By the book: Volunteers assemble cases at the new Berne Library. Books will be moved in over the weekend.
The fabulous volunteers who helped on Saturday, Oct. 12, did a fantastic job moving furniture into the new library. Thank you.
The building will be ready for the books to be moved in on Saturday, Oct. 19. The library will be closed on Saturday for the move and will reopen at the new location next to the Berne-Knox-Westerlo bus garage on Monday, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m.
Teen and adult volunteers are needed to load carts with books, move the carts on and off a rental truck, and unload them at the new library. This work will be done on Saturday, Oct. 19. Show up for a 9 a.m. or an 11 a.m. shift at our current location for an assignment.
Route 443, Helderberg Trail, from the Berne Town Hall to the new library will be closed to traffic from 4:15 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, for the Picture Book Parade. Children are invited to participate in the library move of the picture books.
Meet at the Berne Town Hall at 4 p.m. with wagons, strollers, wheelbarrows, or anything with wheels that can carry a box of books. We will wheel the books down to the new library at 1763 Helderberg Trail and put them in their new bins made by Brett Pulliam.
Knit Wits
The Knit Wits meet on Sunday, Oct. 20. This program will be held at the Berne Town Hall at 7 p.m. for adults who knit or crochet. Share problems, solutions, ideas, and conversation while working on your own project.
Learn about Lyme
Our first program at the new library will be on Monday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. Sara Lyons from the Albany County Department of Health will be presenting a program on tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease.
Learn how to reduce your chances of getting these diseases. A minimum of 10 persons is required so let the library staff know if you plan to attend by calling 872-1246 or e-mailing director@bernepubliclibrary.org.
Fun with “F”
Four Frankensteins are having fun this fall during story time on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Preschool children and their caregivers are invited to join Kathy Stempel at 11 a.m. to investigate the letter “F” in the new children's section.
Frankly, you are going to want to visit the library frequently.
Grand opening
Although we will be open at our new location starting Monday, Oct. 21, the grand opening celebration is being planned for Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m.
Please save the date and be a part of this historical event.
Children in reading dog programs were shown to increase their reading skills by 12 to 20 percent over those not in a reading dog program according to a 2010 study at UC Davis. Librarians also noted an increase in the child's self-confidence. If this is a program that interests you, let us know.
We also want to know what teens are interested in. The first teen action group meeting is this Friday, Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m. and all teens are welcome. The TAG group will help the Berne Public Library decide on programs and purchases. Make your opinion known.
The TAG meeting will be followed by Teen Movie Night. The first decision the teens will make is which PG-13 rated movie to watch: World War Z or Ironman 3. The film starts at 7 p.m. and refreshments will be served.
Sunday Book Club
Adults participating in the Sunday Book Club choose the books they read. For the month of September, they read We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg. The book talk is Sunday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. in the meeting room adjacent to the library. Join other community members for a discussion of this novel. The conversation is stimulating even if you have not read the book.
Story time
Preschool children and their caregivers are invited to the library for story time on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. This week's topics are dogs and the letter D. Stories, activities, and a craft are all a part of this program with Kathy.
Board meets
The library’s board of trustees meets Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m., to discuss library business. This is an open meeting. We are busy making plans for the big move. The needed extra space will provide a pleasant atmosphere.
Associate reading with something positive like petting a dog or being active at your new library. According to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, “No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.”
Journalist B.C. Forbes said, "It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn."
The idea for a new library in Berne was planted over ten years ago and this autumn we will reap our reward for patience and hard work. The tiles and carpet were installed this week at 1763 Helderberg Trail, the future location of the Berne Public Library. Over the next few weeks, the contractor will apply the finishing touches and volunteers will move the bookcases and furniture into the building from several storage areas.
If you are interested in helping with this process, contact the library staff at 872-1246 or e-mail director@bernepubliclibrary.org. Stay tuned for the fall dates when we move the books and have our grand opening.
Story time
Story time continues every Tuesday at 11 a.m. Join Kathy on Oct. 1, for fun about cats and the letter C. Preschool children develop literacy skills while their caregivers pick up pointers for helping the children become lifelong learners. Stories, activities, and a craft are always included in this engaging weekly program.
