New Hours at All APL Branches

In case you haven't heard the news yet: All APL branches are changing hours starting Tuesday, Sept. 1. 

We are adjusting opening and closing times at our branches in an effort to bring you more morning hours, more evening hours, and more options of locations to visit when your favorite branch is closed. 

We hope the new schedules work for you, and welcome your feedback!

Happy Anniversary Pine Hills Branch

The Times Union wrote that the numbers tell the story of the success of the Pine Hills branch of the Albany Public Library. well, perhaps in part. But I don't know how one quantifies how wonderful that space has turned out to be. Here's the library's take.

Summer Splash Saturday

Purloined from Stephanie Simon, APL:

It may be hot in the city, but there's lots of cool fun just around the corner at your favorite Albany Public Library this summer.

Summer Splash Party Saturday
It's going to be one wet and wild afternoon Saturday, July 10, as the Delaware Branch hosts Summer Splash. This free outdoor party runs from 1 to 4 p.m. and features water and beach-themed rides, games, prizes, activities, and more. The branch is located at 331 Delaware Avenue.

The http://www.albanypubliclibrary.org/documents/summersplash.pdf July 10 Summer Splash party is a kickoff event for the Summer Reading Program, which encourages literacy by rewarding kids for reading. From 1 to 4 p.m. this Saturday afternoon, the outdoor patios and backyard at the Delaware Branch will be transformed into a beach-themed festival of free food, music, and activities for children and their families.
Activities are expected to include:
• 2 bouncy bounces and a giant inflatable slide
• 3-hole mini-golf
• Misting tent
• Magic and face painting
• Sponge toss relay, ping pong squirt, and other water games
• Frog jumpers, snake pit, and other sand games
• Prize booth for game winners
• Snow cones and popcorn
• Summer snacks provided by Price Chopper

The party is so big that the library is closing all branches--except for Delaware and the Main Library--on July 10. The Delaware Avenue neighborhood is also participating in the festivities: many Delaware Avenue businesses are hosting "show your library card and save" specials that day, and the neighborhood garage sale is taking place too.

An Arbor Hill Saturday

It occurred to me that one could make a day of it in Arbor Hill on Saturday, June 12th. First, one could work on the Stephen & Harriet Myers residence cleanup & workday, 194 Livingston Avenue in Albany, the second of the season from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is part of the work of restoration for what should become a first class historic site. Call 518-432-4432 if you need information or have questions.

Then one could walk over to Henry Johnson at First Street to attend the grand opening of the fifth of five Albany Public Library branch openings over the past six months: the Arbor Hill/West Hill location. Find about the branch, featured in the June 7 edition of the Times Union newspaper, and Saturday's party HERE.

The Next Community Celebration

From Stephanie Simon, APL

We're just about two weeks away from the neighborhood party celebrating the new Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch Library on Henry Johnson Boulevard. The June 12th party starts at 1 p.m. with remarks from library and city leaders and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with neighborhood children. The festivities continue with free refreshments courtesy of hospitality sponsor Price Chopper, entertainment by neighborhood musicians and singers, tours of the library, fun giveaways, and much more.

Party plans are set, but we need one more thing--volunteers. You, our neighbors in the community, have been vital to the success of all of our library grand opening celebrations by helping us set up and serve refreshments, decorate the library, and greet partygoers. Please consider giving us a couple hours of your time on June 12 to help us put on a great party. Contact Program Manager Amy McLaughlin (mclaughlina@albanypubliclibrary.org) if you're interested.

Books Arrive at Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch

21,000 books arrived at the new Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch Library one morning last week. The Henry Johnson Boulevard branch was filled with boxes of books and staff busy unpacking and shelving the library's new collection. That was just the first shipment of materials. Once it's full, the branch will have a brand-new collection of 75,000 books, DVDs, music CDs, magazines, and more. Arbor Hill/West Hill is set to celebrate a grand opening on Saturday, June 12.

per Stephanie Simon, APL

The New Bach Branch

Swiped from Stephanie Simon, APL

Party Celebrates New Bach Branch

The celebration kicked off on the front patio of the new library with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings, Library Board of Trustees President Dennis Gaffney, Library Executive Director Carol Nersinger, and Library Foundation Vice President Ellen Bach spoke about the importance of the library to the community.
"I love how much the community fought for this building," said Gaffney. "I love that we designed a bold building, a signature building for the city."
Nersinger welcomed the neighborhood back to its branch library. "I hope you all enjoy every day at the library," she said.

