New Groups & Presentations Bring Changes to CPL

January is always a refreshing time…a time for perspective on our lives…a time for getting organized, trying new things and beginning anew! At the library, this January, we have several new organizations, some new presentations and a new artist exhibiting with us!



If you are interested in saving money, why not join our Canastota Coupon Clippers? The group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month at 6:30pm. The group clips coupons, shares coupons and information on store sales! To start the New Year out, the group is featuring a presentation by Jessica Jones of Extreme Couponing on Wednesday, January 4 at 6:30pm. For just $10, Jessica will provide handouts, a binder and information on store policies, stacking, and more. Jones, who has been featured in local television programs and newspaper articles has saved more than $1,700 since she began Extreme Couponing this past year.


Scrapbooking is a fun way to preserve photos and memories for yourself, your friends and relatives. A new Scrapbooking group will begin meeting at the library on Monday, January 9 beginning at 5:30pm. The group hopes you will bring all your own photos and supplies and come out to meet and work with other scrapbookers! Meetings will be held the second Monday of every month!


Also on Monday, January 9th, the Canastota Library and Canal Town Museum will present a Canalside Talk at 7pm in the Children’s Area of the library. Robert Arnold III, a retired Albany County Historian will speak about “1812: New York’s War, New York’s Impetus”. Much of the war was fought on our soil and on our waterways. New Yorkers responded to the military conflict and in doing so found serious inadequacies in the state’s infrastructure and the nation’s military capacity. This talk will be held with the support of the New York Council for Humanities.


January brings back the library’s Tech Tuesdays and new Computer Therapy Thursdays! During the months of January, February and March, the library, with the support of the Mid York Library System will provide free computer services to assist the unemployed, underemployed and other patrons interested in updating their computer skills! With five laptops and technology training staff available, patrons can receive individualized help or attend scheduled training programs. When the laptops are not in use during training, the computers will be available for use on the main floor of the library.


Shannon Crandall is the artist of the month for the library this month. Crandall’s mixed media paintings reflect the rhythm of life and nature. Layers, textures and vibrant colors play center stage in her creations. A graduate of the University of Maryland with a B.A. in Art History, Crandall considers herself to be a self taught artist. An artist’s reception will be held for Shannon Crandall on January 10 at 7pm. The public is invited to attend!


We hope you will stop into the library during January to visit with us and listen to a lecture or join one of our regular groups! May January bring you the changes that you are seeking in your life!

December At The Canastota Public Library

December is a busy month for many of us as we plan for the holidays! The Canastota Public Library has some events going on this year which we hope will help you to enjoy this year’s festive season!

In December, the library will continue to accept non-perishable food items in place of library fines for Canastota Public Library late item fees only! We ask that the food donation be commensurate with the fine charged. This will not only help our patron who might be a bit late in returning items, it will also help those who are less fortunate in our community. All items donated will be given to the Opportunity Shop in Canastota to help keep their shelves full during the month of December.

The library welcomes back the Great Swamp Conservancy’s Swamp Snappers as the Artists of the Month for the month of December. The Swamp Snappers are a group of photography buffs that meet regularly to share their enthusiasm for outdoor photography. An open reception for the Swamp Snappers will be held on December 5 at 7pm in the Lawson Community Room.

The Book Chat group will meet on Wednesday afternoon, December 7tha t 1pm to talk about the book, “The Beach House” by Jane Green. Our book Chat group meets monthly for discussion on the book of the month and for refreshment. The book is available now and new members are encouraged to pick up the book and join us for the discussion.

On Wednesday, December 7 at 6:30pm, the library presents Gingerbread Houses with Natalie Gustafson. Back by popular demand, this holiday house construction project will allow you and your family to build your own Gingerbread House. The cost is $10 per family (one house per family). Children under the age of twelve must be accompanied by a parent or adult who will help them to work on their house. We are limited to twenty gingerbread houses so please sign up in advance for this popular workshop! Call 697-7030 to register!

The library will continue to provide our regular programming during the month including Baby and Me Lapsit, Storytime with Mrs. Liz, our two Writing Groups, our two Knitting Groups, the Thursday Afternoon Bridge Group and our Coupon Clippers. For more information on these programs, please visit our webpage at www.canastotalibrary.org. You can also friend us on Facebook! We hope that all of our patrons enjoy this wonderful holiday season!

Biggest Library Book Sale Ever!

The Friends of the Canastota Public Library will hold their Annual Book Sale to benefit the library on October 20 -22, 2011.  The doors for this event will open at 9am on Thursday, October 20th.

Last year, the queue for opening day snaked all the way out to the middle of the library's parking lot. In amazement, the staff watched the line lengthen and then remain at a constant for the better part of the morning.  Everyone seemed happy to wait in line to get some wonderful gems at this sale!

 I was able to purchase books for holiday gifts which looked brand new!  My children and husband always get at least one new book from me as a Christmas present.  If I recall correctly, my husband received some Sci Fi novels and at least one Dean Koontz novel that he hadn't read yet!  My daughter's book was written by Jodi Picoult. I remember finding my sons books by authors that they enjoyed as well!

