Week Calendar

Please join us in the Large Meeting Room where your toddler is free to roam and play in the space during stories, fingerplays, songs and rhymes for ages 2-5 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!

[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! 

[2-5] Come on down to the historic Howe Branch of the Albany Public library for Stories, Songs, Dancing, Playtime and Crafts!

[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.  Then, every week after Preschool Storytime-- stay & play!

[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.

[Ages 0-5] Join us for a sensory friendly storytime with dimmer lights, fidget toys, and fun songs, followed by unstructured play time.

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

[For Ages 0-5] Join us for stories, songs, and movement activities. Bring the whole family and enjoy Saturday at the library, where we're Growing Readers.

[For Adults] Join us to view the documentary, Nameless, which explores child sex trafficking in Washington DC and in the US in large.

[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. 

Come Join us at the Howe Branch or on Zoom to get some light movement in to start your week off right! Please Make sure to bring a water bottle, walking shoes and to wear comfortable clothing for movement i.e. Leggings and a tee shirt.

[All Ages] The library will place Lure Modules at the Tree of Iron sculpture Poke Stop behind the library on Wednesdays in January.  Stop by on your lunch & catch some Pokémon! And did you know that we're also a Pokémon Go gym?

[Adults] Come celebrate National Hot Tea Month! Did you know that aside from water, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world?

[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?

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. 

[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. 

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. 

[All Ages] From Chess to Card games come sit, sip and play!

[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 Jim & Carol McCord discuss & read from their book, Time and Place + West and East: Poems & Images. 

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

An early childhood music & movement program! For children and their caregivers from birth to age 6. Join us for a dynamic and energetic class in Spanish.

[Adults] The City of Albany's new Department of Neighborhood Services wants to hear from you!

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. 

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

[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.

[For Teens] Not a Number is an interactive child trafficking and exploitation prevention curriculum designed to provide youth with information and skills in a manner that inspires them to make safe choices.

[Ages 5-11] In collaboration with the Children's Museum at Saratoga, participants will explore the three states of matter during this hands-on exploration using common kitchen ingredients.

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

[Adults] The City of Albany's new Department of Neighborhood Services wants to hear from you!

[Ages 5-11] Become a Library Scientist and together we will explore the world through STEM!

 Inspired by Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss, out first experiment will be: Oobleck.

We have video games, anime, and potential make crafts! A place to hang with friends after school.

[For Adults] Did you know that January is National Get Organized Month? Help us celebrate with an art supply and craft swap!

Learning through play! Playdough playtime is a sensory learning experience for your young child. Kids will learn letters, shapes, numbers, and more while developing their fine motor skills and having fun in the process!

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

[For ages 3-7] Join us for a sensory friendly storytime with interactive stories, songs, dance, and play! 

Come cut up some old comic books from the 80s and breathe new life into them by creating your own paneled collages!

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

[Ages 5-11]  Join us for Fun@4!  Come build with Legos and other construction games.  You can use one of our challenge cards or free build.  A great way to wind down after school.

[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.

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

[For ages 10-17] Who's stronger, Goku, Naruto, or Sailor Moon? Watch and talk about anime while enjoying snacks at Washington Ave.

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

[Ages 5-11] The next book in the Pizza and Taco series is getting released on January 7th! Join us for a release party, some trivia & a book talk about Pizza and Taco: Coolest Club Ever! ... and for some pizza! 

[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! 

Take some time to relax and work on a puzzle solo or in a group! Stay for a little or a while.

Do you love to puzzle and can't get new ones because you have too many already? Bring a pile you would like to exchange with another fellow puzzler! It's okay if there's a missing piece or two in the set.

[Adults] Do you want to learn more about Libby and Hoopla & have Magazines, eBooks, eAudiobooks & Movies delivered to your phone or device!. This is a one-on-one session intended for new users of both Apps. Registration is required.

Experienced crochet artist "Genie of All Trades" will teach the basics of crochet and walk attendees through the creation of flower shaped coasters. No crochet experience needed.

[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**

Come and make a winter mason jar scene with Ms. Virginia! With chilly days and long nights still stretching out before us, brighten your home with a cozy little decoration complete with miniature deer, trees and glitter snow.

[Ages 18+] Bring your knitting, crochet, needle work, coloring, or any other craft you've been working on to our monthly meeting where we talk, laugh, and enjoy a movie. 

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

This character design class will explore the fundamentals of figure drawing, focusing on accurate proportions, dynamic poses, and expressive facial features.

[Adults] Do you like to paint in a group setting?  Here is your chance!  Each session will provide a still life for inspiration.  Canvas and paints will be provided.

Are you ready to turn your dreams into reality this year? Join us for an inspiring and hands-on Vision Board Workshop at the library! A vision board is a powerful tool for visualizing your goals, dreams, and aspirations.

[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.