Tag: APL

APL Looks Ahead with New Strategic Plan

Book reviews and author talks

From here: Albany Public Library’s Board of Trustees approved a new strategic plan that will guide initiatives across the seven-branch system over the next three years. The plan includes five major goals and related strategies, and is available on APL’s website and at each branch location.

“This plan will challenge us and inspire us to be better. There’s a lot to look forward to, including a new Library of Things for APL, and hopefully a partnership with the school district to give every student a library card, among many other things,” said APL Executive Director Andrea Nicolay. “Some elements of the plan came straight from people in the community, and others we’ve been dreaming of for a while.”

Book reviews and author talks

Tuesdays at 2 pm at the Washington Avenue branch of the APL

August 25: Book Review: The Last Extinction:  The Real Science behind the Death of the Dinosaurs by Gerta Keller.  Reviewer:  Jonathan Skinner, PhD, retired statistician & amateur classicist. 

September 1 | Author Talk | Kathy Wright-Muzio discusses & reads from her historical romance The Determined Pursuit, written under her pen name, Elizabeth H. Franklin. 

September 8 | Author Talk | Shakeema “Shaq” Funchess discusses & reads from her book, Kai Says Hi, which is inspired by & dedicated to the memory of Harbe Nagi.

September 15| Book Review | Book and Dagger:  How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War II by Elyse Graham.  Reviewer:  John Rowen, former president, Friends of APL.

September 22 | Book Review | American Canopy: Trees, Forests, and the Making of a Nation by Eric Rutkow.  Reviewer:  Alex Ashby, MF, watershed forester, Albany Dept. of Water & Water Supply..

September 29 | Book Review | Copernicus’ Secret:  How the Scientific Revolution Began by Jack Repcheck.  Reviewer:  Tom Ellis, educator & activist.

In other news
The August Open Mic Night will once again take place on the second floor of the Madison Pour House – by the fireplace – on the 4th Tuesday: August 25th. Management was very accommodating in July and turned off the speakers that usually play music upstairs, but there is some competition with a bit of sound from downstairs. Sit close to the fireplace in August where it will be easiest to hear the stories and poetry! 
Tuesday nights are Burger Night at the Pour House (according to the menu, they do have Beyond Burgers as a plant-based option) – so come to Open Mic Night hungry and enjoy Burger Night! 

Albany PL Trustee Candidates Forum May 5

May 19 voting locations may differ from the general election

Swiped from here about the Albany Public Library: “The Trustee Candidates Forum is a moderated Q&A with the candidates running for Library Trustee.” It will be held on Tuesday, May 5, at 6 p.m., in the large auditorium at the Washington Avenue branch, 161 Washington Avenue.

“The questions and answers are prepared in advance, and the forum is moderated by a current trustee. The purpose of the forum is to give candidates a chance to share their views on libraries with the community, and for the community to hear the candidates out in preparation for the Library Budget Vote and Trustee Election on May 19.”

“Nine candidates will be on the May 19 ballot vying for three seats on the APL Board of Trustees. The following library trustee candidates submitted valid nominating petitions to the City School District of Albany and will appear on the ballot in this order, which is determined at random by the district:

1. Kathryn Bamberger
2. Lori Kochanski
3. Matthew Reed
4. Jenna Kersten
5. Smriti Sinha
6. Kayli McTague
7. Sarah Macinski (incumbent)
8. Kenneth Louzier
9. Leslie Dykeman

“This year, there are three open trustee seats: two full five-year terms and one partial one-year term. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes are elected to the five-year terms, and the third highest vote-getter is elected to the one-year term.”

“This event also includes a brief Community Report & Budget Information session with APL Executive Director Andrea Nicolay.”

Here are the current and proposed library budgets.

Exercising the franchise

I will say there is one candidate I’m definitely voting for on May 19 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and two who are likely, but I will wait until the forum to decide for sure. I’m very excited that there are so many candidates. 

Also, I’m voting YES on the library budget. The increase is due in part to the usual demands on a system. Also, in some years past, before the current library director took over, the budget was NOT submitted to the public. The upside was that the previous year’s budget was automatically passed at the same level. But the downside was that the income didn’t keep pace with expenses.  

I’m voting YES on the school budget and the two propositions.

There are three candidates for two slots on the school board:

Tabitha Wilson (incumbent)

Quinn Lee, who is involved in public health

Serena White Lake, an attorney at Albany Law School

The three candidates will debate virtually on Monday, May 18, at 6 pm; the link should be available on the school district website in a few days.

If you are looking for where to vote, which is likely DIFFERENT from where you vote in primary and general elections, go here.

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