Join author David Fiske at Guilderland Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m., for a presentation about Solomon Northup, a free black man living in Saratoga Springs who was lured away from home and sold into slavery.

Enslaved in Louisiana for nearly 12 years, Northup was eventually able to get word to friends in New York and then return home as a free man. In 1853, Northup published a book about his harrowing experiences entitled Twelve Years a Slave – now a major motion picture – and traveled around the Northeast giving speeches and helping fugitive slaves get to Canada.

David Fiske is co-author of the new book Solomon Northup: The Complete Story of the Author of Twelve Years a Slave, as well as author of Solomon Northup: His Life Before and After Slavery and numerous local history articles. He is a lecturer, professional librarian, and professional genealogist.

LEGO

Tweens, spend some of your expanded vacation time at the library on Friday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m., at this session of the Tween LEGO Club, which features LEGO gaming.

What better time to show off your mad LEGO-building skills with friends? Bring your own bricks, or create with ours. As usual, creations that you bring to show off will be kept separate from the library supplies. You can also take a turn on the Wii system to play a LEGO videogame. We meet in the Helderberg Room. LEGO fiends in grades 3 through 6 are welcome to drop in. 

Read, build, play

Preschoolers aged 3 through 5 years are invited to Read, Build, and Play at the library on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 6:30 p.m.

This evening playtime is full of fun read-alouds and time building a story element with Lego DUPLO blocks. Children will also have free playtime with DUPLOs, Lincoln Logs, and building blocks.

In addition to being just plain fun, playing with building toys increases a child’s school-readiness by developing math, science, and engineering skills.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please call 456-2400, ext. 4 to let us know you’re coming.

Classic film

Most movies just don’t get to you on a TV screen as they do in the movies, and for raw grit and emotion there is arguably no better example than the classic film showing at the library on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m. That’s why we’re showing it on the Helderberg’s big screen, so you get the full effect.

Director Sidney Lumet crafted this gem about 12 angry men serving in a sweltering Manhattan jury room. If you have not seen this movie on the big screen, now’s the time.  You’re not likely to see it as large as this anywhere else.

Library info

The Guilderland Public Library is located at 2228 Western Avenue. Visit the library’s website at www.guilpl.org. Check out the unofficial library updates at facebook.com/Guilderland.Library, and follow the library on Twitter (@GuilderlandLib). It all starts at guilpl.org.

Fifty years ago, four young musicians from Liverpool arrived in the United States, and yeah, you know the rest. Or do you?  Come to the Guilderland Public Library on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m., and get the cool details.

 Using recorded material and film clips, some rare, musicologist and Beatles scholar Gordon Thompson explores the impact of the British invasion, led by The Beatles in February 1964. He chronicles their historic concert at Shea Stadium, examines John Lennon’s emotional connection to New York City, and discusses how the Beatles’ music continues to be an inspiration to composers and performing artists.

This program is co-sponsored by The Egg: Center for the Performing Arts, Empire State Plaza in Albany.

Bring your child to the library

Kids and families should make it a point to come to Take Your Child to the Library Day on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 1 to 4 p.m. 

This family program celebrates families and libraries through a variety of activities. Kids can design a bookmark for our contest and sign-up for their own library cards. 

We have fun activities for the whole family, such as a story walk/scavenger hunt, and a life-size Candy Land. There’s no better way to beat the winter blahs than an afternoon of fun at your library.
No registration required; just show up and play.

Library info

The Guilderland Public Library is located at 2228 Western Avenue. Visit the library’s website at www.guilpl.org. Check out the unofficial library updates at facebook.com/Guilderland.Library, and follow the library on Twitter (@GuilderlandLib). It all starts at guilpl.org.

The Guilderland Public Library’s new director starts on Tuesday, Jan. 21, and he brings with him a lifetime of experience as a librarian, author, and educator.

Tim Wiles, Guilderland resident for more than three years, accepted the library’s board of trustees’ offer in December, even though it meant giving up what he’d thought was his dream job.

“I’m a life-long librarian, it’s what I love. And I am thrilled to take on this new challenge of ensuring the Guilderland Public Library is responsive to the community’s needs, but it was tough leaving the Hall.” Tim, a die-hard baseball fan, just resigned as Director of Research and Public Services Librarian for the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

“I believe that an excellent public library is at the heart of an informed community. The Guilderland Public Library has long served as a center for education, entertainment and empowerment, and it serves that role well. But we live in an era of change for libraries, and the ways in which we, as consumers, gather information. Clearly, the library has the opportunity to expand its service through use of new technologies, programming, outreach, and social media. 

