In November, everyone is invited to stomp through the children’s room to see how many dinosaurs they can find hiding among the books. Young explorers can pick up their Dino Tracker Activity Sheets all month long. Complete the Tracker, turn it in, and choose a collectible prize. 

The mission of The Great Give Back is to provide opportunities for the patrons of the Public Libraries of New York State to participate in meaningful, service-oriented experiences.

For 2023, The Schenectady County Public Library will be collecting soap, body wash, **shampoo & conditioner, **haircare, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, diapers (ALL SIZES), baby wipes, & baby shampoo for the 518 Free Store. 518 Free Store was founded by Shalonda Faircloth in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic.The organization continues to encourage healthy communities through equitable support of BIPOC & LGTBQIA+ families directly impacted by poverty.  https://518freestore.org/home

Drop off donations at the bin located at the reference desk inside Central Library at 99 Clinton Street during hours of operation.

** We also kindly ask for the following unused, unopened and still current Ethnic Hair care product donations: Shea Moisture brand products,Cantu brand products, Maui brand products, Organix /ogx products, Jamaican Mango and Lime, Blue Magic products, Hair ties, Braiding hair/extensions, Spray bottles, Shower caps, Kids hair accessories (bobble, ribbons, barrettes, hair clips), Shampoo & Deep conditioners, Eco brand styling gel, Durags and bonnets, Satin pillow cases, Boar bristle brushes, Wide tooth combs, Edge control, Hair moisturizers, Oils (coconut oil, tea tree oil, castor oil, etc.), Blue Magic, Hair Mask & Hair butters, Hair Straighter / Curler/ Dryer. 

Due recent health concerns we will not be accepting relaxers or texturizer.

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 caregivers.

Play big! Engage in exploratory play, practice sharing and communicating, and build literacy through fun during this play hour for preschoolers.

For kids ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Registration required.

Snow Falling on Cedars

Ethan Hawke, James Cromwell, Max von Sydow, Youki Kudoh, Rick Yune; Universal Pictures; Directed by Scott Hicks; Rated PG-13; 128 minutes; 1999

An American journalist and World War II veteran takes a special interest in a racially motivated murder trial involving a former lover in the Pacific Northwest.

Seating is limited and will be first come, first serve. Food is prohibited at this event.

Fold and cut paper into amazing three-dimensional snowflakes. For kinds in Grades 2 – 5. Older kids welcome.

Learning English as a second language opens many doors for people and provides them with a variety of options they might not otherwise have. This course is designed for adult learners and helps individuals become more proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English. Offered for free through the Washington Irving Education Center for ages 21+.  
Call Washington Irving to register 518-370-8220. 

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. No registration required. Ages 18+ 

In November, everyone is invited to stomp through the children’s room to see how many dinosaurs they can find hiding among the books. Young explorers can pick up their Dino Tracker Activity Sheets all month long. Complete the Tracker, turn it in, and choose a collectible prize. 

The mission of The Great Give Back is to provide opportunities for the patrons of the Public Libraries of New York State to participate in meaningful, service-oriented experiences.

For 2023, The Schenectady County Public Library will be collecting soap, body wash, **shampoo & conditioner, **haircare, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, diapers (ALL SIZES), baby wipes, & baby shampoo for the 518 Free Store. 518 Free Store was founded by Shalonda Faircloth in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic.The organization continues to encourage healthy communities through equitable support of BIPOC & LGTBQIA+ families directly impacted by poverty.  https://518freestore.org/home

Drop off donations at the bin located at the reference desk inside Central Library at 99 Clinton Street during hours of operation.

** We also kindly ask for the following unused, unopened and still current Ethnic Hair care product donations: Shea Moisture brand products,Cantu brand products, Maui brand products, Organix /ogx products, Jamaican Mango and Lime, Blue Magic products, Hair ties, Braiding hair/extensions, Spray bottles, Shower caps, Kids hair accessories (bobble, ribbons, barrettes, hair clips), Shampoo & Deep conditioners, Eco brand styling gel, Durags and bonnets, Satin pillow cases, Boar bristle brushes, Wide tooth combs, Edge control, Hair moisturizers, Oils (coconut oil, tea tree oil, castor oil, etc.), Blue Magic, Hair Mask & Hair butters, Hair Straighter / Curler/ Dryer. 

Due recent health concerns we will not be accepting relaxers or texturizer.

Schenectady County Historian John Woodward will be available to answer questions and meet with any patrons looking for help with local history research from 10am-12:30pm. No registration required. 

Join the Glenville Book Club for a discussion of The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson.

