Library eNewsletter - January 2022

Announcing the SaratogaREADS! Community Read for 2022!

The mission of SaratogaREADS! is to invite all members of the Saratoga Springs community to participate in a shared reading experience, and to take part in conversations and events inspired by our annual reading selections. We couldn't be more excited about our 2022 selection, Richard Powers' The Overstory. A big SSPL THANK YOU to all who took the time to cast a vote.

It was a tight race, but we are confident that the Saratoga Springs community chose a book that will inspire us toward creative and thoughtful programming that will no doubt, be meaningful during these trying times.

Please continue to watch for more information in monthly SSPL eNewsletters like this one, sspl.org & saratogareads.org, as well as our social media accounts.

SaratogaREADS! Jr.

How Your Child Can Participate

SaratogaREADS! Junior is open to students of the Saratoga Springs City School District in grades 4-6. Simply send an email to saratogareadsjr@gmail.com. Please include your child's name, grade, school, and teacher. A free copy of the graphic novel, El Deafo by Cece Bell will be delivered to your child's teacher. They will then receive an invitation to join their peers for virtual discussions via Zoom, led by Saratoga Springs High School and Skidmore students Mondays, January 31 & February 7 at 4:30 p.m. Click the image at right to view our SaratogaREADS! Jr. video. We look forward to your child's participation!

Martin Luther King Weekend

at Your Library

Saratoga Springs Public Library continues to be a proud partner with MLK Saratoga. We hope you will join us this month by attending the following library programs:

The Puppet People Present: The Three Little Pigs - What's Love Got to Do with It? | Saturday, January 15 | 10 - 10:45 a.m. | H. Dutcher Community Room

Critical Conversations: A Community Forum on Critical Race Theory | Saturday, January 15 | 12 - 1:30 p.m. | H. Dutcher Community Room

The Lost Roundout: A Story of Urban Removal - Film Screening and Filmmaker Panel Discussion | Saturday, January 15 | 2 - 3:30 p.m. | H. Dutcher Community Room

MLK Day Craft | Monday, January 17 | All Day While Supplies Last | Children's Room

Spotlight on Digital Services:

ProQuest's New York Times Searchable Database & Tumble Book Library for Kids

This month's #TechTuesday (a monthly social media plug focusing on FREE Digital Services from SSPL) featured ProQuest. Learn how to use ProQuest and your SSPL Card to get around the New York Times paywall to access and share articles without a subscription. Visit our YouTube tutorial through this link.

As a bonus this month, we also have something for the kids - The Tumble Book Library! Tumble Book Library is a curated database of children’s e-books, available by subscription to Elementary Schools and Public Libraries around the world. It’s a great resource for tech-savvy kids, and teaches them the joy of reading in a format they’ll love. Click here for a tutorial on how to use the Tumble Book Library.

Kids Corner

What's New in January for Kids, Teens, & Families

The holidays are behind us and January is a great time to get out and try something new! Check out these January offerings for Kids, Teens, & Families:

Teen Room Hours | Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays | 3 - 6 p.m. | Grades 7 - 12

Craft & Activity Kits for Kids & Teens | Weekly | Ages Vary

Sticker Art Mosaic for Families | Wednesdays, Jan. 12, 19, & 26 | All Day | Children & Families

Gaming in the Teen Room | Wednesdays, Jan. 12, 19, & 26 | 3 - 6 p.m. | Grades 7 -12

Trivia Thursday | Thursday, Jan. 13 | 3 - 6 p.m. | Grades 7 - 12

Moonlight Hike at Wilton Wildlife Preserve | Friday, Jan. 14 | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Children, Teens, & Families

Animal Tracking on Snowshoes at Wilton Wildlife Preserve | Monday, Jan. 17 | 1 - 2 p.m. | Ages 5+ with Adult

Let's Play! De-Stress Cart | Tuesday, Jan. 18 | 3 - 6 p.m. | Grades 7 -12

Dungeons and Dragons Online | Wednesday, Jan. 19 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Grades 6 - 12

Minute to Win It Madness | Tuesday, Jan. 25 | 3 - 6 p.m | Grades 7 - 12

The Saratoga Springs Area Preschool Fair Returns

Let us help you find the perfect

preschool for your child

The annual Saratoga Area Preschool Fair will be held in the Saratoga Springs Public Library's Children's Room from 10 a.m. - noon, Saturday, January 22. The Fair will include many area preschools. Information about the schools and their programs will be available, as will school representatives to answer questions. No registration is needed to attend. Masks are required for everyone two years of age and older.

Co-sponsored by: The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs and Saratoga Springs Public Library.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Intuitive Eating with Mariel Baron

Registered Dietitian, Mariel Baron, leads this 5-week workshop focusing on an intuitive eating. The intuitive eating philosophy guides people in developing a healthy relationship between food, mind, and body. It involves trusting our natural hunger, fullness, and satiety cues, encouraging food neutrality (all foods fit), having a positive and relaxed attitude about food, and experiencing joy and competence in eating. Each week will look at 2 different intuitive eating principles. Once you register, you will be registered for all 5 sessions in this series - Tuesdays, January 11 - February 8, 10 - 11 a.m. online with Zoom.

Volunteers Needed

Saratoga Springs Public Library is looking for volunteers to help at our greeter station. If you are friendly, outgoing, and would enjoy greeting our patrons as they walk through the door, please contact Jennifer Ogrodowski, Adult Services Department Head via email if interested by clicking this link.

Library Expanding Evening Hours

The library is open seven days a week. Both the Henry St. and Putnam St. entrances are open, and indoor seating is available. Beginning Monday, January 3rd, hours of operation will be 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon - 5 p.m. on Sunday.

At this time, all library visitors, employees, and volunteers must wear a face covering/mask at all times while in the building.

UPCOMING HOLIDAY HOURS

Martin Luther King Day - Monday, January 17 - Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For a full list of services and additional updates, please visit the Library Announcements section of our homepage at www.sspl.org. Click here for our most recent update.

Watch Us on YouTube!

Since the pandemic began, 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, 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