Get Through the Holiday Blues

The holidays aren't joyous for everyone. This time of year can bring stress and feelings of loneliness. Exercise, focusing on positive relationships, and doing things that you find rewarding can help with depression. Get tips on what to do if you feel depressed.

Keep in mind that winter depression could be a sign of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which may be caused by the lack of sunlight. Treatment for SAD is much like other forms of depression, but also involves light therapy.

Get more holiday tips.

APL Closed Thanksgiving and "Black Friday"

All APL locations will close by 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, 2010.

All APL locations will be closed Thursday & Friday, November 25-26, 2010 for Thanksgiving, but will be open on Saturday, November 27.

Labor Day Weekend Schedule

If you want to stock up on books and DVDs for the long Labor Day weekend, be sure to stop by the library soon. All Albany Public Library locations will be closed Sept. 4-6 (Saturday-Monday) for the holiday weekend. We'll be back to our regular schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Technology Upgrade Impacts Services June 2-3

From Stephanie Simon, APL

Due to a technology upgrade project, ALL public libraries in Albany and Rensselaer Counties (the Upper Hudson Library System)--including Albany Public Library--will be offering limited services on Wednesday, June 2, and Thursday, June 3.

On June 2 and 3 you WILL be able to: borrow materials that are on the shelves, use public computers (check in at public service desk for assistance), use Wi-Fi internet connections, and attend programs. You will NOT be able to: use the online catalog, pay fines, renew materials, or request materials.

We return to full library services on Friday, June 4. We apologize for any inconvenience, and appreciate your patience with this project!

ALSO: Just a reminder that all Albany Public Library locations are closed Saturday, May 29, through Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day weekend. All libraries will reopen on Tuesday, June 1.

Check out APL's Twitter page for daily updates about library happenings. It's a quick way to find out about the latest events, programs, and services we have to offer at all of Albany's libraries.

Symphony of Lights

The Downtown Albany BID's Symphony of Lights display will dress up the city streets for the holidays! This annual light display features more than 50 brightly lit musical instruments along Pearl Street's entertainment corridor - from Madison Avenue to Clinton Avenue and will be lit from November 23 through early January.ci

Some interesting facts about Mother's Day

* The first official celebration of mothers in the United States took place in 1858. Anna Reeves Jarvis campaigned for a Mothers' Work Day in her home state of West Virginia to raise awareness about local sanitation issues. When Jarvis passed away in 1905, her daughter Anna pursued a national mother's day in honor of her own activist mom. Anna's efforts paid off when in 1914, Mother's Day was recognized as a national holiday by Presidential proclamation.
* More than 83 million mothers are living today in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. There are approximately 2 billion mothers living worldwide.
* Modern moms have an average family size of two children, while mothers in the 1950s had an average of 3.5 children. In the 1700s, women gave birth to seven to ten children each.
* Nearly 96% of all Americans participate in Mother's Day celebrations in some way. For example, the holiday is the peak day for long distance carriers and one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants.
* The founder of Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, was vehemently opposed to the commercialization of the holiday. "I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit," she once said. Despite Jarvis' opposition, Mother's Day is the second biggest gift-giving holiday in America, preceded only by Christmas. The National Retail Foundation estimates that Americans will spend more than $14 billion a year on Mother's Day.

Source: www.holidays.net/mother