Library eNewsletter | April 2023 | | |
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Library Budget Vote
and Trustee Election
Vote on April 20, 2023, 9 am. - 9 pm
Who can vote?
Any Saratoga Springs City School District resident who is a registered voter is eligible to vote.
What are we voting for?
- Budget: The public will be voting on a proposition to collect $5,283,757 in school district property taxes in Fiscal Year 2023-2024 to operate the Saratoga Springs Public Library. This is a 1.5% increase over FY2022-23, and the first increase since 2019.
- Trustee: Katie Capelli, whose current five-year term expires in June, is running unopposed for reelection. She was first elected in 2018.
Click here to view our Q&A and the Budget for FY2023-24. Hard copies of our 2022 Annual Report are available in the library, but can also be viewed electronically through this link.
Budget Hearing: The Library Director will present the highlights of the library's Fiscal Year 2021-2022, and present the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year proposed budget in advance of the budget vote on Monday, April 17 at 7 p.m. There will also be an opportunity to hear from library Trustee candidates at that time.
Public comment may be directed to the Trustees via the board member contact links.
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Growing Towards Sustainability
Visit SSPL & Sustainable Saratoga
at the next Repair Café
Toss it? No way! What better way to celebrate Earth Month than be attending a Repair Café? This is a free community event with the goals of repairing broken objects to extend their life, keep things out of landfills, and fostering an appreciation for the art of repairing things while creating a sense of community.
Our ninth Saratoga Springs Repair Café is on April 16th, 2023 at the Sustainability Fair on the Skidmore Campus, between 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm.
The library in partnership with Sustainable Saratoga has been hosting Repair Cafés since 2018.
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Some examples of things we can likely repair (not an exhaustive list; we will try to repair anything you bring):
Electrical Items: Lamps; hair dryers; kitchen appliances; plug, switch & power cord repairs; clock; vacuum cleaners; fans; games & toys
Wooden Items: Furniture (chairs, small tables); toys & doll furniture; picture or mirror frames
Clothes: Replace buttons; hem pants/skirts; replace zippers; patch holes or tears; minor alterations
Textiles: Repair blankets & quilts; doll or stuffed animal repair
Jewelry: Replace clasps, restringing, gluing
Miscellaneous Items: Rewiring frames and mirrors, repairing broken ceramics, fixing things with stripped out screws
In 2018, Saratoga Springs Public Library was the 2nd library in New York State to be certified by both the Green Business Partnership and the New York Library Association's Sustainability Initiative, and is now a Certified Sustainable Library
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PROGRAM IN HAND?
Hard Copy or Digital Program Guide for March & April
SSPL prints limited quantities of our Program Guide, which covers two months of programming at a time. This option is for those who wish to have a physical document highlighting our offerings. If you are comfortable with an online format, we encourage you to help us conserve resources by choosing that option, and visiting our online link to the guide or our Events Calendar at www.sspl.org where you will find these, other programming, details, and have the ability to register. Our Program Guide for May and June will be available May 1, 2023.
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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
National Poetry Month Haiku
During the month of April, pick up a Do Haiku! Take-and-Make Kit at the library's Information Desk. The kit will contain instructions, poem examples, decorative and scrap paper, a sticker or two, and an envelope of 'found words.' At home, the poet provides a glue stick, pen and optional coloring tools (pens, watercolors, ink). Help us celebrate National Poetry Month through the art of Haiku, and look for weekly poems on our social media accounts.
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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
Brown Bag Lunch: The Lake Houses at
Saratoga Lake with Lorie Wies
From the late 1930s until the early 1950s, the Lake Houses at Saratoga Lake were the hottest entertainment venues there were. The latest, most popular music acts and the finest cuisine were offered in the front of the house, and the back rooms were where all the gambling action took place. All of this happened under the watchful eye of the Mob and with the “wink,wink” cooperation of the locals, many of whom made good money serving the Season’s guests. Join us Thursday, April 13 at Noon, and don't forget to register online to attend either in-person or virtually via Zoom. This program is co-sponsored with the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center.
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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
Birding the Hudson Valley
with Kathryn Schneider
In her book Birding the Hudson Valley, author Kathryn Schneider provides tips, guidance, and encouragement for bird enthusiasts of all skill levels to leave their backyards and explore the rich diversity of bird life beyond the bird feeder. Join us Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. when Kathryn will discuss her background as an ornithologist, teacher, and conservationist, and review the life journey that led her to spend three years writing her first book. Books will available for purchase and signing following the event. Please register online. This program is co-sponsored with the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society.
