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.
It’s almost here! The Bethlehem Public Library will transform into an 18-hole miniature golf course on Sunday, July 8, from 1 to 5 p.m. Bring your family and friends to one of the most popular events we host all year.
Afternoon festivities will include snow cones and snacks from the Friends, craft stations throughout the library, and so much more. Regular library services will be limited but, if you spot a book or movie you just have to have while putting your way through the shelves, we’ll be on hand to check it out for you!
Five Rivers at the library
Have you ever wondered how and why a grasshopper makes that distinctive rasping sound? Why are insects louder at certain times of the day?
Join our friends from Five Rivers on the library on Green Monday, July 9, at 2 p.m. for “Insects Rock.” We’ll learn how to identify and search for common “musical” insects and do a take-home craft. This program is best suited for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
“Free Library WiFi” at Five Rivers
As part of an ongoing effort to make sure our services reach patrons where they are, the library is 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. Whenever you see “Free Library WiFi” show up on your device, you'll know you’ve tapped into the library's growing digital network that provides internet access all over town.
Underground rock
Beyond the cave entrance is another world that few people get to experience firsthand. Now you can as an armchair spelunker at the library.
On Tuesday, July 10, at 2 p.m. experienced cave enthusiast and author Thom Engel will present “Caves: Entering the Rock” and share his knowledge of these natural wonders.
The Lustre Kings
Our Evenings on the Green concert series starts the summer rocking at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, with The Lustre Kings, who will entertain with some rockabilly, country, blues and R&B.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pick a spot on the Green. Concerts are always free, appropriate for all ages, and they take place every Wednesday from July 11 to Aug. 8. Pick up a flyer or visit our website at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org for times and details. Concerts will move indoors if it rains.
Summer hours
The library is closed Sundays in July and August (except July 8 for Mini-Golf). You can access the library catalog and other library services online anytime at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
Summer Reading
Summer Reading sign-up is in full swing, and reporting for prizes has already begun. It's not too late to rock the summer reading. Sign up online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org or in person.
— Photo by Kristen Roberts
Sylvia Fletcher and her puppet friends delighted audiences during the Summer Reading Kickoff at the Bethlehem Public Library Thursday, June 21.
The Bethlehem Public Library will transform into an 18-hole miniature golf course on Sunday, July 8, from 1 to 5 p.m. For one afternoon only, guests of all ages, from pros to duffers, can putt their way through the stacks and see the library in a whole new light. The best part? There are no greens fees, and everyone is welcome.
Afternoon festivities will include snow cones and snacks from the Friends of the Library, craft stations throughout the library, and so much more. Regular library services will be limited.
Keep score or just keep it casual; when there’s miniature golf at the library, everyone’s a winner. This free event is co-hosted by the Friends of the Library.
Evenings on the Green
Long before Libraries Rock! became the 2018 Summer Reading theme, our annual summer concert series, Evenings on the Green, has been entertaining audiences with a variety of musical performances.
This year, the series kicks off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, with The Lustre Kings, local favorites who will entertain with some rockabilly, country, blues, and R&B.
Evenings on the Green continue with appearances by Craic Agus Ceol, Squeeze Play Accordion Band and Rick Bedrosian. The final concert in the series will be the Zucchini Brothers on Aug. 8. This family-friendly performance will start at 6:30 p.m. and include an ice cream social hosted by the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library beginning at 6 p.m.
The library’s casual outdoor concert series has been around for more than four decades. Evenings on the Green concerts are always free, appropriate for all ages, and they take place every Wednesday from July 11 to Aug. 8. Pick up a flyer or visit our website at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org for times and details. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Concerts will move indoors if it rains.
Holiday and summer hours
The library will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. The library is also closed Sundays in July and August, beginning July 1. You can access the library catalog and other library services online anytime at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
It’s an honor
The Bethlehem Public Library was honored to be recognized by the Upper Hudson Library System at its annual dinner earlier this month for two of our programs from 2017. Rubber Ducky Club was named Youth and Family Program of the Year, and The Federalist Papers earned Adult Program of the Year.
Library staffers were so pleased with the enthusiastic response to both of these programs and promise to continue working hard to plan and pursue these types of award-winning offerings.
Sign up for Summer Reading
Are you ready to rock your reading this summer? Summer Reading sign-up for all ages is in full swing, and this year’s theme is Libraries Rock! Reporting for prizes begins July 2. Sign up online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org or in person, and check out upcoming programs on our website or in the latest version of the Footnotes newsletter.
