Albany Public Library

There’s lots to do this week at the library. Check out this small selection of the many programs scheduled at your libraries. For a full listing, visit our online calendar of events. As always, APL programs are free and open to the public.

TUESDAY, MARCH 12

+  The Friends of APL host a noontime review of “My Share of the Task: A Memoir” by Gen. Stanley McChrystal. The Friends’ weekly book talks take place in the large auditorium at the Main Library.

+  Teen Scene Open Lab starts today and continues Wednesday and Thursday at the Howe Branch at 4:45 pm. Teens can stop by the laptop lab to check out Facebook, create an avatar, or play Minecraft with their friends. This program is part of Teen Tech Week.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13

+  Teen Tech Week continues at the Delaware Branch with a Glogster (graphic blog) workshop at 4 pm. Kids ages 9 and over will learn to use videos, music and photos to create a glog that they can print out or save to a flash drive.

+  A tablet and e-reader tutorial with one-on-one help downloading free library books is held at 6:30 pm at the Bach Branch.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14

+  Preschool story time takes place at the North Albany Branch at 10:30 am. The Pine Hills Branch and the Main Library also host baby bouncetime story times at 10:30 am.

+  The Main Library Children’s Room is hosting a Pi Day celebration at 4 pm. Kids can celebrate the never-ending number Pi (3.14……..) with Pi-related activities and snacks.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15

+  The Gals Who Play Jazz play a special Women’s History Month concert at the Delaware Branch at 5 pm. Fun for the whole family.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

+  The Main Library only is closed today. All of the branches are open from 1 to 5 pm. The Saturday walk-in income tax help program at the Main Library resumes on Saturday, March 23.

+  The Pine Hills Branch hosts classical music this afternoon with a performance by the Woodwind Women in honor of Women’s History Month. The concert starts at 2 pm.

+  Kids ages 10 and over make special St. Patrick’s Day crafts at the Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch at 2 pm.

The Main Library only will be closed on Saturday, March 16. All of APL’s branch libraries will be open that day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Saturday income tax help program at the Main Library will resume on Saturday, March 23.

Get the rundown on all of our great events and activities in the March/April Albany Public Library program guide. You can read the guide online, or pick up a copy at your favorite APL location.

If you have ever wanted to learn how to play the guitar or write a song, Albany Public Library’s free Music Matters workshops are for you. The sessions are scheduled for March 4, 11, 18, and 25 and April 8 and 15 (Mondays) from 7 to 8:30 pm in the large auditorium of the Main Library at 161 Washington Avenue.

The March sessions focus on guitar playing and the April sessions are centered on songwriting. The classes are designed for teens and adults. No experience is necessary; the only requirement is a desire to make music. All sessions are free and open to the public.

Teens and adults will learn the basics of guitar playing and songwriting during this series of six workshops taught by local musicians and singers/songwriters Tor Loney, Ben Himmelfarb, and Kate McDonnell.

For more information about Albany Public Library’s Music Matters workshops, call 427-4349.

The Music Matters sessions at the Main Library are:

Guitar 101 – March 4, 11, 18, 25 (Mondays) at 7-8:30 pm

Students will get a basic grounding in guitar technique, chords, notes, rhythms, and styles. Participants are asked to bring a guitar, if they have one. The library will have a few guitars on hand for use during the class. The guitar lessons are interactive and participatory, with time provided for one-on-one assistance and feedback. Attendance at all four guitar classes is suggested, but not required.

Songwriting Workshop – April 8, 15 (Mondays) at 7-8:30 pm

Students will learn techniques related to all stages of the songwriting process. Participants will share songs with each other and create some new ones as well. Attendees are encouraged to bring any materials they would like to work on, ranging from unfinished poems or rhymes to partial melodies. Attendance at both sessions is suggested, but not required.

As a special bonus, local singer/songwriter Matt Durfee performs acoustic sets prior to each Music Matters session. Blues Mondays with Matt Durfee are scheduled for March 4, 11, 18, and 25 and April 8, 15 (Mondays) at 6 pm at the Main Library. These performances are free and open to everyone.

Put on your dancing shoes and head over to the Bach Branch this Friday, March 1, at 6:15 pm for a fun “Cabin Fever Family Dance” event hosted by Paul Rosenberg and his troupe of merry musicians. The dance is free and open to the public.

Halfway through this fun and festive evening, we’ll stop and enjoy some light refreshments to refuel us for more dancing!

APL is participating in the city’s 1^st Friday festivities this March with a coffee house open mic night for poetry and music on Friday, March 1, at 6 to 8 pm at the Main Library (161 Washington Avenue).

The 1^st Friday event at APL will feature open mic performances by local poets, spoken-word performers, and musicians. Sign-ups start at 6:05 pm and performances start at 6:15 pm.

Local artist Audrie Elsenbeck will show some of her mixed media paintings and sculptures at the 1^st Friday event. Her work will remain on display on the first floor of the Main Library through the month of March.

Coffee and light refreshments will also be available. APL is partnering with Albany Poets for this event.

APL’s 1^st Friday festivities are free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Main Library at 427-4349.

