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.

[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 for “Albany Amour”, a romantic storytelling experience where we share tales of the sweet, the scandalous, and the downright notorious partnerships throughout Albany’s history.

[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.

[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?

[All Ages] During the months of Janurary and February the library will be providing coloring sheetsthat celebrate Black culture, history, and identity in the past present and future.

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] 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.

[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. 

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. 

[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 for this enlightening presentation with Smithsonian curator Sabrina Sholts as she talks about how the very fact of being human increases our pandemic risks—and gives us the power to save ourselves. 

Join us for a Livestream of this enlightening presentation with Smithsonian curator Sabrina Sholts as she talks about how the very fact of being human increases our pandemic risks—and gives us the power to save ourselves. 

Join us as we talk about The Deepest Well by Nadine Burke Harris, MD.  

Reviewer:  Debra Fagans, cofounder of The Wizard’s Wardrobe, an after-school tutoring program. 

Wellness Series: How to Put Down Your Phone - Ancient tips for managing a busy mind and a busy world

Like me . . . do you get completely distracted by your busy mind, the phone, news, and endless doom scrolling?

[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!

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.

[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 work conducted by Dr Shirley Ann Jackson, we will be creating our own electromagnets.

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

[For Adults] Join us as we create paintings inspired by the artist Alma Woodsey Thomas to celebrate Black History Month. Alma Thomas was an artist known for her large, abstract paintings filled with dense, irregular patterns of bright colors.

Listen to music by black musicians from yesterday and today while trying to get a BINGO! Prizes for kids and adults! 

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! 

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

[Ages 7-12] Welcome  Bookmark Bunch!   Violet and Pablo are best friends who love science! So when they discover a riddle that opens a magic portal in the Science Space at school, they can't wait to check it out! 

[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!

[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 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! 

We will crochet a heart shape that you can use for decorating a card, gift, or anything else! Supplies provided.

[Adults] Come watch some classic, new, and influential martial arts films at the Arbor Hill/West Hill branch.

Use cardboard, paint, and glue to turn a regular cardboard box into a castle for your cat to rule your house from! All ages are welcome.

Come make small pieces of art at the Howe Branch in February! 

Paint and Sip: 6th 

Collage and Sip:13th 

Watercolor and Sip: 20th
 
Draw and Sip: 27th

[Adults 18+] Join us for our relaxing monthly art workshop. No experience needed—just bring your creativity! Enjoy complimentary refreshments while you design and unwind.

[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**

What could be any nicer than giving someone you love a hand-made Valentine's Day card? Join Miss Virginia for a fun, relaxing evening while making Valentine's Day cards out of cardstock, do-dads, paper doilies and LOVE!

[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!

[Adults]  Join us for a relaxing evening of watercolor painting as we create our own Valentines to keep, send to a friends/loved one, or donate to a senior. Explore some designs suggested by our librarians or make your own!

[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.