Pianist Jacqueline Schwab will perform at the Guilderland Public Library on Thursday evening, Sept. 20.
In her free concert “I Lift My Lamp: Vintage Songs and Dances of Immigrant America” at the Guilderland Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m., pianist Jacqueline Schwab celebrates America’s immigrants, their vibrant spirit of community music-making, and their contributions to our heritage. Along the way, she reflects on growing up in Pittsburgh’s “melting pot,” as well as on her later exploration of music from around the world.
You’ve already enjoyed Jacqueline’s extraordinary playing: She is key to the sound tracks of Ken Burns’ Grammy-winning films including The Civil War, Baseball, Lewis and Clark, Mark Twain, The War, and The National Parks.
In Burns’ words: “Jacqueline Schwab brings more feeling and intensity to music than anyone I know. Her playing is insistent, physical, heartfelt and ... unusually moving.” Critic Scott Alarik wrote she has “… an uncanny sensitivity to the moods and proprieties from other eras.” One listener wrote: “Your music, the touch you have, entwines the heart.” That she is playing at the library is truly extraordinary.
I Lift My Lamp features dance tunes and sentimental songs from Scotland, Ireland, Poland, France, Eastern Europe, the African-American community, Cuba, Brazil and Argentina, along with Tin Pan Alley tunes, American anthems and more. Jacqueline’s signature style — described by the New England Folk Almanac as “the jazz/classical improvisational spirit of Keith Jarrett and the touch of George Winston” — is hard to categorize but easy to recognize.
This concert is free, but we ask that you register so we know you are coming. Please call 518-456-2400, ext. 3, or register online at bit.ly/september20schwab.
GPL Adventures: Building Challenges
Create. Play. Explore. It’s time for an adventure! Come to the library on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 3:30 p.m., and find out how you can make a tower out of aluminum foil! Or a paper bridge that can hold 30 blocks. Or a structure as tall as you using only popsicle sticks and clothespins. Put your building skills to the test and show off your construction know-how! For children in grades three to five. Please call 518.456.2400, ext. 4 to register.
GPL Pops Up at the Beekman 1802 Harvest Festival
Our friends from Beekman 1802 have invited us to this year's Harvest Festival in Sharon Springs, and we couldn't be happier! Stop by our tent for crafts, storytimes, and lots of fun; we’ll be there on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The great staff from the Sharon Springs Free Library will also be there to share in the festivities!
The festival will feature vendors, live demos, artisan meet-and-greets, food trucks and more at this family-friendly event. Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge from Beekman 1802 will be at the Mercantile throughout the day, chatting with neighbors, taking pictures and signing books. Farmer John will be at the Farm, introducing those who decide on a tour to his world-famous goats. The Main Stage and the Ommegang Biergarden will be set up in Chalybeate Park, with presentations, music and more!
Make the trip out to Sharon Springs and visit with your GPL staff!
Trustees meet
The Guilderland Public Library’s Board of Trustees will hold their regularly scheduled monthly business meeting on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. You’re invited to attend, but if you cannot make it, please watch the proceedings on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Guilderland.Library.
Join the Library Expedition
Did you know you can check out an American Girl doll at Bethlehem Public Library? Or grow a vegetable garden using the Seed Library at Voorheesville Public Library? Did you know you can borrow an Amazon Echo Dot from the Guilderland Public Library? Or that your library card lets you borrow virtually anything from any library in Albany and Rensselaer counties?
All true, but how would you know? One way is to become a “36er” by going on the Upper Hudson Library Expedition. This journey opens the doors of every public library in the Upper Hudson system just for you and gives you the chance to earn prizes by visiting as many as you can.
Open to explorers of all ages, this self-paced journey takes place from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30. Prizes are earned for visiting 5, 15, 25 or all 36 public libraries and branches in the two counties. Visit them all and become a 36er. Anyone interested in joining the Expedition can pick up a map and materials at any public library in Albany or Rensselaer county. Participate as an individual, a family or as a group.
