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December 2020 Newsletter

11/30/2020

News from Castleton Public Library - December 2020

Notes from Our Director:

We are here for you! Walk-ins are welcome at the library. Please note that the library is operating with limited services and at reduced capacity. Click here for what you'll need to know when visiting the library during this time. We also continue to offer curbside pick-up service for your convenience. Have questions about our services? Email director@castletonpubliclibrary.org or call 518-732-0879.

Do you love our take-home kits for kids and teens? We're offering even more this month! Starting Monday, 12/7, pick up our Cool Science: Snow Fluff Kit, our Take & Make Crafts: Animal Crafts Kit, and a special Winter Break Week Fun Pack! These kits will be available for easy walk-in or curbside pickup from December 7 through January 2. Especially for teens (6th-12th grades only, please), we're offering a Teen Time: Touchscreen Gloves Kit, also from December 7 through January 2. See below for a full list of our kits and our other events this month.

When you stop in the library or pick up your curbside order, don't forget to pick up a Castleton/Schodack Window Art Project: Snowflakes kit! It's for all ages to enjoy. We invite everyone in the community to create a snowflake and put it in their window for neighbors to see this winter. Use the materials in the kit, or use what you have at home. We'll have the kits available from November 30 through February 27. Let's see how many window snowflakes we can spot in the community this winter!

Are you interested in serving our community and helping to improve our library? The Castleton Public Library's Board of Trustees is currently seeking trustees to fill two vacancies on the Board. The Board is responsible for guiding funds, policies, and strategic planning for the library. The Board meets monthly; the total time commitment for Trustees is approximately two to three hours per month. To learn more about what it means to serve on our Board of Trustees, please attend the next Board meeting (via Zoom) on Monday, December 21 at 7:00 p.m. (email director@castletonpubliclibrary.org for meeting connection information) or send a letter of interest and resume to director@castletonpubliclibrary.org.

Best,

Melissa Tacke

Download our December Events Calendar as a PDF

Prerecorded Online Events - Available Anytime After Posting Date!

Virtual Storytime with Miss Joelle

New episode posted every Wednesday - 12/2, 12/9, 12/16, 12/23, 12/30.

Join Miss Joelle for a story and rhymes/songs that you can participate in at home! A new storytime video is posted every Wednesday. All videos are available on-demand to fit your schedule. The complete Virtual Storytime playlist can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/CPL-storytime

Food Art Challenge

Submit your photos from Dec. 7 through Dec. 21 to enter to win a prize!

Make something fun out of your food! Email photos of your creations to youthservices@castletonpubliclibrary.org and you’ll be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift certificate (we’ll draw 3 winners randomly!). For all ages. The deadline to send your photos is 12/21. Afterward, we’ll post a video showcasing all of the submissions on our YouTube channel on 12/30: https://tinyurl.com/CPL-YouTube

Cool Science at Home: Snow Fluff

Kit available for pick-up at the library from Dec. 7 through Jan. 2

Do you like playing and building with snow? In this month's science demonstration, we’ll make snow fluff with shaving cream and learn about the science behind real snow! How-to video and handout will be added to our Cool Science playlist on 12/7. Pick up the kit anytime from Dec. 7 through Jan. 2. Full playlist here: https://tinyurl.com/CPL-Science

Take & Make Crafts: Animal Crafts

Kit available for pick-up at the library from Dec. 7 through Jan. 2

We've got a variety of fun animal crafts that you can make at home! How-to video will be added to our Take & Make Crafts playlist on 12/7. Pick up the kit anytime from Dec. 7 through Jan. 2. Full playlist here: https://tinyurl.com/CPL-Crafts

Teen Time: Touchscreen Gloves Kit

Kit available for pick-up at the library from Dec. 7 through Jan. 2 (6th-12th grades only).

