— Photo by Kristen Roberts
The Bethlehem Public Library now offers self-serve copying inside the building’s entryway during curbside pickup hours.
Our building may be closed, but you can still make letter-sized black-and-white or color copies at the library. For your convenience, we’ve set up a self-serve copier in the entry vestibule of the library to use during our curbside pickup hours.
(P.S. You can also use it to print pdf or jpg documents from a USB flash drive.) For information and more printing options: www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/services/tech-tools/wireless-and-mobile-printing.
Please note: Only one person or family group is allowed in the vestibule area at a time.
Tax forms are here
Tax forms are also available in the entry vestibule or through curbside pickup. Don’t see the forms you’re looking for? Give the Information Desk a call at 518-439-9314 and if they are available online, we will print them out for you to be picked up curbside.
Good start
Spring is just around the corner, and you know what that means — it’s time to get your garden started. Starting seeds at home saves money and lets you decide what you want to grow. The library has recently added home seed-starting kits to our Library of Things collection, so you can give it a try. Our kits include special indoor grow lights and seedling heat mats to help your seeds sprout quickly and vigorously.
We also have soil meters available to borrow so you can find out if you’re providing a suitable soil environment for your plants. To search for these or other items from our Library of Things collection, visit our online catalog at catalog.uhls.org/iii/encore/search.
Coming soon: Our Seed Library returns next month. Stay tuned for more information.
Kindness – pass it on!
“In the end, only kindness matters.” — Singer-songwriter Jewel
Be sure to follow us on social media to share all the ways acts of kindness have made a difference in your life. What are your favorite quotes about kindness? Share them by tagging us at #BPLKindness. For more information about Kindness Matters at Bethlehem Public Library, visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/kindness-matters.
Upcoming events
Registration is required for the following programs. To sign up, visit our online calendar at bethlehem.librarycalendar.com.
Winter Potpourri:
Shapes Are Everywhere
It's all about shapes! Join us Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. for a story time for preschoolers dedicated to shapes, where we'll read stories and do a fun shape-themed craft. Craft kits will be held under your name for curbside pickup the week leading up to the program. You must register to receive a craft kit.
Antiracist book talk
Join us virtually Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. for a discussion group for adults dedicated to reading books by diverse authors in order to gain a better understanding of race and racism. This month’s book is “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
BYOBB: Bring Your
Own Book (& Beverage)
Take part in a relaxed discussion for adults Thursday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. of what books you’ve been reading, and share your opinions and recommendations. Hated a book? Loved a book? Chat with other readers in the community!
— Photo by Kristen Roberts
A colorful balloon and bouquet were left at the Bethlehem Public Library curbside pickup area recently. The gift brought cheer to staffers and ties in nicely with the library’s Kindness Matters campaign.
Did you miss all the Hoopla back in spring when we added the all-in-one digital service that allows you to instantly borrow audiobooks, eBooks, comics, music, movies, and TV? Well, February is a Bonus Borrows month, which means it’s a great time to get acquainted with all that Hoopla has to offer.
Hoopla has been a big hit with cardholders, and there are a couple of things that make it stand out. First, there are no wait times — even on popular new releases.
Second, the Hoopla catalogue greatly expands our selection of graphic novels and comics — a genre that continues to grow in popularity. Even better, when Bonus Borrows are available, you have hundreds of options that won’t count toward your monthly borrowing limit.
New to Hoopla? Go to www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/borrow/hoopla and see what it’s all about.
To browse this month’s Bonus Borrows, visit www.hoopladigital.com/collection/12175.
In appreciation
of kindness
“Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together.” —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
One of the most surprising things about our Kindness Matters project this winter is just how good it has made us feel to connect with our community through personalized notes and special surprises for library users. It is so nice to see the assembled Kindness Kits and Book and Media Bundles lined up and ready for pickup — knowing they will be brightening someone’s day.
And we appreciate all the kindness that has been coming back to us from the community — from the colorful balloon and bouquet left at one of our curbside pickup tables to the notes of gratitude thanking library staffers for being so willing to go the extra mile to help. We are pleased to see so many people paying the kindness forward, and it is this kind of shared joy that will help us all see this pandemic through to the end.