A haunting novel spanning several generations, The Seed Keeper follows a Dakota family's struggle to preserve their way of life, and their sacrifices to protect what matters most.

Rosalie Iron Wing has grown up in the woods with her father, Ray, a former science teacher who tells her stories of plants, of the stars, of the origins of the Dakota people. Until, one morning, Ray doesn't return from checking his traps. Told she has no family, Rosalie is sent to live with a foster family in nearby Mankato--where the reserved, bookish teenager meets rebellious Gaby Makespeace, in a friendship that transcends the damaged legacies they've inherited.

On a winter's day many years later, Rosalie returns to her childhood home. A widow and mother, she has spent the previous two decades on her white husband's farm, finding solace in her garden even as the farm is threatened first by drought and then by a predatory chemical company. Now, grieving, Rosalie begins to confront the past, on a search for family, identity, and a community where she can finally belong. In the process, she learns what it means to be descended from women with souls of iron--women who have protected their families, their traditions, and a precious cache of seeds through generations of hardship and loss, through war and the insidious trauma of boarding schools.

Weaving together the voices of four indelible women, The Seed Keeper is a beautifully told story of reawakening, of remembering our original relationship to the seeds and, through them, to our ancestors.

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

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 kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Registration required.

Schenectady County historian, Bill Buell, will be available at Central Library from 10:00am-12:30pm to meet with anyone looking for help with local history research.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Please join us for one of our Stay and Play five-week series. This program encourages playing with your child, and talking with child experts!

For children ages 1-3 with a caregiver or parent.

Meet therapy dog Luna who would love to listen to you read a story. At 3:30 pm, Luna's mom will share a story with the group. For children in grades K-5 with an adult. Younger children are invited to attend the story time.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Share the holiday spirit with friends and neighbors during the Village of Scotia’s Holiday on the Avenue. Families are invited to join the library for story time, Santa letter-writing, and cookie decorating. Adult patrons, get in on the festivities too! Update your library card, learn about digital resources and programs, meet your librarian--and don't forget to stock up on books and movies for your holiday vacation!

Story time will take place in the main room at 2:15PM. Cookie decorating and our North Pole mail station will be available 2-5PM in the program room. All library services will be available at the check-out desk 2-5PM!

For patrons of all ages.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

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

For babies 0-12 months and their caregivers. Registration required.

Baby Cafe is a free drop-in service offering in-person breastfeeding/chestfeeding support for pregnant and/or new parents in the community. Siblings and partners welcome! Grab and go snack are provided.

Schenectady County Historian and former Daily Gazette reporter Bill Buell will sit down “In Conversation” with some of the most prominent figures in the Capital Region’s writing and history community:

Let off STEAM at the library! Join Margaret the Science Chef for an afternoon of all things flight. We'll learn about physical forces of flying and experiment with new designs for airborne objects.

For kids in grades 2-5 and their caregivers.

Learning English as a second language opens many doors for people and provides them with a variety of options they might not otherwise have. This course is designed for adult learners and helps individuals become more proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English. Offered for free through the Washington Irving Education Center for ages 21+.  
Call Washington Irving to register 518-370-8220. 

Schenectady County historian, Bill Buell, will be available at Central Library from 10:00am-12:30pm to meet with anyone looking for help with local history research.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Join us for a story time the whole family can enjoy! While the books, songs, and rhymes will be for 1 and 2 year olds, siblings are welcome.

For 1 and 2 year olds and their caregivers.
 

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 caregivers.

Kids 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 and virtually. A meeting link for remote participants will be sent a day before the event, so be sure to register to receive your link! Snacks will be served.

Join  Janine De Tillio Cammarata an award-winning author of seven books ranging from middle grade and young adult fantasy to non-fiction. She has over 30 years of experience with personal journaling and has been teaching creative writing and journaling for the past 20 years. 

In this workshop she teaches journaling in order to access memoir—moments in time that tell your story. Whether it’s family history, writing about specific life events, this workshop provides a space to tell the only story that matters—yours. When you tell your story, you understand your ancestors, view your life with perspective, and if you choose--provide a gift to loved ones that only you can give. No matter what brings you to this workshop, you’ll leave with a positive journaling practice and techniques to write memoir. No experience is needed.  Please bring pen and paper. Ages 18+

Must be able to attend all 4 classes. November 21, 28 and Dec. 5, 12

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

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 caregivers.

Play big! Engage in exploratory play, practice sharing and communicating, and build literacy through fun during this play hour for preschoolers.

For kids ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Registration required.