— Photo from Sylvia Fletcher
Sylvia Fletcher, known as Sylvia the Ventriloquist, and some friends from the Magic Trunk will kick off summer reading at the Bethlehem Public Library with their silly antics on Thursday, June 21, at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m.
It’s finally here! Summer Reading sign-up at the Bethlehem Public Library begins this week, and this year’s theme — Libraries Rock! — promises a lively summer of concerts, programs, crafts, reading, and more. Reporting for prizes begins July 2.
Sign up online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org or in person, and check out upcoming programs on our website or in the July/August edition of the Footnotes newsletter. Preschoolers are invited to join the Rubber Ducky club to get started on early literacy activities for the summer and beyond.
Summer reading isn’t just for kids
We don’t think adults should be left out of all the summer reading fun, and that’s why we have a special Summer Reading Program for the 18 and over set. Register online atwww.bethlehempubliclibrary.org or visit the Information Desk to find out how you can record your reading adventures on our new online Bingo card for a chance to win great prizes.
Make your mark
Our Summer Reading bookmark contest is now open to all ages as well, so break out those colored markers and get drawing!
Please use original art only and nothing computer-generated. Entries will be accepted through Aug. 31. Contest entries will be judged anonymously by library staff, and winners will be announced online and in the library in late September. Winning bookmark designs will be printed for distribution in the library.
Pick up an entry form at the library or find it with the Summer Reading information online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
Let’s get it started
We love getting our Summer Reading Program started off right, so this year we’ve invited Sylvia the Ventriloquist to kick things off with some serious silliness on Thursday, June 21. Sylvia tours throughout the world with her Magic Trunk, a well-traveled box inhabited by a bunch of quick-witted puppets and inanimate objects that she comically brings to life through ventriloquism.
There will be shows at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. so you can pick the time that works best for your family. Don’t forget to sign up for the Summer Reading Program while you’re here!
Summer Cinema
Our Summer Cinema series for kids and families begins the following day, Friday, June 22, at 2:30 p.m. with a showing of “Ferdinand” rated PG, and is 108 minutes. Watch the adventures of the bull with a big heart, who is determined to find his way home with the help of some fellow misfits.
Save the date
For the third summer in a row, the library will transform into an 18-hole miniature golf course on Sunday, July 8, from 1 to 5 p.m. Golfers of all ages, from pros to duffers, can enjoy this favorite family pastime inside the library’s delightfully climate-controlled environs. This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more information.
The Bethlehem Public Library would like to acknowledge the generosity of an anonymous Bethlehem family that has donated $10,000 to the Krakower Storch Technology Fund in honor of Naomi and Joseph Storch.
Family Technology Fund with a lump-sum donation of $Krakower-StorchAt the end of 2016, Joe and Naomi founded the 1,000, and pledged to match up to $1,000 of other donations to the fund each year for five years. The following year, the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library met that challenge.
The anonymous donation of $10,000 significantly increases the amount available to spend on new technologies for public use. Recent purchases include the Oculus Rift virtual reality system in the library Tech Room.
The fund was established in honor of Naomi and Joe’s parents, Judith and Stephen Krakower, Genie Storch, and Sam Storch, and their grandparents, the late Nathan and Rita Storch, and Sam Storch, Genie KrakowerThe fund was established in honor of Naomi and Joe’s parents, Judith and Stephen the late Israel and Betty Tenenbaum, the late Minnie and Eliot Storch, Richard and Eleanor Krakower, and Sonya Rose.
The library is so grateful to the Storch family for their efforts to strengthen and extend our current spending in this area. To donate to the Krakower-Storch Family Technology Fund, please contact Library Director Geoffrey Kirkpatrick at 518-439-9314, ext. 3022.
D.A.’s marijuana forum
This June, the Albany County District Attorney’s office has scheduled a series of public meetings to discuss marijuana laws with local communities. One of those meetings will take place at Bethlehem Public Library Wednesday, June 20, at 6 p.m. in the library Community Room. Earlier meetings have taken place at libraries in Albany, Berne and Guilderland.
According to the DA’s office, the meetings are “to give residents an opportunity to ask questions and discuss public safety concerns about marijuana legalization and the future of marijuana laws and prosecution.”
The public is also invited to take an online survey at www.albanycountyda.com to their opinions on the topic.
