Guilderland Library Notes for Thursday, May 14, 2020

While our doors remain closed, the Guilderland Public Library remains your trusted source for online education and entertainment! While we strategize our eventual reopening, we’re constantly adding virtual programs and content for your enjoyment. We encourage you to:

— Check guilderlandlibrary.org frequently — especially the Healthy at Home page;

— Read our newsletter, linked on our home page;

— Like our Facebook page;

— Join the GPL Kids and Families Facebook group;

— Follow us on Instagram;

— Subscribe to eNews on top of our home page; and

— Contact us at 518-285-0050 or .  

Writing contest wrap-up

Last call for our “Write at Home” writing contest! Grades 4 through adult: Submit your best work to us by Friday, May 15, at noon. Winners receive a $30 prize of their choice from The Book House, and all works submitted will be posted on our website with permission. All forms of poetry and prose are eligible. See guilderlandlibrary.org/wfh for full details.  

Trivia Tuesdays

Trivia buffs missing their live weekly sessions can participate in the next-best thing: GPL’s Trivia Tuesdays! Our popular trivia nights have been retooled so teens and adults can play along at home.

On Tuesday, May 19, at 7 p.m., get ready for a totally rad evening of ’80s and ’90s Trivia! Movie mavens, we hope the force is with you on Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. as you don your Mickey-eared thinking caps for a combined arsenal of Disney / Star Wars questions.

Participants can play individually, as an in-house team, or with a virtual team. Team captains should be at least 16 years old and will be responsible for communicating with the hosts on GoToMeeting. Anyone needing login information, including team captains, please register on the Events tab on our website.  

Cookbook Club at Home

Our popular Cookbook Club goes virtual! Using GoToMeeting, we’re holding bimonthly sessions for a small group of patrons. The theme for Wednesday, May 20, at 7 p.m. is “Substitutions: This for That.” 

We’ll share ideas about suitable substitutes for specific recipes. To register, visit the Events calendar on our website and provide an email with your registration. You’ll receive an email the day before the event.

Clutter Bootcamp

Conquer the clutter! Professional organizer Jes Marcy coaches participants through five self-paced half-hour video tutorials designed to free up space and create a more welcoming home environment. 

While our Clutter Bootcamp virtual Q&A session with Jes on June 1 is full, we can still share her motivating videos with anyone who registers by Monday, May 18. Go to our Events calendar online and register with an email and library barcode; we’ll send you all five video links on May 18.

Also, if there are any cancellations, we’ll move people off the waiting list and onto the June 1 virtual session in the order they registered.

Trustees meet

On Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m., the Guilderland Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a virtual business meeting, streamed live on the GPL Facebook page. Public commentary before and during the meeting may be directed to: .

Elections

Voting on our annual budget and board of trustees is traditionally the third Tuesday in May.  By executive order on May 1, Governor Andrew Cuomo postponed this year’s election until Tuesday, June 9. This election will be conducted solely by mail-in absentee ballot, due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. 

Absentee ballots with a prepaid return envelope will be distributed to all qualified voters (United States citizens 18 years or older who have lived in the district for at least 30 days prior to the vote, and have not been disqualified by any reason set forth in New York State Election Law §5-106) in conjunction with the timeline specified in the executive order.

Guilderland Public Library has five candidates for three open board of trustees positions — three incumbents and two first-time candidates — plus our annual budget on the ballot. We will continue to share updates regarding the election process as this information becomes available. Links to the proposed budget and 2020 board candidates may be found by accessing this page:  https://guilderlandlibrary.org/get-to-know-us/people/board-of-trustees/ and scrolling to the bottom. 

Food drive

The Teachers Association at Lynnwood Elementary School will hold a food drive in our parking lot on Thursday, May 21, from 4 to 6 p.m. All non-perishables collected will be donated to the Regional Food Bank. Thank you for supporting our community!