La La Land

Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, J.K. Simmons, Rosemarie DeWitt; Summit Entertainment; Directed by Damien Chazelle; Rated PG-13; 128 minutes; 2016

Winner of 6 Academy Awards® including Best Director for writer/director Damien Chazelle, and winner of a record-breaking 7 Golden Globe® Awards, LA LA LAND is more than the most acclaimed movie of the year — it’s a cinematic treasure for the ages that you’ll fall in love with again and again. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star as Mia and Sebastian, an actress and a jazz musician pursuing their Hollywood dreams — and finding each other — in a vibrant celebration of hope, dreams, and love.

Seating is limited and will be first come, first serve. Food is prohibited at this event.

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.

Let your heart grow three sizes as we make personalized How the Grinch Stole Christmas ornaments and read a festive story. Hot cocoa bar and snacks included.  For ages 5+ and their caregivers. Registration is required.

Learning English as a second language opens many doors for people and provides them with a variety of options they might not otherwise have. This course is designed for adult learners and helps individuals become more proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English. Offered for free through the Washington Irving Education Center for ages 21+.  
Call Washington Irving to register 518-370-8220. 

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. No registratio required. Ages 18+ 

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

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 kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Registration required.

Schenectady County historian, Bill Buell, will be available at Central Library from 10:00am-12:30pm to meet with anyone looking for help with local history research.

Grab a favorite book from the shelf at home and join the Quaker Street book club for a discussion of a book of your choice!

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

Join WMHT Public Television and Schenectady County Public Library for a program of family activities. Watch Bears Snore On, create your own puppet, and take home the Bears Snore On storybook. For pre-school kids - 2nd graders with their caregivers.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Please join us for one of our Stay and Play five-week series. This program encourages playing with your child, and talking with child experts!

For children ages 1-3 with a caregiver or parent.

Meet therapy dog Luna who would love to listen to you read a story. At 3:30 pm, Luna's mom will share a story with the group. For children in grades K-5 with an adult. Younger children are invited to attend the story time.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Take home the supplies for a masterpiece! Grab-and-go kits with supplies for making holiday cards and bookmarks will be available at the Central Library Children's Desk during the week of 12/11-12/16. Pick up your kit while supplies last and get creative!

For families with kids of all ages. No registration required.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Take home the supplies for a masterpiece! Grab-and-go kits with supplies for making holiday cards and bookmarks will be available at the Glenville library check-out desk during the week of 12/11-12/16. Pick up your kit while supplies last and get creative!

For families with kids of all ages.

Take home the supplies for a masterpiece! Kits for creating holiday cards and bookmarks will be available at the check-out desk during the week of 12/11, while supplies last.

For families with children of all ages. No registration required.

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

For babies 0-12 months and their caregivers. Registration required.

Miss Lisa leads babies, toddlers and preschoolers in this interactive music class. Kids will listen to songs, engage in creative movement, and use instruments to have fun with music. For children ages 0-5 with their caregivers. Registration required.

Join us for a story class for children in grades K-5 with an adult. Meet Bowie, the therapy dog, who would love to listen to you read a story.

Fold and cut paper into amazing three-dimensional snowflakes. For kinds in Grades 2 – 5. Older kids welcome.

Get into the winter spirit with the classic animated film The Snowman! While we watch, we’ll create Snowman scarves and enjoy cookies with cider. Add your scarf to a banner for the library!

For families with children of all ages. 

Learning English as a second language opens many doors for people and provides them with a variety of options they might not otherwise have. This course is designed for adult learners and helps individuals become more proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English. Offered for free through the Washington Irving Education Center for ages 21+.  
Call Washington Irving to register 518-370-8220. 

Schenectady County historian, Bill Buell, will be available at Central Library from 10:00am-12:30pm to meet with anyone looking for help with local history research.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Join us for a story time the whole family can enjoy! While the books, songs, and rhymes will be for 1 and 2 year olds, siblings are welcome.

For 1 and 2 year olds and their caregivers.
 

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.

**Today, we will have a special guest! Linda and her therapy dog, Genny. They will be in one of the library study rooms after the story time, so come say hello, if you like dogs or would like to meet one!**

For 0-5 children and their caregivers.

Join WMHT Public Television and Schenectady County Public Library for a program of family activities. Watch the Corduroy Bear story, make bear crafts, and carry home a Corduroy storybook, A Pocket for Corduroy. For Pre-school kids - 2nd graders.

A Baby Café is a free drop-in service offering in-person breastfeeding/chestfeeding support for pregnant and/or new parents in the community.

Siblings and partners welcome! Grab and go snacks provided.

Join us for a discussion of any book by New York Times best-selling author Marie Benedict.