Ellen Bach and Jennings celebrated John J. Bach, a longtime library trustee and educator for whom the branch is named. "He believed that the opening of these branch libraries would mark one of the most important accomplishments of this city," Bach said of her father.

After the remarks, several dozen children from the New Scotland, Helderberg, and Woodlawn neighborhoods cut the ceremonial ribbon and the doors were opened to officially welcome patrons into the Bach Branch. The rest of the afternoon was filled with refreshments (courtesy of hospitality sponsor Price Chopper), entertainment, and library tours.

Patrons are thrilled to have a branch library back in the neighborhood again. A small, one-room branch was housed at the former Public School 19 on New Scotland Avenue for decades, until the building closed in 2007 for renovations.

In case you missed the festivities, this story from Your News Now captured some of the highlights.

Features of the New Scotland Avenue Branch

The $4 million library construction project was designed by Hom & Goldman of New York City, built by Sano-Rubin Construction of Albany, and managed by the Dormitory Authority of New York State. The contemporary and inviting library features:
* Brand-new collection of 30,000 books, DVDs, CDs, audio books, magazines, and more
* 16 public access computers and building-wide Wi-Fi
* Separate spaces, collections, and computers for adults, teens, and children
* One community meeting rooms and two small-group study rooms
* Energy efficient and cost effective "green" systems (including state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system)
* Building is projected to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver status from the U.S. Green Building Council
* Signature rotunda with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the neighborhood
* Backyard story garden highlighted by the site's original old-growth black walnut trees
* Named in memory of John J. Bach, a 20-year library trustee and New Scotland neighborhood resident who spent his career as a teacher, principal, and superintendent at Albany's public schools and was one of the driving forces behind the Branch Improvement Plan that is bringing five new libraries to the city's neighborhoods

We've got one more new branch library to open -- the Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch Library at 148 Henry Johnson Boulevard on Saturday, June 12. Hope to see you there for another great community celebration!

Bach Branch Bonanza

Remember, the brand-new John J. Bach Branch Library celebrates its grand opening on Saturday, May 15, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. with a party for the community. The library, located at 455 New Scotland Avenue, near the local fire station, is the fourth branch library to open in Albany in the past six months, with one (Arbor Hill/West Hill) scheduled for June 12.

More details HERE.

"Sneak a Peak" at the Bach Branch Library

From Elissa Kane, APL:

You've been so patient! Lot's of you have been slowing down when driving by to see what's new and a few of you have been seen peaking in the windows to check out the furniture and new books.

Well, we're almost ready to open the Bach Branch Library to the public on May 15th. But before we do, we're giving you a special opportunity to "sneak a peak" and help raise support for the special children's and teen programs at the library.

We invite you to join:

New Scotland Area Neighbors
Dennis Gaffney, President of the Library Trustees
Andy Bechard, Library Trustee
Holly McKenna, Library Trustee
Lenny Ricchiuti, Library Trustee
Al DeSalvo, President of the Library Foundation

TO BE THE VERY FIRST ALBANIANS INTO THE NEW JOHN J. BACH BRANCH LIBRARY!
(on New Scotland Avenue, next to Engine 11 Fire Station)
Thursday, April 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
$50 per person — Families welcome for $125
For this special evening, each guest will receive a bookplate to place in a book of choice

RSVP Requested - 427-4346, kanee@albanypubliclibrary.org, or mailed to APL Foundation, 161 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210
Secure Online Donations accepted at www.albanypubliclibrary.org/support (just indicate "Bach Sneak Preview" in note.

Join us for tasty treats from your favorite neighborhood eateries including:
+ Ragonese Imports
+ Graney's
+ Quintenssence
+ Layla's Pizza & Falafel
+ Perfect Blend
+ Isn't It Sweet

Preview the:
+ Beautiful view of the New Scotland neighborhood from inside the library’s signature rotunda
+ Inspiring, modern design by Hom & Goldman
+ Robust collection of books, DVDs, CDs, and more
+ Scholars Garden featuring a grove of old-growth black walnut trees
+ Outdoors brought inside via the expansive windows throughout the public spaces
+ “Green” construction of what is expected to be Albany’s first LEED silver municipal building
Enjoy the music of:
+ Geo

And the flowers by:
+ Clas Florist

Grand opening: Howe Library

Stolen feiom Stephanie Simon, APL

More than 1,000 people converged on 105 Schuyler Street in Albany's South End on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated John A. Howe Branch Library. The 81-year-old building had been closed for 18 months during a $5.2 million renovation project. APL staff and leaders were delighted to share the grand opening day with the community that has been so supportive of this building for so many years.

