April 2026 Newsletter

News from Castleton Public Library - April 2026 View this email in your browser Notes from Our Director:  Spring is here! Come celebrate the season by borrowing one of our museum passes for a day trip, or learning and having fun at one of our classes and events for children and teens during the school break from April 3 through 12.  The Friends of the Castleton Public Library will also be holding two fundraisers to benefit the library this month (see events calendar below for full details):       Breakfast Fundraiser - Sat., 4/18, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Rensselaer Elks Lodge      Bottle and Can Drive - Sat., 4/18 through Sat., 4/25      Also, save the date for the Friends of CPL's popular Plant Sale on Sat., May 16! In celebration of Earth Day, the 6th grade Sustainability Club at Castleton Elementary School has created a Sustainability Bingo Card for kids and teens to complete this month! Kids and teens who complete 2 or more bingos and turn in their card by Thursday, April 30 will get a coupon for a free ice cream cone, courtesy of Stewart's Shops! Bingo cards can be picked up at the library any time in April.  Have you checked out the Art Collective with Schodack Central Schools exhibit yet? Be sure to visit and check it out! The art gallery (our Community Room) will be open on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Call the library at 518-732-0879 to inquire about other times you can stop in to see the exhibit. Please stop in to check out the amazing artwork being created by children and teens in our community! Best, Melissa Tacke, Library Director Download our April calendar as a PDF Our Take-Home Kits Take & Make Craft Kit: Torn Paper Rainbows Pick up anytime Saturday, April 4. Use torn paper art to make your own rainbow replica! Take & Make Craft Kit: Earth Day Mosaic Door Hanger Pick up anytime from Monday, April 6 through Saturday, May 2. Create a paper mosaic Earth to become a decoration for Earth Day! Weekly Events Learn & Play Storytime Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. - April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.  Children from birth to age 5 are invited to enjoy stories, rhymes, music, and movement! Our Other Events Art Collective with Schodack Central Schools - Gallery Hours Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through May 31 Join us in celebrating student artwork as it's showcased gallery-style in our Community Room! Gallery hours include Fridays from 10:00am-6:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00am-4:00pm. Call the library at 518-732-0879 anytime for other availability to view the Art Collective. Drop-In Tech Help   Thursday, April 2, 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. Stop in anytime with tech questions that our on-site tech guru can help to answer. April Showers Umbrella Craft Friday, April 3, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Prepare for April showers with a fun and colorful folded paper umbrella craft! Candy Sushi Saturday, April 4, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Unleash your inner sushi chef and craft candy into edible art! Recommended for ages 8 and up. Job Seeker Help with Rensselaer County Career Center Monday, April 6, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Looking for a new job or fresh career path? Rensselaer County Career Center is here to help! Professional career services include resume development, interview preparation, job search assistance, and career assessment. Cardboard Tube Spring Banner Monday, April 6, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Turn everyday recyclables into party decor! Create a custom pennant banner using cardboard tubes, paint, and simple craft supplies. Make it say a name, a celebration, or anything you like. All materials provided. After Dinner Book Club Monday, April 6, 7:00 p.m. Join us the first Monday of each month for a book discussion! This month's selection is The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue. Books are available at the front desk. Family Game Day   Tuesday, April 7, 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. Join us at the library for family game day! We'll have Bananagrams, Jenga, Connect 4, and Sorry set up for a day of tabletop gaming! Taxpayer Assistance w/NYS Dept. of Taxation and Finance   Tuesday, April 7, 12:00-7:00 p.m. Get tax help and file for free! Tax Department employees will guide you step-by-step as you complete your own tax returns at no charge using secure online tax software. If your 2025 federal adjusted gross income was $89,000, you qualify to receive free assistance. To register, visit tax.ny.gov/tap/calendars/bookings-castleton-public-library.htm Yoga for Kids   Wednesday, April 8, 1:00 p.m. Recommended for ages 3-9. Jen from Prancing Pony Yoga will be here to host story-based yoga for kids at the library! Open Mic Night   Wednesday, April 8, 6:00 p.m. Musicians & poets - come share your talents! All ages welcome to perform and to watch. Everyone's Birthday Party! Storytime   Thursday, April 9, 10:30 a.m. Join us for a super special storytime where we will celebrate everyone's birthday with help from our friend Elmo! Birthday party guests will receive a birthday treat and a goody bag to take home! Supplies for this event were generously provided by WMHT and MVP Healthcare. NYS Citizens Preparedness Corps Training Program   Thursday, April 9, 11:00 a.m. For adults. This course will teach you to have the tools and resources to prepare for natural and man-made disasters, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. DIY Pin Pop-up   Thursday, April 9, 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Design your own pin and turn it into a wearable work of art! Awesome Owls with Schodack Island State Park   Friday, April 10, 12:00 p.m. Learn about owls with Troy from Schodack Island State Park and explore what makes this winged friend so awesome! Tissue Paper Flowers   Saturday, April 11, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Make your own amazing and fluffy tissue paper flower to take some to celebrate spring! All ages welcome; children under 7 years will need adult assistance.  