& Albany County Post - The Altamont Enterprise

The Altamont Enterprise – Thursday, December 20, 2012 21
Library Notes
Berne
By Judy Petrosillo
The first day of winter is officially
Friday, Dec. 21, when
the winter solstice occurs. This
is the day with the least hours
of daylight for the northern
hemisphere. If you lived north
of the Arctic Circle, you would
not be able to see the sun at all.
Although winter is regarded
as the season of darkness and
cold, the amount of light will
increase each day from now until
June. The return of light due to
Earth’s natural cycle is a cause
for celebration.
“If you lived north
of the Arctic Circle,
you would not be able
to see the sun at all.”
Holiday schedule
Christmas is also a reason
for festivities. The Berne Public
Library will be closed on Monday,
Dec. 24 and Tuesday, Dec.
25, so library staff may rejoice
with family and friends. For the
convenience of our patrons, the
library will be open on Thursday,
Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in
addition to our normal hours on
Wednesday and Saturday.
Story time
Story time will be at a different
day, time and location this week.
Families are invited to join Kathy
and Meghan at the Emma Treadwill
Thatcher Nature Center in
Knox on Thursday, Dec. 27. This
special nature program will start
at 2 p.m. Part of the program
will involve tracking animals
outdoors so dress accordingly. If
you have never visited the center
before, this is an opportunity to
become familiar with a great local
resource.
Family movie
Keeping with the winter
theme, the library will be showing
the family movie Ice Age 4,
the Continental Drift on Friday,
Dec. 28, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Admission
is free for this animated
film, rated PG. Enjoy the antics
of Scrat, Manny, Sid and Diego
on a high-seas quest aboard a
floating iceberg. Refreshments
will be served.
Video contest
In six months, the summer
reading program will start at the
library. This year’s theme is “underground”
and the logo for teens
is “Beneath the Surface”. Teens
are invited to enter a video contest
to promote public libraries
and the fun of summer reading.
Create a thirty to ninety second
video on your interpretation of
how this logo relates to reading
and the library. Entry forms
are available at www.summerreadingnys.org.
and the deadline
is Feb. 1. This is a great way to
demonstrate your artistic and
dramatic talents with a chance
to win a monetary prize.
As Maine representative Tom
Allen said, “While I relish our
warm months, winter forms our
character and brings out our
best.” We hope your best includes
a visit to the library.
Bethlehem
By Louise Grieco
On Mondays, Tuesdays and
Wednesdays in January at 7 and
7:30 p.m. the Bethlehem Public
Library’s librarians offer technical
help with one-on-one coaching
for a variety of devices. Make
an appointment a week ahead by
visiting the information desk or
calling 439-9314, ext. 3009.
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
New house, same home: Democratic State Senator, Neil Breslin, embraces Nancy Lendrum, president
of the Berne Public Library Board of Trustees, after receiving a certificate of appreciation on Thursday,
Dec. 13. The library was honoring Breslin in its future location, the former St. Bernadette’s Church
on Helderberg Trail, secured in part through his support of the New York State Library Construction
Grant Program, putting $142,793 towards funding for the new location, purchased in 2011. Breslin,
who will no longer represent the Hilltowns in the new year, said a library is the linchpin of a community,
holding it together.
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
Sporting new nooks: Nancy Lendrum, president of the Berne Public Library Board of Trustees, points to plans for the layout of the former
St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church, across the street from the Berne-Knox-Westerlo high school. It will include office and meeting space for
the town. With help from the New York State Library Construction Grant Program, the town of Berne, fund-raising, savings, and donations,
the new library is planned to be energy efficient and have its first renovations put out to bid in February. The library is currently crowded
in its space at Town Hall.
Teen time
On Friday, Dec. 21, from 3 to
4:30 p.m., come to the library
and enjoy gaming, crafts, food,
and friends. For kids in grade 6
through 12.
Paws to Read
On Saturday, Jan. 5, at 3, 3:20,
and 3:40 p.m. bring your favorite
stories to the library and read
them aloud to a gentle dog. Call
439-9314 to sign up. For kids in
grades 1 through 5.
Homework helpers
On Mondays and Wednesdays
from January 7 through February
27, from 4 to 6 p.m. the
library’s Homework Center is a
great place to do your homework;
teen volunteers are available to
assist. When Bethlehem schools
are closed or delayed, this program
is cancelled.
Book Buddies
On Mondays and Wednesdays,
Jan. 7 to Feb. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m.,
come to the library for Little
Buddies (kids in kindergarten
through grade 5) to read to Big
Buddies (teens) to build reading
skills and self-confidence.
All reading levels welcome. No
signup is necessary.
Open house
On Monday, Jan. 7, from 2 to
4 p.m., come to the library and
learn how to use the library’s
e-book database. Stop by with
any e-reader and a laptop if you
have one.
This program is offered again
on Jan. 8, from 6:30 to 8:30
p.m.
Westerlo
By Sue Hoadley
The orange safety cones are
gone, the new porch railings are
up, and the book return box has
been moved for easier access.
Welcome! Our front door and
beautifully reconstructed front
porch are now fully functioning.
Holiday closings
The library will be closed on
Monday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday,
Dec.25, to celebrate Christmas
Eve and Christmas Day. Happy
Hanukkah and Merry Christmas
to all!
Children’s programs
Toddler and preschool story
time meets on Tuesdays at 3:30
p.m. Join Miss Lee for stories,
songs, games, and movement
activities for toddlers and preschool
aged children. In addition
to developing pre-reading skills,
singing, moving to music, and
playing instruments all help foster
a sense of rhythm and timing
that are essential elements in
developing the part of a child’s
brain that shapes math skills.
Technology Walk-In
Wednesday
Do you need to brush up on
your computer skills or obtain
basic skills? See Amy on Wednesdays
between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.,
for free, personalized, one-onone,
hands-on instruction on
how to work the mouse, navigate
the Internet, set up an email
account, use office automation
programs, and more.
Library info
All library programming is
free (unless otherwise noted)
and open to the public. For more
information, contact the library
at 797-3415.
BEJEWELED
C E D A R F L O W S P H D
A M U S E R E L E T E E R
R U B Y T U E S D A Y A G O
L I N T S S P A R E S
P L E U R A R E T E L L S
H A M M E R R E L I S H
A T E S M E A R C O A T S
S E R F S A T U P P R O W
E X A L T T E N E T B A A
L A R D E R A R G O S Y
S U D S I E R H E A R T S
A N C H O R A T E A M
U S I D I A M O N D B A C K
L E T E D W I N E L O P E
T R Y S E E D S D E L A Y