Some highlights of the Howe Branch Library grand opening party were:
*A welcome ceremony with Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings, Library Board of Trustees President Dennis Gaffney, and Library Executive Director Carol Nersinger
*Ribbon-cutting by South End neighborhood and Giffen Memorial Elementary School children
*Gift presentation to the library by members of Siena College's 21st Century Leaders Society, which has been raising money for the Howe Library for several years

In case you missed the festivities, this story from Your News Now captured some of the highlights.

Features of the New Howe Library

The newly renovated Howe Branch Library has been restored to its original 1929 beauty and grandeur. The $5.2 million library renovation project was designed by CS Arch, built by Bunkoff General Contractors, and managed by the Dormitory Authority of New York State. The 12,000-square-foot Howe Branch Library features:
· 30,000-piece collection of new books, DVDs, CDs, audio books, magazines, and more
· 16 public access computers and building-wide Wi-Fi
· Separate spaces, collections, and computers for adults, teens, and children
· Two community meeting rooms and two small-group study rooms
· Energy efficient and cost effective "green" systems and construction
· A rear addition housing an elevator, stairs, restrooms, and ground-floor book drop
· Restored historic windows that offer expansive views and natural light
· Refinished original woodwork, shelving, and benches
Three down, two more to go. Our all-new branch libraries open very soon. The John J. Bach Branch Library on New Scotland Avenue celebrates its grand opening on May 15, and the Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch Library on Henry Johnson Boulevard has its party on June 12. Mark your calendars for these great neighborhood celebrations!

Howe Grand Opening Party

Swiped from Stephanie Simon, APL:

We're just two weeks away now. The Howe Branch Library grand opening celebration is Saturday, March 27, from 1 to 5 p.m. Please make plans to join us for this great community party. We'll have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:30 p.m. and family entertainment from 2 to 3:30 p.m. We'll also have free library giveaways and refreshments (courtesy of Price Chopper, the generous hospitality sponsor of all five branch library grand opening celebrations).

APL in the News

Swiped again from Stephanie Simon, Albany Public Library:

The March issue of the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce's monthly magazine, Visions, features APL on the cover. Several of our administrators -- Executive Director Carol Nersinger, Assistant Director Tim Burke, and Automation Services Librarian Marcia Middleton -- were interviewed at the new Pine Hills branch in January for the cover story about libraries and technology. The three-page article features APL's new branch libraries and how technology has impacted the way we do business. Several other area libraries -- Menands Public Library, William K. Sanford Town Library, and New York State Library -- are also included in the story. You can read the article online at the Chamber web site.

APL is also featured as the cover story of the Winter 2010 New York Library Association (NYLA) Bulletin. Head of Collection Management Services Mary Coon was interviewed for a story about implementing a Dewey-free classification system at Albany's branch libraries. You can read about the "APL categories" classification system for nonfiction books at the NYLA web site.

Back to the New Branches

Swiped, yet again, from APL's Stephanie Simon:

Mark your calendars. We have set the grand opening celebration dates for our last three new neighborhood libraries. All grand opening parties take place on Saturday afternoons, during the branch library service hours of 1 to 5 p.m.

March 27 -- John A. Howe Branch Library at Schuyler and Broad Streets.

May 15 -- John J. Bach Branch Library at 455 New Scotland Avenue. This party will be held in conjunction with Spring Spree, the sixth annual event organized by the Woodlawn-New Scotland and Helderberg neighborhood associations in celebration of the New Scotland Avenue neighborhood and its merchants.

June 12 -- Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch Library at 148 Henry Johnson Boulevard.

New Hours for North Albany Branch

Starting Monday, Jan. 4, the North Albany Branch Library at 616 North Pearl Street will adopt new hours. Please make note of the new schedule.

North Albany Branch Library 463-1581

Monday & Wednesday 12 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday & Friday 12 to 6 p.m.
Saturday 1 to 5 p.m.

Soft opening for Delaware Branch; party to follow

The new Delaware branch at 331 Delaware Avenue had its "soft" opening yesterday. The Grand Opening Celebration will be Saturday, January 9, 2010.

