Shop at the Book House 12/3, 6-9 pm & support Friends of APL

The Friends of the Albany Public Library provides weekly programming for the Albany Public Library at its Washington Avenue branch, plus other programs throughout the system. FAPL donates money to the Summer Reading Program, and has purchased items for the library not in its budget, such as a piano and lecturn.

A portion of the receipts from the Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza on Thursday, December 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. will be donated the Friends, allowing them to augment APL programs and services. Author Peter Golden is generously giving of his time to help in the effort.

Light refreshments will be served.

Book review by Casey Seiler of Butcher's Crossing by John Williams, Tues, Nov 17.

Tuesday, November 17. Book review of Butcher's Crossing by John Williams. The Times Union's noted columnist Casey Seiler will present this gritty story of the fate on the Western Plains of the iconic American Bison or buffalo. Find out what famous New York State institution was instrumental in helping to save the bison from extinction. Light refreshments are served at 11:30 am and our speaker is introduced at 12:15 pm. Always free and open to the public. Please join us on November 17th and every Tuesday for a stimulating presentation and then participate in the lively discussion and Q & A to follow.

Lydia Davis Will Receive 2016 Hadada Award from the Paris Review

Mark your calendars: on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at Cipriani 42nd Street, The Paris Review will honor Lydia Davis with the Hadada Award at our annual gala, the Spring Revel.

The Hadada is our lifetime-achievement award, presented each year to a distinguished member of the writing community who has made a strong and unique contribution to literature. Previous recipients include John Ashbery, Joan Didion, Paula Fox, Norman Mailer, Peter Matthiessen, George Plimpton (posthumously), Barney Rosset, Philip Roth, Norman Rush, James Salter, Frederick Seidel, Robert Silvers, and William Styron.

It’s only fitting that Lydia Davis should join their ranks.

More from the Paris Review

"Through the Looking Glass" at Pine Hills Branch

Albany Public Library's winter art exhibition -- "Through the Looking Glass" -- debuts Friday, Nov. 6, with a special opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Pine Hills Branch.

The exhibition features whimsical and imaginative works by artists Zach Austin, JoAnne Carson, Emily Dorr, and Ingrid Ludt. Jessica Cone, APL's art coordinator, curated the exhibition.

We hope you join us for the opening reception, which is free and open to the public and features live music as well as light refreshments.

"Through the Looking Glass" remains on display during regular hours at the Pine Hills Branch (517 Western Ave.) through March 26.

The Spirit of New York: Author talk by Bruce W. Dearstyne, Tues, Nov 10.

Tuesday, November 10. Author talk by Bruce W. Dearstyne. Mr. Dearstyne will discuss his book The Spirit of New York: Defining Events in the Empire State's History. This should be a most informative presentation. Light refreshments are served at 11:30 am and our speaker is introduced at 12:15 pm. Always free and open to the public. Please join us on November 10th and every Tuesday for a stimulating presentation and then participate in the lively discussion and Q & A to follow.

FRIENDS OF THE APL PROGRAMS FOR TUESDAYS IN DECEMBER, 2015

161 Washington Avenue at noon

December 1—Book Review—The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck. Reviewer: Marggie Skinner of the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.

December 8—Special Program—Gifts for Grandchildren: What’s New in Children’s Books. Moderator: Mary Beth Earley, MLS, Head of Youth Services, APL.

December 15— Book Review—Anonymous Soldiers: The Struggle for Israel, 1917-1947 by Bruce Hoffman. Reviewer: Gene Damm, treasurer & past president of the Friends of APL.

December 22—Holiday Concert by The Albany High School Choir, directed by Brendan Hoffman.

December 29— Book Review---In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides. Reviewer: Jonathan Skinner, PhD, retired statistician.

The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2015

Every year since 1952, the Book Review has convened an independent panel of judges to select the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books. Judged purely on artistic merit, it’s the only annual award of its kind.

This year’s judges were Frank Viva, Monica Edinger and Marjorie Ingall. Viva has written and illustrated several acclaimed books for children, including “Along a Long Road” — a previous Times Best Illustrated winner — “Outstanding in the Rain” and “Young Frank, Architect.” He is a frequent cover artist for The New Yorker and the managing director of the design firm Viva & Co. Edinger has been an elementary- and middle-school educator for more than 25 years and currently teaches fourth grade at the Dalton School in New York City. She is also the author of the picture book “Africa Is My Home” and blogs about children’s books at Educating Alice. Ingall is a columnist for Tablet and a frequent contributor of children’s book reviews to The Times and other publications. Her book “Mamaleh Knows Best: What Jewish Mothers Do to Raise Successful, Creative, Empathetic, Independent Children” will be published next year.


Here's the list from The New York Times.