 Marie Benedict is a lawyer with more than ten years' experience as a litigator at two of the country's premier law firms. She found her calling unearthing the hidden historical stories of women. She is the author of The Other Einstein, Carnegie's Maid, The Only Woman In The Room, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie and Her Hidden Genius. 

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

Join us for a discussion of The House In The Pines by Ana Reyes. 

Armed with only hazy memories, a woman who long ago witnessed her friend's sudden, mysterious death, and has since spent her life trying to forget, sets out to track down answers. What Maya uncovers, deep in the woods, is hardly to be believed....

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

Join us for a discussion of I Thought You Said This Would Work by Ann Garvin.

A road trip can drive anyone over the edge—especially two former best friends—in bestselling author Ann Garvin’s funny and poignant novel about broken bonds, messy histories, and the power of forgiveness.

Widowed Samantha Arias hasn’t spoken to Holly Dunfee in forever. It’s for the best. Samantha prefers to avoid conflict. The blisteringly honest Holly craves it. What they still have in common puts them both back on speed dial: a mutual love for Katie, their best friend of twenty-five years, now hospitalized with cancer and needing one little errand from her old college roomies.

It’s simple: travel cross-country together, steal her loathsome ex-husband’s VW camper, find Katie’s diabetic Great Pyrenees at a Utah rescue, and drive him back home to Wisconsin. If it’ll make Katie happy, no favor is too big (one hundred pounds), too daunting (two thousand miles), or too illegal (ish), even when a boho D-list celebrity hitches a ride and drives the road trip in fresh directions.

Samantha and Holly are following every new turn—toward second chances, unexpected romance, and self-discovery—and finally blowing the dust off the secret that broke their friendship. On the open road, they’ll try to put it back together—for themselves, and especially for the love of Katie.

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

Kids 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 and virtually. A meeting link for remote participants will be sent a day before the event, so be sure to register to receive your link! Snacks will be served.

Our December 12 is a Teen Writing Club Special Edition! Participants are invited to bring a used book wrapped or otherwise disguised, with a descriptive plot teaser on the front, for our holiday book swap.

The Mohawk Valley Library System is offering Digital Literacy for Beginners. This class covers the basics of creating and manipulating simple documents.  Includes highlighting text, formatting and saving. 

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+ 

Join  Janine De Tillio Cammarata an award-winning author of seven books ranging from middle grade and young adult fantasy to non-fiction. She has over 30 years of experience with personal journaling and has been teaching creative writing and journaling for the past 20 years. 

In this workshop she teaches journaling in order to access memoir—moments in time that tell your story. Whether it’s family history, writing about specific life events, this workshop provides a space to tell the only story that matters—yours. When you tell your story, you understand your ancestors, view your life with perspective, and if you choose--provide a gift to loved ones that only you can give. No matter what brings you to this workshop, you’ll leave with a positive journaling practice and techniques to write memoir. No experience is needed.  Please bring pen and paper. Ages 18+

Must be able to attend all 4 classes. November 14, 21, 28 and Dec. 5 

Job Assistance at The Library

A representative from Schenectady County Connects will be on-site to assist job seekers looking to gain employment or better their career. Services provided will include, but are not limited to: resume development, job search resources, job application assistance, career
counseling and referrals to other resources. 

Assistance to be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

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 caregivers.

Play big! Engage in exploratory play, practice sharing and communicating, and build literacy through fun during this play hour for preschoolers.

For kids ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Registration required.

The Proposal

Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen; Walt Disney Pictures; Directed by Anne Fletcher; Rated PG-13; 107 minutes; 2009

A tough, demanding businesswoman discovers that she's about to be deported back to Canada, forcing her to rush into a marriage of convenience with her young assistant in order to stay in the U.S. But the ruse becomes even more complicated when the two must visit his family in Alaska while posing as a couple.

Seating is limited and will be first come, first serve. Food is prohibited at this event.

Families who are homeschooling are welcome to come to this monthly program that aims to enhance your homeschooling experience! Kids and teens will also have time at the end of the program to engage and socialize with other students of similarly aged. During this edition of Homeschool Hour, Cornell Cooperative Extension will teach us how to create bokashi compost systems for our homes... using the power of microorganisms!

For families with kids and teens ages 5-16.

Make your own personalized pet treat container to gift to that special feline or canine in your life. All materials will be provided, as well as holiday snacks. For ages 5+ and their caregivers. Registration is required. 

Learning English as a second language opens many doors for people and provides them with a variety of options they might not otherwise have. This course is designed for adult learners and helps individuals become more proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English. Offered for free through the Washington Irving Education Center for ages 21+.  
Call Washington Irving to register 518-370-8220. 