The party runs from 1 to 5 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Join us for the opening ceremony at 1:30 p.m., plus special events. Refreshments generously provided by hospitality sponsor Price Chopper.

What a Party!

Oh, yeah, I was THERE!!

From Stephanie Simon, Albany Public Library

The Pine Hills neighborhood welcomed the new library with open arms Saturday. Despite the snow that fell throughout the day, the library was packed with people all afternoon. Customers of all ages explored the fully renovated library, worked on the 24 public access computers, checked out the 50,000 materials, and marveled at the interior design and architectural features.

The celebration found neighbors of all ages nibbling on refreshments, enjoying musical entertainment, hearing welcoming remarks from library and city leaders, and watching a ribbon cutting ceremony by Pine Hills story time children.

It was a wonderful event and everyone at the library wishes to thank the Pine Hills community for its ongoing and enthusiastic support!!

Now that we have one library open, there are still four more to go. The next neighborhood library in line -- the Delaware Branch Library at 331 Delaware Avenue -- is expected to open to the public later this month. The Delaware grand opening celebration is set for Saturday, January 9. Stay tuned for more details!

Pine Hills Grand Opening

From Elissa Kane, APL:

It's quite incredible that after four years of community meetings, bonding, design and construction - Albany libraries are beginning to open to the public! We hope you'll join us for the momentous community occasion. We appreciate all you've done to make this happen for our city and we invite you to:

Join Us in Celebrating!!!

The Grand Opening of Albany’s New Pine Hills Branch Library
Saturday, December 5, from 1 to 5 p.m.
*Ribbon cutting ceremony starts at 2 p.m.*
517 Western Avenue 459-3180

The fully renovated Pine Hills Branch Library is a wonderful addition to this energetic Albany neighborhood. We hope that you can join us to celebrate the revival of one of the city’s great public spaces. The Pine Hills grand opening party is a true community celebration, so we kindly ask you to share this invitation with your friends, colleagues, and neighbors.

The Pine Hills Branch Library grand opening celebration features:
• Welcome and ribbon cutting
• Family entertainment
• Fun giveaways
• Craft activities for kids
• Refreshments generously provided by hospitality sponsor Price Chopper Supermarkets

Please feel free to forward this to you friends, colleagues and neighbors.

Pine Hills Library is Open!

From Stephanie Simon
Albany Public Library

Yes it's true. The Pine Hills Branch Library is open!

We quietly opened the doors to the public on Monday at noon, and quickly saw people streaming through the doors to check out the new materials, computers, furniture, and spaces the fully renovated library has to offer.

Our customers were thrilled to be back in their favorite neighborhood library and to see the dramatic changes it underwent during the renovation process. We heard so many great comments, including:
"I'm enjoying this!"
"I feel like I'm in a candy store!"
"It is wonderful, and your staff is equally as wonderful."
"Wow. This is beautiful."

The completely renovated library features: a 50,000-piece collection of books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, and audio books; 24 public access computers; building-wide Wi-Fi; two community meeting rooms; three small-group study rooms; separate spaces for teens, children, and adults; an open and airy floor plan; reading nooks, study tables, and computer desks throughout the two-story building; and "green" energy efficient and cost effective building systems.

The Pine Hills branch is located at 517 Western Avenue. The temporary phone number is 459-3180.

The library's hours are:
Monday noon to 8 p.m.
Tuesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday noon to 6 p.m.
Friday noon to 6 p.m.
Saturday 1 to 5 p.m.

We are hosting a grand opening celebration--including a ribbon cutting ceremony, refreshments, entertainment, activities, and giveaways--for the entire neighborhood on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Come check out the new Pine Hills Branch Library and explore what's in it for you!

One Step Closer to Opening New Libraries

From self-described bookworm Stephanie Simon, Albany Public Library

It's been a whirlwind of activity at Albany Public Library these past few months. We're really kicking into high gear with the opening of our first new library--Pine Hills--very shortly. In preparation for opening the doors, we have been finalizing staffing plans, training on new systems, installing computers, tweaking the collection, and lots of last minute items.

