This year’s library election will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 from 1:00 P.M.  to 8:00 P.M. at the Galway Town Hall.  The proposed annual budget of $94,700 and vacant library trustee positions will be on the ballot of this public vote.  There are three vacancies on the library board of trustees.  Two five year positions are being vacated by Arlene Rhodes and Christina Sowle, and a three year term is being vacated by Mary Brisson.

If you are interested in running for the Library Board, you have to complete a petition.  This petition is available at the Library and must be returned by 5:00 P.M. on May 4, 2009.  Each petition shall be directed to the Library Clerk of the Galway Public Library, be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the Galway Public Library; must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate.

If you have any questions about the upcoming election, please direct them to Ashley Poulin, Library Director at (518) 882-6385 or apoulin@sals.edu.

The Galway Public Library will be closed today, January 28th, due to inclement weather.

The Library will be hosting an Open Mic Night on Tuesday, January 27th at 7:00 p.m.  Come and read your prose or poetry, or stop by to listen as others read their work.  Light refreshments will be provided.  No registration is required for this event, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Did you ever watch the children participating in the summer reading program and wish you could be part of all the fun? If so, then I have good news for you! Hot Reads for Cold Nights is the Galway Public Library’s winter adult reading program.

Hot Reads for Cold Nights is a six week reading program. Each week, participants will submit entries for all books read and be eligible for a weekly prize. The more you read, the more chances you have to win! At the end of the program there will be a wrap-up party where a grand prize will be awarded.

Sign ups for Hot Reads for Cold Nights begin today!  Stop by the library to get your registration packet!

Why let kids have all the fun? Make sure to sign up for Hot Reads for Cold Nights - see you there!

We just received some new books and movies at the library!  Make sure to stop by and check them out!

New Books

The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly

A Member of the Family by Cesar Millan

Against Medical Advice by James Patterson (not available for checkout until October 20th)

Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession by Anne Rice

Grace by Richard Paul Evans

A Lion Among Men  by Gregory Maguire

 Breakdowns by Art Spiegelman

New Movies

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Nim’s Island

27 Dresses

Superbad

The Bucket List

The Bank Job

Smart People

Writers’ Group

The Writers’ Group will be meeting on Tuesday, September 9th at 7:00 p.m. We welcome beginners as well as published authors. Share your poetry, fiction, or non-fiction in this friendly, helpful group. Even if you’re not ready to share your work, please join us to listen and offer encouragement to other writers. No registration required – just stop by!

Poetry Reading, Barbara Louise Ungar

Barbara Louise Ungar, Saratoga Springs resident and Associate Professor at the College of Saint Rose, will be doing a poetry reading on Thursday, September 11th at 7:00 p.m. Barbara is best known for winning the Gival Press Poetry Award for her book The Origin of the Milky Way. The reading is open to all, and we hope to see you there!

Knit Lit

Knit Lit is meeting on Friday, September 12th at 7:00 p.m. Join us for a relaxing evening of socializing and crafting! Work on a current project, share books and skills, and learn techniques. All are welcome at this group – no registration required.

Adult Craft Night, Candy Bouquets

All adults are welcome to join us for our monthly adult craft night, on Monday September 15th at 6:30 p.m. This month we will be making beautiful candy bouquets. Registration and a $4 materials fee are required. Please stop by or call the library at 882-6385 to register.

Paws to Read

On Saturday, September 20th, children of all ages are invited to read to Moochie, a trained therapy dog. Kids can improve their reading abilities as they gain confidence by reading to Moochie. Moochie listens uncritically as each child reads. It is also a great opportunity for children to interact with animals in a safe, positive environment. Registration is required, so please stop by or call the library at 882-6385 to sign up for a fifteen minute block. If you can not make it on September 20th, but would be interested in participating in this program, please let us know as we may be able to do it regularly if there is demand.

Teen Crafternoons, Safety Pin Jewelry

This month’s teen craft is on Tuesday, September 23rd at 3:00 p.m. Stop by after school to make safety pin jewelry at the library. Registration is required, so please stop by or call the library at 882-6385 to register. This program is open to teens going into 7th grade and up.