*Update: APL’s Roll into Reading roller skating party was a blast! We hosted more than 400 people at the Armory for an afternoon of skating fun. The Times Union stopped by and took some photos too. We’re already planning for next year’s party, so keep your calendar open for the last Sunday of winter vacation in February 2014.

Parents looking for a fun and free activity for the whole family this weekend should try out our Roll into Reading roller skating party. Hundreds of kids and their families will converge on the Washington Avenue Armory (at 195 Washington Avenue, right next to the Main Library) on Sunday, Feb. 24, from 1-3 pm for this second annual family roller skating party hosted by APL.

Roller skates will be provided; attendees will not be allowed to use their own skates.

The ladies from Albany All Stars Roller Derby League will be on hand to help kids learn to roller skate. The first 100 kids in the door will receive a free book. The party will also include craft activities and light refreshments.

For more information about the free roller skating party, call the Main Library Children’s Room at 427-4310.

The roller skating party caps off a full week of free programs and activities designed to keep kids entertained during the winter school vacation.

There’s no room for boredom to set in this week because APL has so many great activities planned for kids and teens during their winter vacation. We’ve got a number of arts and crafts programs, along with LEGO-building sessions, story times, family movies, and more. The biggest event is the Roll into Reading family roller skating party on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 1-3 pm at the Washington Avenue Armory.

Check out this flier for a complete list of winter break fun at APL. Here’s a small sample of what we have planned for this week:

+ Clay Pictures Arts and Crafts Activity — Tuesday at 3 pm at the Main Library

The Scotia-Glenville Traveling Museum helps kids design and create their own 2-D pictures using clay — For ages 6-12 — Registration required at 427-4310

+  “Electrifying Science” Program — Thursday at 3 pm at the Main Library

The Children’s Museum of Science and Technology (CMOST) helps kids investigate static, explore magnetics, and more — For ages 6-11 — Registration required at 427-4310

+  “Where in the World are You?” Music and Dance Program — Friday at 2 pm at the Bach Branch

Deb Cavanaugh presents an interactive program of songs and dances from around the world — For elementary-school children

+  Roll into Reading Family Roller Skating Party — Sunday at 1-3 pm at the Washington Avenue Armory

Join APL for our second annual roller skating party at the Armory (next to the Main Library at the corner of Washington and Lark). We’re providing skates, craft activities, and light refreshments. We’ll have giveaways — free book to first 100 kids through the door — too. Albany All Stars Roller Derby League will give skating tips and a helping hand.

For updates and details on our winter break activities, please check our online calendar or call the host library.

The Albany Public Library (APL) Board of Trustees is seeking interested candidates to fill a temporary vacancy due to the death last month of longtime trustee Mimi Mounteer.

The Nominating Committee of the APL Board of Trustees is asking interested candidates to submit a resume and letter of interest by Wednesday, Feb. 20. The committee will review submissions and then conduct interviews the week of Feb. 25. The appointed candidate will serve a two-month term, from mid-March through mid-May.

The library will run an election on May 21 for city voters to elect a trustee to fulfill the remaining two years of Mounteer’s term.

Candidates interested in the two-month appointment to the APL board must submit a resume and letter of interest on or before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, to the Albany Public Library Board of Trustees Nominating Committee, Main Library, 161 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210.

APL trustees must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens, and residents of the city of Albany.

For more information, please contact APL Public Information Officer Stephanie Simon at 427-4344.

Join us this week for some great activities at the library. As always, APL programs are free and open to the public. For more information, please call the host library. A full schedule is available on our online calendar or in the program guide.

Here are a few of this week’s activities:

MONDAY, FEB. 11

+  Adults learn techniques for writing their own memoirs in “With Pen in Hand,” an interactive workshop by local poet/author Paul Lamar from 1:30 to 3 pm at the Howe Branch.

TUESDAY, FEB. 12

+  “Research in Terrorist Organizations” is the topic of a talk by University at Albany Prof. Victor Asal at 12:15 pm at the Main Library. Asal is a faculty expert on terrorism and homeland security.

+  The library’s Board of Trustees meets at 5:30 pm at the Pine Hills Branch.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13

+  The African American Literature and Culture Discussion Group meets at the Howe Branch from 6 to 7:30 pm led by University at Albany Prof. Derik Smith.

THURSDAY, FEB. 14

+  Kids ages five and older make Valentine’s Day crafts at the North Albany Branch from 3 to 5 pm.

+  It’s After-School Story Time at the Delaware Branch at 4 pm for kids in kindergarten through third grade.

FRIDAY, FEB. 15

+  The Bach Branch hosts “Just for Teens” after school crafts, games, and more at 4 pm.

+  Enjoy a live jazz performance by Rena Graf and Azaam Hameed at the Delaware Branch at 5 pm.

SATURDAY, FEB. 16

+  It’s Super Refund Saturday at the Main Library from 10 am til 3 pm. Volunteers from KeyBank will be on hand to provide free income tax preparation services for people whose household income is $51,000 or less. Assistance is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please call the Main Library Reference Department at 427-4303.

+  Enjoy a live musical performance by Michael Roach at the Pine Hills Branch at 2 pm.