Kick off the Summer Reading Program by registering for the challenge, check out our raffle baskets you could win at the end of the Summer and compete in our first Lego Building Competition solo or as a team. Build the coolest ocean creature for the Children's Room aquarium of Lego Curiosities, and library visitors will decide who gets first, second, and third place. Participants will receive a raffle ticket towards the summer raffle basket prizes. 

For families with children up to age 17. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Meet with trained tutors to prepare for the US Citizenship Interview and Exams.
For more information or to register contact Ann Hatke at Lwvcitizen@gmail.com

Totally tubular! Flash back to the 90s with a giant-size project kit. Make friendship and snap bracelets, and tell fortunes for your friends with a paper "cootie catcher." Kits with supplies are available for pick-up starting 7/5, with an instructional video available 7/7. Participants will need a plastic 12-oz bottle for the recycled snap bracelet project. Visit the Central, Glenville, Quaker Street, Rotterdam, and Scotia branch libraries to grab your kit while supplies last!

For kids and teens grades 6-12.

Schenectady County Public Library is inviting its patrons to participate in a Schenectady County History Show & Tell Video Series! This program is part oral history and part antiques road show.  

How it works:

1. Fill out the google form below telling us about your object. Items must have historical value to Schenectady.

 2. We select objects and schedule a time for you to come in.

3. Bring in your item and discuss it with our history experts. 

The footage collected will be edited into a video series to be premiered at the end of the summer!

https://forms.gle/nSyNAhT5B1sc37jz5

Come check out our early literacy stations in the programming room, including a story time! We will have books previously selected for check out and a craft station every week! Activities and play stations will be different each week. 

For 0-5 children and their caregiver. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Bring your Nintendo Switch and games, or use our joycons to play with friends outside and under our Gaming tent. Games on hand that we can play together include Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Pokemon Unite, and Just Dance 2021.

For kids in grades 5-12, but younger kids are welcome with parent supervision. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Come get messy in the garden at Rotterdam - make some foam slime to take home and pick up your summer reading prizes!

For kids in grades 4 - 8. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Join us as we kick-off our summer reading program events at the Schenectady Central Park, 500 Iroquois Path, Schenectady, NY 12309, with Jim Snack the Magician.

For families with children up to the age of 17.

Join local award winning naturalist and author, Anita Sanchez, in this hands-on program that will introduce little ones to the animals that use puddles as a habitat. We'll meet some puddle-loving creatures, including snails and water insects, and have some close-up experience with mud. Anita will also be reading her newest picture book, Hello, Puddle! and other titles from the library that relate to these creatures and their habitat, will be displayed and available to check out.

For children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. This program will be held outside, weather permitting, and in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Join us for a story time the whole family can enjoy!  While the books, songs, and rhymes will be targeted at ages 18 months -- 36 months, older and younger siblings are welcome!

This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh; Marvel; Directed by Destin Cretton; PG-13; 132 minutes; 2021 

Based on the Marvel Comics character, this film follows the superhero's transition from childhood to adulthood. Trained in hand-to-hand combat by his infamous father, he begins to realize his final battle may be against the man that raised him in this action adventure.

Food is prohibited at this event.

Join the Cornell Cooperative Extension in this six-week healthy living series. Educator Rhonda Downs uses the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) to teach participants about making healthy food choices on a budget. Participants will receive teaching tools and recipes in this series. Ages 18+

Food Safety - Make Beef Bean & Macaroni Chili and receive meat and refrigerator thermometers.

Bring your current craft project to this social group to work on, meet new people and learn new skills.  From knitting to quilting, and everything in between, we can help each other begin and complete craft projects. Join us and let's get crafty together.

Join us for Finding Nemo - a movie the whole family can enjoy!  Relax, sit back and watch; or create a simple movie-themed craft during the film.

For children ages 3 and up, and their caregiver.  This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

*Food is prohibited at this event.  Registration Required.

Finding Nemo

Alexander Gould, Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Williem Dafoe, Barry Humphries; Directed by Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich; G; 100 minutes; 2003

An overprotective clown fish named Marlin is desperate to find his missing son, Nemo. During his search, Marlin enlists the help of a forgetful blue tang, and they head for Sydney. It's rumored that a fishnapped Nemo is living there in a dentist's aquarium.

Make keychains, magnets and jewelry out of shrinky dinks!

For children and tweens in grades 4 - 8. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols. 

Puppets are a great way to tell storiess. At this program each participant will create their own rod puppet. The puppet is made out of a wooden spoon, and a fabric body with moveable arms and head. The participants will have a variety of supplies to create their characters, such as feathers, yarn, felt, floam and googly-eyes. Everyone gets to choose a story to re-enact at home for your family.

