Albany NY Library

Shout out to these sheep we met on our Tivoli hike yesterday.

Dinos with miSci - Museum of Innovation & Science, Schenectady yes please!! How are dinosaurs different from other animals? What happened to the dinosaurs? What did they eat? What is a fossil? Explore the prehistoric world as you learn how to identify dinosaurs while holding real fossils and creating your own Dino-fossil to take home. No registration required.

We no longer ask you to recite or sign the oath of the Reading Clown. In fact, our branding has gone completely clownless. You're welcome. Anyway, how's your summer reading going?

We believe everyone deserves to be able to make their own balloon animals. So we invited our favorite artist of inflatables, Balloon Gal Jenny, to share her expertise tomorrow at the Washington Ave Branch and there are still a few spots open. Go grab one: https://albany.librarycalendar.com/event/washys-kid-holding-place-19206

Time to start reading for our August Book Clubs! And we've got a new, evening club - the Novel Night Book Club - debuting at the Washington Ave Branch which we're excited about.

None of these require registration. But we've set aside a certain number of copies of each book, so give us a call or stop by and we'll make sure you get one. There are also ebook options. Fuzz is available as an ebook on Libby, but in limited supply. Same with If Beale Street Could Talk. Demon Copperhead is available on Libby and Hoopla as an ebook and audiobook. Hope you can join us!

Have you ever wanted to eat a book? Yeah, neither have I. What I have wanted to do though is invite you all over and host a restaurant-style multi-course book "tasting" literary cafe, so that's what we're doing! Gather your book-loving friends, select one of our genre-themed "book menus" of titles we recommend. Read through the descriptions and select 3 books (appetizer, entree, and dessert) you'd like to "taste." Librarian-servers will deliver your book choices in 3 courses to sample. Explore your selections and discuss with your tablemates while indulging in 3 courses of snacks provided for free to each table. That's right, there will be actual snacks to taste, too.

Call the Pine Hills Branch reference desk to reserve a spot or a whole table for a group: 518-427-4300 (ext. 4230).

Bon Appétit!

(the book tasting was listed in our print program guide as starting at 5pm, but it will be at 6pm!)

Packing up my bags and moving into this review

This week's programs for kids and teens! We've got a couple more programs with WMHT, have a visit from the Tang Museum on Tuesday, a 3-day theater camp, balloon twisting, the olympics, and much more!

For more info and to register (if required), visit: https://albany.librarycalendar.com/events/upcoming?age_groups%5B27%5D=27&age_groups%5B28%5D=28&age_groups%5B29%5D=29&age_groups%5B31%5D=31&private=no

We got absolutely perfect weather on Thursday to watch Sling Shot roll through their set of funk and R&B in the garden at the Bach Branch.
Up next: join us this Thursday for roots, country, and blues courtesy of Brenda Fisher & Friends! All ages and no registration. Just come out!

Thanks to everyone for coming to visit Nile the humpback whale! We had so much fun, learned a ton (thank you for your poo, whales), and got to pretend we were swallowed by a whale which is pretty awesome!

If your computer doesn’t work, friendly reminder that we have books. I just checked and they are completely unaffected by the security issue. Phew 😅

(Also, our computers work if you need to use them 👍)

Thanks to Trishna Begam and WTEN for coming by to talk about our Pen Pal program! It was a joy to share the success of this little program. Check out the whole story from News 10.
And if you didn't get a chance to register to be a pen pal to our friends from the south, stay tuned as there might be new Albanys on the pen pal horizon 🗺📍

Albany Library pen pal program connects communities Albany Public Library is embracing snail mail this summer and bringing back the art of letter writing.

Just another day at the library

Guys I read outside today. I didn't melt or anything. We are so back.

Super cool opportunity this Tuesday for kids to explore the intersection of art and environment with our friends at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery! Inspired by the art of Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman, this program features an art lesson and craft about our threatened natural world. Participants will be invited to create their own shadow box seascapes. No registration required. This will be great, so come out!

Join Discover Albany's Maeve McEneny-Johnson for a Gilded Age walking tour through Albany's historic Center Square! Inspired by the hit HBO series, "Gilded Age," Maeve will lead guests by the real homes showcased in the series while telling stories of the real Albany Gilded Age residents who walked the very same streets.

We will gather in the Washington Ave Branch's Local History Room at 6pm and begin our tour from there. For adults. Sign up: https://albany.librarycalendar.com/event/gilded-age-evening-stroll-20668

Friends, there is still some space to join us next Wednesday for a community hike of Tivoli Preserve! We will learn the history of the Preserve and explore the 1.3 miles of trail (there are two somewhat steep sections just fyi). We might even see sheep grazing! 🐑

We will meet at the corner of Judson St and Livingston St. at 10am and begin our exploration. You can sign up to join us here: https://albany.librarycalendar.com/event/community-hike-tivoli-preserve-18458

Presented in partnership with Friends of Tivoli Lake Preserve and Farm, Inc.

