The Library will be closed New Year's Day, Friday, January 1, 2021

Want to know why there is a big ball drop in Times Square? Check out this link from Smithsonian.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/heres-why-we-celebrate-new-years-eve-dropping-ball-180957698/

 Our holiday books are on display!

We will be here for our regular hours Christmas week, but will close at 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and we will be closed on Friday, December 25, Christmas Day. We wish everyone Happy Holidays. Be safe and be well.

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

  BOOK DISCUSSION

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 AT 6:00 P.M.

"THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES"

By Sue Monk Kidd

 Come join the discussion.

This is an IN-PERSON event. 

Masks and social distancing required.

 BOOK DISCUSSION

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 AT 6:00 P.M.

What have you been reading? Come join the discussion and tell us about it.

There was no assigned book. 

This is an IN-PERSON event. 

Masks required.

 Go to our Face Book page to hear Mrs. Fralick read this book. 

Then come to the library to pick up a free craft kit just like you would do here at Story Time.

 Last chance to pick up craft bags with coloring pages and crayons for "A Color of His Own." Tomorrow we start to work on another book with librarian, Mrs. Fralick.

 MANY THANKS to all who made our Great Book Giveaway so successful. We had willing help from volunteers including faithful patrons, staff and board members. And, we had many visitors who came and restocked their shelves with our books and left generous financial donations. Lobby books are back for those who couldn't be there Saturday. We are open our regular hours, M 10 - 1, T 3 - 8, W 3 - 8, Th 10 - 6, F 3 - 8 and S 10 - 1. There are also some leftovers from Saturday in the Community Room. Browsers are welcome. Please follow the rules listed on the table in the lobby.

 NEW DATE FOR THE ANNUAL GREAT BOOK GIVEAWAY!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, FROM 9 A.M. TO 2 P.M. BY APPOINTMENT OR WAIT IN LINE

Sharon Springs Free Library GREAT BOOK GIVEAWAY, Saturday, August 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. rain or shine! All Covid 19 precautions will be observed including masks, hand sanitizing, social distancing and limits on the number of people allowed at any given time (a family counts as one unit). You can call to reserve a twenty minute time slot (518) 284-3126 or just wait for a turn. You must wait in your vehicle until admitted. Volunteers are needed to set up and move boxes of books that Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The first six volunteers who call will automatically be given their choice of a 9:00 to 9:20 a.m. slot for morning volunteers or a 1:40 to 2:00 p.m. slot for afternoon volunteers. Take home as many books, dvds or games as you can carry to your car in twenty minutes. Cash donations are welcome. 

PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY MATERIALS (BOOKS, DVDS, CDS OR GAMES) TO THE GREAT BOOK GIVEAWAY. DUE TO COVID, WE CAN NOT ACCEPT ANY MATERIAL DONATIONS. 

Free webinar: We Are the Alexandria Library Sit-In

In 1939, five Black men walked into the all-white Alexandria (Va.) Library and asked for library cards. When they were turned down, each of them silently took a seat and began reading.

Learn how the library commemorated the 80^th anniversary of this historic protest in a free webinar from ALA’s Public Programs Office / Programming Librarian.

“ALA’s Excellence in Library Programming Award Presents: We Are the Alexandria Library Sit-In”

Wednesday, August 5, 1-2 p.m. Central Time - Cost: Free

+Register for the webinar: https://programminglibrarian.org/learn/excellence-library-programming-award-presents-we-are-alexandria-library-sit

+Read a Q&A with the library director https://programminglibrarian.org/articles/doing-right-history-we-are-alexandria-library-sit

Go to our Face Book page to see JoAnn Fralick present online storytime with "A Color of His Own" by Leo Lionni. She has prepared simple craft kits to go with the story. Pick one up at the library for each child who will be watching.

We put out the OPEN flag Monday July 13 at 10:00 a.m. We owe a big thank you to the folks at Run By Dogs for supporting our efforts to open with an offer to provide whatever we needed. We also have to thank the patrons who have waited so patiently and went along with our restrictions for curbside pick up. We will continue to provide that service for anyone who prefers it. Masks and social distancing are required in the library to protect you and our staff, and we ask that you recognize that we are not yet able to be open for programming, visiting, extended browsing or lengthy computer use. Hand sanitizer is available as you enter and we request that you use it before handling any library materials. Please do not reshelve. If you take an item off the shelf but decide you don't want it, please place it on our cart. Computer keyboards have been covered for easy cleaning. Please do not remove the covers.