Series of Thursday Events

A book discussion group for kids in grades 3-6 will be held on September 25th at 3:30 p.m. We will be discussing You Wish: The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff by Jason Lethcoe. There will be related activities and a snack. Stop by the library or call 882-6385 to register.

Readings from The Hermit, by Mary Sanders Shartle

Mary Sanders Shartle will be doing a reading from her novel-in-progress The Hermit: The Truth and Legend of Lily Martindale on September 25th at 7:00 p.m. The presentation will include a discussion of the tradition of hermits, both secular and religious, and some of the more famous “hermits” of the Adirondacks. This project is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency. All are welcome at this reading, and we hope to see you there!

 Free Book Discussion Series Offered at the Galway Public Library

In a unique collaboration, the New York Council for the Humanities has joined forces with the Galway Public Library to offer Reading Between the Lines: Revolution and Rebellion in Early America, a monthly reading and discussion series that runs from September 22, 2008, to January 29, 2009.

“Reading Between the Lines offers an unusual twist on the standard book group format with focused thematic discussions led by humanities scholars,” says Council Executive Director Sara Ogger. At the Galway Public Library, the discussion leader will be Mary Sanders Shartle.  She will lead four discussion sessions each focused on a book related to the series theme.  The first book in the series is New York is Burning, by Jill Lepore.

Participants in the series read works of non-fiction and works of literature that are discussed within an historical context. The program is free and open to the public, although pre-registration is required. For more information about series dates and acquiring books, please contact Ashley Poulin at 882-6385.

Reading Between the Lines is designed to promote lively, informed conversation about humanities themes and strengthen the relationship between humanities institutions and the public. Reading Between the Lines series are currently being held in communities across New York State. The project is supported by the We The People initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The New York Council for the Humanities is a private, non-profit organization that helps all New Yorkers to lead vibrant intellectual lives by strengthening traditions of cultural literacy, critical inquiry and civic participation. To find out more about the Council visit www.nyhumanities.org

Reading Between the Lines for Adults was developed in partnership with the Center for the Humanities at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of either the Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

Children ages five and up can join Anne Valente, owner of Creative Sparks in Saratoga, and create your very own “patch” of Galway’s Story Quilt.  Program presenters will talk to the children about the Story Quilt, life in Galway, and what Galway means to them.  Once everyone has plenty of ideas, they will each create an individual design on a ceramic tile that depicts their life in Galway.  The tiles will then be fired and returned to the children.  Registration is required, so please stop by or call the library to sign up.  This program is being funded by proceeds from the Galway Public Library’s Story Quilt Fund.

Thursday, August 28th at 6:00 p.m.

Registration required – Stop by or call 882-6385

Open to children ages five and up

The Safety of Secrets, by Delaune Michel

The Wednesday Sisters, by Meg Waite Clayton

No One Tells Everything, by Rae Meadows

My Name is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare, by jess Winfield

We just received a HUGE order of teen books.  Make sure to stop by, check them out, and make sure to participate in the teen summer reading program!

Hero, by Perry Moore

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye, by Deb Caletti

The Fold, by An Na

Good Enough, by Paula Yoo

The Compound, by S. A. Bodeen

Town Boy, by Lat

Waiting For Normal, by Leslie Connor

Rucker Park Setup, by Paul Volponi

Sunrise Over Fallujah, by Walter Dean Myers

Lock and Key, by Sarah Dessen

The Missing Girl, by Norma Fox Mazer

Harmless, by Dana Reinhardt

Boy Toy, Barry Lyga

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, by Gabrielle Zevin

The London Eye Mystery, by Siobhan Dowd

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, & Fenway Park, by Steve Kluger

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

Derby Girl, by Shauna Cross

Beige, by Cecil Castellucci

Skate, by Michael Harmon

Spanking Shakespeare, by Jake Wizner

Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern

Someday this Pain will be Useful to You, by Peter Cameron

Slam, by Nick Hornby

Boot Camp, by Todd Strasser

Indigo Summer, by Monica McKayhan

How Not to be Popular, b y Jennifer Ziegler

Unwind, by Neal Shusterman