Other Kindness Matters activities continue this month with Boredom Busters for Books to People, surprise giveaways (new ones have just arrived!) tucked into Book and Media Bundles, Kindness Kits for Kids and more. For more information, visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/kindness-matters.
Be sure to follow us on social media to share all the ways acts of kindness have made a difference in your life. Share it by tagging us at #BPLKindness.
Kindness Matters is generously co-sponsored by the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library.
Library staff are here to help
Tax season has begun, and we know that for many people, the library is their go-to for forms and information. Although our building is currently closed for in-person use, there are a lot of ways we can still help – from printing out forms for curbside pickup or pointing you in the direction of other available resources. Please email or call (518) 439-9314 and we will do everything we can to get your questions answered.
No-contact curbside pickup is now available seven days a week: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m.
— Photo by Kristen Roberts
The Bethlehem Public Library staff assemble Kindness Kits for Kids, which feature fun games and crafts along with a book to keep and one to share with a friend to pass the kindness on.
The library is now offering no-contact curbside pickup seven days a week. Curbside pickup is now available on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. If you are new to using our curbside service, please visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/curbside-pickup to get started.
Curbside hours are currently Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
Although the library building is closed to the public, staff are available to answer questions by calling 518-439-9314 or by emailing .
Thousands of magazines
at your fingertips
E-book and digital audiobook users have long taken advantage of the extensive collection available through OverDrive and the Libby app, but did you know there are literally thousands of magazine titles to download from there as well? Cardholders can find niche publications that cater to specific crafts or hobbies, as well as popular titles focusing on travel, entertainment, technology and more. Even better, many have back issues available through 2018.
Take a look at just some of the great titles you'll find: Adirondack Explorer, Adirondack Life, Audubon, Gardens Illustrated Magazine,The Economist, New York Magazine, Wine Spectator and more.
To borrow an e-magazine through OverDrive, visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org and then navigate to the OverDrive collection or download the OverDrive or Libby app to your digital device. To look for a specific magazine, start with a title search. You can then narrow down your search by choosing “Magazine” as one of the filters.
If you don’t have anything specific in mind, you can browse the entire collection by selecting “Magazines” in the drop-down menu under “Collections.” From there you can use filters to narrow it down by interest.
Can’t find what you’re looking for through OverDrive or Libby? Bethlehem cardholders can access even more magazine titles throughFlipster.
Kindness matters
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
Everyone can benefit from kindness, regardless of their age. Our Kindness Matters campaign continues with surprise giveaways tucked into Book and Media Bundles, Boredom Busters for Books to People, Kindness Kits for Kids and more! For more information, visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/kindness-matters.
Be sure to follow us on social media to share all the ways acts of kindness have made a difference in your life. Have you witnessed or been the recipient of an act of kindness? Share it by tagging us at #BPLKindness.
Kindness Matters is generously co-sponsored by the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library.
New Facebook page
Follow us on over to our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BethPL, which features all of the latest library news, information about library services and upcoming events, and a way to engage with fellow library fans. Beginning February 2021, our old page will no longer be updated, so like or follow us here so you don’t miss out!
Not on Facebook? You’ll also find us on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads and YouTube.
With entertainment options limited during the pandemic, many people have found themselves with a little extra time on their hands. And many have put that time to use delving into their own family history — a rewarding hobby that can provide a sense of connection to one’s own heritage, past and present.
The library has a number of tools to help you dig deep, chief among them is Ancestry.com, which has been renewed for 2021 and is available offsite exclusively to Bethlehem cardholders. With Ancestry.com, you can search billions of records, including census, military and immigration records, to discover your family’s story. Non-cardholders can access Ancestry.com by using the library’s WiFi on library grounds, including the parking lot.
You might also find what you’re looking for with HeritageQuest, which gives you access to U.S. census data and over 1 million genealogy and local history articles. On our Local History webpage you’ll find even more resources, including our Spotlight newspaper archive and the New York Heritage digital collections. Find all of these resources linked from our Research page on our website at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
Have you hit a genealogical “brick wall” in your own search that you need to break through? Email us at with your genealogy research questions so we can point you in the right direction. We are also scheduling one-on-one genealogy appointments over Zoom to help with your questions and introduce you to the family history resources available on the library’s website.