(a previous graphic stated the date as Tuesday, not Wednesday. But it's Wednesday!)

Super fun program for kids with Discover Albany! Tour and learn about Albany with us! During our tour, we’ll learn the difference between urban, rural, and suburban communities, have a hands-on activity, and more! We will be meeting at Discover Albany headquarters at 25 Quackenbush Square. Sign up: https://albany.librarycalendar.com/event/neighborhood-adventurers-20666

We've partnered with WMHT and Barbara Lukas for a bunch of programs this summer, starting today with Daniel Tiger's Picnic Adventure at the Pine Hills Branch! These are all for around ages 3-8.

The Arbor Hill/West Hill and Bach Branch programs do not require registration. To sign up for the others, visit: https://albany.librarycalendar.com/events/upcoming?keywords=wmht&private=no

CORRECTION: Tuesday’s Super Smash Bros Tournament is 3-5pm, not 4:30-5:30pm!
If you're looking for fun ways to keep kids busy (and entertained and learning and socializing and creatively engaged and... you get the idea) this summer, well we're really good at that! Here are most of this week's programs for kids and teens.

There are still spots left for Thursday's visit with the the whalemobile btw, so make sure to grab one! The 4:30 timeslot is fully booked, but the others still have space at the moment. Check out our events calendar for all the details and to sign up: https://albany.librarycalendar.com/events/upcoming?keywords=whalemobile&age_groups%5B27%5D=27&age_groups%5B28%5D=28&age_groups%5B29%5D=29&age_groups%5B31%5D=31

Did you know that the Underground Railroad had a stop right here in Albany located at the Stephen and Harriet Myers residence? Have you heard that there is now an Educational Center dedicated to the preservation and education of its' history? If you don't know anything about it, or want to learn more and perhaps even become involved with the center, this is the workshop for you! All ages are welcome. No registration required. Just come by!

Join us at APL and help us continue to offer safe, welcoming library spaces for all! Our Head of Public Safety supports library staff with safety training and techniques, supervises APL’s team of Community Engagement Clerks, and collaborates with members of our larger, community-wide safety network.

This position is full-time and includes a generous benefits package. For more information on the position, including how to apply, check out the job spec here:https://www.albanypubliclibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HeadofPublicSafety_APL_7.11.24.pdf

Stephen King listed one of his own books as one of the top 10 books of the 21st century and I respect that 🤝 If you asked me for the top 10 libraries of the 21st century you think I'm leaving myself off that list? Pshhh

Anyway, I mentioned yesterday that the New York Times is doing a top 100 books list and they just published the entire thing this morning if you need some summer reading inspiration: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html

They also have top 10 lists from a bunch of authors. Fun to see what some of our faves are reading and loving. Here are just a few.

Both of our big green Better World Books donation bins at the Delaware and Pine Hills Branches are gone. We're expecting new ones soon! In the meantime, book donations can be brought inside to the circulation desk at those branches - check branch hours before making the trip.
And just please do not leave books outside. They will become ruined. Thank you for understanding!

We noticed that after each entry in the NYT’s list of the 100 best books of the 21st century, before linking to Amazon or other booksellers, you’re told to RESERVE IT AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. Is the New York Times in the pocket of Big Library? 🤔🤔🤔 Who's to say, but you better watch out Bezos, we're coming for you.

Numbers 21-100 are out now. That means you can read the word "library" 80 times.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html

Soooooo we kind of have a 45 foot parachute and NEED YOU TO HELP US GET IT OFF THE GROUND!!! Kids! Teens! Grownups too if bringing smallish kids! 2pm TODAY at the Washington Ave Branch! We need a lot of people so that means come get yourself over here! This will be fun I promise!

🪁 Flew kites
🪱 Made friends with some worms
🫐 Picked berries to make more jam
🪺 Crafted birds nests
💕 Spent time with our favorite people (that’s you)

Good couple days at the library what’s next?! 😊

Thursdays starting next week! Adults can join us at the Pine Hills Branch to learn a "new" card game each Thursday. Already a pro? You can still join us for conversation and to play! No registration required.

Next Albany Unbound talk is this Saturday, July 13th at 2pm at our Pine Hills Branch! Join us, Friends and Foundation of Albany Public Library and Markeia Robinson, who will be speaking about her book, The Non-Traditional Route: From GED to Ph.D.
She will bring us through her journey of not only academic perseverance and success, but also her ability to shift her mindset and navigate life’s challenges to become the business owner and transformative life coach she is today. Join us for her special talk entitled “Breaking Boundaries: Navigating Life’s Journey to Success”.
See you Saturday!

Albany NY Library's cover photo

Albany NY Library