Our new program guide covers the workshops, performances, events, and other activities scheduled to take place at APL in January and February. Check it out and see what we have in store for you at the library!
We’ve got lots of great programs and activities for you at the library coming up over the next two weeks. Here are just a few of our scheduled events:
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26
+ Join the Delaware Branch for a showing of “Brave” and popcorn, courtesy of Spectrum 8 Theatres, at 3 pm. The brave Scottish princess with fiery hair and a great arm uses her brain and her archery skills to battle an evil curse.
+ Come to the Bach Branch at 6:30 pm and learn how to use that new tablet or e-reader you got for Christmas. Bring your device and get one-on-one help loading it up with free library e-books.
THURSDAY, DEC. 27
+ Kids build and battle their own bots in a LEGO Mindstorm NXT Robotic Workshop at the Main Library from 2 to 4 pm. For ages 7-14. Must register online or at 427-4310.
FRIDAY, DEC. 28
+ Watch family-friendly flick “ParaNorman” at the Pine Hills Branch at 2 pm. Little Norman must use his power to speak to the dead to save his town from an awful curse.
+ Guitarist Rich Donnelly entertains us with a live musical performance at 5 pm at the Delaware Branch.
SATURDAY, DEC. 29
+ Bring the kids to the Main Library Children’s Room any time today for board game fun. We’ve got Uno, Monopoly, Othello, Go Fish, and more.
SUNDAY, DEC. 30
+ Watch Pixar’s “Brave” on the big screen at the Main Library at 2 pm. Princess Merida clashes with her parents and must save her kingdom from an ill-fated wish fulfilled by an eccentric witch.
MONDAY, DEC. 31
+ All locations CLOSE EARLY at 5:30 pm — Have a safe and happy new year!
TUESDAY, JAN. 1
+ All locations CLOSED today – Welcome to 2013!
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2
+ The Bach Branch hosts after-school art for pre-K to 5th grade at 4 pm. We ask that you register your child for this weekly program.
THURSDAY, JAN. 3
+ It’s Baby Bouncetime at 10:30 am at the Main Library and the Pine Hills Branch. Little ones ages 0-2 enjoy fun short stories, songs, and movements.
FRIDAY, JAN. 4
+ Kids 5 and up enjoy table crafts at the North Albany Branch after school from 3 to 5 pm.
SATURDAY, JAN. 5
+ Join fellow knitters and crocheters at the Frequent Fibers group at the Pine Hills Branch or the Knit2Gether group at the Bach Branch. Both fiber arts groups meet at 2 pm.
A full listing of our events is available online. For details, please call the host library.
During the holidays, all APL locations will be closed on:
Also, all library locations will close at 5:30 pm on:
Take a break from the holiday rush with a fun and free activity at the library! As usual, APL programs are free and open to the public. A full listing is available online.
Here are just a few of our upcoming programs:
MONDAY, DEC. 17
+ Watch “Men in Black 3″ at the Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch at 5 pm.
+ Enjoy solo and group performances by musicians participating in Rock School. Session starts at 7 pm at the Main Library.
TUESDAY, DEC. 18
+ Listen to a review of John Matteson’s “The Lives of Margaret Fuller: A Biography” at 12:15 pm at the Main Library. The book is reviewed by Marggie Skinner of The Book House.
+ Discuss Pete Townsend’s autobiography, “Who I Am,” with the I Wanna Rock! Book Group starting at 7 pm at the Main Library.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19
+ Kids enjoy a Glow-in-the-Dark-Party at the Howe Branch from 5-6:30 pm. They’ll create glowing costumes, eat fluorescent snacks, make black light art, and play glow-in-the-dark games.
+ Listen to a live jazz performance by Mark Capon at the Main Library from 7 to 8:30 pm.
THURSDAY, DEC. 20
+ Kids make holiday crafts from 3-5 pm at the North Albany Branch.
+ Use a public computer and get help with basic computer skills in the Working Knowledge Public Computing Center from 3 to 5 pm. The Center is on the second floor of the Main Library.
FRIDAY, DEC. 21
+ Get help and advice on how to improve your credit from 11:30 am til 1:30 pm at the Main Library.
SATURDAY, DEC. 22
+ Kids ages 4 and up make marshmallow snowman pictures at the Main Library at 2 pm.
+ Try out your art talent at the Bach Branch from 2 to 3:30 pm in the Art Group for teens and adults. Supplies are provided and no previous art training is necessary.
MONDAY, DEC. 24
TUESDAY, DEC. 25
From our app to e-books and databases, APL provides a number of mobile resources for free use to customers. Check out our mobile resources page to learn more.
We’ve got some wonderful live musical performances, and other great programs, planned for the week of Dec. 10. Please plan to stop by and enjoy these library events!
MONDAY, DEC. 10
+ The Main Library’s Public Computing Center (on the second floor) is open from 9 am til 5 pm. You can use a computer and get help with basic computer skills and job searches.
+ Singer/songwriter Matt Durfee performs a solo acoustic show at the Main Library at 6 pm.
TUESDAY, DEC. 11
+ Albany Medical College Prof. Myron Gordon reviews “Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President” by Candace Millard. The review starts at 12:15 pm in the large auditorium of the Main Library.
+ The APL Board of Trustees meets at 5:30 pm at the Main Library.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12
+ The Neil Brown Duo plays jazz in this mid-week concert that starts at 6 pm at the Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch.
THURSDAY, DEC. 13
+ The Public Computing Center at the Main Library hosts a hands-on introductory class on Microsoft Word from 1 to 3 pm. Please call 427-4324 to register.
FRIDAY, DEC. 14
+ Join us for the “Unofficial Hobbit Appreciation Day” at the Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch starting at 4 pm. We’ll listen to a reading of Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and make a craft. Participants can enter for a chance to win a Regal gift card too.
