All voters qualified to vote in a general election and reside within the boundaries of the City of Troy are asked to vote on a special election for the library’s Board of Trustees.  Voters will be asked to select three trustees for the Troy Public Library District to be elected for three year terms each.

Voters with the zip code of 12180 are asked to vote at the Main Library and voters with the zip code of 12182 are asked to vote at the Lansingburgh Branch.

Nominees:

• Nancy Burgin
• Fredda Merzon
• Tracy Kennedy
• Coleen Murtagh Paratore
• John Fetscher

Read more about the Nominees…

• Nancy Burgin – Nancy Burgin credits the library with saving her sanity when her children were little. Story Time at Lansingburgh was the highlight of the week. She discovered that small children can ask more detailed questions than most college students.Nancy received her Masters in Library Science in 1985. She has worked in a number of different kinds of libraries, including a business library, a community college and a parochial school. She currently volunteers at the library at Rensselear Park Elementary School.
• Fredda Merzon - Fredda Merzon brings to the Board of Troy Public Library her experience with government agencies and not-for-profit organizations on the national, state and local level. She is facilitator of group decision-making processes and organizational assessment. She has been hired to develop collaborative efforts, strengthen intra- and inter-organizational relationships, enhance stakeholder relationships, create strategic planning processes and coach organization leaders.Prior to founding, Fredda Merzon Associates in 1989, Fredda was training director and acting executive director of the Center for Women in Government (1978-1989). She has a MSW from the University of California, Berkeley, a BA from Queens College, New York City, and training in mediation and professional coaching.Fredda bought her home in the Morningside Heights area of Troy in 2003, moving there from Cambridge NY. In addition to being an avid reader and gardener, she creates sculptures of botanicals from found metal objects.
• Tracy Kennedy – Tracy Kennedy moved from New York City to downtown Troy with her husband, Brendan, and 3 children in 2008. Tracy earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Lawrence University, and has worked in the financial industry in Albany, Boston and New York City for over 17 years. She is a passionate reader and an avid user of public libraries. If elected, she intends to act as an advocate and steward for all branches of Troy’s public libraries, focusing on their importance as centers of information, of community culture, recreation and continuing education.
• Coleen Murtagh Paratore – Born and raised in Troy, New York, where she obtained her first library card and fell in love with reading at the Troy Public Library, Coleen Murtagh Paratore, full-time author and mother of three sons, is again a resident of Troy, living in the Frear Park neighborhood.  Ms. Paratore is the author of fourteen books for children and young adults, including the best-selling novel The Wedding Planner’s Daughter (Simon & Schuster) which blossomed into a six-book series and is currently being made in to an ABC Original Family Movie.   Ms. Paratore’s novel, SUNNY HOLIDAY, about an inner-city African American girl who retains a sunny outlook on life despite hardship, was named a 2009 Best Book of the Year by the New York Public Library.  The book was inspired in part by a conversation the author had with a student at School 14 five years ago.  Ms. Paratore is a popular visiting author at schools and libraries where she “loves sharing the joy of writing” with people of all ages.  A former Director of Comunications for The Sage Colleges and adjunct instructor at Russell Sage, Ms. Paratore holds an M.A. in English Literature from Trinity College, Connecticut and a B.A. in English from The College of Saint Rose, Troy, New York.  She is a member of the Board of Directors of The YWCA of the Greater Capital Region and a participant in the Troy 100 Forum. Visit her on-line at www.coleenparatore.com

• John Fetscher – I was a boy in Troy, lived on Terrace Place and went to School 16 (which had a library branch!) Our family relocated to New Jersey, but I had close ties with friends in Troy and never forgot them or the City and its magic.
  In 1978, I along with my business partners Pat and Jerry Cole, decided to abandon NYC and to make an investment in Troy. We bought several historic downtown residential buildings. Our plan was to renovate and reinvigorate these homes to bring them up to code and to bring them back to their rightful place in the sun. For the past thirty years I have lived and worked on my properties on the 2100 block of Fifth Avenue (between Federal and Jacob), and I currently reside at 2180 5th.  This block has prospered; most probably because a number of stakeholders live on it. Preservation has been my goal and reward for years; which underscores my desire to serve on the Troy Public Library as trustee. I have been a member of the library for ages and a proponent for it during this time. I was disheartened to learn that the library board was selling donated art to raise funds at a time when private wealth in this country declined by 19 trillion dollars, not the
  best time to break faith or to sell treasure! I am also very concerned that the new tax levy for the library does not fund the operation fully. I am a 67 year old graduate of Holy Cross College and am currently employed by Renssselaer County in the Economic Development Office.