 “The prospect of leading the library through this era of change is exciting. But along with leading the organization from within, I also plan to be visible in town, to reach out to and listen to community groups and organizations, and to the voters and decision-makers of Guilderland. We are, after all, ‘Guilderland’s Gathering Place,’ and my goal is to make that true for everyone in town.”

Wiles’ wife, Dr. Marie Wiles, the superintendent of schools, and their son, Ben, are almost as pleased as Tim about the new position.  “Ben’s happy that his dad will be working close to home,” said Marie, “and Tim and I are thrilled to live in the same community that we serve.  It’s a great  opportunity for us.”

Author and educator

Tim’s freelance writing credits include two books: In 2008, he co-authored Baseball’s Greatest Hit: The Story of ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’ He was lead researcher and writer along with two co-authors. Not shy about public speaking, he appeared on over 200 television and radio shows to promote the book. 

Prior to that, he co-edited Line Drives: 100 Contemporary Baseball Poems. He’s had articles published in The New York Times, Major League Baseball’s World Series Program and All-Star Game Program, and other baseball-related publications.

Wiles spent a year in the People’s Republic of China as an English instructor at Guangxi University. He taught English to university faculty, students, and staff.

 Experience at the library

Since 2011, he has served as a Director of the Guilderland Library Foundation, and been its president for the past four months, so he has a fair understanding of the inner workings of the library. 

 “Serving on the Foundation, getting to know the professionals at the library, that made the opportunity all the more exciting for me,” he observed.  “I have worked with many of the staff; frankly, I cannot wait to get started.”

When asked what baseball team he rooted for, he replied, “Well, I did grow up in Illinois. So it’s the Cubs all the way.”

Library info

Please note that the library will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.

The Guilderland Public Library is located at 2228 Western Avenue. Visit the Library’s website at www.guilpl.org. Check out the unofficial library updates at facebook.com/Guilderland.Library, and follow the library on Twitter (@GuilderlandLib). It all starts at guilpl.org.

Tweens in grades 3 through 6 are invited to the Guilderland Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 2, to celebrate the New Year with a Wii Just Dance Party.

Using the popular Wii games on the big screen, we will dance in the New Year. We will enjoy some sparkly soda and fortune cookies while we rest our dancing feet. We’ve got the hula hoops, party lights, and all we need is you.

Volunteers needed

Calling all teens entering grades 7 through 12: If you enjoy working with children, want to earn some volunteer hours, and add activities to your college applications, then you should sign up for the Book Buddies Training being held at the library on Friday, Jan. 3, at 3 p.m.

The library needs you to commit to being a Book Buddy; in this program, you will spend time once a week reading with a younger child in grades one through four and encouraging them in their reading skills.

This program will run on Tuesdays for monthly sessions from January to April.  You are able to choose how many months out of the four you would like to do.

Downton Abbey tea party

Join your fellow Downton Abbey fans for an afternoon tea at the library on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 2 p.m. There will be refreshments, but probably not those annoying little cucumber sandwiches. You’ll all have a proper good time watching Downton Abbey’s season three finale – The Christmas Special – whilst preparing yourselves to view season four which begins Jan. 5.

AARP’s Taxaide Program 

Requests for appointments will be accepted no sooner than Monday, Jan. 6, at 10 a.m. To make an appointment, please visit the library or call 456-2400, ext. 2.

Starting Monday, Feb. 3, and continuing through April 14, the AARP Taxaide Program will provide free tax preparation and e-filing services on Mondays and Saturdays at the library.

All Taxaide volunteers are trained and certified in cooperation with the IRS. They prepare personal Federal and New York State tax returns for taxpayers of all ages with low and moderate incomes.

You must make an appointment for this service; separate appointments are required for each taxpayer. Bring a copy of your 2012 return and all 2013 W-2s, 1099 statements, the purchase date and cost basis for any investments you sold, and supporting documents if you plan to itemize deductions. Taxaide volunteers are not able to complete returns with rental income or returns requiring Schedule C, or if you have a Health Savings Account. If filing a joint return, both taxpayers need to be present except in cases of illness or infirmity.

Library info

 For more information about the library, call the library at 456-2400, or e-mail us at .  The library is located at 2228 Western Ave., Guilderland. Visit the library’s website at www.guilpl.org. Check out the “unofficial” library updates at facebook.com/Guilderland.Library, follow the library on Twitter @GuilderlandLib, and get music information and free downloads on the library’s Freegal page. It all starts at guilpl.org.