+ Finish the work week with a lively performance of popular jazz standards and holiday music by Michael Benedict. The show is at 5 pm at the Delaware Branch.
SATURDAY, DEC. 15
+ Classical harpist Dahr returns to the Pine Hills Branch for a 2 pm performance.
+ Kids can pass the time Saturday afternoon making sparkly snow globes at the Main Library Children’s Room starting at 2 pm.
SUNDAY, DEC. 16
+ Bring the kids to the Main Library for a showing of “Arthur Christmas” on the big screen in the large auditorium at 2 pm. The sweet and funny animated movie answers the question: just how does Santa deliver all those presents around the world in just one night?
As always, library programs are free and open to the public.
For more information about a program, please call the host library.
More details — and many more program listings — can be found on the online calendar.
Interested in learning more about Albany’s rich history? Look no further than Albany Public Library.
The Main Library is home to a wonderful collection of materials — books, photographs, pamphlets, clippings, newspapers, city directories, census records, and more — about the people, government, organizations, and happenings of Albany. The Pruyn Collection of Albany History is in the lovely Albany History Room on the second floor (across from the computer lab).
The Albany History Room is open:
Monday*: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (*City Historian Tony Opalka is available Monday evenings, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For specialized assistance, please contact Local History Librarian Ellen Gamache at 427-4327.
Come see us this week for some library fun! Here are just a few our our planned activities. For more details, check the online calendar or call the host library. As always, library programs are free and open to the public.
MONDAY, DEC. 3
+ Enjoy a live musical performance by singer/songwriter Matt Durfee at 6 pm at the Main Library.
+ Learn the art of musical improvisation in a workshop taught by a local jazz musician at the Main Library’s latest Rock School class at 7 pm.
TUESDAY, DEC. 4
+ The Pine Hills Branch It’s Elementary Kids Club makes holiday gifts today starting at 3:45 pm. Grades pre-K through 5.
+ The monthly LEGO Club meets at 3:45 pm at the Howe Branch. Kids use our LEGO supply and their imaginations to create something special. Ages 5+.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5
+ Bring your e-reader or tablet to the Bach Branch at 6:30 pm for a tutorial on how to download free digital books and music to your device.
+ It’s a half hour of Bedtime Stories for little ones and their caregivers at the Bach Branch. Cozy stories and fingerplays wrapped up with a wish upon a star.
THURSDAY, DEC. 6
+ Babies and pre-walkers enjoy story time with Miss Christina followed by a play group at the Pine Hills Branch starting at 10:30 am.
+ Dancers from Albany Salsa teach Latin dances to kids at the Delaware Branch at 4 pm.
FRIDAY, DEC. 7
+ Need access to a computer and assistance with basic computer skills? Visit the Public Computing Center at the Main Library from 1-5 pm. The lab is open and trainers are available to help.
SATURDAY, DEC. 8
+ The Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch hosts a family-friendly movie at 2 pm.
Start off December with some of our free programs and activities. This month, we’ve got seasonal arts and crafts workshops, holiday movies, book groups, e-reader and tablet tutorials, homework help, live musical performances, and more. Check out the program guide for details!
Join us for a whole host of great programs and activities the week of Nov. 26 through Dec. 2 at the library! A full program listing is available on our online calendar of events. You can also get details and updates by calling the host library.
Here are just a few of this week’s library activities. As always, library programs are free and open to the public.
MONDAY, NOV. 26
+ Ever wondered what being a “real” ghost-hunter is like? Albany Paranormal Research Society presents an informational program about ghost-hunting for adults. Main Library’s Large Auditorium at 7 pm.
TUESDAY, NOV. 27
+ The Bach Branch’s preschool story time includes sensory stories followed by a play group. Kids ages 3-5, and their caregivers, meet from 10:30 am til 12 pm.
+ Listen to a review of “Margaret Sanger: A Life of Passion” by Jean Baker in the Friends of APL book review at 12 pm at the Main Library. Gene Damm, founder of the Lijiang Teachers College Scholarship Fund, reviews the book.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28
+ Learn how to use Microsoft PowerPoint in a class at our Working Knowledge Public Computing Center. The class is from 1 to 3 pm in the second floor computer lab at the Main Library. Please register at 427-4324.
+ Have an e-reader you need some help figuring out how to use? Come to our tablet and e-reader tutorial and learn how to download books and music from the library to your device. The session starts at 6:30 pm at the Bach Branch.
THURSDAY, NOV. 29
+ The Baby Play Group meets at 11 am at the Pine Hills Branch. A fun time for pre-walkers and their caregivers.
+ Get assistance with job searches and basic computer skills at the Working Knowledge Public Computing Center from 3 to 5 pm. The computer lab is on the second floor of the Main Library.
FRIDAY, NOV. 30
+ Classical music lovers get a sneak peek of this weekend’s Albany Symphony Orchestra concert in this prevue performance courtesy of Vanguard. The performance begins at 12 pm in the large auditorium of the Main Library.
+ There’s more music today with a 5 pm jazz performance by the Casino Trio at the Delaware Branch. Bring the kids for this unique performance featuring jazz arrangements of Mother Goose nursery rhymes.
SATURDAY, DEC. 1
+ Kids make holiday cards using our materials and their imaginations. The craft program starts at 2 pm in the second floor Children’s Room at the Main Library. For ages 4-18.
+ The Frequent Fibers group meets from 2 to 4 pm at the Pine Hills Branch. Bring your own knitting/crocheting/fiber arts project to work on alongside fellow crafters.
SUNDAY, DEC. 2
+ Sunday Cinema showing of “The Amazing Spider-Man” starts at 2 pm at the Main Library. A teenage Spidey searches for answers about his parents’ long-ago deaths and fights the Lizard.