Do you want to be able to use your phone while wearing gloves? You can make your own touchscreen gloves! Teens in 6th-12th grades are invited to pick up a Touchscreen Gloves Kit at the library any time from Dec. 7 through Jan. 2, then watch the how-to video on our YouTube channel: https://tinyurl.com/CPL-YouTube

Local Music Showcase

Video posted on Monday, December 14

Enjoy an "open mic" experience anytime! Castleton/Schodack musicians play in this local music showcase. Video will be posted to our YouTube channel on 12/14: https://tinyurl.com/CPL-YouTube

Kids Cook: Homemade Butter

Video posted on Tuesday, December 15

In this month’s cooking session, we will learn how to make our own butter at home! The video will be added to our Kids Cook playlist on 12/15. The full Kids Cook playlist is at https://tinyurl.com/CPL-KidsCook.

Live Online & In-Person Events

Castleton/Schodack Community Window Art Project: Snowflakes!

Kit available for pick-up at the library from now through Feb. 27

Let’s create a community-wide snowflake window art project to enjoy this winter with our neighbors! You can make snowflake window art using materials in our Snowflake Window Art kit, or use what you have at home. We’ll have kits available for pick-up any time from now through February 27.

Friends of CPL Bottle & Can Drive

This fundraiser is ongoing!
Location: 6 Center Redemption, 550 South St., Rensselaer, NY 12144

This fundraiser is super-simple -- when you take your returnable bottles & cans to 6 Center Redemption, let them know that you’d like to donate to the Friends of Castleton Public Library.

Please do not bring bottle & can donations to the library. Thanks for your support!

Winter Break Week Fun Pack!

Fun Pack available for pick-up at the library from Dec. 7 through Jan. 2

Want some extra fun stuff to do during your break from school? Pick up one of our fun packs, which include a Cool Science experiment sheet, coloring sheets, puzzle sheets, and a scratch art notepad!

TED Talk Discussion Series

Tuesday, December 8, 8:00 p.m.

We'll watch 2 short TED talks on a shared theme, then discuss. For adults. Email director@castletonpubliclibrary.org for Zoom connection information.

Virtual Book Club: The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells

Tuesday, December 15, 8:00 p.m.

Join us for a discussion of The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. Everyone can borrow the eBook or digital audiobook at the same time using Hoopla! For adults. Email director@castletonpubliclibrary.org for Zoom connection information.

CPL Board of Trustees Meeting

Monday, December 21, 7:00 p.m.

December meeting of CPL’s Board of Trustees, held virtually. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Email director@castletonpubliclibrary.org for Zoom connection information.

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 director@castletonpubliclibrary.org for more information.

WiFi Outside Our Building

Our WiFi is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can access the public WiFi at the picnic table 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!

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November 2020 Newsletter

11/1/2020

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News from Castleton Public Library - November 2020

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Notes from Our Director:

Great news -- we'll be returning to our normal hours of operation starting Monday, November 2! Please note that the library is operating with limited services and at reduced capacity. Click here for what you'll need to know when visiting the library during this time. We also continue to offer curbside pick-up service for your convenience. Have questions about our services? Email director@castletonpubliclibrary.org or call 518-732-0879.

Are you interested in serving our community and helping to improve our library? The Castleton Public Library's Board of Trustees is currently seeking a trustee to fill a vacancy on the Board. The Board is responsible for guiding funds, policies, and strategic planning for the library. The Board meets monthly; the total time commitment for Trustees is approximately two to three hours per month. To learn more about what it means to serve on our Board of Trustees, please attend the next Board meeting (via Zoom) on Monday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. (email director@castletonpubliclibrary.org for meeting connection information) or send a letter of interest and resume to director@castletonpubliclibrary.org.

How can we better serve your needs during this time? We're looking for your feedback about our events and activities for the coming months. Click here to complete a short survey -- we would greatly appreciate your response!

Best,

Melissa Tacke

Download our November Events Calendar as a PDF

Prerecorded Online Events - Available Anytime After Posting Date!

Build-It Challenge!

Submit your photos from Nov. 2 through Nov. 23 to enter to win a prize!

We’ll post a video on Tuesday, December 1 to showcase all of the entries.