With each visit to a different library, you’ll get a stamp on your map. Explore that library and all it has to offer (don’t forget the mastodon at Cohoes Public Library!) and feel free to post your visit on Instagram (#Library36er) and Facebook.
For more details, visit www.uhls.org/expedition, and check your library website for fun kick-off events. Sign up today and hit the road.
In celebration of our youngest readers going back to school, the Guilderland Public Library is declaring September to be Fine-Forgiveness Month for all Guilderland juvenile material. That means books, CDs, DVDs, anything labeled “J” for juvenile.
So if you borrowed some Guil Juvenile material some time ago, and the due date is long past, no worries! Just bring it to the library and turn it in. And consider donating the amount of your fine to the Guilderland Food Pantry collection box, right there on our Check-Out Desk. All donations go to the food pantry.
As you know, the pantry provides food to people of the town of Guilderland who are in need. Families who are eligible receive food every four weeks. The pantry provides three holiday meals — Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter — for families in need.
This Fine Forgiveness effort is a great way to turn what could have been a late fine into a food-giving gift.
We open at 9:30!
In order to serve you better, we are changing our operating hours. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 4, we will open at 9:30 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and close Fridays at 7 p.m.
This means our new regular hours, beginning Sept. 4, are:
— Monday through Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.;
— Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
— Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and
— Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Labor Day Weekend
The library will be closed Saturday, Sept. 1; Sunday, Sept. 2; and Monday, Sept. 3 — opening at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
Can you read 500 books before you start middle school? (We’re sure you can!)
Anyone in kindergarten through fifth grade can sign up for this brand-new challenge. Just register online at www.guilderlandlibrary.beanstack.org, and then come to the library to pick up your personal “500 Books” folder at the Youth Desk.
What can you read? Anything you like, even books you listen to! Just log your books online or on paper, and you’ll earn cool prizes for every 50 books you read.
Your folder gives you lists of suggested reading, everything from “Read through New York” and “Imagining the Past,” to “Readers Go Batty” and “Seasons Readings.” So go online right now and register at www.guilderlandlibrary.beanstack.org. Not only will you read a lot of great stories, you’ll also win prizes for each level you reach. Happy Reading!
Teens give tech help
When you need tech help, be it for a laptop or an eReader, who better to get it from than a teen?
That’s why we have Teen Tech Volunteers here Tuesday, Aug. 28, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Call 518-456-2400, ext. 3 to make an appointment.
New hours
In order to serve you better, we are changing our operating hours. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 4, we will open at 9:30 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and close Fridays at 7 p.m.
This means our new regular hours, beginning Sept. 4, are:
— Monday through Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.;
— Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
— Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and
— Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Labor Day weekend
The library will be closed Saturday, Sept. 1; Sunday, Sept. 2; and Monday, Sept. 3, and will open at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
Paul Grondahl, top photo, director of the New York State Writers Institute, and Gregory Maguire, author of “Wicked,” are the honorees of the Guilderland Library Foundation’s 2018 Annual Gala, “A Novel Affair” on Sept. 29.
The Guilderland Library Foundation is pleased to announce that its Annual Gala – A Novel Affair, Chapter 3: The Masquerade Ball – will be held the evening of Sept. 29 at the Albany Country Club.
The masquerade-ball theme is an homage to our two honorees, one of whom has created a new world of fantasy and the other whose reporting has opened our eyes to the many characters who make up our community: Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked” put a new spin on one of our favorite tales, and Paul Grondahl’s articles and books chronicle our times.
This event is the premier social event of the Guilderland library’s year, and is the foundation’s primary annual fund-raising event. We hope you will be able to join us. The cost is $75; tickets may be purchased at www.guilderlandlibrary.org/gala.
The gala starts at 6 p.m. with silent auction viewing and bidding, and a cash bar. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., with honoree presentations and a live auction to follow. There is live music for after-dinner dancing, and a chance to meet and chat with Mr. Maguire and Mr. Grondahl.
