If you still have an overdue Voorheesville Public Library item, you only have a few more days to save some cash. There will be amnesty through Jan. 10, for all returned Voorheesville items, no matter how late they are. Unfortunately, fine amnesty days does not apply to items borrowed from other libraries using inter-library or catalogue requests.
Fleece hats
On Saturday, Jan. 9, at 2 p.m., students in grades six and up are invited to learn how to make a simple fleece hat and get two hours of community service credit.
Beginning beaded jewelry
Adults and teens ages 14 and up can learn easy beading techniques on Thursday, Jan. 14, beginning at 5:30 p.m. You choose the project: necklaces, bracelets, or earrings. Try adding some wire-looped links or dangles to your project. Check out our beading books and magazines for inspiration. Please register online, and there will be a small materials fee.
Teen book club
The teen book club is a program sponsored by the library, and is held after school in the Voorheesville high school in the library. On Thursday, Jan. 14, at 2:30 to 3:25 p.m., we’ll be sharing what we’ve been reading on our own, and picking up copies of Carl Hiaasen’s “Skink — No Surrender” to read for the February meeting. New members are always welcome and snacks will be served. This program is for kids in grades six and up, please register at the school library, or online.
Minecrafternoon
Friday, January 15 is a half-day of school. Why not spend it building a new Minecraft world? Program runs from 1 p.m. through 4 p.m. for grades six and up. Online registration is requested.
Story time
On Saturday, Jan. 16, following a 10:15 a.m. story time, parents and children pre-school to age 5 will explore and play at different stations using hands on science, technology, engineering, art and math, building not only their reading skills but their STEAM skills too. Stations will include snow making, melting ice, and marshmallow snowmen.
Food pantry donations
The library is a convenient drop spot for the New Scotland food pantry, which helps provide boxed and canned food, paper products, and basic personal care items to those in need within the town of New Scotland. For the month of January, the library will be giving away a new Snoopy library card for every two cans of food dropped in the pantry baskets, located next to the computer stations.
Program cancellation policy
If the Voorheesville schools are closed or delayed by two hours due to weather, all library morning programs will be cancelled. Call to check on afternoon or evening programs.
Collections or displays
Do you have a collection that you would be willing to display at the library? If so, we would love to talk to you. Give us a call at 765-2791 or drop in anytime. We are always looking for new and interesting displays.
Join us at the Voorheesville Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m., and be a part of the global movement to learn computer coding, one hour at a time. Tutorials are available to guide students ages four to 14. Space is limited, and registration is requested. Register online or call the library at 765-2791.
Drop in craft
Come in from the cold and enjoy a morning of seasonal crafting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Past projects have included gingerbread houses, ornaments, paper plate snowmen, and other fun holiday and winter themed crafts to keep as treasured holiday decorations or to give as gifts. This program is for children age 3 to 7. The younger children under age 7 will need to be supervised by a parent or caregiver. Light refreshments will be served.
Story telling
The Friends of the Library will sponsor a dinner and reading of stories from the Writing Personal History for Family, Friends, and Posterity class, and on Tuesday, Dec. 8. The dinner begins at 6 p.m., with stories immediately following. Attendance is free, but space is very limited. Please register online or call the library to sign up.
Thursday afternoon movies
Every Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., the library showcases a classic movie. You are invited to join us as we discuss movie trivia, munch on some snacks, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon with a wonderful group. For a listing of scheduled flicks, please check out the library calendar at www.voorheesvillelibrary.org.
December artists
Local artist Diane Wozniak will be showing her artwork in the library hall gallery during the month of December. If you are still looking for that perfect, unique gift for someone special on your list, this could be just what you’ve been waiting for.
Ivan Lawson has filled the display case with his handmade miniatures, and they will be here until the end of December. If you have not yet stopped by to see this amazing display, please do so, before it is gone.
Program cancellation policy
If the Voorheesville schools are closed or delayed by two hours due to weather, all library morning programs will be cancelled. Call to check on other afternoon or evening programs.
The Voorheesville Public Library is starting a GMO-free seed library — no genetically modified organisms.
As part of the kickoff for the seed program, the library will host a presentation and discussion about how to properly save seeds on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. Voorheesville Seed Savers and members of Cornell Cooperative Extension Service’s Master Gardener program will discuss how to save seeds and answer any questions the public may have.