Come on in. Grab as many books as you can carry and up to five dvds. It's been a long four months.

We have good news from the computer wizards who work electronic magic and from our school district. The wizards figured out at way to integrate the Sora app that students use in school with Overdrive which accesses the collections of our libraries. The wise folks in the Sharon Springs School District have signed on to this integration to give students this access. You can access a (reportedly lengthy) webinar for more details at https://company.overdrive.com/k-12-schools/sora…

Welcome back to the library! 

We will be opening the doors for our regular hours on Monday, July 13 for “Grab and Go” browsing and limited computer use. Patrons are encouraged to come into library to choose a book or movie with masks and social distancing rules observed. Hand sanitizer will be available when you come in and we hope you will use it before handling any materials. Please do not reshelve any books or materials once you have touched them. Just place them on the cart for us to quarantine.  All returns must be dropped in the Drop Box on our porch. We have arranged three computers six feet apart for use with covered keyboards. Each area will be cleaned after each use. We will not be scheduling in person programming until later, but we will continue to post resources on our Face Book page and blog site. Right now, we want to make our collections available to you. We have posted signs that will keep us in compliance with New York State regulations. Please abide by these to protect other patrons and our staff.

Some materials from other libraries have begun to circulate. We will continue to provide curbside service for anyone who chooses not to come in past the lobby.

We are looking forward to seeing your masked face, and we hope to be able to continue to maintain almost normal operations for the foreseeable future. We will resist the urge to hug you when we see you.

The library will be closed on Saturday, July 4 in honor of Independence Day commemorating the success of the not-so-peaceful protestors who won our independence. Please watch this page and  our Facebook page for updates regarding our curbside service. We hope the library will be open  for limited browsing in a matter of a few weeks.

METRO's Anti-racism Book Club
Monday, June 29, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Recent events have more than demonstrated that our city, our state, and our country have a lot of work to do to ensure that basic freedoms extend to all. It's imperative that everyone shoulders part of the work toward creating a better reality for all marginalized groups.
We're hosting our first Anti-racism Book Club Meeting on Monday, June 29 at 4:00pm. We will be reading So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo.
Our book club will focus on guided discussion questions and will take place in breakout rooms so that everyone has a chance to share.
Please note that this meeting will be limited to 30 people.
Register here.

“Reading and Talking about Race: An Intro to ALA’s Great Stories Club (Part 1: Deeper Than Our Skins)"

A free webinar from ALA’s Public Programs Office / ProgrammingLibrarian.org Tuesday, June 30 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. Central Time Registration required: https://programminglibrarian.org/learn/reading-and-talking-about-race-intro-ala%E2%80%99s-great-stories-club-part-1-deeper-our-skins This webinar will consider the following titles: "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, "The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano" by Sonia Manzano, "Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices," edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale, "The Shadow Hero" by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Sonny Liew, "Mother of the Sea" by Zetta Elliott, "Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A." by Luis J. Rodriguez

Here is a resource for FREE anti-racist training available through June 30. Check it out.

https://www.driep.org/anti-racism-training

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HAVE A PROUD AND HAPPY JUNETEENTH! 5
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CELEBRATE SAFELY
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Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Join the Juneteenth Yard Sign Campaign Yard Sign Campaign From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.  General Order Number 3 One of General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with: "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer." The celebrations that followed the reading of the proclamation by General Gordon Granger began a tradition that has lasted for one hundred and fifty five years, and today is hosted in cities across America and beyond. The JUNETEENTH.com website is dedicated to this celebration and to those who tirelessly contribute to its continued existence and growth. For information regarding this website, contact us via email or call: 504 242-4691

Here is a link to the School Library Journal's list of antiracist resources for all ages.
http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2020/06/02/antiracist-resources-and-reads-lists-for-all-ages/
Please make use of this critically important information.

Book Club is back.
No, not in person, but virtually. We have chosen a book for May/June that we can all read online. E..M. Forster's classic, "A Room with a View" is not available through regular library channels but can be obtained from a number of sites including Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org), Google Books (books.google.com) and Spark Notes (www.sparknotes.com which also includes background information and analysis of the text.) We will also have a few paperback copies we can make available. We will read a few chapters each week. Comments can be shared on our Face Book page. For 5/27, we are reading chapters 1-4.
It is a story of two young British ladies on vacation in Florence, and it opens with a dinner scene in which they decry the fact that the rooms they have been given don’t have a view of the Arno. Enter the melancholy hero and his father, who offer up their rooms with a view, thus offending the sensibilities of the two Edwardian cousins. Published in 1908, the novel is a delightful romance with a blatant critique of English society and a window into its changing times. Links will be posted on our Sharon Springs Face Book page and blog site (http://shslib.blogspot.com). Send an email to HThomas1@mvls.info if you need assistance accessing the book.