To make an appointment, fill out the online form at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/local-history/genealogy. Appointments last approximately one hour.
Your library is
here for you
Although the library building is currently closed to the public, staff are available to answer questions by calling 518-439-9314 or by emailing . We understand that there are a lot of ways in-person services like printing, photocopying, research help and more are vital to our patrons, and we have staff ready to find ways to creatively assist you even when our doors are closed.
The library is currently offering no-contact curbside-only pickup. If you are new to using our curbside service, please visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/curbside-pickup to help you get started.
You’ll also find a number of online services on our website (www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org), including ways to download eBooks, magazines and audiobooks, as well as stream movies and children’s shows.
Sharing kindness
Our Kindness Matters campaign is going strong with surprise giveaways, Just for Me: Teen Book Boxes and more! For more information, visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/kindness-matters.
Be sure to follow us on social media to share all the ways acts of kindness have made a difference in your life. Share your Kindness Resolutions for 2021 by tagging us at #BPLKindness.
Kindness Matters is generously co-sponsored by the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library.
Our Facebook page
has moved
Follow us on over to our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BethPL, which features all of the latest library news, information about library services and upcoming events, and a way to engage with fellow library fans. Beginning February 2021, our old page will no longer be updated.
Follow us on over to our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BethPL! Our new page features all of the latest library news, information about library services and upcoming events, and a way to engage with fellow library fans.
Just a reminder for those who used to follow us on our old Facebook page: Beginning February 2021, that page will no longer be updated, so like or follow us here so you don’t miss out!
Not on Facebook? You’ll also find us on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads and YouTube. See you there!
Speak up
with Pronunciator
There are so many benefits to learning a new language, not the least of which is keeping your brain sharp at a time when all of the days seem to flow together. While there are a lot of language-learning programs out there, Pronunciator, the library’s newest online language resource, takes a personalized approach to make learning work for you.
Just select the language and topics you love, the skills you want to build, and how much you want to study each day, and Pronunciator will build a personalized course just for you — in a matter of seconds. You can choose from over 160 languages to learn, including American Sign Language.
Bethlehem cardholders can access Pronunciator on the library’s Research page, webapps.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/research.asp.
Service updates
In the face of rising coronavirus infection rates in our community, the library will continue to offer curbside-only pickup for the time being. The board will regularly review at their monthly meetings the library’s ability to add back additional services if the situation begins to stabilize or improve.
Current curbside hours are: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
If you are new to using our curbside service, please visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/curbside-pickup to help you get started.
Although the library building will be closed to the public, staff is available to answer questions by calling 518-439-9314 or by emailing . You’ll also find a number of online services on our website (www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org), including ways to download eBooks, magazines and audiobooks, as well as stream movies and children’s shows. Check out our calendar for upcoming virtual events for all ages, such as concerts, performances and more.
Kindness Matters
Our Kindness Matters campaign is going strong with surprise giveaways, Just for Me: Teen Book Boxes and more! For more information, visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/kindness-matters.
Be sure to follow us on social media to share all the ways acts of kindness have made a difference in your life. Share your Kindness Resolutions for 2021 by tagging us at #BPLKindness.
Let it snow
Don’t be caught out in the cold! There are still a few days left to submit your original short story in our Snowy Stories contest open to grades K-12. Entries will be accepted through Jan. 29. Email us at to enter. Stories incorporating visual elements may be e-mailed as PDFs.
Winners will be posted online in February. For more information, visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/snowy-stories-contest.
The Bethlehem Public Library is spending the next few weeks sharing acts of kindness to generate happiness within the community that radiates outward to touch as many people as possible.
American aviator and explorer Amelia Earhart once said, “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions and the roots spring up and make new trees.”
This could not be more relevant than today as we slog through an ongoing pandemic and political unrest, seeking out those moments of connection with our fellow human beings that spark joy. Kindness matters. And you matter to us.