New Branch Hours Established

The library Board of Trustees approved a new set of branch hours at its meeting Nov. 10. As requested by many customers, all branches will have the same hours and they will be open year-round on Saturdays. The new hours (which total 40 hours per week) are:

Monday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday 10 am. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Customers have also asked for expanded hours at the branches. As we open the five new libraries over the next six months, we will be evaluating the changes these new locations are creating across the library system. Our goal is to responsibly and intelligently expand hours as we better understand how you use the new libraries.

To Open, We Must Close

With work nearing completion on the new Delaware and Howe Branch Libraries, we are ready to close the current branches serving those neighborhoods.

The current Delaware branch (at 485 Delaware Avenue) will have its last day of service on Saturday, Nov. 14. The new Delaware branch (at 331 Delaware Avenue) will open its doors in December. A grand opening celebration is planned for Saturday, Jan. 9, from 1 to 5 p.m.

The transitional Howe branch (at the Albany Housing Authority building on South Pearl Street) will have its last day of service on Saturday, Nov. 21. The fully renovated Howe library (at Schuyler and Broad Streets) is planned to open in February. A grand opening celebration (to be announced soon) will be held at Howe too.

Staff from both of these locations will be busy getting their newly renovated branch libraries ready to open the doors to the public. The transformations of these two buildings is amazing. We can't wait for you to see them both!

Sneak Preview of Delaware & Pine Hills

The verdict is in...people are loving our new Albany libraries! Several dozen library supporters got their first chance to see the fully renovated Delaware and Pine Hills Branch Libraries at a recent special sneak preview fund raiser hosted by the Library Foundation.

As people toured the not-yet-open libraries, we heard the same words over and over again: beautiful, welcoming, comfortable, well-designed, innovative, wonderful. Once you get a chance to see these buildings, I think you'll like them too!

At Pine Hills, attendees got to check out the brand new Dewey-free collection of books. And a few youngsters had their first chance to look through the fully stocked children's collection. Everyone will get to see the new Pine Hills when doors open very soon (sometime this month). A special grand opening party at Pine Hills--including a ribbon cutting, entertainment, refreshments, and giveaways--is set for Saturday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 5 p.m. Please join us to celebrate the grand opening of Albany's newest library!

As you can see, the changes are coming fast and furious now. Our branch library hours are set, Pine Hills will be open in a matter of days, and Delaware's opening is right around the corner in December. Stay tuned for more updates on all the great happenings at Albany's new neighborhood libraries!

Without Melvil

There was an article in the local paper last week that the Albany Public Library was going to do away with the Dewey Decimal System in favor of a system that's more like a bookstore, as I understand it. I have mixed emotions.

On one hand, I see why the library would want to utilize a system like that which the book-using public is used to. While I grew up using the Dewey Decimal System in the Binghamton Public Library, where I worked as a teen, it's not as though I'm wedded to it. Indeed, the books in the special library where I work uses the Library of Congress classification, an alphanumeric system even more arcane for the casual user than Melvil Dewey's categorization. Also, when I was going to library school, I quickly tired of the jokes about my devotion to the DDC.

On the other hand, the conversation suggests that DDC is complicated and that the bookstore model is "better". Maybe it's me, but I always find what I'm looking for in a DDC or LC library, while I'm more likely to have to ask for need help from a book store clerk. That's because the categories in some bookstores are not as helpful as they might be.

The example that immediately comes to mind is Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II, by Douglas A. Blackmon. Last month, the Writers Institute and the Friends of the Albany Public Library sponsored Doug Blackmon to speak at APL.

For those of you not from the Albany area, the Writers Institute was co-founded 25 years ago by William Kennedy. Bill Kennedy is THE most noted writer to come out of Albany, and his fiction about Albany has been award-winning. I happen to particularly enjoy his nonfiction book, O Albany!

There was a dinner before the Blackmon presentation, and for reasons unknown to me, I had the pleasure to sit next to Doug Blackmon. We had a very interesting talk. One point that he made, relative to this current discussion, is how well or poorly his book sells in a given store depended, to a very large degree, on where his book was placed in said bookstore. If it was placed in the American history section - and the story certainly is an American story not often heard - then it sold all right. But if it were placed in the ghetto of the black history section ("ghetto" is my term) - as though the story were only important to, or applicable to black people - then it tended to do less well.

Now, a library book is not sold by the institution. But how often a book circulates certainly effects whether or not other books on that topic and/or books by that author.

I have no inside information just how this "bookstore" model is going to look until the Pine Hills branch - MY branch - reopens next month beyond what I've read here. But I'll be very interested to find out.