Topic of conversation
All aboard for the final Coffee and Conversation program until the series returns in the fall! This Friday, June 15, join us for “The Joy of Trains” at 1 p.m. Local author and entertainer Chuck Oates will tell stories, sing songs and share video clips celebrating the historic railroads of the American West.
The Coffee and Conversation series is co-sponsored by Bethlehem Senior Projects, Inc., and programs are free and open to everyone. The 60-minute program is followed by a coffee and social hour. The series is co-sponsored by Bethlehem Senior Projects, Inc.
Call 518-439-9314 or visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org for more information.
— Photo from Bethlehem Public Library staff
Library lovers join the parade: Bethlehem Public Library staffers and their families along with members of the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library marched in the town’s Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 28.
Join the club — the Rubber Ducky Club!
It’s been one year since we launched Rubber Ducky Club, a year-round early literacy program that allows babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to track literacy moments and earn prizes. Since that time, Rubber Ducky Club participants have logged more than 18,000 early literacy activities with hundreds of prizes handed out.
One of the best things about Rubber Ducky Club is you can sign up and start earning prizes at any time and at your own pace. Almost every story time, activity, or visit to the library involves an early literacy moment that can count toward the program’s milestones, but we’ve also got plenty of Rubber Ducky-themed programs that you can take part in whether you’re a member or not.
Sound like fun? Join us this Thursday, June 7, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. for “Rubber Ducky Club: Fishy Story Time,” where we’ll have a fishy good time with stories, songs and a craft.
For more information about Rubber Ducky Club, visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/programs/children/rubber-ducky-club.
Construction updates
The library is entering the final phase of its heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning construction project now that the air handlers have been replaced and air-conditioning has been restored. Workers will continue to wrap up some smaller aspects of the project in the coming weeks, but disruptions will be minimal, as the boardroom and the community room are once again available to the public.
We would like to thank you for your understanding and patience over the course of the project as we made adjustments to accommodate the work.
Data at your fingertips
Are you a small business owner looking to market your product or service in the most cost-effective way? Are you an entrepreneur who would like to identify local business opportunities? Maybe you are a student researching business executives, or someone who dabbles in the stock market looking for more information about a potential investment.
You’ll find all of these answers on the library’s newest digital research tool, ReferenceUSA, a powerful big data resource that grants access to continuously updated business and residential information in the United States and Canada for research, marketing, job seeking, and more.
To access the site through Bethlehem Public Library, visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org and click on the “Research” tab. On the research page, you’ll find ReferenceUSA listed in alphabetical order. The service is free for anyone to use on-site at the library, where the data collected can be downloaded and saved. Bethlehem patrons may also access the site remotely using a library card.
New GoPro models
In the years since we first added GoPro cameras to our Library of Things, technology has become more sophisticated, with intuitive display options, better picture quality, and all-in-one water-resistant camera bodies.
Because of that, we recently updated our collection to the GoPro Hero5 Black. If you’ve borrowed one of our GoPro cameras in the past, you will be amazed at all of the improvements you’ll see in the Hero5. Three years makes a big difference when it comes to technology!
— Photo by Kristen Roberts
Through the magic of green screen, participants in the Seniors Prom had their portraits taken at Buckingham Palace. The “Royal Wedding”-themed event took place Friday, May 18, and was co-sponsored by the Bethlehem Public Library, Bethlehem Seniors Services, and Bethlehem Senior Projects Inc.
Our goal at the Bethlehem Public Library is to provide patrons with plenty of lifelong learning opportunities, and the Coffee and Conversation lecture series for adults delivers. We work hard to keep the series fresh and exciting, with a variety of presenters and topics — from the American musical to beekeeping and everything in between. If you haven’t yet joined us for one of these exciting talks, now is the time to stop by and see what it’s all about.
This Friday, June 1, at 1 p.m., amateur historian and Grant Cottage tour guide Steve Trimm will present “Mahican, Mohican, Mohegan?” a discussion of the Native American tribe that was once a force to be reckoned with in the Hudson Valley, with a nation that once stretched from Dutchess County to Lake Champlain. Who were they? Where did they go and why? Trimm will answer these questions and more.
The following Friday, June 8, join us for “History of the Hudson River Valley.” Enjoy a talk with Vernon Benjamin, Hudson River Valley historian and author of “The History of the Hudson River Valley: From Wilderness to the Civil War” and “The History of the Hudson River Valley: From the Civil War to Modern Times.”