Friends meet
The Friends of the Library have been invaluable in making dreams become reality. The group meets on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m., in the meeting room adjacent to the library. Anyone interested in supporting the library is welcome at these monthly meetings.
Teen help
The new library will have a young adult section and we need the help of teens. What items do you want in this area? How would you like it decorated? What programs would you like to have? Come to the first Teen Action Group (TAG) meeting on Friday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m., to discuss options. The meeting will be followed by Teen Movie Night at 7 p.m. The majority will decide which PG-13 rated movie to watch Iron Man 3 or World War Z.
New items
A new page has been added to our website. Check out Newly Ordered Items after going to www.bernepubliclibrary.org. See what books and movies have been ordered for the month of September and October. There are lots of new things happening in Berne.
— Photo by Judy Petrosillo
Ways to learn A: Kids at the Berne Library’s story time on Sept. 17 learned about the letter A and about apples. They tasted three different kinds of apples and then did a painting project.
— Photo by Judy Petrosillo
The core of understanding: Painting paper plates to look like eaten apples, these kids get help sponge painting in red and green during story time at the Berne Library on Tuesday.
September 22 to 28 is Banned Book Week. The American Library Association hopes to draw attention to the harms of censorship by celebrating the freedom to read. Unlike other areas of your life, your privacy is protected at the Berne Public Library. There is no record of the materials you have borrowed from the library once you return them. Take advantage of this uncensored resource.
What books on our shelves were challenged in the United States in the last year? Some examples include The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie Sherman, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Looking for Alaska by John Green, and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
Lego League
Youth in grades 2 through 8 are encouraged to display unlimited creativity at the Lego League program. Meet at the library on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 11 a.m. Use the library’s Legos to make a project to display for the month.
Knit Wits
The Knit Wits meet on Sunday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. Share problems, solutions, ideas and conversation while you work on your own project. Adults who knit or crochet are welcome to attend.
Story time
Books are the topic for story time this week as the letter B is explored. Join Kathy on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m. Preschool children and their caregivers will hear stories, participate in activities and make a craft during this weekly program.
Sunday Book Club
Although the next book for the Sunday Book Club has never been challenged, it is interesting. Read We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg for the next meeting on Sunday, Oct. 6. The discussion will begin at 7 p.m. and all adults are encouraged to attend. Visit the library to request a copy of the book or request it online. Remember that there is no charge to borrow library materials.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, in Texas v. Johnson, said, “If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the Government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” Your public libraries stand behind this principle.
— Photo from Judy Petrosillo
Girl Scouts together: Annielaura Shafer, center left, and Christina Grippin, center right, were presented with the Girl Scout Silver Award during a ceremony on Sept. 8. The girls are shown with their leaders Jean Forti, far left, and Maria Shafer, far right. For their project, the girls designed and built an outdoor reading area for the Berne Library at its new location.
After many years of anticipation, the move to a new location will be occurring soon. Phase 1 of the building renovations are almost complete.
So far, the asbestos flooring has been removed for your safety, insulation has been sprayed in the ceilings and walls to lower future energy costs, and new walls and ceilings have been installed.
The flooring materials should arrive this week. We will be ready to move a few weeks after the carpet is installed. Stay tuned because we will definitely need help with the move.
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped stain and polyurethane the new bookcases. They look great and are ready to be moved to 1763 Helderberg Trail.
If you have a pickup truck or trailer and are able to lift heavy objects, please sign up with the library staff to help transport the cases.
On tour
In the meantime, programs continue to be held at the current library site. This weekend, the library is participating in the Helderberg Hilltown Association's Farm and Artisan Tour.
Our tour stop is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. We will be showcasing local history materials.
Settle into Catan
Sunday, Sept. 15, is Game Night at the library. Beginning at 7 p.m., play board games such as Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, or Scrabble with other interested adults.
Investigate A
After gathering more information, it was decided that Story Time should remain at 11 a.m.
Preschool children and their caregivers are invited to join Kathy Stempel on Tuesday, Sept. 17, to investigate the letter A. Stories, activities, and crafts this week will focus on apples or amphorae. You will have to attend the program to find out which one.
