Saint Francis of Assisi said, "It is in giving that we receive." If you would like to receive a tax deduction for 2014, consider giving to the Friends of the Berne Library before the end of the year. Donations are used to support the library by providing money for matching grants, purchasing supplies for the summer reading program, bringing special programs to the library, and more.
To show gratitude for donations of time and money, the Friends are holding an open house on Sunday, Jan. 4, from 2 to 4 p.m. January is the 12th year anniversary of the Friends. If you supported the library in 2014, you are invited to this celebration. Refreshments will be served.
Family Playtime
When your children claim to be bored, bring them to the library. The community room is set aside for Family Playtime on Saturday, Dec. 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Toys, puzzles, Legos, Duplos, and dress-up clothes are available for your use. Pick up a book or a movie before going home.
Story time
Story time for children ages one to five is on Tuesday, Dec.30, at 10:30 a.m. Come celebrate the upcoming New Year with a party. Join Kathy for stories, activities, and a craft.
Makerspace program
Tuesday, Dec. 30 is also the day of the next Makerspace program. Children ages five to 12 will make an object that can propel a marshmallow across the room and into a target container. The library will have the supplies you need for this challenge. The fun begins at 2 p.m.
Holiday hours
The library will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 31 and Thursday, Jan. 1 in observance of the New Year.
Family movie
Start off the New Year at the library with Family Movie Night on Friday, Jan. 2. The film is a fantasy adventure rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language. Contact the library for the title. The movie begins at 6:30 p.m., and runs for 121 minutes. Refreshments will be provided.
Admissions to library programs are free and open to the public. Please make use of this community resource.
Whether you celebrate the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa, the Berne Public Library invites you to start a lifelong holiday tradition in your home. Gift wrap a book and place it on each child's bed so they awaken to find a present they can open right away. If you need a book to wrap, the library has donated books to share.
The campaign, A Book on Every Bed, is sponsored by the Family Reading Partnership. As this develops into a holiday tradition, your child will look forward to a book year after year. By promoting the value of books, learning is fostered along with a lifelong love of reading. What a great gift!
Lego League
On Saturday, Dec. 20, any child age five to 12 may participate in Lego League at 11 a.m. Use the library's Legos to produce a holiday scene. The creations will be on display until next month when the Lego pieces will be taken apart and reused.
Knit Wits
If you are attempting to finish knitting or crocheting some holiday gifts, escape your household routine and come to the library. The Knit Wits meet on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. Work on your own projects with the support of your peers.
Story time
Santa's role in bringing gifts will be examined during story time on Tuesday, Dec. 23. Join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories, activities, and a craft. This pre-literacy program is designed for children ages 1-5.
Holiday hours
The library will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 24 and Thursday, Dec. 25, in observance of Christmas. We will reopen on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 10 a.m. Be sure to stop in before Wednesday for books, magazines, and movies for the holiday break.
Special event
There will be a special event for children ages five to 12 on Tuesday, Dec. 30. Save the date for a Makerspace program beginning at 2 p.m.
The winter season officially begins this weekend, which means the hours of daylight begin increasing. No wonder people celebrate the Winter Solstice. Happy Holidays.
Why does the Post Office have characters from the film, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, featured on stamps this season? The film premiered on Dec. 6, 1964, and we are celebrating its 50th birthday. The animated tale was told with Japanese puppets and stop motion. The movie is a yearly classic featuring Burl Ives on the soundtrack.
Unlike the reindeer who made Rudolph feel like an outcast, the Berne Public Library embraces diversity. All library programs are open to the public and there is no admission charge so please join the fun.
Teen video
The teens take over the library on Friday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m. They are developing super heroes to be used in a teen video. The characters may be as evil as the Abominable Snow Monster or as helpful as Rudolph with his glowing nose.
Game night
Reindeer games are on the schedule for game night. Join other adults at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13, to play board games. This will be the last game night for a while. We are trying out a new Pinterest group for the second Sunday of the month in 2015. Watch for upcoming details.
Story time
Children ages one to four and their caregivers are invited to story time on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 10:30 a.m. Learn about reindeer through stories, activities, and a craft. Stay after for Playtime and pretend to be on the Island of Misfit Toys.
Gifts
If you are interested in delivering an end of the year gift to the library, there are a couple of ways to do so. Consider purchasing a leaf on our Giving Tree in honor of a loved one. The form is on the Friends page of our website www.bernepubliclibrary.org or at the library.
If shopping at Amazon, enter their webpage through the library's website and the Friends of the Library will receive a donation from AmazonSmile.
The best suggestion for the holiday season is to buy a book for a child and encourage reading.
English writer Gilbert Chesterton said, "When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." With Thanksgiving Day rapidly approaching, it is an appropriate time to reflect on all the blessings received throughout the previous year.
