July 5, 2016
                  
SUMMERFEST IS SATURDAY AT DELAWARE BRANCH
Family Celebration of Summer Reading is Part of Delaware Ave. Street Fair
  
Enjoy fun in the sun with APL at the seventh annual SummerFest outdoor family party this Saturday, July 9, from 12 to 2 pm at the Delaware Branch (331 Delaware Avenue)!
 
This free outdoor family-friendly party features bounce houses, activities, games, close-up magic, a robot dance-off, book giveaways, and refreshments. SummerFest is the major event in the library's Summer Reading Program, which encourages literacy by rewarding kids for reading. The party gives children a chance to sign up for summer reading and sample the activities and books available at the library. 
 
Prior to the party, the Delaware Branch will host a sale of gently used books from 9 am until 12 pm on the patio in front of the library.
 
The SummerFest party is so big that the library is closing all branches -- except for the Delaware Branch and the Washington Ave. Branch -- on July 9 so library staff can work at this special event. SummerFest is one of the featured events at the Delaware Ave. Street Fair, which includes special sales at many businesses, food and activity booths, music and art, yard sales, and free trolley rides.  

The SummerFest hospitality sponsor is Price Chopper/Market 32. Summer Reading Program sponsors also include the Friends of Albany Public Library and Stewart's Shops.
STORIES & ART IN THE PARKS STARTS MONDAY
Special Outdoor Story Times & Art Activities in Several Albany Parks
  
Our special outdoor story time and art activity series is back this summer! Stories & Art in the Parks takes place every Monday from July 11 through Aug. 15.

Designed for children ages 2 to 5, the programs feature lively stories and songs along with arts and crafts, all in Albany's beautiful parks. 

All programs are Monday mornings at 10:30 to 11:30 am:

July 11 | Washington Park Playground |This program features a fan-favorite special guest from WMHT PBS Kids! | Rain site: Washington Ave. Branch

July 18 | Westland Hills Park Playground | Rain site: Pine Hills Branch

July 25 | Lincoln Park Playground, upper area | Rain site: Delaware Branch

Aug. 1 | Washington Park Playground | Rain site: Washington Ave. Branch

Aug. 8 | Rosemont Park Playground | Rain site: Pine Hills Branch

Aug. 15 | Lincoln Park Playground, upper area | Rain site: Delaware Branch

Stories & Art in the Parks programs are hosted by APL and the City of Albany Department of Recreation with help from Albany Barn and WMHT PBS Kids. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, please call the Albany Department of Recreation at  434-5699.
NEW COMMUNITY PARK OPEN AT HOWE BRANCH
Park Open to All During Library Hours
 
The Howe Branch has a new park, which is open to all in the community during library hours!

"For years, the Howe Branch had greenspace that was well used by the public and our patrons. We were sad to see that small park lost to the building expansion and renovation as part of the massive Branch Improvement Project," said APL Executive Director Scott Jarzombek. 

"As someone who spent nine years as the Howe Branch librarian earlier in my career, I am very proud that APL is reintroducing a community park at this beautiful and historic library, and that we have been able to do so in a way that the South End deserves," he said.

APL hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 28 with South End residents and representatives to officially open the park. We invite you to spend some time in this lovely little park when you're at the Howe Branch, at Schuyler and Broad streets in Albany's South End neighborhood. 
SCHEDULE REMINDER
ONLY Delaware & Washington Ave. Open Saturday, July 9
 
Due to the special event at the Delaware Branch on Saturday, July 9, only the library's Delaware and Washington Ave. branches are open that day.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

This Saturday, we encourage you to visit the Delaware Branch for the SummerFest party and the Washington Ave. Branch for other library needs. You can also take care of some library business, including downloading eBooks and eMagazines, on our website .
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK   
Visit the Library for Great Programs

Please join us for some fun and interesting activities this week, all for FREE! Here are just a few of our programs!

JULY 5 (Tues)
+ Farmers Market | 4-7 pm | Delaware Branch 
+ Car Q & A | 6-7:30 pm | Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch

JULY 6 (Wed)
+ The Gaming Zone for ages 16 and under | 3-7:30 pm | Howe Branch
+ Summer Movie Club showing of "A League of Their Own" | 5-7:30 pm | North Albany Branch

JULY 7 (Thurs)
+ College application help session for graduating high school seniors | 3-5:45 pm | Washington Ave. Branch | For details and to register, call Albany Promise at  591-8714
+  Jewelry beading workshop  for adults | 6-7:30 pm | Delaware Branch | Limited class size, so please  register online

JULY 8 (Fri)
+ Daily Reads special story time for ages 10 and under | 3-3:30 pm | Pine Hills Branch 

JULY 9 (Sat)
+ Used book sale | 9 am-12 pm | Delaware Branch 
+ SummerFest outdoor family party | 12-2 pm | Delaware Branch
+ ONLY Delaware & Washington Ave. OPEN today