Guilderland Library Notes for Wednesday, June 2, 2021

— Photo from Luanne Nicholson

Construction work on the main parking lot has commenced at the Guilderland Public Library. Plans include two charging stations, reconfigured traffic flow, landscaping, and 43 additional parking spaces, including more handicapped spaces.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 29, as we finalize plans for our “Tails and Tales” Summer Reading Program kickoff at Farnsworth Middle School.  Summer reading provides an incentive for preschoolers through high schoolers to enjoy books, complete activities, attend programs, earn points, and win prizes.

More details may be found at: https://guilderlandlibrary.org/srp and on our GPL Kids and Families Facebook page.

Adults are encouraged to participate in summer reading too! When parents model consistent reading habits to their children, everyone benefits. 

Whether you’re a parent or not — sign up today! The grand prize for adults is a basket of goodies and a $50 gift card to The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.  Please see: https://guilderlandlibrary.org/adultsrp for more information.

Grab-and-Go

Story-Time Kit

Pick up a story-time kit created just for you and your preschooler starting Tuesday, June 1 during our Normanskill Room curbside hours (enter through the side door). Each kit includes suggestions for eBooks, music, and rhymes, plus fun activities to complete together at home. Storytime kits are intended for children ages 2 to 5. No registration needed; one kit per child, while supplies last.

Decoupage coasters

Meet us at the Tawasentha Park pavilion on Saturday, June 12 at 2:30 p.m. to decorate coasters and picture frames using decoupage.  If you have a special photo you'd like to use, email it in advance to: so we can print it for you.  These make great personalized Father’s Day gifts!  Sign up on the Events tab of our website for this family / all ages program.

Night Owls Online

Our June selection is New York Times bestseller “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett, a 2020 Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Please place a hold on a copy for curbside pick up by calling 518-456-2400 or emailing , and make sure to register in advance on the Events tab of our website for the link to join us on Monday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.  All are welcome!

Jammin’ (and Jellies)

Making jam or jelly is a favorite food preservation activity, but not necessarily an easy endeavor.  We’ll walk through the basics of making sweet preserves and the basics of boiling water canning with this “Jammin’! - Making Jams & Jellies” Zoom program on Thursday. June 17 at 6 p.m.  Karen Roberts Mort, a food & nutrition educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, is our presenter.  Please register on the Events tab of our website.

No curbside June 22

GPL will serve as a polling place for Primary Day on Tuesday, June 22 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Due to our major construction project, including parking lot work, we will suspend curbside services on this day – no checkouts or returns.  Otherwise, expanded curbside hours as of June 1 are:  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Golf tourney

The Guilderland Library Foundation is hosting a golf tournament at Western Turnpike Golf Course on Friday, Aug. 13, with shotgun start at 9 a.m., lunch, and 19th hole celebration at 2 p.m. included.

The cost is $125 per golfer, or $25 to attend the 19th hole celebration only.  Sponsorships opportunities are due by July 15; the registration deadline for golfers is Aug. 1.  For more information, please see:  https://bit.ly/GLFGolf2021.  Email any questions to:  .

Construction update

The unveiling of our freshly renovated and expanded library is just a few short months away, and we can’t wait to welcome you back!  We’re on budget and 11 months ahead of schedule, with completion expected around the end of August 2021.  More details, including monthly progress reports, may be found at:  https://bit.ly/GPLbuildingproject.

Due to limited interior space from construction plus social distancing constraints, GPL is not currently open to public browsing.  Call us at 518-456-2400; email us at ; and check www.guilderlandlibrary.org, Facebook and Instagram for further information.  Also, consider subscribing to weekly eNews and monthly newsletters at:  http://bit.ly/GPLeNews.  

Book donations

on hold

We cannot accept book donations at this time, but will resume as soon as we can secure another vendor.  In the interim, Schenectady County Public Library, Bethlehem Public Library, Albany Public Library’s Delaware and Pine Hills branches, and Colonie Town Library are possible alternatives. Please call these locations to confirm.