Tuesday, September 14 at 5:00 pm
Main Library

The Special District Board of Trustees will hold a meeting at the Main Library.

Note: There is an email link embedded within this post, please visit this post to email it.

Main Library:

• Monday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
• Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Saturday:  9:00 am – 5:00 pm* (closes at 1pm during the summer)

Lansingburgh Hours:

• Monday – Wednesday: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
• Thursday – Friday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Saturday:  10:00 am – 4:00 pm* (closes at 1pm during the summer)

Sycaway Hours:

• Monday and Wednesday:  10:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Tuesday and Thursday:  12:00 – 6:00 pm

Note: There is an email link embedded within this post, please visit this post to email it.

Thanks to all of you that attended our “I Love My Library” cruise!  We would  like to especially thank our wonderful corporate sponsor:  Fagan Associates

We would also like to extend our gratitude to all the local businesses that donated to our auction:

• Curves
• JK Bloom
• Bruegger’s Bagels
• Segel Violins and the Place for Art Gallery
• Pai’s Taekwondo
• Arts Center of the Capital Region
• Hudson Valley Community College
• Tri-City Valley Cats
• Broken Mold Studio
• Treasure Chest
• Verdile’s Restaurant
• Mr. Subb
• Sage College

Summer Hours:

• Starting June 26th – closing at 1pm on Saturdays.

The library will be closed on the following days:

• September 4 – 6th -  Labor Day Weekend
• November 25, 2010 – Thanksgiving Day
• December 24, 2010 – Christmas Eve
• December 25, 2010 – Christmas Day
• December 31, 2010  – New Year’s Eve
• January 1, 2011 – New Year’s Day

Note: There is an email link embedded within this post, please visit this post to email it.

BookSeller hours:

• Wednesdays at 1:00 – 5:00pm
• Saturday on April 3rd, May 1st, and June 5th (Closed on Saturdays during July and August) from 10:00 – 2:00 pm
• Open every Saturday in June

The BookSeller is a project of the Friends of the Troy Public Library.  All proceeds benefit library services and program.

Items may generally be renewed once. To renew by telephone, you will need the library card number to which the materials are charged. Items with a waiting list, overdue items, and some Interlibrary Loan materials are not renewable. Online renewal is available through the library catalog.

We have added two new databases to our research collection.

• Mango – Mango Languages is an online language-learning system teaching actual conversation skills for a wide variety of languages. Our online learning system is so easy to use, you’ll see incredible results after just one lesson!  It’s the easiest way to learn a foreign language!
• Salem Press Psychology & Mental Health

Don’t forget to check them out!

• Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
• Hancock Shaker Village
• Hyde Museum (Troy & Lansingburgh)
• Mass MOCA
• Norman Rockwell Museum
• Schenectady Museum and Suits-Bueche Planetarium
• Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (available in Main, Lansingburgh and Sycaway)
  

How does it work?

• Passes are available to Upper Hudson Library Card Holders who possess a valid library card that is in good standing; availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.
• To find out if a pass is available for checkout that day, please call 274-7071.
• You may borrow only one pass per household at any one time.
• Passes are checked out for three days only and must be returned directly to a staff member of the library from which the pass was check out. Failure to return the pass to the appropriate library will result in a $5 fine. You may NOT return the pass in the library book drop.
• No renewals.
• Late fee: $5.00 per day
• Replacement fee for lost pass: $15.00

Museum Pass Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Troy Public Library

Different local families borrowed a life size Henry Hudson Doll through the library and took him to local historic sites. Henry is owned through a partnership between the Upper Hudson Library System and the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau. He will be visiting area libraries over the next few months. These tours of history are part of the Where’s Henry Hudson? Project and were documented by photographs and entries in Henry’s personal journal.