For children in grades 1-4. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Whether you’ve been doing it forever or just starting out, bring your written words to this volunteer run community group and receive feedback from fellow wordsmiths as time permits.

Join us as we countdown to Comic Con by making a personalized super hero cape while learning some basic sewing skills. Basic supplies will be provided. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

For kids in grades K-5. Younger children welcome with a parent or guardian to assist with the project.This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

This week's theme: The Coral Reef

Join us for an afternoon of fun with hands-on crafts and/or activities centered around each week's Ocean theme.  Dress for mess!

For children ages 5-12, and their caregiver.  This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Snakes, lizards, and frogs, oh my! Come to the Collins Park Lions Pavilion to learn about reptiles with Uncharted Wild.

For families with children up to age 17. This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Free admission to our 6th Electric City Comic Con.  Our family friendly Comic Con is a perfect opportunity for people of all ages to meet Awesome Artists and Writers in our Artist Alley or to take a stroll down Comics Commons and see a variety of local vendors.  Be sure to check the schedule for exciting workshops, programs and much more!  Don't forget your best cosplay customs for our annual Cosplay Customs Contest for children and adults!

10:00 am - 4:00 pm - Kids Craft - Children's Room

10:00 am - 4:00 pm - Photobooth 

10:00 am - 4:00 pm - Artist Alley and Comic Commons Open

10:30 - 11:15 - Sound Visualization - Drawbstacle Demonstration - McChesney Room  Visualization

10:30 - 11:15 - Superhero Stretch for kids under 12 - Slater Room

11:00 - 12:00 - Balloon Twisting - Swords - Children's Room

12:00 - 1:00 - Creating your Cosplay: Wigs - Demonstration and Q & A - McChesney Room

1:00 - 1:45 - Superhero Stretch for kids under 12 - Slater Room

1:30 - 2:30 - Balloon Twisting - Swords - Children's Room

1:30 - 2:30 - Graphic Novels - Not the Enemy Panel - McChesney Room

3:00 - 4:00 - Cosplay Costume Contest - McChesney Room

Meet with trained tutors to prepare for the US Citizenship Interview and Exams.
For more information or to register contact Ann Hatke at Lwvcitizen@gmail.com

Schenectady County Public Library is inviting its patrons to participate in a Schenectady County History Show & Tell Video Series! This program is part oral history and part antiques road show.  

How it works:

1. Fill out the google form below telling us about your object. Items must have historical value to Schenectady.

 2. We select objects and schedule a time for you to come in.

3. Bring in your item and discuss it with our history experts. 

The footage collected will be edited into a video series to be premiered at the end of the summer!

https://forms.gle/nSyNAhT5B1sc37jz5

Bring your baby and bounce along to songs, rhymes, and stories! Learn about early literacy resources and connect with other caregivers.

For children up to 12 months and their caregivers. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Daniel Tiger Movie, craft and free book for children grades PreK- Gr. 2. This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols. 

An amazing form of composting is called vermicomposting. These little helpers turn food scraps into incredibly nutritious compost. During this class, join Cornell Cooperative Extension's Schenectady Recycles to learn about the life cycle of worms and how they do what they do. Prepare to get your hands dirty and meet the worms!

For children in grades k-6. This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Puppets are a great way to tell storiess. At this program each participant will create their own rod puppet. The puppet is made out of a wooden spoon, and a fabric body with moveable arms and head. The participants will have a variety of supplies to create their characters, such as feathers, yarn, felt, floam and googly-eyes. Everyone gets to choose a story to re-enact at home for your family.

For children in grades 1-4. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Come explore the power of your breath in a yoga flow! The breath impacts everything from posture to mental, emotional and physical health to the power of the voice. While moving through basic postures learn how the breath animates us, soothes us, connects us with the heart, strengthens the body and gives us a voice. Through breath and movement, you will connect with your breath and body in a whole new way. Wear comfortable clothing and bring water and a yoga mat if you have one. Suitable for beginners on up! Ages 18+
 

Come check out our early literacy stations in the programming room, including a story time! We will have books previously selected for check out and a craft station every week! Activities and play stations will be different each week.

For 0-5 children and their caregiver. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Come and play with your child at our fun and engaging sensory play stations!  Sensory play activities stimulate your preschooler's senses and encourage brain development, open-ended thinking, fine motor skill building, and language learning.  Activities may vary week to week.  Dress for mess!