Thank you
The Berne Public Library trustees and staff are grateful for the community support received since opening at our new location a year ago. The lasagna dinner and cake walk is the most recent example of how Hilltown people come together to accomplish a goal. Thank you to those who made cakes or trays of lasagna, served the meal, or helped clean up. Thanks also to those who supported the library by attending the event.
Pardon the turkey
In the United States, celebration of the harvest can be traced back to the 16th Century but the presidential turkey pardon is relatively new. The pardon became a yearly event starting in 1989 with President George H. W. Bush. Since then, at least one of the turkeys presented to the president has been taken to a farm where it will live out the rest of its natural life.
Story time
Turkeys will be the focus of story time on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Children ages one to five and their caregivers are invited to join Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories, activities, and a turkey craft.
Playtime
Story time is followed by pglaytime for those interested. The community room is also reserved for playtime from 2 to 4 p.m., on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon, on Saturdays. Thanks to Zenie Gladieux for providing a tote of dress-up clothes along with a mirror for Playtime. The community room will not be available for playtime on Saturday, Nov. 22 because of the basket weaving class.
Memoir writing
The memoir-writing group is now meeting during the day to accommodate those who avoid night driving. The workshop will be held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. For the meeting on Nov. 26, write a story that demonstrates gratitude or on a topic of your choice. Bring the story to share with the group and facilitator MaryJo McKeon.
Library schedule
In observance of Thanksgiving Day, the library will be closed from 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, until 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. Be sure to stop by early in the week for books, movies, and magazines to entertain friends and family over the holiday.
According to the Farmer's Almanac, the tender pumpkin plant requires 75 to 100 frost-free days of growth. Since the seeds should not be planted until all danger of frost has passed, pumpkins may still be green when the vines die in the fall. The good news is that green pumpkins will ripen out of the patch if given sunlight, warmth, and time.
The heaviest pumpkin in the Guinness World Records weighed 2,032 pounds when it was presented by Tim Mathison in October, 2013. That could make a lot of pumpkin pie.
Story time
Pumpkins are the theme of story time on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the Berne Public Library. Preschool children and their caregivers are invited to join Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories, activities, and a craft. Family Playtime follows the program for those interested in staying.
Memior writing
The Memoir Writing class will not meet on Oct. 28. Instead, the members are traveling to UAlbany for a program sponsored by the Writers Institute. Najla Said, an American author, actor, playwright, and activist, will be reading at the performing arts center.
New senior program
The Senior Services of Albany are offering a new Hilltowns program for seniors age 60 and older. Helderberg Haven is an adult day program on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lutheran Church in Berne. Door-to-door transportation, breakfast, hot lunch, and structured, supervised group activities are included in the fee. More information will be available at the library on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 2 and 6:30 p.m.. Attend one of the half hour presentations to see if this program is right for you or a loved one.
Enjoy using your creative talents while carving pumpkins into jack o' lanterns for Halloween. For those less artistic, help is available in craft books or online using the library's computers or WiFi.
According to the National Chicken Council, September is National Chicken Month. Every year, chicken producers and grocery retailers come together to offer promotions and showcase delicious recipes. "Tastes like chicken" is considered a compliment.
If you are interested in raising your own chickens, the Berne Public Library is a wonderful source of information. All you need is a free library card. There is no charge for borrowing items as long as they are returned by their due date. Add to your nest egg by using your library's resources instead of purchasing items.
Story time
Story time on Tuesday, Sept. 30 will focus on chickens. Children ages one to five and their caregivers are invited to join Ms. Kathy at 10:30 a.m. for stories, activities, and a craft. Perhaps she will teach you the Chicken Dance.
Friends meet
The Friends of the Berne Library meet on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m., in the Community Room of the library. The group plans to hatch some ideas for the lasagna dinner fund-raiser on Nov. 15. If you are interested in supporting the library, they are interested in having you as a Friend.
One of the Friends is supporting the library with proceeds from her tag sale. The sale is at 232 Rock Road, Knox on Oct. 3 and 4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Since it will be in the basement, there is no need for a rain date. Get up with the chickens for the best deals.
Movie night
Chickens are believed to have evolved from reptiles. A large reptile is featured during movie night at the library on Friday, Oct. 3, at 6:30 p.m. The film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of destruction, mayhem, and creature violence and may not be appropriate for young children. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
If you have not visited the library at its new location, this is the month to show that you are not chicken-hearted. Hope to see you there.
The American Library Association has a code of ethics for library staff. It includes upholding the principles of intellectual freedom and resisting all efforts to censor library resources. September 21 through 27 is Banned Book Week. This annual event celebrates the freedom to read.
The list of the top ten challenged books in 2013 includes The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Bluest Eyes by Toni Morrison and the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey. Stop by the Berne Public Library to check out these books.