Residents will be able to go to a seed catalog in the library and borrow seeds without charge. In exchange, the library will ask borrowing patrons to save some seeds from their harvest and donate them back to the library.
To help kick-start the collection, everyone attending is encouraged to bring vegetable or flower seeds with them for donation. Light refreshments will be served.
Beginning beaded jewelry
Adults and teens ages 14 and up are invited on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 5:30 p.m. to learn easy beading techniques for making simple necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Try adding some wire-looped links or dangles to your project. Check out our beading books and magazines for inspiration. Please register online, and there will be a small materials fee.
Author visit
Come meet Forrest Pritchard on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. as he embarks on a speaking tour to promote his new book “Growing Tomorrow”. Pritchard is a professional farmer and New York Times bestselling author. His farm, Smith Meadows, was one of the first "grass-finished" farms in the country, and Pritchard has sold at leading farmers' markets in Washington D.C. for 15 years.
His first book, “Gaining Ground,” became a New York Times bestseller and was named a top read by The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and NPR's “The Splendid Table.” His new book, “Growing Tomorrow,” debuts in October. Books will be available for purchase and the author will sign copies. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Library.
Makerspace and digital lab
Teens and adults, drop in on Nov.12 at 4 p.m. to tinker with some cool tools. We’ll have laptops, sewing machines, the Cube 3-D printer, 3-D scanner, and a flatbed scanner to digitize documents and photographs. We’ll have some instructions to guide you as you explore something new and staff will be available to help.
NYC bus trip
On Saturday, Dec. 5, you can enjoy a day at one of New York’s most exciting holiday destinations and support the library at the same time. The cost of the bus is $40 for Friends’ members and $45 for non-members. Paid reservations are accepted at the circulation desk. Payment in advance is required; no seat is reserved until payment has been received. For more details visit the library web site.
Holiday closing
The library will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
“This beautiful hooked-rug wall hanging, by Barbara Meilinger, is just one of the many colorful creations on display at the library this month," says Lynn Kohler, administrative assistant at the Voorheesville Public Library.
Barbara Lukas from WMHT will present a wonderful family engagement program based on the book “Bear Snores On” by Karma Wilson at the Voorheesville Public Library on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10:15 a.m. Families will read the book collectively and share exciting and educational book-based activities. Intended for children ages pre-kindergarten through grade 2 and their families. Registration is requested.
WWI movie matinee
Join us on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. to view “The Water Diviner,” rated R. Director/actor Russell Crowe plays Australian farmer Joshua Connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the Turks in the bloody Battle of Gallipoli.
This movie is part of "The Great War Remembrance Series" of educational programs.
Halloween story time and costume parade
Bring the whole family and join Miss Amy in the fun for the whole family on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 10:15 a.m. A not-so-scary story time will be followed by trick or treating in our library and a Halloween party full of mummy-licious treats! Please feel free to come in costume. Registration is requested.
Creativity Lab: Skull T-shirts
Bring in a dark-colored T-shirt, and iron on a skull to celebrate Halloween or the Day of the Dead. Make your skull look tough, or more like a fancy Mexican sugar skull by adding stencils. The lab will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25 and is intended for kids in grades 4 and up. Registration is requested.
Money Matters
Voorheesville Key Bank manager, Guy Prisciandaro, will be offering a free financial seminar about preparing for your needs today and in the future. Some of the topics addressed will include saving for emergencies, preparing to retire, and passing assets on to the next generation. You won’t want to miss out on this worthwhile free money seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. Registration is requested.
October displays
Barbara Meilinger and Julie Stump are showing their beautiful wall hangings for the month of October. La Mini Scala are sharing their miniature scenes, which are incredible to-scale creations. Please be sure to stop by and enjoy all of this talent and creativity.
NYC bus trip
On Saturday, Dec. 5, you can enjoy a day at one of New York’s most exciting holiday destinations and support the library at the same time. The cost of the bus is $40 for Friends members; $45 for non-members. Paid reservations are accepted at the circulation desk. Payment in advance is required; no seat is reserved until payment has been received. For more details visit the library web site. Buses will leave Voorheesville at 7 a.m. and return at 11 p.m.
The annual Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale will be Sept. 18 through 20. The sale on Friday Sept. 18 beginning at 5 p.m., is for members only. Annual memberships are available at the door for $10.