For children ages 3-5 and their caregivers.  This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Visit with a certified lactation specialist in this free drop-in program providing breastfeeding support for pregnant and/or new parents in the community. Join us in-person or virtually on Zoom from your home.

Zoom link information:
https://tinyurl.com/2p95atkn
Phone:1-646-558-8656
Meeting ID:869 1811 9191
Passcode:806095

For more information or questions, please contact Sarah A. Tice, PHN, IBCLC at Sarah.tice@schenectadycounty.com

Join us for a discussion of the book The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. 

New book club members are always welcome. Request a copy of the books online or at any SCPL location.

1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes.

Join us for a discussion of the book The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (pp 1-278).

New book club members are always welcome. Request a copy of the books online or at any SCPL location.

In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the work farm where he has just served a year for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett’s intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother and head west where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden’s car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett’s future.
Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view, Towles’s third novel will satisfy fans of his multi-layered literary styling while providing them an array of new and richly imagined settings, characters, and themes. 

In this collaborative activity with MiSci (Museum of Inovation & Science) in Schenectady, participants work together to solve a series of challenges grounded in real science about living and doing research on the Moon. Participants will assume the role of an astronaut at an outpost on the Moon. Challenges are based on scientific concepts connected to lunar exploration. As the team conducts research, a moonquake causes significant damage to the life support systems and survival requires teamwork. Can you work together to quickly restore the systems needed to survive?

For kids in grades 2 - 6. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Do you love mermaids? Pirates? Narwhals?  Create a Ocean themed light for your bedroom or favorite outdoor space using mason jars, shells, sea glass, animal figurines, and more!

For tweens and teens grades 6 - 12.  This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Adult coloring nights are the perfect opportunity to unwind by yourself or with friends over a cup of coffee and some colored pencils. Bring your own coloring books or use our fun stash of books, pens, markers and colored pencils. Ages 14+ 

Register for an appointment with a librarian for personalized reference assistance that is uninterrupted. Book a twenty-minute one-on-one session to get assistance in the use of library resources including database use, digital lending, or help with basic computer software skills. 

Choose an area(s) that you need assistance with when completing registration by typing in the field: 

• Internet Basics  
• Computer Software Help (Microsoft Word or Excel) 
• Genealogy Resources 
• Online Databases (Please list specifics) 
• Digital Lending Assistance (Hoopla or Libby) 
• Email Basics

Please note that the library does not provide medical, legal, investment, or tax advice; however, staff will be happy to show you resources that can help with these topics. The library staff do not offer maintenance or troubleshooting of personal devices.  

Calling all preschoolers! Come to a deep dive with Ms. Lisa’s Music with some familiar favorites and new music just for the summer programs. We’ll sing, dance, and play instruments together while we explore Oceans of Possibilities together.

For 0-5 children and their caregiver. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Join us for a story time the whole family can enjoy!  While the books, songs, and rhymes will be targeted at ages 18 months -- 36 months, older and younger siblings are welcome!

For children birth - 5 and their caregivers (best for ages 18 months - 36 months).  This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocals.

For children grades prek-3 and their caregivers. This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Oceans

Join the Cornell Cooperative Extension in this six-week healthy living series. Educator Rhonda Downs uses the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) to teach participants about making healthy food choices on a budget. Participants will receive teaching tools and recipes in this series. Ages 18+

Planning With My Plate - Make 3 Bean Salad and receive a cutting board.

Come get messy at the picnic table outside - make some foam slime to take home and pick up your summer reading prizes!

 For kids in grades 4 - 8. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Join us for a fun afternoon of LEGO building in our program room!  Projects will remain at the library, so bring your camera!

For children in grades K - 5.  This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady county COVID-19 protocols.

Whether you’ve been doing it forever or just starting out, bring your written words to this volunteer run community group and receive feedback from fellow wordsmiths as time permits.

Join us for an afternoon at the circus as Scott amazes us with juggling, acrobatics, and other circus theatrics. Kids will also have a chance to try out the mini bike, balance board and hula hoops.

For families with children of all ages. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Join us for this beginner class in how you can use Hoopla and/or Libby to access thousands of books, audiobooks, magazines, and other streaming media such as movies and music. All you need is a wifi enabled device and your Schenectady County Public Library card.
 

Come check out our early literacy stations in the programming room, including a Story Time! We will have books previously selected for check-out and a craft station every week. 

For children aged 0-5 years and their caregivers. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Calling all preschoolers!  Come to a deep dive with Ms. Lisa's Music.  With some familiar favorites and new music just for the summer programs, we will sing, dance, and play instruments together while we explore Oceans of Possibilities together.