This year, we are hoping the annual sale will be an even bigger event than in the past.  I already have my shopping list prepared.  I have some book requests from family and some friends.  My sister-in-law even gave me a list of some books she is looking to purchase. 

With prices extremely low, everything at the sale is priced to go!  The sale will include a great selection of books, both hard cover and paperback as well as fiction and non fiction.  I know past years have revealed a large amount of cook books--everyone's favorite!  The coffee table books always amaze me whether they are architectural or artsy, I love perusing these books at the annual sale.  The sale will also include VHS tapes, DVDs, audio tapes and CDs.  A highlight of this annual sale has always been the raffle baskets!  The Friends prepare raffles for this event including theme baskets which will surely tickle someone's fancy!  Library commemorative items, such as book bag totes and note cards will also be available at the sale. 

As always, the last day of the sale, Saturday, will be Bag Day.  For the cost of a tote or environmentally friendly sack, you can fill your tote with as many books as it will hold!  Talk about a bargain! 

I hope you will try to attend this event to support our Canastota Public Library.  The money raised through this sale is used to benefit the library's ongoing programs and our collections.  In previous years, some of the money has also been used to enhance the building itself!  The Friends have been able to purchase new blinds and curtains for the Carnegie Room, a dishwasher for the Lawson Community Room and the group has assisted in the purchase of laptop computers that patrons may use throughout the library.  A portion of the funds raised last year was donated by the Friends to the Library's Endowment Fund. 

This is the ONE ANNUAL community fundraiser that supports the Canastota Public Library!  READ ON!

Library Director Leads Rotary Cultural Exchange Team to England

Liz Metzger, the Director of the Canastota Public Library is going to England this September. Metzger has been an active member of the Canastota Rotary since 1999. This year, she is representing the Central New York Rotary District 7150 and the United States of America as she leads a Rotary International Cultural Vocational Exchange Team.

Metzger’s team is comprised of non-Rotarians from the area who work in the medical field. The team includes a Physician’s Assistant, an Orthopedic Nurse, a Pharmacy Technician and a Massage Therapist. These medical professionals will meet with their counterparts in Manchester, England and the Isle of Man. The goal of this month-long trip is to exchange ideas and provide inspiration to both parties.

“Over the course of the years, my family life has been enriched by hosting three exchange students from Italy, Venezuela and Germany. We learned about the food, customs, politics, educational systems, and much more from these lovely young women.” Noted Metzger.

She is thrilled to be traveling to Manchester, England and the Isle of Man for this adult vocational and cultural exchange.

“It is the closest I will ever get to being an exchange student and I am really excited!” said Metzger.

The exchange groups will be living with British Rotarians, speaking at Rotary Club meetings and learning about how medicine is practiced in the UK. Liz will also have the opportunity to visit public libraries and exchange ideas with other librarians.

When the knitting groups at the Canastota Public Library learned of Metzger’s upcoming trip, the groups quickly began clicking their knitting needles to create beautiful Potato Chip Scarves. They created over thirty scarves for the Rotary Group. The Potato Chip Scarves will be used as gifts for the team to offer to their Host Families and other Rotarian Dignitaries in England.

“I am grateful for our Canastota Knitters who have produced some simply stunning scarves that I will be distributing as gifts,” said Metzger.

Metzger will be emailing regular updates and photos to her staff at the library, which will be posted on the Canastota Library’s Facebook page. If you’d like to share in her adventure, please visit the page!

September Exceptional Art At the Canastota Library

Exceptional Artworks will be on display in the Lawson Community Room for the entire month of September.  Exceptional Artworks are the creative expressions of artists with developmental disabilities.  The mission of the Exceptional Artworks Program is to increase public awareness of the talents and creativity of people with developmental disabilites, and to provide the artists with  opportunities to express their thoughts and feeling through the arts.  Staet and voluntary agencies from Oneida, Herkimer and Madison Counties participate in the Exceptional Artworks Program. 

The Exceptional Artworks commitee is comprised of 24 representatives from seven non-profit agencies including:  The CNY DSO; Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NY-SARC; Madison-Cortland ARC; Herkimer Area Resource Center; Resource Center for Independent Living; Heritage Farm and Arise (Madison County).

There will be an Artist's Reception where the public is welcomed to attend and meet some of the artists.  That event will be held on Thursday, September 10th beginning at 10am.  There will be light refreshments served. 

We hope you might be able to stop by!

Learning

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. ~Chinese Proverb


When thinking about writing this blog, I came across the proverb listed above. The quote helped me to remember how important learning is to all of us. When we stop learning, we stop living! There are various ways that we “learn”. Our libraries are full of books on a variety of subjects and can help us to keep our minds humming. Additionally, our local libraries are able to offer new learning opportunities for many in the community.

The proverb also reminded me that school will be starting very soon! This time of year for many children and adults is a time of renewal. The summer is almost gone and we begin thinking about what we will do with our fall and winter free time. At the Canastota Public Library, we are doing the very same thing. This is the time of year when we plan our programming efforts, engage speakers, recruit volunteers to assist with programs and activities and motivate ourselves for a great fall and winter season at the library!