Saturday, Sept. 19, the book sale doors open to the public at 10 a.m. There will be a bake sale table, and Voorheesville schools spiritwear will be available for purchase.
Nimblefingers crafting group will have a table offering handmade items for sale, as well as a quilt drawing. And don’t forget the kids clothing swap in the community room from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday is fill-a-bag day, so bring your grocery bag and fill it with books for only $2.
Sonny and Perley Concert
On Sunday, Sept. 19 at 12:30 p.m., you can enjoy the music of husband and wife duo Sonny Daye and Perley Rousseau. They have spent the last several years developing and perfecting their unique blend of Jazz, Bossa Nova, American Songbook Standards, and International Cabaret, which has become their musical signature.
They perform the timeless standards of the “Great American Songbook” such as Berlin, Gershwin, and Porter as well as the irresistible Bossa Nova melodies of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Listen to the music while shopping at the book sale. If it rains, the concert will be held inside.
Social Security retirement workshop
On Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m., the library will be hosting a free public information workshop designed to help participants ages 45 to 70 to better understand their Social Security retirement benefits and what they may be entitled to.
Popular questions such as "When can I stop working?" "How much can I expect from the government?", and "What's the best claiming strategy to maximize my benefits?" will be discussed. This program will be presented by volunteers from Retirement Solutions.
Registration is required and can be done online at www.voorheesvillelibrary.org.
WWI movie
Join us at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4 for the WWI movie “Paths of Glory.” Safe in their picturesque chateau behind the front lines, the French general staff passes down a direct order to Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas): take the Ant Hill at any cost.
A suicide mission, the attack is doomed to failure. Covering up their fatal blunder, the generals order the arrest of three innocent soldiers, charging them with cowardice and mutiny. Dax, a lawyer in civilian life, rises to the men's defense but soon realizes that, unless he can prove that the generals were to blame, nothing less than a miracle will save his clients from the firing squad.
Light refreshments will be served. This movie is part of "The Great War Remembrance Series" of educational programs.
Join us at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept.17 as Dr. Clifford Brown and Professor Stephen Berk from Union College present an informative talk on the causes that led up to WWI. There will be an opportunity for questions and follow-up discussion after the lecture.
This lecture is part of "The Great War Remembrance Series" of educational programs. Watch for further World War I programs coming in the near future or check out our website at www.voorheesvillelibrary.org.
Hours change
Instead of alternating Babygarten and Toddler Town every other week, the youth services librarians are switching things up a bit. Both programs will be held every Thursday morning. Here’s the new schedule beginning today, Sept. 10.
Babygarten will be from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. for babies, newborn to 18 months, with a caregiver. Immediately following Babygarten, Toddler Town will be from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for ages 18-36 months, with a caregiver.
Fall book sale
The annual Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale will be held on Sept. 18 to 20. Friday Sept. 18 beginning at 5 p.m., is for FOL members only. Sept. 19, the book sale doors open to the public at 10 a.m. Sunday is fill-a-bag day, so bring your grocery bag and fill it with books for only $2.
There’ll be an FOL bake sale, VCSD spiritwear will be available for purchase, and the Garden Club will be available to answer gardening questions. Nimblefingers crafting group will have a table offering handmade items for sale, as well as a quilt drawing.
Kids clothing swap
On Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is your chance to exchange your child's outgrown clothes for something he or she can wear. This is a great opportunity to de-clutter, upgrade and be green.
Bring your clean, gently used children's clothes, sizes newborn to size 16, and shoes to the library for our first ever community kids clothing swap
Sonny and Perley Concert
On Sunday, Sept. 19 at 12:30 p.m., you can enjoy the music of husband and wife duo Sonny Daye and Perley Rousseau. They have spent the last several years developing and perfecting their unique blend of Jazz, Bossa Nova, American Songbook Standards, and International Cabaret, which has become their musical signature.
They perform the timeless standards of the “Great American Songbook” such as Berlin, Gershwin, and Porter as well as the irresistible Bossa Nova melodies of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Listen to the music while shopping at the book sale. If it rains, the concert will be held inside.
The annual Friends of the Library fall book sale will be held on Sept. 18 through 20. Friday Sept. 18 beginning at 4 p.m. is sneak preview night for Friends of the Library only. Memberships are available for as little as $10 at the door.