These are always fun events and an excellent way to meet your friends and neighbors. Four tickets to “Wicked” on Broadway will be auctioned, as well as many other interesting events and items. And since this is “a masquerade ball,” we invite you to get in the spirit of our masquerade ball and come as your favorite character.
Monday, Aug. 13, is the final day of the Summer Reading Program at the Guilderland Public Library. Come anytime between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. to check your points tally and pick up your prize and free books!
Staying Safe at Home: Preventing Falls
Staying Safe at Home: Preventing Falls, being held at the library on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 11 a.m., is an important class you should attend.
Why? Because the statistics are sobering: One in three adults over age 65 falls each year; for those age 80 and over, the risk increases to one out of two adults, or fully 50 percent. These falls often result in serious injuries and/or hospitalizations.
Surely you know someone who is within those age brackets.
Jennifer LaPorte, of Brookdale Senior Living in Niskayuna, will provide strategies for evaluating your risk, reducing the possibility of falling – through exercise and other means – and what to do if you experience a fall. It’s an important program for everyone, caregivers and loved ones alike! Please register by calling 518-456-2400, ext. 3.
Cut the Cord
What can you do if you want to “cut the cable”? Come to our Cut the Cord class on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m., and you’ll find you have plenty of options.
You’ll learn that cable is not the only way to watch your favorite TV shows. Join us for a high-level but practical overview of the try-before-you-buy devices in our Cut the Cord circulating collection, and find out if severing that costly – and suddenly in the news – tie is right for you.
Pop Ups tickets
Please, if you want to see the Pop Ups’ “The Great Pretenders Club” show at GPL on Friday, Aug. 10, at 2 p.m., stop by the library today or tomorrow to make sure you can get a ticket.
Kindergarten Boot Camp
Get set for kindergarten with this gentle introduction to your new and exciting adventure. Join us for a fun-filled program where you soon-to-be kindergarteners can hone your kindergarten-readiness skills and celebrate this important milestone!
You have two sessions to choose from: either Wednesday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m., or Thursday, Aug. 23, at 10:30 a.m. Please sign up for only one.
This program is for children starting kindergarten in September 2018 and a parent/caregiver. To register, please call 518-456-2400, ext. 4
Update from Barber
Come to the Library on Monday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. for a presentation by town supervisor Peter Barber who will update you on several matters of interest to library users and town residents. Primarily, he would like to address the plan to build sidewalks on the south side of Western Avenue from the State Employees Federal Credit Union to the library.
He will also address the status of Mercy Care Lane, which will soon reopen clear through from Western Avenue to Winding Brook Drive. This means that if you exit the Library and want to go west on Western Avenue, you will be able to turn left down Mercy Care Lane, make a left on Winding Brook Drive, and then turn left onto Western Ave. protected by the traffic light. No more high-anxiety lefts from Mercy Care Lane onto traffic-choked Western Avenue.
Mr. Barber may also have early news on the development of the land immediately east of Winding Brook Drive.
Need Tech Help?
When you need tech help, who better to get it from than a teen? That’s why we have Teen Tech Volunteers here Tuesdays, Aug. 14, 21, and 28, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. No need to sign up, just come on in!
Shake, Rattle and Roll at our 1950s-themed Family Sock Hop! The fun begins at noon on Friday, Aug. 3, with a toe-tapping, read-aloud filled with music and movement at the Guilderland Public Library. Then, stick around for a car-load of ’50s-themed fun!
Eat in our diner, play games, and more! Dress up for the occasion. Bring a pair of new socks to donate — any size!
This is a free event the whole family will enjoy! Please register by calling 518-456-2400, ext. 4.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Tournament
Are you ready to battle? Prove it!
Come join us at the library on Monday, July 30, at 2:30 p.m., and show off your awesome Super Smash Bros. skills as you compete against other teens and tweens in head-to-head rounds!