It is sometimes difficult to decide what types of programs and activities we should offer at the library. Would patrons be interested in joining our book club, hearing about a specific topic, learning a new craft or skill? With so many patrons and so many different ideas and avenues to explore, our late summer efforts can get crazy!

In past years, we have offered crafts for kids, various teen activities and our Lap Sit and Story Time programs. For adults, we have invited local authors to do book readings and signings and have had speakers on topics including The Underground Railroad, Hiking the Appalachian Trail, and Preparing for Community Emergencies. Our crafts for adults have included recycled crafts, holiday crafting, and decorating for the holidays.

While we will continue to offer our popular Lap Sit, Story Time and Libra-teen program, we are always looking for interesting topics and activities for adults. If you have any suggestions or ideas on what types of programming you would like to see the library offer this year or in future years, please comment on this blog. Your help will be greatly appreciated! At the Canastota Public Library, we want to be a conduit to the treasures of your life.

Angela Rigler Wins Award

Angela Rigler, a Library Clerk with the Canastota Public Library has been awarded a Public Transcript of the Quarter Award from the Western New York Library Resources Council, for her work through the program, “Ask Us 24/7”.

Rigler’s award was for the April/May/June 2011 quarter. She was presented the award at the library this month. As a member of the Ask Us 24/7 library community, Rigler won the award for outstanding work in assisting library patrons through virtual reference.

Rigler has been employed at the Canastota Public Library for nearly 12 years. She began her career at the library as a Library Page. Currently, Rigler purchases materials for the children’s area of the library. She also coordinates the weekly program, “Baby & Me Lap Sit with Miss Angela” for babies and their caregivers. On Wednesdays, Rigler assists patrons who are interested in learning new computer skills during the Canastota Library’s Wired Wednesday program. Rigler began working with Ask Us 24/7 in May of 2010.

Ask Us 24/7 is a virtual chat service that connects people with reference librarians. Ask Us 24/7 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. The reference librarian may be from anywhere throughout the state. The librarian helps patrons with questions about their library and will help find answers to other questions by using a range of Internet sources and specialized databases. Ask Us 24/7 is a joint service of the following New York 3Rs Councils: Capital District Library Council ; Central New York Library Resources Council; Northern New York Library Network; South Central Regional Library Council and Western New York Library Resources Council.

About Our Artist

Canastota artist, Erica Dale Strzepek is the featured artist at the Canastota Public Library during the months of July and August.  Her summer exhibit in the Lawson Community Room on the lower level of the library features original works in watercolor and ink.

Erica's subjects capture emotion and memories such as a cold winter walk, simple collected treasures from the beach, or the reach of a rose hip cluster.  She finds interest in the forgotten allure of a former treasure or the simple beauty of nature.

To learn more about Erica's work, you can connect with Erica through her art blog at ericadalestrezepek.com.

The Canastota Public Library is raffling an origianl 5X7 watercolor by Erica Dale Strzepek, "Blooms with Patience".  Tickets can be purchased at the circulation desk at the library.  All proceeds from this raffle will benefit the library.

In addition, for a limited time, patrons can save 30% on Erica's art prints, canvas prints and cards from her online store:  erica-strzepek.artistwebsites.com.  You will need to list Discount Code:  HPLZCF.  This offer ends on August 31, 2011.

Teens Explore India, Germany and Other Places!

The Summer Reading Program at the Canastota Public Library is well underway!  If you haven't signed your children up yet for some of the events, there is still time!  Just stop by the second floor, children's area of the library!

The library will be closed on the 3rd and 4th of July! We will reopen on Tuesday, July 5th.. 

On July 5 at 6pm, the teens (grades 6 and up) will kick off their summer reading program with "A Nite In India".   Teens will have the opportunity to obtain, with parental approval, a henna tattoo on their hand from artist Noel Frodelius.  Additionally, Lori Peryer will be at the library to teach basic yoga skills and an Indian form of dance called Bhangra.  A sampling of Indian cuisine, traditional Indian games and a craft will round out the evening.

The teens will also hold four Lunch Bunch Meetings in July on Fridays beginning at 12:30pm.  The reading selection includes "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, "Persepolis:  The Story of Childhood" by Marjane Satrapi, "Airborn" by Kenneth Oppel and "Ties that Bind;  Ties that Break" by Lensey Namioka.  The books take place in various settings including Germany, Iran, China and an alternate universe!  Lunch will be served during these meetings while we discuss the books we've read that week.

Teen craft Days will be held on Three Wednesdays at the library beginning at 6pm.  On Wednesday, July 13, we'll be making Dream Catchers.  On Wednesday, July 20th, we'll be experimenting with hula hoop weaving using t-shirts and on July 27th, we'll be making Russian Dolls and Japanese Heroes using wooden eggs.