This “do it yourself” program is part of an Explore Your Shores: Discovering Community History @ Your Library grant involving  several local libraries and celebrating the Hudson Fulton Champlain Quadricentennial. Our focus is on Henry Hudson’s voyage of discovery and that which is river related.  Be sure to check the library’s website for special child and family programs over the next few months.  They will focus on Native American culture, ecology, and local history.

My Journal

By Henry Hudson

• September 20th, 2008
  As I write this, I am on my way to a family called the Penk-Masucci’s. They sound nice.  Oh, look! I’m there. A man comes out and pulls my box up 2 flights of stairs. What fun!  The man introduces himself as Joe Masucci and helps me “get my head on straight”.  Joe helps me into the living room and sets me on a rocking chair when suddenly, 4 kids and a woman come out. The woman says that she is Tracey.  “Kids, meet Henry Hudson.” Joe says. One by one, the kids introduce themselves. The oldest is Maddie, age 12. Then comes Spencer, aged 10, followed by Cello, age 9, and Reece, 7.
  
  Later that afternoon, we get back in the family’s “van” and we are on our way to a place called Cohoes Falls. I sit next to Reece, while Maddie, Spencer and Cello all sit in the back.  We are now at Cohoes Falls. Many “pictures” are taken. The rushing water and the wind are 2 of the most noticeable sounds as we go by. Then we go back home. I sit in the rocking chair while the family eats dinner. Pretty soon, the family reads their bible and a book called “The Tale of Desperaux”.Uh-oh! 9:30, and that means bedtime! Until tomorrow!
• September 21, 2008
  It is morning, and the children are doing school. The mother tells them that we will be going to City Hall to meet Troy’s mayor. As usual, I sit in my rocking chair, listening to the sounds of pencils on paper. At what seems like 3 o’clock, we are in the van again and we’re on our way. On the ride, I don’t say much.
  
  Finally, we are in front of City Hall and we are sitting on a bench. “Say Henry Hudson!” Tracey says. Click! A bright flash emerges.After quite a few “photographs”, we enter City Hall, waiting for the mayor. As Tracey carries me (well, at almost 400 years old, you can’t quite walk well), the children are looking at “Uncle Sam” exhibits (Who’s Uncle Sam?). Finally, we are going upstairs. People in City Hall notice me. “Is this Henry Hudson?” One woman asks. Then after a while, the mayor, Mr. Tutunjian, takes a photograph with me, Maddie, Spencer, Cello, and Reece.
  
  After a photograph, we are on our way home.When we get home, the kids watch something called “television”. Then Cello and Tracey leave, then another person in the family (Kathy) takes Spencer, Reece and Maddie back to the car, leaving me alone. I sit around the whole time. That night, we do the usuals.

  Good night!

• September 24, 2008
  Today is my last day with the Penk-Masucci’s before I move on to stay with another family. As I write this, the children are talking and we are on our way to a place called “Peebles Island”.
  Then we will go to the library. Oh, how I will miss them!Looks like we’re at Peebles Island! Tracey takes more photographs. Some by a brick wall, a few by a picnic table, and some by the body of water which connected the Hudson River and the Mohawk River.
  
  Then we’re at home for a while longer and then it’s off to the library. We take a few pictures, then “’bye-bye” Penk-Masucci family.  As my head comes off, I can’t help but wonder what adventures I’ll have with the next family I go to.I have to stop now. I’m on my way!

What happens now? For now, the library will need to reduce service levels in order to stay within our budget in 2009.  An annual appropriation from the City of Troy remains our primary source of funding.  We requested an appropriation of $600,000 from both the mayor and from City Council earlier this year so that the library could operate at the same level of service in 2009 that it did in 2008.

In spite of our best efforts, however, the level of funding the library is scheduled to receive in 2009 is $450,000, an amount that has remained the same since 2003.  Since that time, our expenses have increased by nearly 30%. We cannot spend funds we do not have.

I have prepared a budget for 2009 which reflects our current funding situation.  That budget calls for the following measures:

. Close both the Lansingburgh and Sycaway Branches.
. Reduce the library staff by four and one half full time equivalent positions.
. Reduce our book and materials budget by 30%.
. Reduce children’s and adult programming by 60%.
. Maintain current operating hours at the Main Library.