Only the winner of each round advances until one player remains: The Ultimate Super Smash Bros. Champion. Will it be you? Please register by calling 518-456-2400, ext. 4. And bring it.
The Pop Ups
Do you have your tickets for “The Pop Ups”?
The Pop Ups are bringing their new show, “The Great Pretenders Club,” to the library on Friday, Aug. 10, at 2 p.m. This is a very POPular event, and you’ll need a ticket to attend.
Stop by the library soon to get your tickets, because you really don’t want to miss this high-energy show. It’s full of interactive bits that transport you into a whimsical, educational world with Dancing Robots, a Fire-Stomping Rhino, Live-Drawing, Huge Balloons, Full Scale Puppets, even a Costume Party!
The dance beats alone will catapult both young and old out of their seats. So, come on by the library, and get those tickets!
Tickets for The Pop Ups’ Aug. 10 performance at Guilderland Public Library are now available at the library.
Two-time Grammy nominees, The Pop Ups, will bring a unique new show, “The Great Pretenders Club,” to the Guilderland Public Library on Friday, Aug. 10, at 2 p.m. Tickets for this very popular event are available now, and must be picked up at the library.
This interactive, high-energy show will transport you into a whimsical, educational world with dancing robots, a rire-stomping rhino, live drawing, huge balloons, full-scale puppets, even a costume party!
The dance beats will catapult both young and old out of their seats. You don’t want to miss it!
Tickets to this free event are available now, at the library, and must be obtained by Monday, Aug. 6. There is a limit of six tickets per family.
Stone necklaces and pendants
Come to the library on Monday, July 23, at 2 p.m.and make your own necklace or pendant from stone! Dave Muska, from Ondatra Adventures, will work with you to make it happen. You’ll also make cordage (rope) from natural fibers. This program is for those entering grades seven through 12. Please register by calling 518-456-2400, ext. 4.
Rock painting
On Tuesday, July 24 at 3 p.m. meet us at Tawasentha Park where we will take advantage of the park's natural beauty and create "rocking masterpieces."
We will provide all the supplies you need to paint the stones and write inspirational words, which you can take home or scatter around the park to be discovered and enjoyed by future park-goers! This program is for teens in Grades six to 12 and adults. Please register by calling 518-456-2400. ext. 4.
Trustees meet
The library’s board of trustees will hold its annual meeting and regular monthly business meeting on Tuesday, July 24 starting at 6:30 p.m.
The public is encouraged to attend, or to watch the meetings live on the library’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Guilderland.Library.
Rock ’n’ Roll with CMOST
The Children’s Museum of Science and Technology will "conduct" kids in grades two through five as they experiment with and then get to play all kinds of instruments. This all begins at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24.
Kids will also be able to design their own unique instruments. Please register by calling 518-456-2400, ext.4.
Animal Songs and Calls
From coyotes to owls to frogs, animals make some amazing sounds! In this program that happens on Wednesday, July 25, at 2 p.m. you’ll learn about the many ways animals communicate. You’ll join the frog chorus, learn how to hoot like an owl, and participate in a coyote symphony. And you’ll meet some of the singers in person by studying live crickets.
This is a fun, hands-on program during which you’ll learn a lot about animal communication. The program includes lots of participation, a close-up look at real crickets, and a short reading from Anita Sanchez’s latest book, “Wait Till It Gets Dark: A Kid’s Guide to Exploring the Night”. For children in kindergarten through grade five. No registration necessary, just come on in.
Rescuing Raptors
Joyce Perry, of Whispering Willow Wildcare, will be at the library on Thursday, July 26, at 2 p.m. with rescued birds of prey to teach us about wild animal rescue.
This is a very exciting and interesting program because Ms. Perry is bringing live animals for you to meet! This program is for the whole family. Please register by calling 518-456-2400, ext. 4.