Ages 0-5 with caregiver.  This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Calling all Pokemon fans! Come out and spend the day searching, drawing and catching Pokemon.

1pm - 2pm: Scavenger Hunt

2pm - 3pm Roll-A-Dice with C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios

3:30pm - 4 Pokemon Raid - meet on Jay St. outside of the Open Door Bookstore. Don't play Pokemon Go? Stop at the Children's Room to make a Bobble Head Pokemon,

This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Join us for a discussion of the book Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe.

New book club members are always welcome. Request a copy of the books online or at any SCPL location.

New York Times bestselling author and journalist Anderson Cooper teams with New York Times bestselling historian and novelist Katherine Howe to chronicle the rise and fall of a legendary American dynasty—his mother’s family, the Vanderbilts. Written with a unique insider’s viewpoint, this is a rollicking, quintessentially American history as remarkable as the family it so vividly captures.

This week's theme: Pirates and Mermaids

Join us for an afternoon of fun with hands-on crafts and/or activities centered around each week's Ocean theme.  Dress for mess!

For children ages 5-12, and their caregiver.  This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Join Audrey Kupferberg, a film and video archivist and appraiser, in this film comedy series. She is lecturer emeritus and the former director of Film Studies at the University at Albany and co-authored several entertainment biographies with her late husband and creative partner, Rob Edelman.

American comedy films of the Twentieth Century have appealed to mainstream audiences throughout the history of motion pictures. Much of their popularity has depended upon character development and the situations into which those characters have been placed. As American lifestyles and tastes changed through the decades, so did comedy.

In the silent film era of the teens and twenties, the American Dream is a strong theme. Characters reflect the desire to find romance and true love, a comfortable economic level of lifestyle, and a sense of fulfillment in daily tasks. Box office stars Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd (each in a unique way) developed characters who demonstrated these longings. Women were less apt to star in silent comedies, although females who were considered rather homely sometimes were relegated to comedy. In a divergence from that trend, lovely Mabel Normand starred in Max Sennett comedies.

Funding for this program has been made possible by the American Rescue Plan Humanities Grants for Libraries through National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

Octopuses and Jellyfish and Starfish, Oh My!  Grab and go Kits will include ocean animal themed activities and crafts.  The kits will be available for pick up at Central, Mont Pleasant, and Bornt Libraries, while supplies last.

A plant-based lifestyle does not come with a set of rules, but there is a certain rule of thumb when it comes to balanced nutrition. Join a Hannaford Dietitian and learn which foods are plant-based and naturally nutritious. Take home some recipes to help get you started. Ages 18+

Sing, play, and listen to stories about Community Gardens with a SCPL librarian at the Vale Urban Garden. Stay after the story time to tour the garden, pet the bunnies and feed the chickens. In case of inclement weather, story time will take place at the Central Library at 10:30 am.

Vale Urban Garden is located at the second entrance to Vale Cementary on N. Brandywine Ave.

For kids 0-5 and their families.

Join us for a story class for children in Grades K-5 with an adult. Meet therapy dogs, Maddy, Ali or Sweetie who would love to listen to you read a story.

This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Explore several ways children can practice being healthy, mentally sharp and physically strong with My Daughters and Me founder, Shavonne. Kids will be planting seeds, making fruit juice and practicing a super yoga stretch. Dress for mess and for flex.

For kids in grades K-5. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Meet with trained tutors to prepare for the US Citizenship Interview and Exams.
For more information or to register contact Ann Hatke at Lwvcitizen@gmail.com

Register for an appointment with a librarian for personalized reference assistance that is uninterrupted. Book a twenty-minute one-on-one session to get assistance in the use of library resources including database use, digital lending, or help with basic computer software skills. 

Choose an area(s) that you need assistance with when completing registration by typing in the field: 

• Internet Basics  
• Computer Software Help (Microsoft Word or Excel) 
• Genealogy Resources 
• Online Databases (Please list specifics) 
• Digital Lending Assistance (Hoopla or Libby) 
• Email Basics

Please note that the library does not provide medical, legal, investment, or tax advice; however, staff will be happy to show you resources that can help with these topics. The library staff do not offer maintenance or troubleshooting of personal devices.  

Join the Director Michael Kennedy of Whitewashed: The Racism Project for a showing and discussion of the film.  The film premiered as a stage production in September 2019 and performed locally to sold out houses until live performances were halted due to COVID-19.  Whitewashed: The Racism Project examines the history and ongoing impact of racial oppression in America, and is the result of a year of collaborative writing and rehearsing by a cast of local Black actors and activists.

