Week Calendar

Please join us in the Large Meeting Room for stories, fingerplays, songs and rhymes for toddlers and preschoolers, and their caregivers.

[For ages 0-18 months] Please join us in our Youth Services Programming Room for stories, fingerplays, songs, and rhymes for children ages 0 to 18 months and their caregiver.

[Ages 0-6 and their Caregivers]  Come to Bach for a fun and educational storytime full of silliness, singing and movement.  Then, stay to play!

[All ages] To kick off December, we're transforming our meeting room into a festively decorated Holiday Book Shop, showcasing hundreds of adult and children's books to get you into the holiday spirit.

[Ages 1-4] Come join Gruff the friendly storytime monster and his human librarian side-kick for fun stories, silly songs, and dancing. Bring your energy and your little one and get all the wiggles out! 

[Ages 2-5] Come on down to the historic Howe Branch of the Albany Public library for a read-along, sing-along Storytime.

[For adults] English as a new language can be challenging and there is always room for improvement.

[Ages 0-5] Join us for stories, songs & fun for preschoolers and their caregivers every week at the Delaware Branch. Walk-ins welcome. 

[Ages 0-24 months] Join us for fun songs and short books to introduce your baby to storytime! We will meet in the community room, and babies and their caregivers are welcome to stay and play after storytime.

[For ages 0-5] Please join us for stories, fingerplays, songs, and rhymes. After storytime, enjoy unstructured playtime with sensory blocks, cars, balls, and much more!

[For ages 0-18 months] Bring your baby and bounce along to fun stories, songs, and rhymes. Baby Storytime is a 15-minute program, followed by a relaxed playtime where you and baby will meet new friends.

Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County ENL Health Program

Patrons can call Emma Schreiner at 518-434-0540 for scheduling and more information.

[For adults] The City of Albany's new Department of Neighborhood Services wants to hear from you! Please stop by the Pine Hills Branch to meet with Alex Word, the Neighborhood Specialist for Pine Hills. 

[For ages 1-4] Please join us for stories, fingerplays, songs, and rhymes for toddlers and their caregiver. After storytime, enjoy unstructured playtime with sensory blocks, cars, balls, and much more!

[For children 0-8 and their caregivers.] Spend your morning at the library enjoying tasty treats while creating a crafty gift for someone special.

[For Ages 0-5] Join us for stories, songs, and movement activities. Bring the whole family and enjoy Saturday at the library!

We invite you to visit “Untitled: Art from Behind Bars,” an art exhibit featuring works exclusively created by individuals incarcerated in New York State Prisons.

[Ages 0-5] Every week after preschool storytime-- stay & play! 

Let your little ones tap into their imaginations during this unstructured play time. Kids can play with our toy kitchen, blocks, dolls, train sets & more!

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive. To make an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org.  Walk-ins are also welcome! For more information, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

[For Ages 0-5] Join us for stories, songs, and movement activities. Bring the whole family and enjoy Saturday at the library!

[Adults] Bring your device & your questions and we'll figure it out together. This is a one-on-one help session. Registration is required; call 518-427-4300, ext. 4 to register, or register online. Tech Help is offered every Monday. 

We invite you to visit “Untitled: Art from Behind Bars,” an art exhibit featuring works exclusively created by individuals incarcerated in New York State Prisons.

Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County

[Adults] Caregivers, stop in with your group for various activities for all abilities. Crafts, Legos, quiet time, coloring, movies... there's no limit to the fun we'll have! Call 518-427-4300 ext.

[For Adults] This class is designed for adult newcomers to Albany who have some basic English language skills and are looking to improve their fluency and communication abilities.

[For ages 18+] Are you a fiber crafter? Does your family have all the hand knitted or crocheted hats, scarves, mittens, or shawls that they could possibly use in this lifetime?

Have you ever wanted to know some of the ins and outs of cosplay? Well then, this is the place for you! Come to Howe to learn some tips and tricks that will help you on your cosplay journey. This is part of a series.

Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County ENL class

Patrons can call Emma Schreiner at 518-434-0540 for scheduling and more information.

[For Adults] Classes are provided to help students improve English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Classes are free to students age 21 year or older. 

[Adults 18+] We welcome any kind of knitting, crocheting, quilting or needlework. Is it a hobby that you enjoyed in the past and would like to get back to? You can bring a project that you’re working on, or one that you want to start.

[For Adults] Join us for a free movie screening with coffee and the chance to talk to community services providers! Housing Services, mental health providers, and others will be available to answer questions and provide information. 

[Adults] Susan Riback, Community Health Nurse Educator for the NNORC, is available for blood pressure checks, education on health topics, Therapeutic Touch. other health concerns.

[Ages 18+] Would you like to update or create a résumé? Having formatting nightmares? Need help tweaking or writing a cover letter? The Delaware Branch offers one-on-one sessions every Thursday between 1-2pm. 

Join Albany’s Housing Services Advocate for information and assistance on tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities. For more info, call the library at (518) 427-4300 (ext. 7)

[For Adults] Classes are provided to help students improve English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Classes are free to students age 21 year or older. 

[18+] Come have Coffee/ Tea and Donuts with us as we watch the movie of the month. 

Sept: School Of Rock
Oct: Halloween Kills
Nov: The Terminal
Dec: The Polar Express

Learn how to express yourself clearly and imaginatively, share your work, and respond to the stories of others. Attend any or all sessions. Facilitated by Misty Yarnall. This program is online and conducted via Zoom.

[For Adults] This class is designed for adult immigrants and newcomers to Albany who are preparing for the USCIS citizenship and naturalization process.

Join us as Reggie Harris, musician, storyteller, & educator, discusses & reads from his memoir, Searching for Solid Ground. 

[For Adults] Join us for a Library Speakers Consortium and Smithsonian Institution Collaboration.