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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
Earth Day Poems - A Poetry Reading and Workshop with Barbara Ungar and Stuart Bartow
Acclaimed poets and local favorites Barbara Ungar and Stuart Bartow will read some of their earth-themed poems, then invite audience questions from 3 - 4:15 on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. For those who choose to remain after to try their hand at Japanese poetic forms, a haiku/haibun workshop will be be facilitated by the presenters. Please register online.
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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
"The Creative Fire of Folklore:" A Poetry Reading and Workshop with Susan Comninos
Celebrate National Poetry Month with poet Susan Comninos! Susan, a teacher of creative writing whose works have been widely published, will read from her recent book Out of Nowhere. After the reading, Ms. Comninos will facilitate a writing workshop that invites participants to explore their family and cultural legacies and the beloved folklore of those traditions. Please register online to attend this 2 p.m. program on Saturday, April 29.
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Kids & Teens Corner
What's New in April for Kids, Parents, Teens, & Their Families
Click on the links below to check out these offerings for Kids, Teens, and their Families:
Tweens & Teens
Mysteries of the Fallout Shelter | Friday, April 7 | 3 - 4 p.m. | Grades 7 - 12
Create Your Own Boba Tea | Monday, April 10 | 4 - 5 p.m. | Grades 7 - 12
The Princess Bride Interactive Movie Night | Thursday, April 13 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. | All Ages
Minecraft Monday | Monday, April 17 | 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Grades 4 - 8
Storytelling Workshop for Teens & Adults | Thursdays, April 20 - May 11 | Grades 7-12
The Teen Room is open to students entering grades 7-12 Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays, 3 - 7 p.m.; Wednesdays, 2 - 7 p.m.; and Saturdays, 12 - 4:45 p.m.
Children & Families
Pet Tiny Art Canvas Pick Up | Month of April | All Ages
Paws4Reading with Keeva | Thursdays, April 6, 20 , & 27 | 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Reading Age
Ozobots: Code with Markers | Monday, April 10 | 3 - 4 p.m. | Grades K - 8
Birds of a Feather with Anita Sanchez | Tuesday, April 11 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Grades K - 4
Bubble Trouble with Jeff Boyer | Tuesday, April 11 | 2 and 4 p.m. | Children and Families
Trout Release at Spa State Park | Wednesday, April 12 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Children and Families
Lost Letters of Liberty | Thursday, April 13 | 3 - 4 p.m. | Grades 3 - 6
The Princess Bride Interactive Movie Night | Thursday, April 13 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. | All Ages
Preschool Read & Play | Friday, April 14 | 10 - 11 a.m. | Ages 3 - 5
Trees and Their Bark | Friday, April 14 | 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Grades K - 6
Foodie Science Cooking Club | Tuesday, April 18 | 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. | Grades 2 - 5
Paws4Reading with Sydney | Fridays, April 21 & 28 | 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Reading Age
Afterschool Art: Rainbow Cloud Mobile | Monday, April 24 | 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Grades K - 6
Early Reader Chapter Chat | Wednesday, April 26 | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Grades K - 2
Frog Watch at Wilton Wildlife Park & Preserve | Friday, April 28 | 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. | Ages 5 and Up
Please check our Events Calendar for Story Times, Music & Movement, Musical Babies, Parachute Play, Take & Make Crafts and Art Kits, Baby Bounce, and Toddlertime program availability, registration, or to join an existing wait list.
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Download the Libby App Today!
Access Digital eBooks, Audiobooks, and Magazines
If you've been using the OverDrive app, it's time to switch to Libby! If you're new to accessing digital eBooks, Audiobooks, and Magazines online with your library card, we invite you to download the Libby app. For more information on how to do this, please watch the video below or click this link. Please note: The Overdrive app will be discontinued next month.
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Current Library Hours & Services
The library is open seven days a week and indoor seating is available. Current hours of operation are Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Friday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.
UPCOMING HOLIDAY HOURS
Easter Sunday - Sunday, April 9 - LIBRARY CLOSED
For a full list of services and additional updates, please visit the Library Announcements section of our homepage at www.sspl.org.
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How to Find Out About
Programs at Your Library
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Over the last few years, our librarians and presenters from a great many Saratoga Springs community organizations have been diligently working to produce online content for our YouTube channel. We're showcasing everything from children's story times, crafts, community conversations with local non-profits, book talks, gardening, travel, local history, art, tech tutorials, and so much more! As we continue with online programming, additional videos are added all the time, so please check out what's currently available and/or subscribe through the link below.
SSPL YouTube Channel
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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