Family Playtime
In addition to books, there is a community room at the library. This room is being reserved on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to noon for Family Playtime. There are Legos, Duplos, puzzles, and games for children to play with. This is a great way to socialize with other families in a welcoming environment.
Knit Wits
The freedom to seek and express ideas is a part of our Knit Wits program. Meet with adults who knit or crochet on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. Share problems, solutions, and conversations as well as ideas.
Story time
Story time is on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 10:30 a.m. Children ages one to five and their caregivers are invited to join Ms. Kathy for stories, activities, and a craft about dogs. The freedom to read should begin with our children.
Memoir Writing
The Memoir Writing group meets on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. Develop the skill of sharing past events in an engaging, written form. Any interested adult can drop in for this bi-monthly program facilitated by MaryJo McKeon.
Librarians have a special obligation to ensure the free flow of information and ideas to present and future generations. Author Salman Rushdie asked, “What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.”
The American Library Association has a code of ethics for library staff. It includes upholding the principles of intellectual freedom and resisting all efforts to censor library resources. September 21 through 27 is Banned Book Week. This annual event celebrates the freedom to read.
The list of the top ten challenged books in 2013 includes The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Bluest Eyes by Toni Morrison and the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey. Stop by the Berne Public Library to check out these books.
Family Playtime
In addition to books, there is a community room at the library. This room is being reserved on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to noon for Family Playtime. There are Legos, Duplos, puzzles, and games for children to play with. This is a great way to socialize with other families in a welcoming environment.
Knit Wits
The freedom to seek and express ideas is a part of our Knit Wits program. Meet with adults who knit or crochet on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. Share problems, solutions, and conversations as well as ideas.
Story time
Story time is on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 10:30 a.m. Children ages one to five and their caregivers are invited to join Ms. Kathy for stories, activities, and a craft about dogs. The freedom to read should begin with our children.
Memoir Writing
The Memoir Writing group meets on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. Develop the skill of sharing past events in an engaging, written form. Any interested adult can drop in for this bi-monthly program facilitated by MaryJo McKeon.
Librarians have a special obligation to ensure the free flow of information and ideas to present and future generations. Author Salman Rushdie asked, “What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.”
Many readers are enthralled by pirates. From Long John Silver in Treasure Island to Captain Hook in Barrie's Peter Pan, pirates have sparked the imagination. Some real pirates such as Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, are legendary.
Blackbeard relied on his fearsome look to intimidate those he met. Appearances do count. Teens will meet at the Berne Public Library on Friday, Sept. 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., to improve the look of our Facebook page. Plans also include making binary bracelets and playing video games such as Pirates of the Caribbean. Brin' a bucko.
Game night
Game Night is Sunday, Sept. 14 beginning at 7 p.m. Play board games with other interested adults. Place treasures in your ports during a game of Settlers of Catan.
Therapy dog
Ariel, the therapy dog, will be at the library with Amber on Monday, Sept. 15, from 4 to 6 p.m. Reading to a nonjudgmental audience is a great way to improve literacy skills. Register your child for a fifteen-minute time slot by calling the library at 872-1246 or just drop-in. The book Pirates Ahoy! by Hans Wilhelm would be a perfect choice for this week.
Story time
Although meeting real pirates would not be fun, talking like them can be. Talk Like a Pirate Day is Sept. 19. Kathy is celebrating this holiday on Tuesday, Sept. 16, during story time. Children ages one to five and their caregivers are invited for pirate stories, activities, and a craft. This program begins at 10:30 a.m. Thar be lots o' fun.
Ayyy, matey. Stop at the library this week for a great pirate book or movie.
By Louise Grieco
On Friday, Sept. 12, at 4 p.m., come to the Bethlehem Public Library for Tai Chi for Kids. Lorraine Noval of the Asian Arts Group will teach basic tai chi movements. Wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes. This program is for kids in kindergarten through grade five with their family.
International Dot Day
On Monday, Sept. 15, at 10 a.m. the library will celebrate International Dot Day with stories and crafts for children age three and up with a caregiver.
Teen Sew-cial
On Monday, Sept. 15, at 3:30 p.m., bring an old T-shirt to the library and give it a new life, and use the library’s sewing machines to work on a project. This program is for kids in grades six through 12.
Tabletop gaming night
On Monday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m., drop into the library for games and snacks. This program is for adults, and teens age 16 and up.
Friends meet
On Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m., the friends of the library will meet. This meeting is open to the public.
Zombie apocalypse
and other disasters
On Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m., come to the library and learn how to prepare yourself and your family for emergencies. Participants will receive an item to start a family preparedness kit. This program is presented by the Albany County Department of Health, and is for adults and families. Call 439-9314 to sign up.