The teens will end their summer with a game seen around the world, "A Minute to Win It".   They will vie for prizes like board games, candy bars, books, posters and more!  "A Minute to Win It" will be held on Friday, August 5that 2pm.

Other events for the summer include:
On 7/6 at 2pm, we will have a Pet Mobile visiting the library to entertain our families!
On 7/12, Magician Leon Etienne will entertain us with his sleight of hand demonstrations at 7pm.
On 7/21 at 7pm, Dave Ruch will perform his "One World, Many Stories" which has us singing along to songs sung in different countries.
On 7/26 at 10am, Dan the Snake Man will appear at the Roberts Street School Auditorium , in cooperation with the Summer Enrichment Program
On 7/28 at 2pm, grab your Hogwarts gear and head to the library for Harry Potter's Birthday Party!

We hope to see you at the library!  Happy Reading!

Summer Reading Program Sign-Ups--Don't Miss Out!

If your children are like mine, they are already filling their summer days with lots of activities. And, like most parents, I’m looking for activities that are full of learning opportunities and that don’t break the family bank! The library is offering some great programs for area youth at no cost! Not surprisingly, research shows that students who read during the summer breaks go to school better prepared in the fall semester! This year’s Canastota Public Library Summer Reading Programs are geared for fun and learning.


Summer Reading Program Sign-ups are scheduled for the week of June 27th...all week long...in the Children's Area of the libary!

Children aged kindergarten to sixth grade may participate in the “One World, Many Stories” at Your Library” Summer Reading Program. This year’s Summer Reading Program will run from June 27 through August 8. Activities and special events are scheduled on a weekly basis. While most events will take place at the Canastota Public Library, some of the events will be held at the Auditorium at the Roberts Street Elementary School. Calendars listing all events and activities are available at the Canastota Public Library. Registration for “One World, Many Stories” is scheduled all day (June 27) at the Canastota Public Library on the second floor.

Events for the entire family include the following:

Monday, June 27 at 10:30am: A Puppet Show with Nancy Sanders

Wednesday, July 6 at 2pm: The Pet Mobile Comes to the Library

Tuesday, July 12 at 7pm:    Magician Leon Ettiene

Thursday, July 21, at 7pm:  Music with Dave Rush

Tuesday, July 26: The Library welcomes Dan the Snake Man to a performance at the Roberts Street School Auditorium

Thursday, July 28: The Annual Harry Potter Birthday Party

Monday, August 1: The McCarthy Family performs at the Roberts Street School Auditorium

The library will also coordinate a special summer reading program for teens in grades six through twelve. The theme is “You Are Here”. “You Are Here” will kick off with a special Nite In India at the library on Tuesday, July 5 at 6pm. A variety of stations will be available for the teens to explore. There will be henna painting, bhangra dancing, and yoga as well as authentic games, crafts and food!

Teens will also be able to participate in a Reading Club and Teen Craft Days. The Lunch Bunch reading club will meet each Friday at 12:30 beginning on July 8 and ending on July 29. A list of books that the group will be reading can be picked up at the library. Lunch will be served on the days that the group meets at no cost to participants.

Teen Craft Days will be held on three Wednesdays in July at 6pm. The craft sessions will be held on July 13, July 20 and July 27. Some supplies will need to be purchased by participants. Sign-ups will be necessary for Teen Craft Days so that we are sure we have enough materials for all to participate. Crafts include Dream Catchers, Hula Hoop Weaving and Matryoshka Dolls and Japanese Hero Dolls.
The library notes that these programs can be made available due to the support that we receive from the Friends of the Library and in part by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute for Museum and Library Services!

These programs can be fun and informative for kids in grades kindergarten and up! And, the prices are definitely right at “free”. We hope that you will encourage your child to read this summer. Reading can take them to some very exciting places and help to prepare them for a successful school year in the fall!








Nancy Sander's Puppet Show



The Dedication of Pete's Place

On Father's Day at 1pm, (Sunday, June 19th) we will dedicate "Pete's Place" at the Canastota Public Library. This celebration is open to everyone in the community.

Pete’s Place, which is on the first floor of the library, holds our collections of DVDs, books on CDs and Science Fiction. We are dedicating Pete's Place to the honor of our beloved colleague, Pete J. Leggett who passed away last year after more than 13 years of service to the library.

Anyone who knew Pete was impressed with his interests--from cooking to anthropology, films and science fiction, fishing and making or repairing books.  Pete was also an artist.  He sketched, airpainted, painted, made beautiful jewelry and knives and arrowheads.  Pete was our fix-it man at the library.  He repaired  tables, chairs, our computers and even changed the lightbulbs.  He was ingenious at some of the inventions he came up with to get things done in a more efficient way.  One Christmas years ago, Pete invented a plant watering system that fed our live Christmas Tree in the lobby of the library.  And, as many patrons know, Pete could repair audio tape that ripped and rewind it on the tape deck.  He could repair pop up books and take scratches out of our DVDs.  Book repair was another of Pete's skills. 

