Guilderland Library Notes for Wednesday, August 19, 2020

We are currently processing about 5,500 items per week with half of our staff operating in two staggered teams. We appreciate your cooperation as we diligently strive to provide materials with stringent safety procedures enacted.

For general questions, please call 518-285-0050 or email ask.librarian@guilderlandlibrary.org. For circulation questions or to notify us you’re here to pick up your materials curbside, please call 518-285-0671 or email ask.circ@guilderlandlibrary.org.  

Checkouts

Current hours for contact-free curbside checkouts are:  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays 3 to 7 p.m.  After requesting materials one of three ways — the Upper Hudson Library System catalog on our home page, the UHLS app, or by calling 518-285-0050 — we’ll notify you when your item(s) are ready for pickup. 

When you’re ready to pick up during our curbside service hours, park in the library’s main lot, call Circulation at 518-285-0671 to let us know you’re here, then pick up your materials on a table at the library’s entrance.  

Returns

Borrowed items may be deposited Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. into one of five sheds in our parking lot (designated by the green canopy). All items are quarantined for 96 hours, then sanitized externally before being reshelved. Please note that since items are quarantined, it may be a week or so before the item(s) is noted as being returned. All fines are still waived.

Virtual Programs

We invite you to explore the variety of virtual programs for all ages offered on the Events tab of our website, www.guilderlandlibrary.org. These programs are steadily gaining popularity, and are often filled, so please don’t hesitate to register! We are constantly strategizing ways to expand our offerings, and encourage everyone to sign up for our weekly eNews and monthly newsletters at:  https://guilderlandlibrary.org/get-to-know-us/things/newsletters/ to receive the latest updates.

Trustees meet

The Guilderland Public Library Board of Trustees will meet virtually for their monthly business meeting on Thursday,  Aug. 20 at 6 p.m.  This meeting will be livestreamed on our Facebook page and archived there for later viewing. Public commentary may be directed to:  pc@guilderlandlibrary.org.

Google Apps Suite

Wherever you fall on the tech-savvy spectrum, it’s beneficial to stay informed.  Learn about the free productivity suite known as the Google Apps Suite on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 10 a.m. In this overview, we’ll cover the tools available with a Google or Gmail account, how to import and edit documents and files created in other software tools, and best practices for making use of Google's apps.

We'll take a short tour of four of the most popular tools - Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms. This session, led by Librarian and Digital Trainer Nathaniel Heyer, MLS, will be held online via GoToMeeting. Once you've registered, you’ll receive a link to the GoToMeeting session. There is a limit of 10 participants, so don’t delay – sign up today on the Events tab of our website.

Night Owls Online

The next installment of our Night Owls Online book discussion group is slated for Monday,  Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. We're reading New York Times and USA Today bestseller “Me and White Supremacy” by Layla F. Saad, available on Hoopla in both eBook and audiobook format.

This eye-opening book, complete with journal prompts, challenges readers to tackle the essential task of unpacking biases, fostering greater understanding and collaboration across our multifaceted cultural landscape.  Sign up to participate in this timely discussion on the Events tab of our website.  

Cooking Under Pressure

Registration is open for Cooking Under Pressure with Cornell Cooperative Extension, happening on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. Karen Roberts Mort will cover the basics of using a multi-cooker:  the various models available, handy features, safety tips, additional equipment you can purchase, and tips to make cooking easy and fun. Recipes will be shared! This meeting will be held over Zoom. Sign up on the Events tab of our website to receive an email invitation the day before the event.

Find a job

Looking for a job? We’re here to help with free tools at your fingertips. From career prep to computer prowess, sharpen your skill set and enhance your knowledge with Learning Express!  Build a resume or cover letter, explore computing 101, prep for exams, assess career options and much more.

Explore Learning Express, as well as our full complement of learning tools, at https://guilderlandlibrary.org/learning-tools/  Click on the “Job Tools” tab for Learning Express and our handy Job Information Resources guide. Feel free to access WiFi anytime from our parking lot.

Youth Program survey

We welcome your thoughts on making our youth programming the very best it can be, given our current limitation that all programs are happening online only. Please help us plan for the fall by taking just a few minutes to answer our survey questions at:  bit.ly/youthsurveyfall2020. We greatly value your input.