Berne Library Notes for Thursday, July 16, 2020

Walking out to retrieve the open flag for shutting down the library last Friday night provided a flurry of activity to entertain the senses. Birds chirping over head, a hummingbird flitting past after visiting the library garden, two rabbits playing on the hillside, and a cagey woodchuck scooting under the newly planted library shed.

For a few courageous moments, Winston Woodchuck snuck his face, then his feet, and then about a quarter of his body boldly into the open. There he sat wiggling his nose, face nodding gently to the sky and squiggling comfortably as he warmed himself from the setting sun. Nature journaling alive at the library.

Changes unfurl

As June came to a close and July flipped open, changes began to unfurl at the library. Beginning with new temporary hours of operation and opening doors to the public for the sole purpose of pick-me-ups and drop-offs; the new now is transitioning smoothly. 

Available hours for transactions at the present time include:

— Monday through Friday from 2 to 7 p.m.; and

— Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Feel free to order up new reading material for pick-up at the Berne Library.

Then, just for fun, invoke your super powers and sign up for the summer reading program.

Other happenings

Other happenings include GoToMeetings for the Berne Library Board of Trustees; virtual story time every Friday at 3 p.m.; and a writing group meeting virtually, for now, called Journeys on the Page. The key ingredient of giving yourself the gift of writing time heads the tip list.

Meeting bi-weekly, the next writing huddle is scheduled for 7 p.m. on July 20. Whether it be family memories, history folded into a children’s book, or journaling, consider this a safe place to stir and inspire your writing endeavors.

Read a thriller

“Surrender, New York” by Caleb Carr is tapped for the Berne Sunday book club’s reading selection.  This psychological thriller stars criminal psychologist Trajan Jones and his partner in crime solving, Mike Li. 

The duo, once part of the New York City Police Department, are now teaching online criminology classes for the State University of Albany. After failing to fit the pegs of police politics and procedures, Jones and Li leave the Big Apple. Following a series of disturbing deaths, the pair are called in to assist in the investigation. 

A Zoom meeting is scheduled for book club members at 7 p.m. on July 19.

Protective protocols

Greeting you as you enter the library is an isolation box for your library returns. Please deposit your items here before proceeding inside for pick-me-ups from the circulation desk. Thank you so much for helping with this real-life, non-virtual, program to keep library books moving along. 

As you adapt to the current routine inside the library, keeping everyone protected gains top billing. Thanks a million for your respectful cooperation in masking up, making use of hand sanitizer situated just inside the main doors, and maintaining distancing parameters. 

Director’s note

I am sorry to inform you that there will be no Music in the Park Series this summer.