STORY TIME EVERY DAY!…Check out

daybydayny.org for professionally-produced story time every day. Past books have ranged from “Animally” to “Zelda and Ivy and the Boy Next Door.” May is Animals month, so each book will have something to do with animals. The site also has a person singing and acting out a song and the printed words to go along, as well as “Explore More” tips and a link to Tumblebooks Read Online book of the day. There are also tabs for Arts & Crafts, Be Healthy, Fun Museums in NY and Read with Me.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schoharie and Otsego Counties is giving free hand sanitizer and face masks to farmers and agribusinesses next Wednesday and Thursday (5/20 and 5/21) 9am-noon, at the South Entrance Gate at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds. This is part of a partnership with State Ag & Markets. Farmers are asked to register in advance if possible at CCESchoharie-Otsego.org with their contact information and the estimated amount they need to make sure there’s enough supplies available. Farmers need to wear their own face covering and bring their own pen. For more information, email CCE at Schoharie@Cornell.edu.

The library remains closed according to New York State Guidelines. We look forward to the time when we can open, and we will let you know when that will be as soon as we know. Stay home. Stay safe.

Here is a link to a full-text 24-page book for children to share about the coronavirus from the publisher, Nosy Crow:

https://nosycrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Coronavirus_INSwith-cover.pdf

WE HAVE LEFT SOME FREE BOOKS ON THE PORCH ALONG WITH SOME SHEETS OF RESOURCES.

PLEASE HELP YOURSELF TO THE FREE NOVELS AND CHILDREN’S BOOKS AND TAKE ONE OF THE RESOURCE SHEETS. NONE OF THE BOOKS HAS CIRCULATED SINCE BEFORE DECEMBER, AND LIBRARY STAFF HAVE HANDLED THEM CAREFULLY, SO THEY HAVE NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THEM AND DO NOT DROP ANY OTHER BOOKS HERE. THANK YOU. STAY SAFE. WE MISS YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE YOU AND SHARE BOOKS AND MOVIES AGAIN.

As of Tuesday, March 17th, library will be closed until further notice, and all library-sponsored activities have been canceled. No fines will be charged for materials while we are closed. Hold requests are not currently being processed throughout the MVLS system. Consequently, the April book discussion has been canceled.

The Great Book Giveaway has been postponed and the new date will be announced when determined. We are not able to accept book donations at this time, but will publicize when we can.

You can use Libby to borrow electronic materials instantly on any device. Download the Libby app. Find your library. Enter your library card number. The “Library” tab lists what you can borrow. The “Shelf” tab will show what you download. Kindle readers use Overdrive and search for loans through the MVLS site (under Quick Links, Borrow ebooks & audiobooks).

Our wifi is on 24/7 and does not require a password. You can access it from outside of the building.

Please check our Facebook page for updates, or call the library (518) 284-3126 to hear our status on the message.

If you have any questions, please email HThomas1@mvls.info

Especially now, facts matter. Check your sources. Believing or spreading rumors or conspiracy theories can be dangerous to your and others’ health. Be safe.

Clive Eric Cussler (July 15, 1931 – February 24, 2020) was an American adventure novelist and underwater explorer. His thriller novels, many featuring the character Dirk Pitt, have reached The New York Times fiction best-seller list more than 20 times

Cindy Howell of The Spiral Connection will be teaching us how to make gemstone bead earrings and a pendent. Saturday, February 29th from 10 a.m to 1:00 p.m. at the library. All materials and training are absolutely free, and you go home with a beautiful set you made yourself. Call now to reserve your space. (518) 284-3126. The class is limited to 12 participants. This free event is sponsored by an MVLS Dream and Do grant.

Save the Date!

A representative from Congressman Antonio Delgado's office will be here Monday, 2/3/2020 from 10 a.m. to noon to answer your questions or discuss your concerns.

Book Discussion Friday, February 14 at 6:00 p.m.

"Into the Wilderness" by Sara Donati

The sled dogs are coming!

Free outdoor presentation by Run by Dogs

Saturday Jauary, 18, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

behind the library.

Friday, January 10 at 6:00 p.m. Book Discussion 

"Calling Me Home" by Julie Kibler.