The staff and Board of Trustees spent many hours reviewing our options for 2009, but the library has little choice and must make the difficult decisions which will allow the library to live within its means.  These measures are scheduled to take effect February 2, 2009.

These decisions are especially hard at this point in time.  The Troy Public Library is busier than ever, and our librarians are working harder than ever to provide information, education and entertainment that might otherwise be out of reach for many in our community.  It has been demonstrated over and over again that people depend more on public libraries during an economic downturn for books, magazines, CDs, videos and other library materials.

We are aware that many young people who are within walking distance of our two branches will have difficulty getting to the Main Library.  We are also aware that many folks who do not have home computers depend on the library for access to information from library computers.

During 2009, we hope to once again start the process of creating a Special District Public Library for Troy.  We will have to start over to secure legislation from the state legislature to create the district and then once again go before the voters for final approval of the district.  The hope is to be able to accomplish this before the end of next year so that we can re-open both branches and return to the level of operation that the residents of Troy need and deserve.

The Board of Trustees is planning to hold two public meetings in January concerning the library budget and its impact on service.  There will be one held at the Lansingburgh Branch on Wednesday evening beginning at 6:30 pm on January 14, and one held at the Main Library on Thursday evening beginning at 6:30 pm on January 15.

What can you do?  If you believe as we do that public library service is essential to the health and strength of your community, help us by doing the following:

. Contact your City Council person or the mayor and explain that the Troy Public Library needs a reasonable budget to carry out its mission of service to the community and that library service is important to you.
. Join the Friends of the Library and become active.
. Tell your friends and neighbors that the library needs their help.
. Come to the public meetings scheduled for January 14 and 15.
. Vote yes to establish a public library district in Troy in 2009.

After many requests and an overwhelming interest from our patrons, the Troy Public Library is excited to announce that you can now register to vote at all three library locations.  This November, voters across the nation will choose a new president.  During this great milestone in our country’s history, the library looks forward to assisting those who wish to vote and have their voice heard.

Library staff at all branches will not only aid with the completion of the necessary forms and make copies of the required identification, but will also mail the forms to the proper Board of Elections office.  The library recommends that eligible voters stop in by October 8th in order to mail the registration form before the deadline for the general election to be held on November 4, 2008.

Please note that you will not be able to check out current issues of magazines from the Reading Room, or any issue of Consumer Reports.

Please see the Check Out Desk with any questions.

With over 1,000 exceptional titles to choose from, our online collection is sure to have something that fits your tastes. From popular novels by Nora Roberts, Catherine Coulter, Dean Koontz, and Amy Tan; to the classic works of Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Franz Kafka, even Homer — our Audio Book and eBook collection spans nearly every genre. The collection also includes children’s, educational titles, and a wide variety of non-fiction books including business, history, and self-help.

Getting started is easy. Just visit the UHLS Digital Collection, install the free software from the web site, then browse the collection and select the titles you want. Click on the web site’s Help icon to access the Quick Start Guide which contains information about downloading and installing the free software and checking out eBooks and digital Audio Books. When you are ready, check out your materials by entering your library card number and downloading the digital books to your home computer. Once downloaded, you can transfer them to your portable device, or burn the audio books directly to CD. When the lending period is up your digital books are automatically returned — so there are never any late fees!

Digital books are compatible with most home computers. eBooks (digital text based versions of a book) can be read on PCs, MACs, PDAs, and Smartphones. Downloadable Audio Books (digital versions of traditional audio books on tape or CD) can be enjoyed on your PC or on hundreds of portable WMA/MP3 players. You can burn Audio Books to CD and listen to them in the car or on any standard CD player.

Kids Cookin’ by the Book

The Troy Public Library episode of the Cooking Show is available on Cable On Demand channel 1009. DVDs of the Cooking Show programs are available for sale or to borrow at Troy Public Library.

The Kids Cookin’ by the Book cookbook, a companion to the Cooking Show cable television program, is available in the Young People’s Department to students who participated in the Kids Cookin’ by the Book project. Other persons may purchase the Kids Cookin’ by the Book cookbook at the Circulation Desk of the Main Library for the price of $5.00.

Kids Cookin’ by the Book is a project of the Upper Hudson Library System, and is supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.