Whitewashed: The Racism Project features Shirey Archie, Danielle Colin, Diaka Kaba Hill, Zoe Lewis, Aaron Moore, and Siobhan Shea, and is directed by Michael Kennedy, with cinematography by Jamel Mosely.

Funding for this program has been made possible by the American Rescue Plan Humanities Grants for Libraries through National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

What's your sign? Astrology enthusiasts can create a striking zodiac embroidery using the simplest stitches. Kits with all necessary supplies will be available for pick-up starting 7/18, with an instructional video available 7/21. Visit the Central, Glenville, Quaker Street, Rotterdam, and Scotia branches to pick up your kit while supplies last.

For kids and teens grades 6-12.

Schenectady County Public Library is inviting its patrons to participate in a Schenectady County History Show & Tell Video Series! This program is part oral history and part antiques road show.  

How it works:

1. Fill out the google form below telling us about your object. Items must have historical value to Schenectady.

 2. We select objects and schedule a time for you to come in.

3. Bring in your item and discuss it with our history experts. 

The footage collected will be edited into a video series to be premiered at the end of the summer!

https://forms.gle/nSyNAhT5B1sc37jz5

Calling all preschoolers! Come to a deep dive with Ms. Lisa’s Music. With some familiar favorites and new music just for the summer programs, we’ll sing, dance, and play instruments together while we explore Oceans of Possibilities together.

Ages 0-5 with caregiver. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Visit with a certified lactation specialist in this free drop-in program providing breastfeeding support for pregnant and/or new parents in the community. Join us in-person or virtually on Zoom from your home. 

Zoom link information:
https://tinyurl.com/2p95atkn
Phone:1-646-558-8656
Meeting ID:869 1811 9191
Passcode:806095

For more information or questions, please contact Sarah A. Tice, PHN, IBCLC at Sarah.tice@schenectadycounty.com

The ocean holds many mysteries! Participants will learn about diverse life-forms, from plankton to whales. Discover underwater habitats, learn how humans help protect ocean life, and take home a Sea Anaglyph puzzle.

For children grades K-5. This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Calling all preschoolers! Come to a deep dive with Ms. Lisa’s Music. With some familiar favorites and new music just for the summer programs, we’ll sing, dance, and play instruments together while we explore Oceans of Possibilities together.

Ages 0-5 with caregiver. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Join local award winning naturalist and author, Anita Sanchez, in this hands-on program that will introduce little ones to the animals that use puddles as a habitat. We'll meet some puddle-loving creatures, including snails and water insects, and have some close-up experience with mud. Anita will also be reading her newest picture book, Hello, Puddle! and other titles from the library that relate to these creatures and their habitat, will be displayed and available to check out.

For children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. This program will be held outside, weather permitting, and in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

National Geogeraphic movie: Coral Reefs, craft, and free book for children grades PreK - Grade 2.  

This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Join Reptile Adventure at Rotterdam's Eunice O. Esposito Park ,1160 Fayette Dr, Rotterdam, and see their amazing animals! For families with children up to the age of 17.

Join us for a discussion of the book Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe.

New book club members are always welcome. Request a copy of the books online or at any SCPL location.

New York Times bestselling author and journalist Anderson Cooper teams with New York Times bestselling historian and novelist Katherine Howe to chronicle the rise and fall of a legendary American dynasty—his mother’s family, the Vanderbilts. Written with a unique insider’s viewpoint, this is a rollicking, quintessentially American history as remarkable as the family it so vividly captures.

Join Astronomer and Meteorologist Joe Rao for this virtual presentation where he will explore the many questions of Astrometeorology. For ages man has attempted to make sense of the changing aspects of the Sun, Moon and their possible influence on our ever-changing weather. Can a lack of sunspots ultimately lead to a trend toward colder temperatures? Can the changing phases of the Moon and its distance from Earth lead to stormy periods? Or do the movements of the planets have any control over our climate and weather? Can we really put any credence in the forecasts that are issued annually by such publications as the Old Farmer’s Almanac, or by other so-called long-range weather experts? The answers may surprise you!
*Register for Zoom link.

Register for an appointment with a librarian for personalized reference assistance that is uninterrupted. Book a twenty-minute one-on-one session to get assistance in the use of library resources including database use, digital lending, or help with basic computer software skills. 