When selecting what we wanted to put into Pete's Place, we chose collections that were near and dear to Pete Leggett’s heart. It was well known that Pete had a vast knowledge of current movies and could match a patron with the perfect movie! Pete was also a voracious Science Fiction fan!  Pete always worked the afternoon/evening shift here at the library and I still catch myself looking towards the elevator at noon, awaiting his arrival.  He would walk in listening to a bestseller that was just released on CD or he was listening to an eBook.  That was our Pete!  And, we hope that he would approve of Pete's Place.

Pete’s Place is a small area in the library and we have attempted to fill it with enormous memories of our colleague and all that he meant to the community and those he touched every day! We hope that you will stop by to take a look at Pete's Place and have some light refreshments with us!

The Canastota Public Library is located at 102 W. Center Street in Canastota.

Summer Reading at the Canastota Public Library

If your children are like mine, they are already filling their summer days with lots of activities. And, like most parents, I’m looking for activities that are full of learning opportunities and that don’t break the family bank! The library is offering some great programs for area youth at no cost! Not surprisingly, research shows that students who read during the summer breaks go to school better prepared in the fall semester! This year’s Canastota Public Library Summer Reading Programs are geared for fun and learning.
Children aged kindergarten to sixth grade may participate in the “One World, Many Stories” at Your Library” Summer Reading Program. This year’s Summer Reading Program will run from June 27 through August 8. Activities and special events are scheduled on a weekly basis. While most events will take place at the Canastota Public Library, some of the events will be held at the Auditorium at the Roberts Street Elementary School. Calendars listing all events and activities are available at the Canastota Public Library. Registration for “One World, Many Stories” is scheduled all day (June 27) at the Canastota Public Library on the second floor.


Events for the entire family include the following:

Monday, June 27 at 10:30am: A Puppet Show with Nancy Sanders

Wednesday, July 6 at 2pm: The Pet Mobile Comes to the Library

Tuesday, July 12 at 7pm: Magician Leon Ettiene

Thursday, July 21, Music with Dave Rush

Tuesday, July 26: The Library welcomes Dan the Snake Man to a performance at the Roberts Street School Auditorium

Thursday, July 28: The Annual Harry Potter Birthday Party

Monday, August 1: The McCarthy Family performs at the Roberts Street School Auditorium

The library will also coordinate a special summer reading program for teens in grades six through twelve. The theme is “You Are Here”. “You Are Here” will kick off with a special Nite In India at the library on Tuesday, July 5 at 6pm. A variety of stations will be available for the teens to explore. There will be henna painting, bhangra dancing, and yoga as well as authentic games, crafts and food!

Teens will also be able to participate in a Reading Club and Teen Craft Days. The Lunch Bunch reading club will meet each Friday at 12:30 beginning on July 8 and ending on July 29. A list of books that the group will be reading can be picked up at the library. Lunch will be served on the days that the group meets at no cost to participants.
Teen Craft Days will be held on three Wednesdays in July at 6pm. The craft sessions will be held on July 13, July 20 and July 27. Some supplies will need to be purchased by participants. Sign-ups will be necessary for Teen Craft Days so that we are sure we have enough materials for all to participate. Crafts include Dream Catchers, Hula Hoop Weaving and Matryoshka Dolls and Japanese Hero Dolls.
The library notes that these programs can be made available due to the support that we receive from the Friends of the Library and in part by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute for Museum and Library Services!
These programs can be fun and informative for kids in grades kindergarten and up! And, the prices are definitely right at “free”. We hope that you will encourage your child to read this summer. Reading can take them to some very exciting places and help to prepare them for a successful school year in the fall!

Summer Hours

The Summer is here or seems to be just around the corner!  I alwasy think of summer as a time to slow down and enjoy the little things in life.  Maybe it is because the weather is so beautiful...Maybe it is because the flowers are blooming but it is probably because for just a little while, the sun is shining in Central New York.

Beginning June 1, the Canastota Public Library has started their summer hours.  What does that mean for our patrons?  Actually, it means we are opened a little less during the summer.  On Monday through Thursday, the library hours will be 9am - 8pm.  Friday hours remain the same:  9am - 5pm.  On Saturday, we'll open at 10am and close at 1pm.  We are closed on Sunday!  While it means we are opened a little less, this gives you more time to tend to other things in your world. 

This month, the library has a great display of  "testing" helps for all of our students who are preparing for final exams and Regents Exams.  We know just how important these end of year tests are and we want to be able to provide you with the resources you need to make the "grade"!  If there is something that you don't see, just ask us and we can undoubtably order from one of the other 42 libraries within our Mid-York System.  And, if it isn't within our system, we do have means to look for the resources you may need worldwide!

June is also a great time to think about summer vacations and planning.  Our travel section can be a huge benefit if you are planning a trip!  We have information on exotic locales, area sightseeing and day-trips and can help you to brush up your language skills if you are planning a trip to Italy, Germany, France or any other location!

For me, summer is the time to read some of my favorite authors.  For example, Janet Evanovich's "Smokin Seventeen" comes out this month as does James Patterson's new book, "Now You See Her".  There are several new books that are so popular that my name has been added to a list to reserve them including Betty White and Steven Tyler's new books. 

