Lunar New Year Celebration
Bring the whole family to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with us on Fri. Jan. 26 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The Chinese Community Center will present cultural performances such as traditional instruments, dance and Peking Opera. Paper cutting, lantern making and face painting craft workshops for children will add to the fun. Hot food and beverages, including bubble tea, will be available, and Cafe’ Con Mel will be open onsite. Please register on the Events Calendar at guilderlandlibrary.org.
Yoga for Beginners
Come to the Library for yoga! This class on Mon. Jan, 29 at 6:30 p.m. will focus on proper alignment, mindful movement and cultivation of awareness, as students are encouraged to listen to their bodies and modify as needed. Instructor Sally Drake will lead us through postures, flows, breathing techniques and meditation, appropriate for all levels of experience, including beginners. Please bring a yoga mat and water bottle, and wear comfortable clothes. Registration is required in advance on our website.
Real Food as Medicine
For our next Live Virtual Author Talk on Tues. Jan. 30 at 2:00 p.m., Dr. Robert Lustig, a cutting-edge pediatric endocrinologist, challenges our current healthcare paradigm. He spotlights the far-reaching influence of Big Food, Big Pharma and Big Government, then offers a practical roadmap on incorporating nutrition-dense foods to combat disease and boost immunity. He will discuss his book, “Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine,” followed by a Q & A session. Please register online to receive the link. All author talks are archived for later viewing.
Lessons from the Bard
Join us on Fri. Feb. 2 at 7:00 p.m. as Marie Wiles, Superintendent of Guilderland Central School District, and Paul Grondahl, Opalka Endowed Director of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany, will discuss Wiles’ first book, “Lessons From The Bard: What Shakespeare Can Teach Us About School District Leadership.”
A former high school English teacher, Wiles explores five of Shakespeare’s most prolific plays, mining these timeless stories for themes that can help superintendents, principals, faculty and school board members lead more effectively. Examples of such themes include understanding how adolescent brains work, managing money and resources, and leading with clarity and purpose. Grondahl will interview Wiles, followed by a Q & A session and an opportunity to purchase books. Complimentary light refreshments will be available. Please register online for this special event.
Fright Club
Our Stephen King theme continues with a screening of “The Shining,” starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, on Tues. Jan. 30 at 6:00 p.m. (rated R). All are welcome to attend. “Misery” is the selection for February. Register now online, then pick up your Fright Club kit anytime Jan. 29 – Feb. 2. Participants are encouraged to read and answer discussion questions at your own pace.
Flowers Coloring Winter
Artists have long been drawn to the natural world to stimulate their creativity. The rich symbolism, diverse color palettes, and delicate, changing nature of flowers have been a source of inspiration across cultures for centuries. Come join us Tues. Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom, as art lecturer Janet Cohen Mandel introduces us to an array of stunning images from throughout art history, some iconic and some unfamiliar, reminding us why flowers and gardens give us hope, nourish our souls, and elicit pleasure and happiness. Just what the doctor ordered in the dead of winter! Please register online for the link.
Take Your Child to the Library Day
The first Saturday of February is national “Take Your Child to the Library Day.” Bring the whole family to GPL on Sat. Feb. 3 between 11:00 a.m-1:00 p.m. for board game fun! While you’re here, discover all that the Library has to offer you and your family.
January Reading Challenge
All ages are encouraged to participate in Beanstack’s annual Winter Reading Challenge, “Where We Come From,” throughout January. Our collective goal is to log 10,000 minutes of reading. Go to https://guilderlandlibrary.beanstack.org/reader365 to participate. The top-performing libraries and schools will earn prizes. Happy reading!
General Information
Contact us at 518.456.2400 or [email protected]. Café con Mel is open Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Overdue fines were eliminated; patrons will be billed for the replacement cost of lost items.
This story was featured on page 5 of the January 24th , 2024 print edition of the Spotlight