Lego League
Children ages 7 to 13 may create projects using the library's Legos on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Meet at 11 a.m. for Lego League fun. We will display your creation until next month when we reuse the Legos for new projects.
Sterling character
Kudos to Annielaura Shafer and Christina Grippin for earning their Silver Award from the Girl Scouts. Their project was designing and building an outdoor reading area for the new library.
Where would the library be without wonderful volunteers of all ages?
September brings two things to mind: time to go back to school and time to harvest the garden before the first frost. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the first frost for Albany, is October 3. Of course, the date for the Hilltowns is typically earlier. Despite our short growing season, it is possible to have a local sustainable food economy.
Sarah Gordon, an enthusiastic believer in sustained living, will be presenting a program on this topic in the meeting room of the Berne town hall. Gordon founded FarmieMarket and is actively involved in promoting local farmers. The presentation on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., is open to the public.
Prior to Ms. Gordon's presentation, there will be a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. We are celebrating the closing of the adult summer reading program and the resuming of the monthly Sunday Book Club at the Berne Public Library.
The library staff will supply the drinks and place settings. Participants are asked to bring a dish made with local foods. Please respond at 872-1246 or e-mail the director@bernepubliclibrary.org and indicate the dish you will be bringing. With a little planning, it should be a balanced and delicious meal.
Story time
There is a new time for story time starting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Preschool children and their caregivers are invited to join Kathy for stories, activities, and a craft. This week the group will be playing school and taking turns being the teacher. What is the best way to prepare children for school? Make sure they have a library card.
Volunteers needed
Work bees to apply polyurethane to new bookcases are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon, and 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 and on Monday, Sept. 9. Any interested adult with paintbrush skills is invited to help with this community project. Please meet at the Hilltown Senior Center, 1360 Helderberg Trail, in Berne. We hope to move the shelving into the new library by the end of the month.
Board meets
The library’s board of trustees will be discussing library business on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m. This meeting is open to the public.
September is the perfect time to visit the library. There are new issues of magazines from 21 different subscriptions. If you would rather read a nonfiction book, try The Ultimate Guide to Homesteading: an encyclopedia for independent living by Nicole Faire. Remember, there is no charge for a library card or for taking out items. Why buy when you can borrow?
Labor Day is a national holiday for recognizing the economic and social contributions of workers. The Berne Public Library will be closed on Saturday, Aug. 31 and Monday, Sept. 2 in observance of this holiday weekend.
School opens
Labor Day weekend is also the symbolic end of summer and the beginning of the school year. For Berne-Knox-Westerlo students, school begins Thursday, Sept. 5 and school buses will once again be on the roads. Remember that if the red lights of a bus are flashing, you must stop. According to the Safe NY website, this includes buses that are on the opposite sides of divided highways, on multiple lane roadways, in parking lots, and on school grounds.
Story time
This week story time will focus on school buses. Preschool children and their caregivers should attend this fun program which helps develop literacy skills. Join Kathy on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 11 a.m., for stories, activities, and a craft. The wheels of the bus do go round and round.
Thank you
Thanks to all who contributed to the Friends of the Berne Library during the summer festival. It was a wonderful day ending with spectacular fireworks. Proceeds from the food booth, pie contest, and quilt drawing will go toward furnishings and equipment for the new library. The Friends will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 4, in the town of Berne meeting room at 7:30 p.m. All interested adults are invited to attend.
Adult read
The end of the adult summer reading program is also the return of the monthly book club. A potluck supper will be held on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m., for both groups. Please RSVP to the library staff at 872-1246. At 7 p.m. Sarah Gordon will be presenting a program on sustainable food economy. This program is free and open to the public.
Martin Luther King Jr. said, "All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." Thanks to all workers who do their jobs well, especially bus drivers.
Where did the summer go? With the last week of summer vacation approaching, it is time for children and young adults to finish their assigned summer reading for school. The Berne Public Library has many of the Berne-Knox-Westerlo schools required reading books so stop by soon before someone else checks them out.