Petra Rock
Youngsters entering pre-kindergarten through grade two will enjoy this Petra program on Thursday, July 26, at 6:30 p.m. You see, Petra is a little rock who believes she is a mighty mountain — until a dog fetches her for its owner and she is tossed into a bird's nest.
Petra is now an egg! An egg of the world in a world of possibility. What will she be tomorrow? But she's a rock, and this is how she rolls! After a shared book reading, you will paint our own pet rocks! Please register by calling 518-456-2400, ext. 4.
Construction alert
Over the next two weeks or so, replacement of parts of the library’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system will be taking place within the library building. While there will be temporary closures of small areas of the building as this work continues, the library itself will be open normal summer hours.
The work being done is part of our commitment of being good stewards of the library, and ensuring that it is as energy-efficient as possible and a comfortable place for you to work and read. We are grateful for your patience as we do this necessary maintenance.
Share in the fun as a musical menagerie gets the Guilderland Public Library rockin’ on Monday, July 16, at 6:30 p.m. It’s a show full of glorious melodies brought to life by the Robert Rogers Puppet Company!
Music can do so many things. It can tell stories and describe a world of images in the most exciting way; it can call to mind the mighty lion, a lumbering tortoise, silly monkeys, even a graceful swan. One-hundred-and-fifty years ago, composer Camille Saint-Saens did just that when he wrote “The Carnival of the Animals,” his most famous piece for young people.
Now, Robert Rogers and his puppets supply the magic by bringing to life this incredible musical parade of feathers, furs, and fins! This program is for all ages.
Kazoo Fest!
Local musicians from the Lost Radio Rounders and the Ramblin Jug Stompers will "rock out" the Library on Tuesday, July 17, at 6 pm, with a wonderful, interactive program your entire family will love!
Be sure to bring your kazoo (the one you received in your Summer Reading goody bag) because you’re going to hear classic American folk and children's songs, played on some wacky instruments — including washboard, jug, mouth bow, nose flute, ukulele, siren whistle, and best of all, your kazoo! We're going to ask everyone to play along on some tunes! This program is for all ages!
Intermediate Coding
If you know more than basic Scratch and have built your own programs, this program is for you! On Monday, July 16, come to the library at 2 p.m. and learn more about coding using Scratch, MIT’s interactive programming software for creating stories, games, and animations.
Open to both parent and child to discover Scratch together! For grades 3 – 5. Please call 518-456-2400 x 4 to register.
Rockin' Uni
Let’s get together on Wednesday, July 18, at 11 am, to read the very special book: “Uni the Unicorn and the Dream Come True.” We’ll celebrate the magical world of unicorns! This program will include music and movement activities, games, and a colorful craft. This is for children in grades PreK - 2. Please call 518-456-2400 x 4 to register.
Make Your Own Album Cover Art
Unleash your inner graphic artist! Come to the library on Wednesday, July 18, at 2 pm, and use the free design website Canva to design an album cover for your favorite music playlist.
You’ll need an email address to create an account with Canva. This program is for Grades 6-12. Please call 518-456-2400 x 4 to register.
Song Construction Zone
Did you ever think you could create an original song from scratch? You can! We know you can! Come to the library on Thursday, July 19, at 2 pm, and – by using traditional instruments as well as unusual sounds found in the library and beyond – you’ll write and record a brand new song that will be posted on the library's Facebook page.
Come try out a bass, guitar, keyboard, banjo, trumpet, and weird instruments like Stylophone, Otamatone, and more! Record the sound of your favorite book slamming shut, and turn it into a beat to sing along with! That annoying noise your parents tell you to stop making? It's our favorite, let's make a song out of it!
No musical knowledge is required, and all instruments and recording equipment will be provided. Bringing in instruments or weird sounds from home! We want them. This program for kids and teens of all ages. And you don’t even need to register. Just show up and have at it!