That’s why we’re spending the next few weeks sharing acts of kindness that we hope will generate happiness within our community that radiates outward to touch as many people as possible:
— In the coming weeks, we’ll be inviting you to share acts of kindness you’ve experienced or been a part of by tagging the library on social media using #BPLKindness;
— Be on the lookout for special Boredom Busters tucked into our Books to People delivery bags, such as large-print words searches, painting activities and more. Books to People is available to homebound residents of the Bethlehem Central School District and can be especially helpful to those who need to take extra precautions to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. With Books to People, selected materials are delivered (no contact!) every other week via the library van. Visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/services/books-to-people for more information;
— You might also find some special surprises in your Book or Media Bundle request, along with personal notes from library staff. Go to www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/book-bundle-request to request your Book or Media Bundle;
— We’re showing teens that we care about them by offering Just for Me: Book Boxes filled with curated treats and books to keep. These are available to BCSD teens in grades 6-12; one per household. Visitbethlehem.librarycalendar.com/events/just-me-teen-book-boxes to sign up; and
— Coming soon: Children will be able to register for a kindness kit, which will include a free book to keep and one to give to a friend, along with other crafts and fun activities.
Our Kindness Matters campaign is generously co-sponsored by the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library. During this time, we encourage you to connect with others by paying kindness forward. Sharing kindness with others is just as rewarding as receiving it. Let’s start 2021 off with kindness!
Escaping winter
What happens when a winter wonderland turns out to be not so wonderful? You look for a way out! On Monday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m., we’ll hosting a virtual escape room for adults where participants will race against time to escape a winter wonderland by decoding the locks so they won’t be caught out in the cold. Visit bethlehem.librarycalendar.com/events/virtual-escape-room-winter-wonderland to sign up.
Hours and updates
The library currently remains closed to in-person browsing, but curbside pickup is available during the following expanded hours: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
At this time, the library has also opted to temporarily postpone reinstituting fines for overdue items. For updates, visit our website at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
— Photo by Kristen Roberts
The Bethlehem Public Library plaza was illuminated recently with a display of luminaries featuring community messages of hope to welcome 2021.
The library currently remains closed to in-person browsing, but curbside pickup is available with expanded hours. For the latest updates regarding library hours and services, visit our website at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
At this time, the library has opted to temporarily postpone reinstituting fines for overdue items. For more information about due dates and fines, go to www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/borrow/loan-periods-and-fines.
Digital magazines
The new year brings some new titles to our digital magazine collection on Flipster. We’ve added Better Nutrition (great for aiding all those New Year’s resolutions), Cottages & Bungalows, Family Handyman and Golf Magazine.
Four magazine titles that originally appeared in Flipster can now be found on OverDrive. They are: Bon Appetit, Pioneer Woman Magazine, Prevention and Rolling Stone.
Digital magazines are a great way to enjoy your favorite glossies without a costly subscription or the paper waste. Magazines can be accessed online using your library card and viewed on computer and mobile devices. Go to www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/borrow/ebooks-emagazines to browse our collection of digital magazines in OverDrive or Flipster.
Make 2021
work for you
Looking to make a career change or kick your job search into high gear in 2021? Curious about your chances of being hired with the skills and experience you have today? Our librarians have compiled a list of workforce development resources that can help steer you in the right direction. Find it at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/workforce-development-resources.
Do you know your employability score? Visit our workforce development resources page and scroll down to JobZone to find out. Start by taking the “What’s my employability score?” survey and then explore the website for ways to help you improve your score and get that job.
Our list of resources also includes a link to dozens of digital literacy classes available in 2021 through the Upper Hudson Library System. Brush up on some of those skills that look great on a resume. Classes include Facebook Pages for Business; Meeting Online: A Primer; Introduction to Google Apps Suite; Introduction to Microsoft Excel; Introduction to Windows 10; Digital Organization Sampler; Email Marketing with Mailchimp; and Polling, Quizzing, Signups and more with Google Forms.
Illuminating hope
We’re lighting the way into 2021 with a feeling of hope as we set up our Luminaries for Hope display on the plaza walkway Mondays and Wednesdays, from dusk until 7 p.m., through Jan. 13. Stop by during the designated hours and take a socially distanced stroll among the lights and messages of hope that represent all the ways we are a community, even when we can’t gather as one.
Write a snowy story
Embrace all that winter brings — especially the snow — in our Snowy Stories Contest, which is open through Jan. 29. Kids and teens in grades K-12 are invited to write and submit an original short story by emailing it to us at . Stories incorporating visual elements may be e-mailed as PDFs. Winners will be posted online in February. Visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/snowy-stories-contest for more information.
