Bethlehem Library Notes for Thursday, July 12, 2018
Hey teens, get ready to rock the Bethlehem Public Library later this month at our first ever lip-sync battle! On Friday, July 27, at 7 p.m., let out your inner diva and dazzle friends and adoring fans with your very best rendition of a favorite song.
There will be prizes, crafts, and ice cream! You are also welcome to just cheer on friends or watch the show; you don't have to perform in order to take part. Send your song choice to tori@bplteens.org by July 20. Please make sure it is the “clean” radio version and lasts no longer than 1.5 minutes.
Photography contest
Celebrate the town of Bethlehem’s 225th anniversary by entering your best shot of the town in our photography contest. Photos must be submitted framed (maximum size is 11-by-14 inches) and ready to hang between July 30 and Aug. 31. Entries will be on display in September with winners in four age groups awarded Friday, Sept. 21.
See www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org for entry form and details. Prizes will be provided by the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library.
Self-checkout is here
Need to check out your materials in a hurry? Would you like a little privacy? The new self-checkout kiosks at the Circulation Desk and the Children's Place give you plenty of checkout options.
Our whimsical robot kiosk in the Children’s Place will delight young readers and give parents the opportunity for a quick exit if they sense a meltdown looming. Two self-checkout machines at the circulation desk are user-friendly and will help speed up the checkout process during our busier times.
Unfamiliar with the technology? Our staffers are happy to help walk you through the process until you are comfortable with it. One of our favorite features of the new machines is that staffers can step in any time and complete the transaction seamlessly without having to cancel everything and start over.
We know some library users will always enjoy face-to-face interaction with staff. No worries! We’re not going anywhere and will still be at the desk to assist you in person, if you prefer.
Calling hobbyists and craftspeople
We are still looking for people willing to share their specials skills at our How-To Festival on Saturday, Aug. 4. From noon to 2 p.m., artisans and instructors will demonstrate their trades — from blacksmithing to yoga — to members of the community.
If you are interested in sharing your knowledge on a topic, we’d love to have you join us! Contact Natalie McDonough at 518-439-9314, ext. 3023 or by email at .
WiFi at Five Rivers
The library has begun offering free year-round WiFi at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in one of the first Department of Environmental Conservation-public library partnerships in the state.
Now you can connect to “Free Library WiFi” when you’re out and about at Five Rivers picnicking, hiking, or exploring the nature center. This network is in addition to “Free Library WiFi” at the town park and pool, as well as inside and outside the library building.
Summer hours
The library is closed Sundays in July and August. You can access the library catalog and other library services online anytime at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.