilting group will meet this Saturday, March 12, at 11 a.m., at the library.  Members show and share techniques, gadgets, projects, and ideas. You may get help with problems or inspiration.  Bring any fabric or fiber (knit, crochet, weaving, etc.) project to show.  We would love to see what you can do.

Led by Lila Hollister Smith, the group is open to all crafters who use fibers and textiles at all skill levels.  The group meets the second and fourth Saturday of each month and new members are welcomed.

Sustainable Hilltowns Makerspace workshop

On Friday, March 18, at 6 p.m., the library will host a public workshop exploring the Maker Movement, sustainable farming and local economic development in the Hilltowns. Led by April Roggio, a local independent researcher, these community dialogs hope to answer the following question: Would the development of a “makerspace” in the Hilltowns help nurture small farmers?

Funded with a grant from the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, Sustainable Hilltowns is interested, broadly, in pursuing activities that encourage sustainable economic development, food security, and prosperity in our region.

Additional workshops are scheduled at the Berne and Rensselaerville public libraries.  For more information, contact April Roggio at , 518-239-2738, or at the Sustainable Hilltowns Facebook page.

Story time

On Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon, Miss Lee presents stories, songs, and movement activities designed for infants to children up to 5 years old. In addition to developing pre-reading skills, singing, moving to music, and playing instruments, the activities all help foster a sense of rhythm and timing that are essential elements in developing the part of a child’s brain that shapes math skills.

Story times are also a great opportunity to meet other parents of small children in Westerlo.

After school at the library

Join Miss Lee on Monday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. for homework help, games, crafts, puzzles, music, and a lot more. Programs will also include storytelling, hands-on demonstrations, and visits from special guests. Lee is also available on Thursdays from 3 to 8 p.m. for homework help.

Technology walk-in Wednesday

Do you have a new Kindle or Nook but don’t know how to download books? Need to brush up on your computer skills or obtain basic skills? See Amy on Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., for free, personalized, one-on-one instruction.

Library info

All library programming is free, unless otherwise noted, and open to the public. For more information, contact the library during business hours at 797-3415, visit westerlolibrary.org, or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/westerlolibrary.