Summer reading is right around the corner so stay posted for great events for the kids and teens!
Happy Reading!

eBook/eReader Demo

Did you get an eReader for your birthday or Mother's Day?  Are you expecting to get one soon?  You might want to sign up for the Canastota Public Library's demonstration of eBooks and eReaders.  On Wednesday, May 25th from 7 - 8pm, Fritz Meeusen from the Mid-York Library System will be at the Canastota Public Library to show you what you need to know to download eBooks to your eReader!

This one hour demonstration show you all the steps involved in signing eBooks out of the library and copying them to your eReader!  You will learn how to download and install a free software program and to create an Adobe ID.  Fritz will then cover how to activiate your eReader, how to sign out your eBook and how to copy it to the eReader.  The demonstartion also shows how to return signed out eBooks to the library!  You'll be an expert!

Fritz Meeusen is a Technology Engineer/Trainer for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Project (BTOP) through the Mid-York Library System.

Participants should bring their own eBook device and a laptop to the presentation.  Due to limited space, participants should RSVP to the library by calling 697-7030.  To learn more, please contact the library.

Adirondack Artwork Displayed

Every month, the Canastota Public Library displays original artwork from area artists.  For the library, it is an opportunity to display local talent and for the artist, it is a chance to display and possibly sell their work.

Minoa artist, Marilyn Vona will display her work to the public in May at the Canastota Public Library.  Vona's work focuses on Adirondack wildlife, lake scenes and sunsets.   Her display this month will feature all oils on canvas. Marilyn has been drawing since she was 5 years old.  During the war, she explains that her mother used to take paper that the meat was wrapped in and wash it, iron it and cut it into squares for drawing paper for Marilyn.  One Christmas, Marilyn  told an aunt and uncle that she would like oil paint and at about 8 years old, Marilyn began painting seriously.  She describes her talent as "God-given" and explained that while she did take art in high school, she is mostly self-taught.

An artist's reception will be held for the public to meet with Marilyn and view her paintings.  The reception will be held on Saturday, May 14 at 1pm at the library.  The Canastota Public Library is located at 102 W. Center Street in Canastota.  Light refreshments will be served at the reception.  All are welcomed.

Microsoft Excel Basics

          The Canastota Public Library in conjunction with Mid-York Library System will offer a Microsoft Excel Basics training on Friday May 6 from 2 – 4pm. The training session will focus on navigating the Excel interface, entering data into cells, formatting numbers, text and cells and learning to operate auto sum and perform basic formulas. The training session will be helpful for those using Microsoft Excel to create a personal budget.
          This training is offered through a grant through the New York State Library, a unit of the Office of Cultural Education within the New York State Education Department. The funds were received from the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP). Jennifer Recht, from Mid-York Library System, will provide the training. Recht received her M.S. in Library and Information Science from Syracuse University and recently joined Mid-York’s staff as BTOP Digital Literacy Librarian and Trainer.
          This training will be offered free of charge. Due to limitations in space and computer access, reservations must be made by calling the library at 697-7030.

          The Canastota Public Library is a place of community pride and service and has been providing services since 1896. The library is located at 102 W. Center Street in Canastota.

Poetry Month Ends With Poetry Reading

April is National Poetry Month and the Canastota Public Library will be holding a very special poetry reading to celebrate the national holiday!  On Tuesday, April 26 at 7pm, poet Rachael Z. Ikins will provide select readings from her newly published book of poetry, "Transplanted."

Ikins was born and raised in Central New York's Fingerlakes Region.  She is an accomplished poet and illustrator.  Ikins is a member of the library's afternoon writing group.  she has won eight poetry prizes, among them the National League of American Penwomen in 2006 and 2008.

"Transplanted" will be available for purchase and an author autograph.  Light refreshments will be served.

Connecting to Canastota

We make connections with others every day, don't we?  We meet someone new and find out that they know someone that we know or they have worked somewhere that we have worked or visited.  I find these connections very interesting. 

Recently, I've been spending a lot of time emailing with a fiction author, Kate Racculia.  Kate, who lives in Boston, wrote the book, "This Must Be The Place" and is hard at work at her second book.  Kate wrote her book on weekends while holding down a full time job...she is my hero!  I've come to realize that Kate and I have a little bit in common.  I'm currently working on writing a book so we are both writers!  We both love suspenseful murder mysteries--to read and to watch on tv or the big screen.  We've also both held numerous jobs in life.  Kate has been a has been a bassoonist, a planetarium operator, a coffee jerk, a designer, a proposal writer, and a karaoke god, so far in her life.  I have been a pianist (for about two months), pretzel baker, a clothing buyer, a fundraiser, a coffee jerk, and a Scrabble queen!

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Kate also has ties to Central New York and Canastota, in particular!  After reading her book, I visited Kate's website and asked her if she might consider coming to the Canastota Public Library to do an author talk and book signing.  She contacted me within two days and said she would be delighted to speak here as she grew up in Central New York.  She spent many summers vacationing on nearby Oneida Lake and some of her relatives lived in Canastota!