Choose an area(s) that you need assistance with when completing registration by typing in the field:

• Internet Basics  
• Computer Software Help (Microsoft Word or Excel) 
• Genealogy Resources 
• Online Databases (Please list specifics) 
• Digital Lending Assistance (Hoopla or Libby) 
• Email Basics

Please note that the library does not provide medical, legal, investment, or tax advice; however, staff will be happy to show you resources that can help with these topics. The library staff do not offer maintenance or troubleshooting of personal devices.  

Come check out our early literacy stations in the programming room, including a story time! We will have books previously selected for check out and a craft station every week! Activities and play stations will be different each week. 

For 0-5 children and their caregiver. This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Join us for a story time the whole family can enjoy!  While the books, songs, and rhymes will be targeted at ages 18 months -- 36 months, older and younger siblings are welcome!

For children birth - 5 and their caregivers (best for ages 18 months - 36 months).  This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Calling all preschoolers! Come to a deep dive with Ms. Lisa’s Music. With some familiar favorites and new music just for the summer programs, we’ll sing, dance, and play instruments together while we explore Oceans of Possibilities together.

Ages 0-5 with caregiver. This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Earth

James Earl Jones, Patrick Stewart; DisneyNature; Directed by Mark Linfield; G; 90 minutes; 2007 

Narrated by James Earl Jones, this stunning nature documentary from Disney spotlights how creatures on Earth live, survive and thrive over the course of a given year. Using state-of-the-art cameras and technology, the filmmakers focus on various different geographical locations, as well as a plethora of animal species. In order to maintain a family-friendly feeling, the film avoids portraying the more brutal aspects of the animal kingdom. 

Food is prohibited at this event.

Join the Cornell Cooperative Extension in this six-week healthy living series. Educator Rhonda Downs uses the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) to teach participants about making healthy food choices on a budget. Participants will receive teaching tools and recipes in this series. Ages 18+

Vegetables & Fruits, More Matters - Make Fruit & Yogurt Smoothies and receive a kitchen timer.

Bring your current craft project to this social group to work on, meet new people and learn new skills.  From knitting to quilting, and everything in between, we can help each other begin and complete craft projects. Join us and let's get crafty together.

Join us for a special showing of The Shark Riddle - a half hour shark film for the whole family - featuring HD footage of over 20 shark species.  Shark themed craft and activities will follow the showing of this entertaining and educational film.

For children ages 5 and up and their caregiver.  This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

*Food is prohibited at this event.  

The Shark Riddle

Michael Miersma, Laura Sams, Robert Sams; Directed by Laura Sams and Robert Sams; 27 minutes; 2011

What is the biggest shark in the ocean, and what do its teeth look like? That is the mysterious riddle that The Riddle Solvers must figure out. Join their adventure through the pages of a magical journal to solve this riddle and meet a raucous group of singing sea lions, experience the underwater game show Are You a Shark?, hear a shark lullaby, go to shark camp and discover the powerful and magnificent world of sharks. This charming and hilarious look at the ocean's top predators has received 'two fins up' from sharks everywhere!

Join us for a fun afternoon of LEGO building in our program room! Projects stay at the library, so bring your camera!

For children K-5 and their caregivers. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Whether you’ve been doing it forever or just starting out, bring your written words to this volunteer run community group and receive feedback from fellow wordsmiths as time permits.

Lightweight and fun! iPhone and iPad make surfing the web, checking email, playing games, watching movies, and taking pictures so easy and convenient. Bring your own device or just come to observe.
 

The whole family can shake, spin and cut loose while following a fun dance routine led by Miss Latisia from Move 2B Moved. Come dressed to flex, and bring a water bottle.

For families with children up to age 11. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Explore the Via Aquarium--in your own backyard! Visit the Niskayuna Community Center Park at 2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna  to meet friendly aquatic invertebrates in a hands-on setting. Via Aquarium staff will discuss sea life ecology and introduce participants to fun fish including starfish, urchins, Horsehoe crabs, ocean conservation, and more! 

Join the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for a family fishing clinic! This program will be held outdoors, weather permitting, in Collins Park at the lake. Participants will be introduced to the basics of fishing in New York by knowledgeable DEC staff. Bring your own fishing pole or check one out of the Scotia Branch Library's collection, and prepare to cast off!

For families with children up to age 17. This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Young Adventurers explore the library in search of mysterious trails, hidden clues, secret messages, and baffling riddles that lead to a pirate's buried treasure!  

For kids in grades 2 - 9. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

This week's theme: Invertebrates - Jellyfish and Octopuses

Join us for an afternoon of fun with hands-on crafts and/or activities centered around each week's Ocean theme.  Dress for mess!