As the coronavirus pandemic turned the world upside down, borrowing habits at Bethlehem Public Library shifted to reflect a new reality. Last spring, with our doors closed and curbside pickup not yet available, demand and use of our digital materials understandably skyrocketed, and we quickly added additional resources, such as the new on-demand service Hoopla, to cut down on wait times.
Even as we are able to bring back physical checkouts, use of our digital services remains strong, showing an increase of more than 38 percent over the past year.
And yet, with all of the changes in how we get library items to our patrons, one thing remains constant: Bethlehem loves to borrow.
And what did you love borrowing in 2020? Read on for some of Bethlehem Public Library’s most-loved loans of the past year.
When it comes to physical books, the most borrowed novel of 2020 was the sweeping family saga “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett. A very close second was last year’s top novel “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens. In non-fiction, these three titles rose to the top: “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man” by Mary Trump; “Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover; and “The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family and Defiance During the Blitz” by Erik Larson.
The buzz surrounding “Two Can Keep a Secret” by Karen McManus helped make this novel about small-town secrets and suspense the most borrowed young-adult title of 2020. For children’s books, Dog Man was back with “Dog Man: Fetch-22” by Dav Pilkey taking the top spot.
Bethlehem’s most borrowed DVD of 2020 was “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and gamers checked out the Nintendo Switch title “MarioKart 8” more than any other video-game title.
Some of our Library of Things items were taken out of circulation in 2020 as a pandemic precaution, but those that did go out the door most frequently — laptop computers and Wi-Fi hotspots — reflected the need in our community for digital access as work, school, and many aspects of daily life went online.
When it comes to e-books, our top borrows reflect similar trends as the physical books with “Where the Crawdads Sing” and “The Dutch House” once again rising to the top for fiction and “Educated: A Memoir” coming in first for non-fiction. In a departure from its physical counterpart, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins was the most-borrowed digital yung-adult title. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling had the most checkouts for children’s e-books and was also the most-borrowed digital audiobook.
Digital magazines, available through OverDrive and Flipster, were a popular distraction in 2020, with People, US Weekly and The New Yorker the most popular of all among Bethlehem patrons.
The library’s streaming video services through Hoopla, Kanopy, and OverDrive made high-quality shows and films available without the need to venture from the comfort and safety of home. Most-streamed in 2020 was “Stash Short Film Festival: Comedy” (everyone needed a laugh) and “Force Majeure,” both available through Kanopy. Topping off the children’s streaming titles was the ever-popular “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.”
While we don’t know what the next year will bring, one thing remains certain: Our borrowers know what they love, and we can’t wait to see what tops the list in 2021.
To check out one of these most-borrowed titles for yourself, visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org and search the catalog or click on the eContent button on the homepage to download or stream digital content.
Holiday hours
The library will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day. We’ll also be closing at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31. Happy New Year!
— Photo by Kristen Roberts
The Bethlehem Public Library’s Book Bundles are like surprise subscription boxes, but for readers. The library also recently added the option to request CD or DVD bundles, as well as special bundles for educators. Simply fill out a form with your preferences, and librarians will hand pick some items just for you. This bundle was put together for a teen reader.
The library has made the decision to temporarily halt in-person browsing and return to curbside pickup only. While the library is closed to in-person use, our curbside pickup hours have been expanded to include Saturdays.
At this time, curbside hours will be from 1 to 7 p.m. ,Monday through Thursday; from 1 to 6 p.m. on Friday; and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday until further notice. If you are new to using this service, please visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/curbside-pickup to help you get started.
Although the library building will be closed to the public, staff is available to answer questions by calling us at 518-439-9314 or by emailing .
You’ll also find a number of online services on our website (www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org), including ways to download eBooks, magazines, and audiobooks, as well as stream movies and children’s shows. And be sure to check out our calendar for upcoming virtual events for all ages, such as concerts, performances and more.
We know service interruptions can be frustrating, and we thank you for your understanding.
Bundle up
Not sure what to request for curbside pickup? A Book Bundle or Media Bundle might be just the thing! Our Book Bundles have been so popular with readers that we have expanded the options to include DVD and music bundles. We’ve even added a bundle-request form just for educators.