Kate's great grandfather, Leland  Benjamin Cardner was the village butcher in the 1930's.  Kate's grandmother, Marion Ruth Cardner (Van Skiver) graduated from Canastota High School in 1936.  Her cousins--Virginia and Shirley Cardner also graduated from CHS a few years later.  We even have a few patrons who attended school with Kate's grandmother!

Kate Racculia is a fresh voice in publishing!  Her writing is thoughtful, uplifting and a bit quirky--right up my alley!  I hope you stop by the library when she visits us on April 14th at 7pm for her author talk.  If you, like me, are an aspiring writer, please consider signing up for our Writer's Workshop with Kate on Saturday, April 16th from 1 - 3pm.  Both sessions are free and open to the public.

We hope you will come to the library and make a connection with Kate!

Rob Buyea Comes Home

          Rob Buyea, a 1995 graduate of Canastota Central Schools will come home on Friday, March 18th to speak at the Canastota Public Library!  At 7pm on March 18th, the library will open for a special presentation and book reading by Rob.   Rob's first published book, "Because of Mr. Terupt" is the story of a new teacher and six of his students.  Told by the students, the story illustrates how one teacher can change the lives and thoughts of students!

          "Because of Mr. Terupt" received a Starred Review from School Library Journal and was selected as a New Voices Pick by the Association of Booksellers. 

          Since the publication of "Because of Mr. Terupt", Buyea has sold the sequel to the same publisher.  At this book reading, Barnes and Noble will be on hand to sell copies of the book and Buyea will stay to autograph books!

Read A Book; Get A Chance To Win A Movie!

Only at the Canastota Public Library:  During the month of March, every time you borrow a book that has been made into a movie, we’ll give you a raffle ticket to win a movie!   The more books you read, the more chances you will have to win!
Movies to be given away include:

To Kill A Mockingbird


The Secret


The Stir of Echoes (Blu-Ray)


Up In The Air


August Rush (Blu-Ray)


The Last Waltz (Blu-Ray)

The Canastota Public Library is located at 102 W. Center Street in Canastota.  Stop in today!

Sleepy Time Stories This Month!

Please join Mrs. Jen for Sleepy Time Stories at the Library!  Come in your pajamas, bring your blanket and favorite stuffed animal and enjoy some milk and cookies with us.  Sleepy Time Stories will be held on Wednesday, February 16th beginning at 6:30pm at the Canastota Public Library.

The program will last about an hour and include giveaways for those in attendance.  Children up to age 8 will enjoy "All About Animals" this month.  What's your favorite animal?  Do you love puppies, horses, aardvarks or elephants?  Come and listen to some great stories about all kinds of silly and interesting animals.  We'll be reading "A Giraffe and a Half" and "If You Give A Pig A Pancake."

In case of inclement weather, a snow date is planned for February 23.  The Canastota Public Library is located at 102 W. Center Street in Canastota.

Water Media and Collage Classes with Artist/Teacher Therese Gena

Water media and collage is an exciting way to create artwork. Collage, in its many forms, is versatile and user friendly. In this class, beginning students will have the opportunity to enjoy a process that is totally one of a kind. This is a process where there are no mistakes, only happy accidents that help you to create unique art.

According to Therese Gena, "My personal method of teaching will provide ample demonstrations, individualized instruction and lots of hands on experience."
Classes will be held each Tuesday in March (March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29) at the Canastota Public Library from 5:30pm until 8pm. Due to the nature of this media, it will be necessary for students to attend each and every class. Class size is limited so enroll today by calling the library at 697-7030. A materials fee of $15 and the registration for this class must be made by February 22.



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Programs Begin Again at Canastota Public Library

This week, several regular programs will begin at the Canastota Public Library! Baby & Me Lap Sit, Storytime with Mrs. Liz and the Librateens all resume this week after a January Break.
Baby & Me Lap Sit with Miss Angela will begin again on Wednesday, February 2 through Wednesday, May 25. This program for babies up to age 24 months and their caregivers is an excellent way to introduce your child to the library. Miss Angela prepares songs, finger plays and books around various themes. And, there is an opportunity for your child to socialize with other babies while you socialize with the other caregivers! Baby & Me Lap Sit is held every Wednesday morning at 10am in the Children's Area on the Second Floor of the Library.
Storytime with Mrs. Liz is scheduled to begin on Thursday, February 3 through Thursday, May 26. This group of pre-schoolers meets each Thursday at 10am in the Children's Area on the Second Floor of the Library. Your child will enjoy stories, games, crafts and a snack during this fun morning program.
The Canastota Libra-Teens is a group of students in grades 6 and up who meet at the library on Wednesdays after school. The group will begin again on Wednesday, February 2 and run through Wednesday, May 25. Speakers, games, crafts and speakers are planned for this spring session of the Libra-Teems. The group meets in the Lawson Community Room from 3pm until 4:30 pm whenever school is in session!
No sign-ups are necessary for these three regular program of the Canastota Public Library. The library is located at 102 W. Center Street in Canastota!