Saturday, Sept. 19, the book sale doors open to the public at 10 a.m. A kids clothing swap will be held in the community room and a bake sale will be in one of the tents, while supplies last. VCSD spiritwear will be available for purchase.
Nimblefingers crafting group will have a table offering handmade items for sale, as well as a quilt drawing. The library is still accepting book sale donations. Please use the blue book-drop, next to The Book Nook shed, to donate your gently used books, DVDs and audiobooks.
Kids clothing swap
On Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is your chance to exchange your child's outgrown clothes for something he or she can wear. This is a great opportunity to de-clutter, upgrade and be green.
Bring your clean, gently used children's clothes, sizes newborn to size 16, and shoes to the library for our first ever community kids clothing swap. If you would just like to make a donation, we will be accepting items Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 16 and 17, during regular library hours.
Sonny and Perley Concert
On Sunday, Sept. 19 at 12:30 p.m., you can enjoy the music of husband and wife duo Sonny Daye and Perley Rousseau. They have spent the last several years developing and perfecting their unique blend of Jazz, Bossa Nova, American Songbook Standards, and International Cabaret, which has become their musical signature.
They perform the timeless standards of the “Great American Songbook” such as Berlin, Gershwin, and Porter as well as the irresistible Bossa Nova melodies of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Listen to the music while shopping at the book sale. If it rains, the concert will be held inside.
Holiday hours
In honor of Labor Day, the library will close at 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4, and will reopen at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. If you would like to renew an item, you may use our online catalog at www.voorheesvillelibrary.org.
Hours change
Instead of alternating Babygarten and Toddler Town every other week, the youth services librarians are switching things up a bit. Both programs will be held every Thursday morning. Here’s the new schedule beginning Sept. 10.
Babygarten will be from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. for babies, newborn to 18 months, with a caregiver. Immediately following Babygarten, Toddler Town will be from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for ages 18-36 months, with a caregiver.
Corrected Sept. 11, 2015: The garden club will not be available to answer questions during the Sept. 19 book sale.
— Photo from Lynn Kohler
“Nature’s Wonder” by Rose Lawson is just one of the paintings on display at the Voorheesville Public Library this month.
The Summer Reading Program at the Voorheesville Public Library will be wrapping up soon. Readers should use their online accounts to record the time and titles of books read or heard by Friday, Aug. 21.
Come into the library before 5 p.m. to turn your reading into grand pprize tickets for every hour recorded. Every book read or listened to earns a donation ticket for a local charity.
With our new reader reward system, all participants who record their reading will choose a free book and one prize from a local business: Tickets to the Aug. 31, Tri-City ValleyCats baseball game, frozen yogurt from Menchie’s, a kid’s meal from Applebee’s, or a free cone from Tastee Treat.
Prize books and tickets must be picked up between Monday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Sept. 3, at 5 p.m.
Get ready for kindergarten
Starting kindergarten is a special time for parents and children. Join us on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 6:30 p.m., for a fun-filled and educational evening. Soon-to-be-students will hone their kindergarten readiness skills at activity/learning centers designed just for them. Let’s celebrate this important and exciting milestone! Registration is requested and all children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Super birds of prey
Students in grades three and up are invited to drop in at the library on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m., to find out about birds of prey and their super powers. Learn about these incredible birds from Trish Markey from the Wildlife Institute of Eastern New York. Trish will be bringing real live birds. The president of the Audubon Society of the Capital Region will inform us about the organization whose mission is to conserve and restore national ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats.
Movie matinee
Stop in the library on Aug. 17, at 2 p.m., and enjoy this PG rated new release. An alien named OH, is on the run from his own people when he lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own. This film is 94 minutes. Popcorn and refreshments will be served.
SRP prize drawings and Jester Jim
On Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m., Jester Jim will bring his fast-paced juggling show filled with balancing, beatboxing, and tons of laugh-out-loud antics as our thanks for all of your reading efforts this summer. Summer Reading Program top readers and grand prize winners will be announced. All ages are welcome.
Save the date
The annual fall book sale will be held on Sept. 18 through 20, and the library is now accepting donations. Please use the blue book-drop, next to The Book Nook shed, to donate your gently used books, DVDs and audiobooks.
I can’t believe this is the last week for the Super Readers Club. The theme for this final week is Super Sidekicks Stuffed Animal Summer Camp.