Rounding out the month is a Coffee and Conversation program on Friday, June 15, titled “The Joy of Trains.” Local author and entertainer Chuck Oates will tell stories, sing songs and share video clips celebrating the historic railroads of the American West.
The Coffee and Conversation series is co-sponsored by Bethlehem Senior Projects Inc., and programs are free and open to everyone. They begin at 1 p.m. and last about 60 minutes with a coffee and social hour following. The series is co-sponsored by Bethlehem Senior Projects, Inc.
Call 518-439-9314 or visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org for more information.
Read It Forward
Teens, it’s Read It Forward time again at the library! This year, the featured book is “Beneath” by Roland Smith.
The novel is a fast-paced thriller that follows Pat O’Toole as he searches for his brother, Coop, who has run away after a big fight with his parents. With little in the way of clues, Pat must locate and bring home his brother, who has joined a secret society living beneath the streets of New York City.
No due dates, no late fees, no worries! Just read the book, tell a friend about it, and pass it on. A limited number of books will be available at the library.
For details, see the guidelines found in each book, visit www.bplteens.org or stop by the desk in the Children’s Place. Keep the reading chain going this summer, and tell us what you think about the book. This is a collaborative project with the Upper Hudson Library System.
— Photo by Kristen Roberts
Celebration on the Green: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers enjoyed the sunny weather as they frolicked on the Bethlehem Public Library’s Green for a Springtime Celebration on Friday, May 18.
The Bethlehem Public Library will be closed Memorial Day weekend, Saturday through Monday, May 26 to 28.
Please be aware that the library could also be closed for some of Thursday, May 24, and all of Friday, May 25, to accommodate the final phase of our heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning construction project. No part of the library will be accessible at that time, including the book drops. Due dates on materials have been adjusted to prevent any overdue fees associated with a possible closing.
Our phone system, website, and BCN-TV public access station may also be down during this time and possibly through the holiday weekend.
We thank you for your understanding as we wrap up this much-needed project to modernize our heating and cooling system to prepare our building for a comfortable and sustainable future.
Election results
The library would like to thank voters for approving the $3.9 million budget levy for 2018-19 on Tuesday, May 15, by a vote of 2,017 to 221 — a margin of about 85 percent.
Your continued support allows us to remain agile and able to offer materials and services — traditional and innovative — that reach beyond the fixed constraints of our building’s physical footprint. Details of the budget are online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
Voters on Tuesday also re-elected trustees Mark Kissinger, Caroline Brancatella, and Harmeet Narang.
The library at your doorstep
Books to People is a free library delivery service available to residents of the Bethlehem Central School District who are unable to visit the library because of a permanent or temporary medical condition.
The library van will deliver requests every two weeks, and pick up returns. You can request books, circulating magazines, DVDs, music CDs and audiobooks. You can ask for your favorite authors, large print or specific genres, such as mystery, thrillers or romance.
To ask for this delivery service, contact the library information desk at 518-439-9314, press 2.
Be a summer volunteer
We’re looking for volunteers who will be in grades six to 12 in September to help with our summer reading program. Our teens staff the summer reading desk, assist with online submissions, read to children, review books, and help with programs and activities.
Applications are available online at www.bplteens.org and in the library. They will be accepted until 9 p.m. on June 4 or until all positions are filled. Volunteers must attend an orientation session.
BPL librarian in national journal
Bethlehem librarian Catherine Stollar Peters, who heads up the Tech Services and Circulation department, was featured in a “Notable Dissertations” article in the May 2018 issue of American Libraries.
Peters, who earned her Ph.D. earlier this year from the University at Albany, looked at how libraries facilitate personal digital archiving, as well as the barriers some people face when using library technology to manage their personal information.
Her dissertation was one of eight highlighted in the article for its relevance and measurable recommendations for change. It can be viewed at bit.ly/2FNAlbE.
— Photo by Kristen Roberts
A new jumbo-sized version of Connect Four in the Children’s Place of the Bethlehem Public Library fascinates young library patrons.
Seniors and older adults, you are invited to dress up and enjoy an enchanting afternoon at Bethlehem Town Hall this Friday, May 18, at the Seniors Prom: Royal Wedding.
Enjoy some refreshments and music from Betsy and the Byegones, or get your portrait taken at Buckingham Palace, courtesy of the library’s green screen. The event takes place in the Town Hall Auditorium from 2 to 5 p.m.