Our Book Bundles include selections hand-picked for you by one of our librarians based on the reading preferences you share through this form: www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/book-bundle-request.
Bundles are available for adults, teens, grade-schoolers and “read-to-me” children up to age 6. You will be contacted by email or phone when the items are ready for pickup. Questions? Email .
Let hope
light the way
This past year has challenged us in many ways, but we can come together as a community and light the way into 2021 with illuminated messages of hope. Be a part of the library’s Luminaries for Hope project by requesting a blank luminary bag to decorate and return to the library by Dec. 30. Bags can be retrieved through curbside pickup.
The illuminated display will adorn our plaza walkway Mondays and Wednesdays, dusk until 7 p.m., from Dec. 28 to Jan. 13. Stop by during the designated hours and take a socially distanced stroll among the lights and messages of hope that represent all the ways we are a community, even when we can’t gather as one.
Take a snowy
story-time stroll
Don’t let snow stop you from getting outside and enjoying a story at one of our newest StoryWalk installations at the Elm Avenue Park, featuring “The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear” by Don Wood. Enjoy this classic picture book loved by millions in a whole new way!
StoryWalks are supported by the New York State Library’s Family Literacy Library Services Program and the Upper Hudson Library System.
Holiday hours
The library will be closed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24 and 25, for the Christmas holiday, and Friday, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day. We’re always open online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
— Photo provided to Bethlehem Public Library
Got plans this December break? Well now you do! The Bethlehem Public Library is hosting a performance of “The Caterpillar Hunter” from Dec. 27 to Jan. 3, featuring a fun character based on the late great nature expert Steve Irwin. Visit the library calendar at bethlehem.librarycalendar.com for information about how to access the limited time event.
Every year when December rolls around, families look to the library to keep kids entertained and engaged during the school holiday. Despite all of the challenges of 2020, we are once again making that happen — with some modifications. Due to pandemic-related gathering restrictions, most of our December break programming will take place online this year.
Read on to learn more about the great things we have planned for vacation week and mark your calendars so your child can spend some time with friends at the library — virtually:
— Our Snowy Stories Contest kicks things off Dec. 21 and is open through Jan. 29. Celebrate all things winter and show off your creative writing skills at the same time. We’re inviting kids and teens in grades K-12 to write and submit an original short story by emailing it to us at . Stories incorporating visual elements may be e-mailed as PDFs. Winners will be posted online in February. Visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org/snowy-stories-contest for more information and some writing prompts to get the ideas flowing;
— Families can also stop by the library anytime for a self-guided outdoor Winter Scavenger Hunt on library grounds as you look for a series of winter-themed items like snowflakes, mittens, penguins and more. Visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/winter-scavenger-hunt for details;
— In the mood for a little live music? On Saturday, Dec. 26, at 2 p.m. listen to some live jazz online with the Pent-Up Jazz Project, featuring Cliff Brucker on piano, Linda E. Brown on bass, and Bob Vacca on drums. This event is for all ages, so everyone in your household can enjoy the concert together;
— From Dec. 27 through Jan. 3, families can check out “Vacation Theater: The Caterpillar Hunter,” featuring a character based on the beloved late wildlife expert Steve Irwin. In this backyard adventure, the Caterpillar Hunter shrinks himself and sets off to pursue elusive bugs and strange herbage in the wilds of a common North American vegetable garden. Register online for more information about how to access the limited time program;
— On Wednesday, Dec. 30, children in grades 2 through 5 can match their music knowledge against others when they play “Name That Tune” over Zoom. The fun starts at 2 p.m.; registration is required; and
— Our annual New Year’s Eve celebration for babies, toddlers and preschoolers is back! Join us Thursday, Dec. 31, at 11:30 a.m. and celebrate the new year by dancing to some favorite tunes before counting down together to noon!
To sign up for our December break programs, visit the online calendar at bethlehem.librarycalendar.com and select the name and date of the program you are interested in.
Due dates and fines
The new year will bring some changes to our currently relaxed fine rules, which were established in the early days of the pandemic. With automatic due date reminders in place, 24/7 drop-off access and quarantine procedures established for returned items, the library will once again charge fines for overdue items returned after Dec. 31.