That’s right boys and girls, on Monday, Aug. 10, at 2 p.m., students in kindergarten through third grade can send your favorite stuffed animal sidekick to sleepover summer camp at the Voorheesville Public Library. When you arrive with your stuffed friend, you can decorate his or her nametag, listen to some stories, help them choose their bed for the night, then kiss them goodbye until pick-up time on Tuesday evening.
Our teen camp counselors will show your sidekick a great time as they explore the library.
Read It Forward
Free copies of “I Have a Bad Feeling About This” by Jeff Strand will be circulating through Voorheesville all summer long. If you get one, read it and then pass it on to another teen. There are no due dates or overdue fines. All readers who respond to an online survey will have a chance to win a prize package full of fun survival gear.
Heroes of the
Mammal World
At 2 p.m., on Wednesday, Aug. 12, students in grades 4 and up are invited to observe amazing camouflage, learn about the mammal that can jump 100 times longer than their body, find out about echolocation, and see live, in front of your eyes, the most amazing mammal of all with George Steele. Registration is requested for this super exciting animal program.
Heroic Hijinks
This music and movement program, conducted by Rose Stuart, will have children ages 3 to 7 vanquishing villains, flying around a super-sized parachute, and leaping over buildings in a single bound. Come dressed in your “superest” costume on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 10:15 a.m., for some super fun photos.
Super birds of prey
Students in grades 3 and up are invited to drop in at the library on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m., to find out about birds of prey and their super powers. Learn about these incredible birds from Trish Markey from the Wildlife Institute of Eastern New York. She will be bringing real live birds. The president of the Audubon Society of the Capital Region will inform us about the organization whose mission is to conserve and restore national ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats.
Movie matinee
Stop in the library on Aug. 17, at 2 p.m., and enjoy this PG rated new release. An alien named OH, is on the run from his own people when he lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own. This movie is 94 minutes long. Popcorn and refreshments will be served.
Save the Date
The annual fall book sale will be held on Sept. 18 through 20, and the library is now accepting donations. Please use the blue book-drop, next to The Book Nook shed, to donate your gently used books, DVDs and audiobooks.
Bring your favorite books to life on Saturday, July 18 from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., to the Voorheesville Public Library. Children in grades five and up are invited to join local children's artist Aly Parrott as we create and design small scale, functional, puppet theaters from old boot boxes and drawing paper. Just bring your vision of a favorite book scene and we will supply the tools to create a piece of interactive art you can enjoy for years to come.
Lego Club with
master builder
This is one Lego club meeting that you won’t want to miss. On Thursday, July 23, at 7 p.m., Master Lego Architect William Leue will show us some of his LEego models based on local landmarks. Learn how he approaches brick challenges and then create your own unique structure from a mystery bag of Lego pieces.
This program is recommended for grade four and adult builders are welcome as well. Please register early as this is sure to be a popular program.
Super Readers Club
Can you keep a secret? Every Monday in July, at 2 p.m., a secret meeting of the Super Readers Club will take place in the library. These may look like ordinary children, but in fact, they are super readers. The theme for July 20 is “What is a Hero?” with Monica Parmenter. Super readers and their caretakers will travel back in time to learn about historical heroes. Children in kindergarten through grade three are invited to join Parmenter as she discovers who the true heroes were long ago.
Write Your Own Adventure
Artist and educator Rebecca Angel Maxwell will assist teens in grades six and up as they write a story in the style of the “Choose Your Own Adventure” series. On Tuesday, July 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., students, using Twine publishing software, will format their story into an interactive game for readers to explore online. Please register early as this program is sure to fill quickly.
Movie matinée
Stop by on Wednesday, July 22, at 2 p.m., to watch Paddington. A young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the kindly Brown family, who offer him a temporary haven. This movie runs 95 minutes
Family dance party
Children ages two to five, with caretaker, are invited to join us on Wednesday, July 22, at 6:30 p.m., for an evening of dancing fun. Did you know that playing music, clapping, and singing strengthen early literacy skills? Please stop by and shake your sillies out.
Annual fall book sale
The library is now accepting donations for the Annual Fall Book Sale from Sept. 18 to 20. Please use the blue book-drop, next to The Book Nook shed, to donate your gently used books, DVDs and audiobooks.