Guilderland Library Notes for Thursday, February 21, 2019

Oscar-nominated films take center screen at the Guilderland Public Library on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. throughout February. Enjoy these acclaimed musical movies in our acoustically-perfect Helderberg Room — the next best thing to the movie theater (plus it’s free).

“Bohemian Rhapsody” shows on Feb. 21, and “A Star is Born” on Feb. 28.    

Friday Fun for Kids

Our jam-packed school vacation week activities continue on Friday, Feb. 22 with a Parachute Pajama party at 10:30 a.m. Children aged 5 and younger are invited to shake their sillies out and have a rollicking good time. At 2 p.m., we’ll be showing “Hotel Transylvania 3:  Summer Vacation”, an animated film featuring the voice talents of Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg, rated PG.

Disney Movie Sundays

Our popular Disney Movie series for families screens a different movie each month, leading up to a colossal Family Disney Trivia challenge on April 26. The classic tale of “Robin Hood” is slated for Sunday Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.  You can’t beat the price, and we even provide popcorn!

Chinese New Year

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. as we celebrate the Year of the Pig!  Miss Julia is back with stories, songs, and rhymes in both Mandarin and English. This family-friendly program is suitable for children 6 and under.

Uncovering Your Roots

A number of programs and ongoing supports are available here to help with family and local history research. On Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m., Monica Gray explains how to use the New York State Archives located in Albany.

Attendees will discover how to tap into this rich but sometimes daunting resource. Additionally, professional genealogist and Guilderland resident Lisa Dougherty provides free family history consultations on a drop-in basis the second Wednesday of each month. The next session is slated for Wednesday March 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.  Bring your questions and challenges for help finding solutions.

Food, for Better or Worse

“The Serious Side of Food:  A Readings and Discussion Program” is a six-part series that goes beyond eating for sustenance and enjoyment to explore some of the underlying issues that lie on our plates. This series is led by Steve Barnes, senior writer and arts editor at the Times Union and adjunct professor of journalism at University at Albany.

Books will be provided; space is limited. This series kicks off Wednesday March 6 with a quick half-hour session to distribute books and the syllabus. Subsequent meetings are slated for March 20 and 27; April 3, 17, 24; and May 1. Please plan to attend all sessions, and pre-register online, by phone or in person.  

Mother’s Day Marketplace

If the groundhog is any indication, it’s time to set our sights on spring!  As such, we’re gearing up for our Mother’s Day Marketplace on Saturday May 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors may apply to sell their products and services until Friday, April 26.  Cost per table is $25, and vendors pocket 100 percent of their sales revenue.

Optional donations for a mega vendor basket will also be accepted. Please see our Facebook page (and “like” us while you’re there) or email Carol Kott for more information or an application:   .

Library of Things

We currently have about 139,647 fiction and non-fiction selections to peruse. But…are you aware that we also have a sizable “Library of Things” to borrow? Here’s a rundown of the list, which may surprise you:  

— Gadgets: 3D virtual reality headset; Echo Dot (“Alexa”); GoPro; power bank portable battery; WiFi hotspot;  

— Cable Alternatives:  Apple TV; Chromecast; FireStick; HD TV antenna; Roku streaming stick;  

— Home & Hobby:  Automotive OBD II code reader (check engine light detective); folding tables; cake pans and cookie cutters; Kill A Watt EZ power meter; fishing poles; metal detectors;

— Kits:  “Birthday in a Backpack” kid party activities; storytime kits; CPR training kits;  

— Games:  a plethora of board and lawn games, from Dungeons and Dragons and Exploding Kittens to Corn Hole and KanJam; and

— Museum Passes: Free or reduced admission to 30 museums in New York, Massachusetts and Vermont. See our website:  https://guilderlandlibrary.org/library-of-things/ for details.