Guilderland Library Notes for Thursday, July 16, 2020

The recently reinvigorated civil rights movement in our nation has spurred the entire Upper Hudson Library System community to closely examine our culture in order to ensure that our commitment to serving our patrons is applied equally across the diverse spectrum we serve.

To that end, 12 Guilderland Public Library staff members recently participated in a virtual brainstorming discussion with 47 of their UHLS colleagues to establish a committee to assess library programs, services, recruitment, hiring, and other aspects of library operations over the next year or more. 

“Our overarching goal is to provide equal access to services for all, regardless of race or ethnicity,” said Guilderland Public Library Director Tim Wiles. “I'm delighted to see our staff's strong interest in social justice manifested by participation in this voluntary effort.”

The UHLS Statement Condemning Racism and Pledge to Help Make a Difference, adopted July 8, 2020 by Executive Director Tim Burke and the UHLS Board of Directors, may be found on the home page of their website: https://www.uhls.org/. A wide array of anti-racism resources may be found at:  https://uhls.overdrive.com/collection/1086653.

Curbside services

Our current hours for contact-free curbside services are:  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays 3 to 7 p.m. for both returns and checkouts.  

Returns:  Books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks and video games deposited into a designated shed in our parking lot are quarantined for 72 hours, then sanitized before being returned to circulation.  All fines are still being waived.  Please continue to hold onto Library of Things items (gadgets, board games, folding tables, etc.) for now.

Checkouts:  After requesting materials one of three ways – the UHLS catalog on our home page, the UHLS app, or by calling 518-285-0050 – we’ll notify you when your item(s) are ready for pickup.  When you’re ready to pick up during our service hours, park in the library’s main lot, call Circulation at 518.285.0671, and pick up your materials at the library’s entrance.  Questions?  Call our temporary main number  518-285-0050  or email .
 

All-Ages

Summer Reading

Are you signed up for Imagine Your Story yet at guilderlandlibrary.beanstack.org? Get in on the fun! Everyone is invited to log the books you’ve read on Beanstack and earn points toward fun raffle prizes this summer, including a raffle to win one of three $40 gift cards to the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.

Storytimes

Family Storytimes are shown Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. on the GPL Kids & Families Facebook Page. We also have Virtual Storytime-To-Go Kits and other resources on our SRP web page: www.guilderlandlibrary.org/SRP.  Check our Events Calendar and social media regularly for entertaining virtual performances from BeeBee the Clown, Magician Jim Snack, Jungle Jim's Magical Balloon Show, a Small Reptiles Animal Show, and Robert Rogers Puppet Company.  

Learn to

Draw Comics

Budding artists entering grades 7 through 12:  hone your comic-drawing skills this summer!  Ten self-paced sessions with professional artist Ira Marcks explore the basics of cartoon storytelling through diary comics — drawings that tell a story. 

On Wednesday, July 29 at 7 p.m., GPL’s very own artist-in-residence, Tom Nucci, will lead an online wrap-up session to display the finished products, discuss the process, and share tips.  Register on the Events tab of our website; we’ll email you the link to get started.

Meeting Online:

A Primer

From formal business meetings and presentations to casual family chats, free platforms like Google Hangout and Zoom facilitate convening safely and effectively online. In this virtual session Thursday, July 16 at 6 p.m., Librarian and Digital Technology Trainer Beckett Jarvis-Girtler will walk us through their features and explain the pros and cons of each format. Register on the Events Tab of our website with your email and library card barcode.  

Trustees meet

The Guilderland Public Library Board of Trustees will meet virtually for their Annual and Regular Business Meeting on Thursday, July 16 at 6  p.m. This meeting will be livestreamed on our Facebook page and archived there for later viewing. Public commentary may be directed to:  .

Gardening in containers

Limited space at home? You can still grow many fruits, vegetables and herbs in containers on your patio or in windowsills year-round. Join Master Gardener Connie Metcalf from Cornell Cooperative Extension Friday, July 17 at 4 p.m. for this online presentation on successfully maintaining a container garden.  Register on the Events tab on our website to receive the Zoom link the day before the event.