Family fun day
To celebrate the summer, the town of Berne is sponsoring a family fun day at the town park on Saturday, Aug. 24. Summerfest runs from 10 a.m. to dark, and concludes with fireworks. Hope to see you there.
Eye checkups
While preparing for going back to school, don't forget about your children's eyes. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems. If you notice that your child has a disinterest in reading, this may be the reason.
Story time
August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month. We are investigating this topic on Tuesday, Aug. 27, during story time. Preschool children and their caregivers are invited to join Judy at 11 a.m. to explore the human eye. Stories, activities, and a craft are always a part of this fun program.
Thank you
Thanks to all who participated in the youth summer reading program. Hope you had as much fun as we did. Forty-four children read 39,132 minutes.
Adult read
The summer reading program for adults concludes on Sunday, Sept. 8. Please save the date for our potluck supper using local foods and our program on sustainable living.
In 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed August 19 as National Aviation Day in celebration of the development of aviation. The day is significant because it is the birthday of the first pilot, Orville Wright. National Aviation Week includes this day and promotes the education, awareness, and celebration of aviation.
How should you celebrate? Go for a flight, build a model airplane, or visit the Berne Public Library for a book on aviation. The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin, The Wright Brothers: how they invented the airplane by Russell Freedman or The Astronaut Wives Club: a true story by Lily Koppel are all excellent choices.
Lego League canceled
There is no Lego League in August. Let's plan on making flying crafts at the next Lego League event on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Story time
Airplanes are the focus of story time on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Come fly with Kathy at 11 a.m. and enjoy stories, activities, and a craft. This program is designed for pre-school children and their caregivers.
Adult program
One of the concerns of space travel is how to carry enough food and water for the trip. Sustainable living is the last topic for the adult summer reading program. Choose a book from the selection at the library or pick your own. Write a short book review, and be entered in a drawing to win prizes. The program ends on Sunday, Sept. 8 with a program on promoting a sustainable food economy.
Fireworks
Look to the skies on Saturday, Aug. 24 for fireworks. The town of Berne is sponsoring the Berne Summer Celebration from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., at the Berne town park. The rain date for this event is Sunday, Aug. 25.
Enjoy the car show, listen to music, and plan on having lunch at the Friends of the Library food booth. Help support the library by purchasing a ticket for a children's author signature, or a quilted wall hanging made by Peg Hoagland. Drawing tickets are available at the park during the celebration or during hours at the library.
Library renovations
The new library renovations are progressing and it will soon be time to set up the bookcases. We had additional bookcases made to match the cases we purchased from Borders when they closed. The new shelving needs to be stained and finished by volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please let us know by calling 872-1246 or e-mailing Judy at [email protected].
Orville Wright said, "If we all worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true is really true, there would be little hope of advance." If he had done that, he would have never flown.
The first fair at the Altamont Fairgrounds was 120 years ago in 1893 according to the website www.altamontfair.com. In 1945, it became the only fair in New York State to represent three counties: Albany, Schenectady, and Greene counties. Be sure to be part of this long standing tradition by attending the Altamont Fair from Aug. 13 through 18.
The beginning of the fair also represents the end of the summer reading program at the Berne Public Library. The SRP grand finale for ages 1 through 18 is this Saturday, Aug. 10 at the Hilltown Senior Center, 1360 Helderberg Trail. Meet Kathy at 3:30 p.m. for to receive certificates and prize bags, participate in activities, and enjoying refreshments. Thanks to all those youth who participated in the program or helped by volunteering.
The adult SRP continues through August and ends on Sept. 8. For the remainder of the summer, the book topic is gardening or sustainable farming. Dig into a wide range of titles set aside at the library or pick a book on your own. The adult finale will be on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m., and includes a program on sustainable farming presented by Sarah Gordon.
Story time
Regular story time for preschool children and their caregivers resumes on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Learn about all the things you can see at the fair. Join Kathy at 11 a.m., for stories, activities, and a craft.
Music in the Park
Wednesday, Aug. 14, is the final Music in the Park concert for the summer. Attend this event at the Berne town park and be entertained by a double billing of Chuck Wagon and Two's Company. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. and the admission is free. Refreshments will be available for purchase from the Friends of the Berne Library.