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February's Artist of the Month Named

Amber Brown will be the Artist of the Month for the Canastota Public Library!  Brown, a 2005 graduate of Canastota High School.  She studied Art Education at Syracuse University with a concentration in painting.  After graduating in 2009, Brown stayed on at SU and received her Masters in Art Education.  She enjoys working with all mediums which is why art education is such an interest to her.  Brown is currently working as a substitute teacher for the Canastota Central School System. 

Brown's artwork will be on display for the entire month of February in the Lawson Community Room.  Her display will include ceramics, paintings, prints and mixed media.  An Artist's Reception will be held on Wednesday, February 9th at 7pm in the Lawson Community Room..  Light refreshments will be served and the reception is open to the public. 

Friends of the Canastota Public Library Membership Drive

          January is Membership Month for the Friends of the Canastota Public Library.  We hope that you will show your support for the library by joining the Friends Group!  Forms are available at the circulation desk on the first floor of the library. 
          As well as organizing the Annual Autumn Book Sale and On-going Book Sale in the library, the Friends of the Library decorate the library for the holidays.  They also work diligently tomaintain our library gardens.  Each year, the Friends donate a portion of their proceeds to library programming and special needs. 

          Do you have ideas for Friend's activities?  If you have suggestions or are interested in becoming more involved with the library, please talk to a staff member and we can connect you with a representative of the Friends of the Library group!

Sleepy Time Stories Begins This Month!

Please join Mrs. Jen for monthly Sleepy Time Stories at the Canastota Public Library!  Come in your pajamas, bring your blanket and pillow or your favorite stuffed animal and enjoy some milk and cookies along with some great stories!  There will be fun giveaways each month!  Sleepy Time Stories starts at 6:30pm and lasts approximately one hour for children.  If school activities are canceled due to weather, Sleepy Time Stories will reschedule for the listed snow date!  Mrs. Jennifer Milligan will be the librarian for this special series!

First Session: 
January 19 - Enjoy The Weather (snow date January 26):  We can have fun in all kinds of weather--rain, snow and sun!!  Enjoy some great stories about experiencing the best of all season including:  The Snowy Day and A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever!

Second Session:
February 16--All About Animals (snow date is February 23):  What's your favorite animal?  Do you love puppies, horses, aardvarks, elephants?  Come and listen while we read about silly and interesting animals!  We'll read some favorites like A Giraffe and a Half and If You Give A Pig A Pancake!

Third Session:
March 9--All About Dr. Seuss!  (snow date is March 30):  Everybody loved Dr. Seuss.  Time for some silly rhyming stories that will make us all gigle and twist our tongue!  Who likes Green Eggs and Ham? Or how about The Cat in the Hat? 

Fourth Session:
April 13--Our Amazing Universe (snow date April 27):  Celebrate Earth Day and the arrival of Spring with stories about our amazing Earth and the Universe beyond!  Learn about saving our planet with The Lorax and follow the first trip to the moon with The Moon Over Star.

2010 and 2011 Nicaragua Medical Mission Talk

          On Tuesday, January 18 at 7pm, members of the 2010 Nicaragua Medical Mission will provide a presentation on their journey to assist the poor of that country. The presentation will be held at the Canastota Public Library in the Lawson Community Room. It will include a slide show as well as questions and answers from members of last year’s team. The Nicaragua Medical Mission is looking for help in making this year’s mission a reality.
          The Away Team for the Nicaraguan Medical Mission in 2011 will be leaving for Nicaragua on February 11 and return on February 22. Greg Wright, a Physician Assistant will be the Medical Director of the team. The team will consist of twenty-two people from Central New York who will set up medical clinics in remote areas near Jinotega and Managua. Last year, the group served almost 1300 people in five treatment days. Each patient was given a three month supply of vitamins and women also received calcium and folic acid. According to the Medical Mission team leader, Sue LaBarre, patients were also treated for high blood pressure, diabetes, infections and musculoskeletal pain. At each clinic, the group strives to hand out shoes, school uniforms, toothbrushes, vegetable seeds and other needed items.
          “Patients walked for miles, often barefoot, to be seen at our clinics. They sometimes waited hours to be seen by one of our providers and then gave us handshakes, hugs and blessings for the help we brought,” LeBarre noted.
          A second part of the mission is to support Children of Destiny, Nicaragua, part of Globe International Nicaragua mission which includes three orphanages. The orphans and housemothers open their homes to allow the mission team to live safely while in Nicaragua and so the team tries to bring the school and orphanages donations as well.
          The Away Team roster for the 2011 trip has not been completely filled, nor has the goal to raise $13,000 for the trip been raised. All of the Away Team does not need to have medical training. There are needs for gatekeepers, people movers and donation clerks as well.
          If you are interested in learning more about the Medical Mission to Nicaragua, please plan to attend this presentation. Light refreshments will be served following the 45 minute slide show and talk. A question and answer period is also a part of the presentation.