[Adults 18+]  Looking for help so you can confidently use a computer?  Sign up for a 30-minute session for help with:

[For Adults of all ages and abilities] Learn simple, gentle Tai Chi movements to improve coordination and balance. Enjoy these mindful, safe movements and the deeper breathing and flexibility they can enable. 

The City of Albany's new Department of Neighborhood Services wants to hear from you! Please stop by the North Albany Branch to meet with Lori Kochanski, the Neighborhood Specialist for North Albany. 

[For All Ages] Calling all Artists, Musicians, Crafters, Makers and Menders! Stop by the self-directed open Makerspace and start (or finish) something!

[Ages 4-8] Visit the Pine Hill Branch library and explore our extensive picture book collection! Each week our "Book Buddies" will read pre-selected books featuring award winning authors.

[Ages 5-17] Kids love reading to Rocket, certified therapy dog. Why? Because he's soft, cuddly and a good listener.

We invite you to visit “Untitled: Art from Behind Bars,” an art exhibit featuring works exclusively created by individuals incarcerated in New York State Prisons.

[Adults 18+]  Looking for help so you can confidently use a computer?  Sign up for a 30-minute session for help with:

We will have time for tweens and teens to play video games, watch anime, and maybe throw in some crafts! 

Drop by and learn to make origami fish and Masu boxes. Supplies are limited. First come, first served.

[For Ages 6 - 14] Calling all little Makers! Along with access to all of the Albany Made Lab equipment, Mini Makers will be able to use some of our favorite Youth Services gadgets and tools.

[All ages] To kick off December, we're transforming our meeting room into a festively decorated Holiday Book Shop, showcasing hundreds of adult and children's books to get you into the holiday spirit.

Join us every Tuesday after school for crafts and fun at Arbor Hill West Hill!

Play Super Smash, Rocket League and more fun games with friends.

Come design your own tie-dyed, drawstring backpack, or bring something of your own to tie-dye! While supplies last. [For Ages 5-18+]

Students’ grades K-12 can meet with a student tutor from the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and University at Albany for a half an hour tutoring session. Tutors can offer homework help, worksheets, and test prep.  

Students’ grades K-12 can meet with a student tutor from the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and University at Albany for a half an hour tutoring session. Tutors can offer homework help, worksheets, and test prep.  

Sewing repair assistance and learn to use a sewing machine with help from Stitching Exchange!

Students’ grades K-12 can meet with a student tutor from the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and University at Albany for a half an hour tutoring session. Tutors can offer homework help, worksheets, and test prep.  

[Ages 7-12] Welcome  Bookmark Bunch!   "I Survived the Children's Blizzard , 1888" .   Will 11 year old John survive one of the deadliest blizzards in history?

Students’ grades K-12 can meet with a student tutor from the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and University at Albany for a half an hour tutoring session. Tutors can offer homework help, worksheets, and test prep.  

[For Ages 10 to 17] A space welcoming all gamers age 10 to 17. Come play our Nintendo Switch on a big screen. Compete with others in multi-player chaos with up to 8 players at once!

[Teens] Welcome travelers! Do you want to play Dungeons & Dragons but unsure where to start? Join us and learn how to make your characters and worlds come alive.

[All ages] To kick off December, we're transforming our meeting room into a festively decorated Holiday Book Shop, showcasing hundreds of adult and children's books to get you into the holiday spirit.

Come to the Howe branch and learn to make a cute no-sew doll that you can give to a siblling, a friend or keep for yourself. 

[Ages 9-17] Hang out at the library and choose from our selection of board games or video game to play with your friends!

[Ages 4+] Use your imagination and free play with our Legos. This is a drop-in program. No registration required. This program recurs on the first Thursday of each month. 

[For ages 5 and up] Do you like board games? Interested in trying some new ones? Bring your own or try out one of the many games the library has! We've got games for all different age groups.

Students’ grades K-12 can meet with a student tutor from the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and University at Albany for a half an hour tutoring session. Tutors can offer homework help, worksheets, and test prep.  

[For All Ages] Calling all Artists, Musicians, Crafters, Makers and Menders! Stop by the self-directed open Makerspace and start (or finish) something!

[For Ages 13-17] Clash your favorite gaming icons in the ultimate showdown. Tweens and Teens are invited to bring their friends and play Super Smash. Come see if you are good enough to beat our library gamers!

[For ages 9-17] Play various video games including Smash Brothers, Tekken, Mariokart, NBA 2K22 on the Nintendo Switch, XBox or PS4 with your friends! 

[For All Ages] Join the City of Albany at the Holiday Tree Lighting, enjoy live performances by Albany High School's Albanettes and Troubadours.

We invite you to visit “Untitled: Art from Behind Bars,” an art exhibit featuring works exclusively created by individuals incarcerated in New York State Prisons.

[For ages 0 - 5 and their caregivers] Hang out with Mr. John for a weekly bilingual storytime with his spanish speaking monster side-kick Gruff. They will be reading books and singing songs in both English and Spanish.

[Adults] Read this month's book before our meeting and join us (virtually) for a lively discussion.

**This program will be held via Zoom. A link and password to access the Zoom program will be sent upon Registration**

[For ages 5-11]

Ever wondered what it would be like to build a copy of yourself? Come invent a cardboard version of YOU with our Makedo crafting kit: a toy with special tools for cutting, building, and creating out of cardboard.

[Ages 2-7] Join us in your jammies for Pajama Storytime!  We will read books, sing songs, and have lots of cozy fun!

[For ages 6-14] Minecraft beginners and experts: come build your world and characters in a weekly Minecraft competition with your friends at the APL Washington Ave. Branch.

[All Ages] Repeat Play: The Art of Pattern Dec 6 - May 10, 2024