Bethlehem Library Notes for Friday, May 20, 2016
— Photo by Kristen Roberts
Talking with their hands, a girl and her father in Bethlehem library’s Once Upon a Sign spring-themed program learn how to make the sign for “butterfly” on Friday, May 13. The next Once Upon a Sign story time will be held June 10 at 10 a.m.
First it was fishing poles and GoPro cameras, then telescopes and slide scanners, now we have added metal detectors to the list of things you can borrow with a Bethlehem Public Library card.
Turn your next day at the park into a treasure hunt with the Bounty Hunter Time Ranger detector with top-of-the-line features, including a submersible search coil and a 4-inch gold nugget coil. You can also check out a youth-sized version that is easy for little ones to carry and use. Metal detectors must be checked out and returned to the library and can be borrowed for seven days at a time. Patrons are responsible for providing two nine-volt batteries for operation.
The metal detectors are part of our special collection, which has sometimes been referred to as a “library of things” in recent news coverage of a trend that is gaining momentum as more people embrace the sharing economy. The library isn’t exactly a newcomer to this sharing economy, in fact, it’s something libraries have been doing all along with books and other materials.
These new collection items just seemed like a natural extension of that idea. Why invest in pricey equipment when you are only going to use it once or twice? Or maybe there’s something in our special collection you were thinking about buying but wanted to test out first. Perhaps you never even thought about using a metal detector or a GoPro camera before you saw one on the shelf at the library, but had a blast all the same. Whatever your reason, our special collection items provide opportunities to learn and try something new.
The metal detectors, along with many other items in our special collection, have been underwritten by the Friends of the Library.
A village to help you age in place
The Village Movement began in 2001 with the establishment of Beacon Hill Village in Boston. Many Capital District seniors have expressed an interest in forming similar “villages” membership-driven, grassroots organizations that, through both volunteers and paid staff, coordinate access to affordable services to assist aging in place. These services can include recreational and wellness programs, home repairs, social and educational activities, and other day-to-day needs enabling individuals to remain connected to their community throughout the aging process.
A representative from the Albany Guardian Society will be at the library Tuesday, May 24, from 10 to 11 a.m. to provide an introduction to the Village Movement.
Holiday hours
The library will be closed Memorial Day weekend Saturday through Monday, May 28 to 30. Access the library catalog and other library services online anytime at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.