Guilderland Library Notes for Thursday, April 23, 2020

We remain steadfast in our dedication to serve you remotely to the best of our ability while our building remains closed. We’re constantly adding online content for your edification and enjoyment. Here’s what’s new:

— Hoopla, a new digital platform offering over 750,000 audiobooks, movies, music, comics, e-books, TV shows, and more, has been acquired by Upper Hudson Library System for all 29 member libraries (including us!) to utilize.

This means that, in addition to Overdrive / Libby and RB Digital, you now have a fresh new collection of online materials to choose from. Normally, patrons may borrow five titles per month, but Hoopla is offering extra “Bonus Borrows.” Simply go to hoopladigital.com to start accessing these materials instantly;

— Wilder Reads Book Club, added to our Healthy at Home web page (see link on our main page). This Goodreads book group is moderated by GPL Librarians Dustin and Josalyn Wilder, the dynamic husband-and-wife duo who launched their He Read / She Read adult book club recently and have now brought it online. 

Everyone ages 18 and older is encouraged to join at guilderlandlibrary.org under “read, view and listen,” or by going to goodreads.com and searching for “Wilder Reads Book Club”; and

— Staff Bookshelf Picks: Looking for book recommendations beyond the popular and familiar?  These selections culled from our own home bookshelves are available in Overdrive as an e-book, audiobook, or both. Visit our “Healthy at Home” page at guilderlandlibrary.org each week for new suggestions, and go to uhls.overdrive.org to download one of these titles to your device.

Blood drive on May 5

Blood and power red donations are greatly needed right now, perhaps more than ever. The American Red Cross will host a blood drive at the library on Tuesday, May 5, from 1 to 6 p.m. Please note:

— Donors must pre-register in advance on redcross.org; no walk-ins;

— Additional protocols will be followed by the Red Cross to ensure the safety of everyone involved, including: temperature screening for donors, staff, and volunteers; systematic disinfecting; social distancing; and using fresh gloves for each donor; and

— The library remains closed to the general public; only donors, staff, and volunteers will be permitted entrance.

To schedule your donation appointment, go to rcblood.org/appt, enter the library zip code (12084) and search for Guilderland Public Library, May 5.

Staying connected

We encourage you to keep in touch and check back often to find out what’s new:

— Log onto guilderlandlibrary.org, and refer to the “Healthy at Home” page to view all of our online resources in one convenient place — e-books; e-magazines; audiobooks; The New York Times; The Great Courses, Qello concerts, IndieFlix films, and Acorn TV shows through RBDigital; databases such as ancestry.com and Consumer Reports; library cards; Hoopla; videos to help you get started with our digital resources; and much more;

— Like our Facebook page for updates and resources, “Neighbor Notes” community happenings, National Poetry Month videos, mini-Cookbook Clubs, and more;

— Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for additional content and updates;

— Join our new GPL Kids and Families Facebook group, featuring Virtual Storytimes, fun and educational content, and creative things to do;

— Call us at 518-285-0050;

— Email us at ask.librarian@guilderlandlibrary.org;

— Sign up for eNews at the top of our home page; or

— Access wifi 24/7 from our parking lot.

Write at Home Contest

Grades 4 through adult: Submit your best poem and/or prose to us by Friday, May 15, at noon — you might just win a prize! All forms of poetry and prose are eligible. Requirements include:

— Poetry: two pages or 500 words maximum;

— Prose: five pages or 1250 words maximum; and

— Participants must reside within the Guilderland School District or possess a Guilderland Public Library card.

Submissions must be an original previously unpublished work, and all characters must be original or be in the public domain. School assignments are acceptable. Only one entry per category. All entries must be typed and double-spaced (where appropriate), and in word doc, google doc, or pdf format. We cannot accept image-based works like picture books or graphic novels.

Email questions and entries as an attachment or share as a google doc to: with your name, address, age group, and writing category in email; do not include any identifying information on the actual submission.

All submissions will be posted on the GPL website (with permission), including special recognition for one winner per age group and category. Winners may choose one item from The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza with a maximum value of $30.