Legomania   Sunday, April 12, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. We'll have our big bins of Legos out for this all-day build-a-thon! Fiber Arts Workshop   Monday, March 9, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. For adults and teens 16+. Join us for our monthly Fiber Arts Workshop! Whether you're new to knitting and crochet or a seasoned fiber artist, this is the perfect place to share and create in a friendly environment. All skill levels welcome! Yarn and hooks/needles are available to beginners. Afternoon Book Club   Wednesday, April 15, 1:00 p.m. Join us the third Wednesday of each month for a book discussion! This month's selection is Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. Books are available at the front desk.  Friends of CPL Meeting   Wednesday, April 15, 6:30 p.m. Want to help support and raise funds for the library? Come join the Friends! All are welcome. Cook with Me: Fruity Frozen Yogurt Bites   Friday, April 17, held on the hour at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00.  Starts on the hour at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00. Learn how to make this healthy snack with a delicious twist in our monthly caregiver and child cooking class! Friends of CPL Breakfast Fundraiser   Saturday, April 18, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Location: Rensselaer Elks Lodge 2073, 683 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, NY 12061.   Enjoy breakfast while you help benefit the library! Cost is $14.00 for a full breakfast of 2 eggs, bacon or sausage, home fries, pancakes, and a beverage. Children age 12 and under eat for $6.00. Marble Run Fun   Saturday & Sunday, April 18 & 19, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Build a unique maze for a marble to go through, then drop a marble in and watch it work! Teen Scene: Friendship Bead Bracelets   Monday, April 20, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. For teens in 6th-12th grades. Meet a friend at the library and create one-a-kind bead bracelets! CPL Board of Trustees Meeting   Monday, April 20, 7:00 p.m. Monthly meeting of the library's Board of Trustees. Members of the public are welcome to attend.  Film Screening: The Librarians   Tuesday, April 21, 6:00 p.m. For adults. Join us as we screen The Librarians, a new documentary. Across the U.S., librarians face the impact of uniting against library collection standards that include restrictions on race-related and LGBTQIA+ content. Drawing on historical context, The Librarians explores the broader implications for education and public life. This documentary film screening is made possible by Indie Lens Pop-Up. Paws to Read   Wednesday, April 22, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Join us for some reading practice with a certified therapy dog! Our friendly pup creates a calm, happy space for young readers. Practice reading aloud and enjoy furry encouragement! Registration is encouraged but walk-ins will be accepted if time permits. Registration opens on April 1 at https://tinyurl.com/PawstoReadCPL Paint a Mini Flower Pot   Saturday, April 25, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Join us to welcome in the warmer weather by designing a unique mini flowerpot that can house your growing flowers all the days of Spring! Chalk the Walk   Sunday, April 26, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Help bring some color to our front walkway! We have plenty of chalk - bring your imagination. Magic Flashlight Art   Monday, April 27, 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. Learn how to illuminate your art with this cool trick! Adult Sewing Class Series: Sew a T-shirt Quilt (3 of 4)   Monday, April 27, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Turn your favorite shirts into a cozy, one-of-a-kind quilt! Join us for a four-part adult sewing series where you’ll learn how to prepare, cut, arrange, and stitch together a memory-filled T-shirt quilt. Whether you’re a seasoned sewist or a complete beginner, this hands-on class will guide you through each step—from stabilizing fabric to assembling your finished quilt top. All materials provided; bring your own beloved T-shirts to transform. Write Your Life: Memoir Writing for Adults Wednesday, April 29, 6:30 p.m. In this monthly workshop-style class, we will complete writing exercises that spark creativity and share our own pieces with the group in an effort to hone the craft of storytelling. Little Ones Playtime   Saturday & Sunday, May 2 & 3, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Little ones ages birth to 5 years are invited to drop in any time on Saturday or Sunday to play with a special assortment of fun toys geared toward young children. Digital Library Resources Check Out Our Digital Collections! The Upper Hudson Library System hosts a great collection of ebooks, digital audiobooks, digital magazines, and streaming video, resources for research, and more! Click here to visit our page about digital resources.  Borrow a WiFi Hotspot Did you know that we loan WiFi hotspots? They can be borrowed for 14 days -- all you need is your library card! Hotspots are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can only be checked out and returned at CPL. Call 518-732-0879 or email [email protected] for more information.  WiFi Inside & Outside Our Building Our WiFi is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can access the public WiFi on the front lawn, or alongside the building on Stimpson Avenue (the signal is strongest near the front of the building). Just look for the network called "Castleton Public Library." There's no password to connect!  Copyright © 2026 Castleton Public Library, All rights reserved.