This event is free, but reservations are required for attendance or transportation. Please call 518-439-4955, ext. 1176, to RSVP. The Seniors Prom is co-sponsored by the library and Bethlehem Senior Projects Inc.
Story time on the Green
Calling all babies, toddlers, and preschoolers! Spring storytimes are ending, so it’s time to show off those literacy skills and dance, sing, and play games on the Green at our spring celebration this Friday, May 18, at 10:30 a.m.
You’ll still be able to get your story-time fix this summer with Tiny Tots, Family Story Time, On My Own, and Storywalk at the Park. Pick up a schedule next time you are at the library or visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org for more information.
Pet a Porter
Share your pet-friendly styles at a fashion show on the Green Sunday, May 20, at 2 p.m. for pets and stuffed animals. This is the culmination of the library’s Project Runway: Dress Your Pet series, but attendance at previous programs is not necessary to participate.
To share your pet’s unique sense of style at the show, please sign up online atwww.bethlehempubliclibrary.org or call 518-439-9314. This event is for all ages, and anyone is welcome to watch the show!
Share your skills
The library is busy planning a pair of events in late summer and fall that will feature the many talents of our community members.
On Saturday, Aug. 4, we will host a How-To Festival, where you can learn about a wide variety of skills, from blacksmithing to crochet. We are looking for local people interested in sharing their expertise.
We will also be presenting our second Local Author Book Fair on Sunday, Sept. 30, and are seeking published authors living in Albany County who are interested in taking part.
If you would like to participate in either event, please contact Natalie McDonough by phone at 518-439-9314, ext. 3023 or by email at .
Election results
View the results of Tuesday’s election on our website at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
Holiday hours
Bethlehem Public Library will be closed Memorial Day weekend, from Saturday to Monday, May 26 to 28. Access the library catalog and other library services online anytime at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
Be a summer volunteer
We’re looking for volunteers who will be in grade 6 through 12 in September to help with our summer reading program.
Our teens staff the summer reading desk, assist with online submissions, read to children, review books, and help with programs and activities.
Applications are available online at www.bplteens.org and in the library. They will be accepted until 9 p.m. June 4 or until all positions are filled. Volunteers must attend an orientation session.
— Photo by Nancie Battaglia, provided by the author
Author of “Summer Hours at the Robbers Library,” Sue Halpern will speak at the Bethlehem Public Library Sunday, May 6.
Author Sue Halpern, whose latest novel “Summer Hours at the Robbers Library” was released in February to wide acclaim, will be at the library Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m. to talk about her work as part of our Writers and Friends programming sponsored by the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library. Registration is requested.
“Summer Hours at the Robbers Library” is a tender, wry look at a small-town library that is the heart of a community that has seen better times. In the book, Riverton, New Hampshire librarian Kit makes an unlikely connection with a homeschooled teen doing community service at the library for the crime of stealing a dictionary and a former Wall Street whiz whose life has since come unraveled. Kirkus Review notes, “The novel is suffused with a love of books and reading — each section starts with a line of poetry from a noted poet — and in the end, the library’s endearing denizens prove to be very good company.
Books will be available for sale at the program. Sign up online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org<http://www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org or call (518) 439-9314.
Upcoming Alzheimer’s programs
This May, the library is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York to offer “Understanding Alzheimer’s,” a trio of programs targeted to those who care for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
On Tuesday, May 8, from 6 to 7 p.m., join us for “The Basics,” an overview of what you need to know about memory loss and the difference between age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
The following Tuesday, May 15, from 6 to 7 p.m. we’ll be discussing “Communication Strategies,” or ways to understand the verbal and behavioral messages of someone with Alzheimer’s and identify strategies that may help caregivers connect and communicate.
The series wraps up on Tuesday, May 22, from 6 to 7 p.m. with “Dementia Conversations,” a workshop to assist families with difficult conversations related to dementia.
The programs are free, but registration is required. Sign up online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org<http://www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org> or call (518) 439-9314.
Budget review
Don’t forget, the proposed 2018-19 budget will be presented at the Monday, May 14, Board of Trustees meeting at 6 p.m.; we encourage you to attend. On the ballot this year is a library levy 2.78 percent higher than last year, within the limit specified by New York State. You can view the proposed budget in the May/June edition of Footnotes. It is also posted in our lobby and online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org<http://www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org>.