For children ages 5-12, and their caregiver.  This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Join us for a fun afternoon of LEGO building in our program room! Projects stay at the library, so bring your camera!

For kids in grades K-5. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Come play anime related games or make kawaii crafts! For teens 11-17. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Join Audrey Kupferberg, a film and video archivist and appraiser, in this film comedy series.  She is a lecturer emeritus and the former director of Film Studies at the University at Albany and co-authored several entertainment biographies with her late husband and creative partner, Rob Edelman.

American comedy films of the Twentieth Century have appealed to mainstream audiences throughout the history of motion pictures. Much of their popularity has depended upon character development and the situations into which those characters have been placed. As American lifestyles and tastes changed through the decades, so did comedy.

The Great Depression and the years of America’s participation in World War II brought about the popularity of escapist comedy. This trend was best demonstrated in screwball comedies, many of which were romantic comedies. Hollywood stars such as Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Jean Arthur, Gary Cooper, Ginger Rogers, William Powell, and Myrna Loy starred in these genre pictures which stressed the importance of love relationships and often made wealthy folks seem silly and undeserving of their comforts. As the War years began, comedy plots became more empathetic. Characters found themselves in situations that reflected the separation of families, the military life, and in general the U.S. participation in the War. Preston Sturges was a master writer/director of this sub-genre.

Funding for this program has been made possible by the American Rescue Plan Humanities Grants for Libraries through National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

Sing, play, and listen to stories about planting seeds and garden helpers with a SCPL librarian at the Vale Urban Garden. Stay after the story time to tour the garden, pet the bunnies and feed the chickens. In case of inclement weather, story time will take place at the Central Library at 10:30 am.

Vale Urban Garden is located at the second entrance to Vale Cementary on N. Brandywine Ave.

For kids 0-5 and their families.

Meet with trained tutors to prepare for the US Citizenship Interview and Exams.
For more information or to register contact Ann Hatke at Lwvcitizen@gmail.com

Register for an appointment with a librarian for personalized reference assistance that is uninterrupted. Book a twenty-minute one-on-one session to get assistance in the use of library resources including database use, digital lending, or help with basic computer software skills. 

Choose an area(s) that you need assistance with when completing registration by typing in the field:

• Internet Basics  
• Computer Software Help (Microsoft Word or Excel) 
• Genealogy Resources 
• Online Databases (Please list specifics) 
• Digital Lending Assistance (Hoopla or Libby) 
• Email Basics

Please note that the library does not provide medical, legal, investment, or tax advice; however, staff will be happy to show you resources that can help with these topics. The library staff do not offer maintenance or troubleshooting of personal devices.  

Join local author James M. Odato in his presentation of his biography about Lucy Gwin "This Brain Had a Mouth: Lucy Gwin and the Voice of Disability Nation". Gwin was an author, advocacy journalist, disability rights activist, and "Mouth" magazine founder. She produced 102 editions of acerbic, biting, sometimes funny and often revealing articles about people from the wide spectrum of the disability community, what Gwin called the largest minority group in the United States. Gwin's story is one of a complicated and adventurous feminist who weathered hardships, obstacles, and tragedies to crusade for her vision of social justice. Following Odato's discussion about the book he will be available for book signing. 

Schenectady County Public Library is inviting its patrons to participate in a Schenectady County History Show & Tell Video Series! This program is part oral history and part antiques road show.  

How it works:

1. Fill out the google form below telling us about your object. Items must have historical value to Schenectady.

 2. We select objects and schedule a time for you to come in.

3. Bring in your item and discuss it with our history experts. 

The footage collected will be edited into a video series to be premiered at the end of the summer!

https://forms.gle/nSyNAhT5B1sc37jz5

Oceans of Possibilities summer reading craft project for children grades PreK- Gr.3. 

Jellyfish windsock: Create a jellyfish made for the wind, made from fabric and other household items! It’s the perfect upcycling craft! This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.  

Follow the life cycle of paper; we’ll learn where it begins and find a way to keep using it! Making paper gives shredded documents a new life, and we can make it into a new notebook, a poster, and more! Join Cornell Cooperative Extension's Schenectady Recycles in reusing and recycling in a creative way.

For tweens and teens grades 6-12. This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Calling all preschoolers! Come to a deep dive with Ms. Lisa’s Music with some familiar favorites and new music just for the summer programs. We’ll sing, dance, and play instruments together while we explore Oceans of Possibilities together.

For 0-5 children and their caregiver. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Come and play with your child at our fun and engaging sensory play stations!  Sensory play activities stimulate your preschooler's senses and encourage brain development, open-ended thinking, fine motor skill building, and language learning.  Activities may vary week to week.  Dress for mess!