Do you love to build? Build an awesome creation using any kind of materials – Legos, wooden blocks, or anything you have around the house! Email photos of what you built to youthservices@castletonpubliclibrary.org and you’ll be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift certificate (we’ll draw 3 winners randomly!). For all ages. The deadline to send your photos is 11/23. Afterward, we’ll post a video showcasing all of the submissions on our YouTube channel on 12/1: https://tinyurl.com/CPL-YouTube

Cool Science at Home: Chromatography

Kit available for pick-up at the library from 11/2 through 12/5.

In this month's science exploration, learn about chromatography. What colors will you reveal in this experiment? How-to video and handout will be added to our Cool Science playlist on 11/2. Pick up the kit anytime from 11/2-12/5. Click here for our Cool Science at Home YouTube playlist.

Take & Make Crafts: Thanksgiving Crafts

Kit available for pick-up at the library from 11/2 through 12/5.

Get ready for Thanksgiving with an assortment of fun crafts, perfect for decorating your home or giving as a gift to a family member! How-to video will be added to our Take & Make Crafts playlist on 11/2. Pick up the kit anytime from 11/2-12/5. Click here for our Take & Make Crafts playlist.

Virtual Storytime with Miss Joelle

New episodes posted 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, 12/2.

Little ones can enjoy storytime with Miss Joelle anytime! A new storytime is added every Wednesday. Click here for our Virtual Storytime YouTube playlist.

Kids Cook: No-Bake Pumpkin Pie

New episode posted Tuesday, 11/10.

In this month’s cooking session, we learn how to make a quick, no-bake version of a fall favorite: pumpkin pie! The video will be added to our Kids Cook playlist on 11/10. Click here for our Kids Cook playlist.

Live Online & In-Person Events

Teen Time: Cocoa & Coloring

Kit available for pick-up at the library from 11/2 through 11/19 (teens in 6th-12th grades only).

November is the perfect time to drink hot cocoa and relax with some coloring! Teens in 6th-12th grades are invited to pick up a Cocoa & Coloring Kit at the library any time from 11/2 through 11/19. For bonus fun: join us for a live virtual session on Thursday, November 19 at 4:00 p.m. where you can sip cocoa, color, and chat. Email youthservices@castletonpubliclibrary.org for Zoom connection information.

Kids' Book Chat: Movies & TV Based on Books

Saturday, November 14, 1:00 p.m.

What is your favorite book that is also a movie or TV show? Was the movie as good as the book?
Kids ages 8-12 are invited to a live virtual book chat about books made into movies and TV shows. Let's talk about what you've been reading, watching, and listening to recently! Parents can join the discussion too. Email youthservices@castletonpubliclibrary.org for Zoom connection information.

CPL Board of Trustees Meeting

Monday, November 16, 7:00 p.m.

Monthly meeting of the CPL Board of Trustees. Members of the public are welcome to attend. A recording and full transcription of the meeting will be available at a later date. Please email director@castletonpubliclibrary.org for Zoom connection information.

TED Talk Discussion Series

Wednesday, November 18, 8:00 p.m.

Our TED Talk Discussion Series returns -- in virtual form! We'll watch 2 short TED talks on a shared theme, then discuss. For adults. Please email director@castletonpubliclibrary.org for Zoom connection information.

Virtual Book Club: Endure

Monday, November 23, 8:00 p.m.

Join us for a discussion of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance by Alex Hutchinson. Everyone can borrow the eBook or digital audiobook at the same time using Hoopla! For adults. Please email director@castletonpubliclibrary.org for Zoom connection information for the discussion.

Castleton/Schodack Community Window Art Project: Snowflakes!

Kit available for pick-up at the library from 11/30 through 2/28

Did you love this spring’s 518 Rainbow Hunt? Let’s create a community-wide snowflake window art project to enjoy this winter with our neighbors! You can make snowflake window art using materials in our Snowflake Window Art kit, or use what you have at home. We’ll have kits available for pick-up any time from November 30 through February 28.

Digital Library Resources

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December 2020 Newsletter

November 2020 Newsletter

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