Guilderland Library Notes for Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Seeking supreme creativity! Imagine your most fantastic “Nailed It!” and “Great British Baking Show” aspirations, then get busy crafting your elaborate culinary confection. You could win a $25 gift card to Different Drummer’s Kitchen in GPL’s Fairy Take Baking Competition if yours is judged the best in the land!

Click on the Fairy Tale Baking Competition slide on our website’s home page (www.guilderlandlibrary.org) for the submission form. Submit the completed form, plus a photo of your baked good or dessert representing a fairy tale, folk tale, or nursery rhyme, by Friday, Aug. 14, at noon.  

Curbside services

Checkouts:  Current hours for contact-free curbside checkouts are:  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays 3 to 7 p.m. After requesting materials one of three ways — the Upper Hudson Library Service 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 curbside service hours, park in the library’s main lot, call Circulation at 518-285-0671, and pick up your materials on a table at the library’s entrance.  

Returns:  Borrowed items may be deposited Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. into one of five sheds in our parking lot (designated by the green canopy).  All items are quarantined for 96 hours, then sanitized externally before being reshelved.  All fines are still waived for the time being. 

For questions on any library-related matter, contact us at 518-285-0050 or ask.librarian@guilderlandlibrary.org.       

Summer Reading

Wrap-Up

Last call for all ages to log the books you’ve read on Beanstack in our Imagine Your Story Summer Reading Program! The deadline is Friday, Aug. 14 to be eligible for prizes, including a $40 gift card to the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.  Log your books at www.guilderlandlibrary.org/SRP. 

While you’re there, explore Virtual Storytime-To-Go Kits and other great resources, including the GCSD required reading titles. Request to join our GPL Kids & Families Facebook Page, which is chock-full of fun educational resources and craft activities; and subscribe to our GPL YouTube channel, featuring our summer storytimes.

Preserve the Bounty

There’s nothing like enjoying the fruits (and veggies) of your labor, straight from your own garden. What to do with the surplus while it’s still fresh? On Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m., Karen Roberts Mort of Cornell Cooperative Extension will cover how to Preserve the Bounty, sharing safe food preservation techniques such as dehydration, freezing, canning, and fermenting. 

You'll also get tips on preparing vegetables in quick, delicious and healthy ways.  Register on our website to receive the email link for this Zoom event.

Talking Italian

Ciao!  When you think of Italy, tantalizing food, iconic architecture, fashion-forward aesthetics and breathtaking scenery often come to mind. You’re invited to explore this vibrant culture and learn a bit of the language with Talking Italian on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. 

This relaxed virtual chat will focus on the basics of Italian grammar and conversation related to classic Italian coffee and cake. The instructor, Valentina Ciccarelli, hails from Italy and has extensive experience teaching Italian. She adores Italian cooking and baking, and her passion for her native culture and beautiful country is contagious.

Please register on the Events tab of our website and provide your email.  Registrants will receive a digital Italian coffee cake recipe card along with the link to join our Zoom meeting.

Google Apps Suite

Wherever you fall on the tech-savvy spectrum, it’s beneficial to stay informed. Learn about the free productivity suite known as the Google Apps Suite on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 10 a.m. In this overview, we’ll cover the tools available with a Google or Gmail account, how to import and edit documents and files created in other software tools, and best practices for making use of Google's apps.

We’ll take a short tour of four of the most popular tools - Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms. This session, led by Librarian and Digital Trainer Nathaniel Heyer, MLS, will be held online via GoToMeeting. Once you've registered, you’ll receive a link to the GoToMeeting session. There is a limit of 10 participants, so don’t delay – sign up today on the Events tab of our website.

Learning Express

Looking for a job?  We’re here to help with free tools at your fingertips. From career prep to computer prowess, sharpen your skill set and enhance your knowledge with Learning Express!  Build a resume or cover letter, explore computing 101, prep for exams, assess career options and much more.

Explore Learning Express, as well as our full complement of learning tools, at https://guilderlandlibrary.org/learning-tools/. Click on the “Job Tools” tab for Learning Express and our handy Job Information Resources guide. Feel free to access WiFi anytime from our parking lot.