For children ages 3-5 and their caregivers.  This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Visit with a certified lactation specialist in this free drop-in program providing breastfeeding support for pregnant and/or new parents in the community. Join us in-person or virtually on Zoom from your home.

Zoom link information:
https://tinyurl.com/2p95atkn
Phone:1-646-558-8656
Meeting ID:869 1811 9191
Passcode:806095

For more information or questions, please contact Sarah A. Tice, PHN, IBCLC at Sarah.tice@schenectadycounty.com

Join us for a discussion of the book The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.

New book club members are always welcome. Request a copy of the books online or at any SCPL location.

Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated. With its breakneck pacing, dizzying plot twists, and evocative family drama, The Last Thing He Told Me is a riveting mystery, certain to shock you with its final, heartbreaking turn.

Explore the states of matter with some super cold chemical ice!  participants watch as objects are frozen before their eyes, bubbles float on an invisible bed, and clouds of gas erupt from the lab table.  Learners also observe the process of sublimation, where a solid becomes a gas without first becoming a liquid.

For children and tweens grades 2 - 8.  This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady county COVID-19 protocols. 

Kids in grades 4 - 8 are welcome to join local artist Melody Often to make your own clay turtle to take home! Check out a book about turtles at our library to get some inspiration! 

Teens in grades 6-12 that love to write are invited to join.  We usually pick a writing prompt, do some writing, and then share; but sharing is not mandatory.  We are very welcoming to new members.  This club meeting will be held in person at the Niskayuna Branch Library and snacks will be served.

This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.

Join CREATE Community Studios for a summer flower paint-a-long.  Participants will be provided with the materials and guidance to create an acrylic sunflower painting.  We encourage you to come with a quote or saying you'd like to add as a personal touch to your final piece! Ages 18+

Register for an appointment with a librarian for personalized reference assistance that is uninterrupted. Book a twenty-minute one-on-one session to get assistance in the use of library resources including database use, digital lending, or help with basic computer software skills. 

Choose an area(s) that you need assistance with when completing registration by typing in the field:

• Internet Basics  
• Computer Software Help (Microsoft Word or Excel) 
• Genealogy Resources 
• Online Databases (Please list specifics) 
• Digital Lending Assistance (Hoopla or Libby) 
• Email Basics

Please note that the library does not provide medical, legal, investment, or tax advice; however, staff will be happy to show you resources that can help with these topics. The library staff do not offer maintenance or troubleshooting of personal devices.  

Come check out our early literacy stations in the programming room, including a story time! We will have books previously selected for check out and a craft station every week! Activities and play stations will be different each week. 

For 0-5 children and their caregiver. This program will be held in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

Join us for a story time the whole family can enjoy!  While the books, songs, and rhymes will be targeted at ages 18 months -- 36 months, older and younger siblings are welcome!

This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocals.

*Registration Required.

Join local award winning naturalist and author, Anita Sanchez, in this hands-on program that will introduce little ones to the animals that use puddles as a habitat. We'll meet some puddle-loving creatures, including snails and water insects, and have some close-up experience with mud. Anita will also be reading her newest picture book, Hello, Puddle! and other titles from the library that relate to these creatures and their habitat, will be displayed and available to check out.

For children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. This program will be held outside, weather permitting, and in accordance with Schenectady County Covid-19 protocols.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run

Matt Berry, Reggie Watts, Tim Hill, Clancy Brown, Jill Talley; Paramount Pictures; Directed by Tim Hill; PG; 96 minutes; 2020 

When Gary turns up missing, SpongeBob believes that his pet has been stolen. With the help of his pal Patrick, SpongeBob ventures to the Lost City of Atlantic City to rescue his pet. Along the way, flashbacks reveal when the bond between SpongeBob and Gary first blossomed.

Food is prohibited at this event. 

Join the Cornell Cooperative Extension in this six-week healthy living series. Educator Rhonda Downs uses the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) to teach participants about making healthy food choices on a budget. Participants will receive teaching tools and recipes in this series. Ages 18+

Planning for Your Food Shopping Trip - In this last class, we'll make a Healthy Corn Dip and receive a shopping bag and EFNEP Cookbook.

The ocean holds many mysteries! Participants will learn about diverse life-forms, from plankton to whales. Discover underwater habitats, learn how humans help protect ocean life, and take home a Sea Anaglyph puzzle.

For children grades K-5. This program will be conducted in accordance with Schenectady County COVID-19 protocols.