Painting Pottery Pieces
Paint your choice of pottery figurines at the library on Thursday, July 19, at 10:30 am. After you paint them, give us a week to get them kiln-dried, and then you can take yours home. Be sure to wear clothes that you can get messy in. And thanks to the Studio for Art and Craft for letting us use their kiln. This program is for Grades 3 - 5.
Rocks rock
Educators from The Children's Museum of Science & Technology are coming to the library on Thursday, July 19, at 2 pm, to present a hands-on science program for kids in grades 2 - 5. We will explore rock classification (sedimentary, igneous & metamorphic) and then conduct cool experiments to identify the different types. Guaranteed to be a "rockin'" good time! Please call 518-456-2400 x 4 to register.
Brass Abbey is going to provide the magic Mardis Gras music for a parade on July 11 at the Guilderland Public Library.
Summer reading is for everyone! Kids, if you have not yet signed up for the Summer Reading program at the Guilderland Public Library, there’s still time! Just go to www.guilderlandlibrary.beanstack.org to get in on the fun.
And you adults: If you think summer reading is just for kids, think again. To encourage you to become super readers, there’s an Adult Summer Reading Challenge just for you. It started July 1 and runs through Aug. 31.
You’re going to love it.
How it works: Register online at www.guilderlandlibrary.beanstack.org, or visit us at the library. Then each time you read a book, log the author and title on the Beanstack site. For extra points, write a short review.
Books, Ebooks, audiobooks — everything counts! Read three books and win a free book, plus you’re automatically entered into our Grand Prize Drawing for a specialty gift basket. Keep reading to win more prizes. So sign up now: www.guilderlandlibrary.beanstack.org.
Music & Movement
Three Little Birds brings children together for a fun and interactive learning experience. This lively Music & Movement program, happening at the library on Monday, July 9, at 10:30 a.m., is full of music, rhythm, sounds, rhymes, and dance!
For children age 5 and under, it incorporates movement, instrument play, dancing, and songs. We’ll move and groove together while enhancing literacy and listening skills.
Patio Playtime
Patio Playtime, on Wednesday, July 11, at 10:30 a.m., is an hour-long activity for children of all ages. Join us for games, activities, and social time in the library's outside garden space.
Bring friends and make new ones! Caregivers must accompany children.
Mardi Gras Parade
Come join us for a fun family parade in true Mardi Gras style on Wednesday, July 11, at 2 p.m., to celebrate a summer of awesome reading! We supply the beads, masks, and music — all we need is you to hop in line!
Meet us in the Literary Garden for this special New Orleans-inspired event full of lively music by Brass Abbey, a local Brass Quintet that really knows how to help you get your Mardi Gras on. This is a free event for the whole family!
Movies that Rock! Adult Edition
The Summer Reading Program theme, Libraries Rock!, is not just for kids; it’s for adults, too. Escape the summer heat in the library’s cool Helderberg Room on these Wednesday evenings at 6:30, and enjoy some of our favorite rock-music-themed movies!
Popcorn? Yeah, we’ll have that.
Here’s the line-up:
— July 11: The Blues Brothers;
— July 18: High Fidelity; and
— Aug. 8: The Commitments
Baby Loves Jazz Series
Join us on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. in July for a special 3 Little Birds “Baby Loves Jazz” series. The first one happens Friday, July 13.
These 30-minute programs will inspire musical exploration, play, and early literacy. Babies ages birth to 18 months will enjoy jazz music, fingerplays, sensory play, puppets, movement and instrument activities, and more.
Bastille Day Better Book Sale
Do you have your summer read yet, the book you’re going to take to the lake, beach, backyard, or camp? Come to the library’s Better Book Sale on Saturday, July 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and you’ll probably find at least two summer reads. (Don’t forget to enter your reading into the Adult Summer Reading Challenge site at guilderlandlibrary.beanstack.org.)
You’ll get a special discount if you find something about Bastille Day.
Summer hours
During July and August, the library is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 .am. to 6 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. But our online library at guilderlandlibrary.org is open every hour of every day so that you can reserve new items, renew current material, and research online.