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. No registration required. Ages 18+ 

Schenectady County Historian John Woodward will be available to answer questions and meet with any patrons looking for help with local history research from 10am-12:30pm. No registration required. 

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

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 kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Registration required.

Schenectady County historian, Bill Buell, will be available at Central Library from 10:00am-12:30pm to meet with anyone looking for help with local history research.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Please join us for one of our Stay and Play five-week series. This program encourages playing with your child, and talking with child experts!

For children ages 1-3 with a caregiver or parent.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Join Friends of the Library and community members in starting a musical celebration of the season. Our Holiday Sing-Along will be led by Malcolm Kogut and Janice Walz at 2:30 PM on Sunday, December 17.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library. All ages welcome! 

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Baby Cafe is a free drop-in service offering in-person breastfeeding/chestfeeding support for pregnant and/or new parents in the community. Siblings and partners welcome! Grab and go snack are provided.

Families who are homeschooling are welcome to come to this monthly program that aims to enhance your homeschooling experience! Kids & teens will also have time at the end of the program to engage and socialize with other similarly aged students. For kids & teens ages 5 - 16. Registration is required.

Data is defined as facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. Not only can data be used for decision making and supportive evidence for said decisions, but it can also be used to make an interesting artistic piece. Come to the library and make data beautiful!

Learning English as a second language opens many doors for people and provides them with a variety of options they might not otherwise have. This course is designed for adult learners and helps individuals become more proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English. Offered for free through the Washington Irving Education Center for ages 21+.  
Call Washington Irving to register 518-370-8220. 

Schenectady County historian, Bill Buell, will be available at Central Library from 10:00am-12:30pm to meet with anyone looking for help with local history research.

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Join the Niskayuna book club for a discussion of The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline.

The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Orphan Train returns with an ambitious, emotionally resonant novel about three women whose lives are bound together in nineteenth-century Australia and the hardships they weather together as they fight for redemption and freedom in a new society.

Seduced by her employer’s son, Evangeline, a naïve young governess in early nineteenth-century London, is discharged when her pregnancy is discovered and sent to the notorious Newgate Prison. After months in the fetid, overcrowded jail, she learns she is sentenced to “the land beyond the seas,” Van Diemen’s Land, a penal colony in Australia. Though uncertain of what awaits, Evangeline knows one thing: the child she carries will be born on the months-long voyage to this distant land.

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

Come to the library after school and catch a movie before dinnertime! We'll be showing The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) today. Jack Skellington is the Pumpkin King of Halloween but he's getting tired of the same old scares every year. By chance, he meets a jolly fellow named Sandy Claws, who shows him what the holiday season is about. Excited to show off his new skills he's learned from Mr. Claws, he tries to show it to his friends at Halloween Town but it will take them a while to understand that the holidays are not for scares and frights. Rated PG. For families with kids and teens. No registration required and snacks will be provided. 

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Gremlins

Zach Galligan, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain, Phoebe Cates, Polly Holliday; Warner Bros.; Directed by Joe Dante; Rated PG; 106 minutes; 1984

A boy receives an unusual pet that leads to incredible trouble when he fails to take care of it properly.

Seating is limited and will be first come, first serve. Food is prohibited at this event.

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.

Learning English as a second language opens many doors for people and provides them with a variety of options they might not otherwise have. This course is designed for adult learners and helps individuals become more proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English. Offered for free through the Washington Irving Education Center for ages 21+.  
Call Washington Irving to register 518-370-8220. 

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. No registration required. Ages 18+ 

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Schenectady County historian, Bill Buell, will be available at Central Library from 10:00am-12:30pm to meet with anyone looking for help with local history research.

Jennifer Hayden

NEEDS SMART TV/PODIUM/LAPTOP - will bring in flashdrive 

518-386-2067

jennifer.hayden@schenectadycountyny.gov

Ring in the year 2024 with a bag full of crafts, games and treats you can make at home with your family. Kits will be available for pick up from Dec 22 - 31, while supplies last.  For families with children of all ages. 

Run, run as fast as you can and grab your gingerbread body to decorate as your favorite book character. Pick up your gingerbread body template at the Children’s Desk at Central or the circulation desk at Mont Pleasant starting Dec 1. Decorate him/her using any fun, crafty materials, return it to the library, and we’ll display it in the library; and you’ll also be given a Golden Ticket to enter a raffle for chance to win a fun prize. A winner in each age group will be chosen Tuesday, January 2nd. Entry Categories are: Preschool (age 3) - 2nd grade, 3rd - 5th grade, 6th - 8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

All library locations closed.