No matter how I try to apply the brakes, the wheel keeps spinning folks and here we are back in the holiday season complete with trees and tinsel. We know you’re busy, so we’ll be doing our best to make your life a little easier at this hectic time.
Holiday help from the BPL elves
Once again, we invite you to bring in your letter to Santa and drop it in our express mailbox. Be sure to include your return address so Santa can reply! Letters received by Dec. 20 will be answered. We also have ways to make your shopping easier. In addition to handy guides from Consumer Reports and a myriad of print and online sources, we also offer some great opportunities to work through that gift list and spread some library joy. Even if you missed our November book sale and last Saturday’s fundraiser at Barnes & Noble, you can still shop on our behalf by purchasing books, eBooks and Nooks online at bn.com/bookfairs through Dec. 2. Just be sure to mention your affiliation to the library before you check out. You can also support library programs right here at the library itself by purchasing nuts, chocolates, dried fruits and trail mix from our dedicated Friends group all year round.
Five Wired Wednesdays!
Even our techies are devoted to making your holidays happy ones. Sign up for some of our hands-on, one hour computer classes and we’ll help you make and track your holiday gifts. At 1:30 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 1, we’ll help you make a photo calendar – bring 12 digital images (on a USB drive or e-mail them to a web-based e-mail account) to make a wall calendar in Microsoft Word (for you or as a gift).
Still working on the basics? At 1:30 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 8, we’ll help you make sense of computer file types and what to do with them – for beginners. Back by popular request, you’ll get a useful computer overview.
If you’re working on improving your social networking skills, join us at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 15 to learn how to share your photos on Facebook – bring your Facebook logon info and some digital pictures, and we’ll help you put them up to share with family and friends.
Love to gift, but hate the paperwork? Learn the basics of Excel and keep track of your holiday giving at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 22. Get those Thank You notes sent on time this year! Last but hardly least we’ll wind up this year’s sessions with Windows 7 for Beginners at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 29.
All Wired Wednesday sessions are held in the computer lab and registration is required so sign up soon.
Jobseekers’ Lifeline
Even during the holidays, the job hunt goes on and we’re here to lend a hand. No registration is needed for these programs, just show up! At 1 p.m. Thursday Dec. 2, we’ll workshop interviewing skills: how to make a good impression when it really counts. At 1 p.m. Thursday Dec. 16, we invite you to a reprise of How to Hope: practical ways to keep your energy and motivation in difficult circumstances. Finally, we’ll end this month’s series at 1 p.m. Thursday Dec. 30 with a program on using the right keywords to catch an employer’s eye. We’ll view this Learning Express Webcast at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 8 and then talk about it.
Your Family Tree: The Year in Review
Some trees need decoration, family trees need excavation. Join Genealogist Louise Creighton at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8 for a year end review of tips and tools for genealogical research. Registration is required.
Unwrap a Christmas mystery
Join the Mystery Readers at 10 a.m. Thursday Dec. 9 for “Merry Merry Ghost,” by Carolyn Hart. New members are always welcome.
Job Club
Gather with other job hunters at 1 p.m. Thursday Dec. 9 and 23 to help and support each other. No registration needed, just show up.
Put your stamp on the holidays
Local artisan Missy Shipman will help you use rubber stamping and card making to spread personalized holiday cheer at 7 p.m. Thursday Dec. 9. Registration and a $15 materials fee are required.
Preschool holiday fun
Preschoolers with an adult caregiver can join us to make simple holiday decorations to take home at 10 a.m. Friday Dec. 10. Registration is required; sign up at the Circulation Desk or call 635-5631.
December basket workshop
This month participants will make a Ball Feet Basket at 10 a.m. Saturday Dec. 11. Registration and a $35 materials fee are required.
Second Mondays Club
Free pizza, fun, games, activities . . . What will we think of next? Third through sixth graders are invited to meet at 6 p.m. Monday Dec. 13 and on the second Monday of each month for library related fun.
Open Writers’ Group
Local writers support each other and share their progress on alternate Tuesdays each month. This month’s sessions are at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 and 28.
In Stitches
Bring your needlework, crochet or knitting and join others with an interest in stitchery at 7 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 15.
Pokemon power
You asked for it folks. This month Onondaga Otaku revisits Pokemon by special request at 3:30 p.m. Thursday Dec. 16. Bring your cards, your favorite critters, wear your gear and relive those thrilling days of yesteryear when all a boy needed was his faithful Pikachu and a trucker cap. As always, the ramen is on us. Bring recruits and win prizes.
Gingerbread Redux
Kids in third through sixth grades with an adult are invited to join Meg Van Patten to build gingerbread houses to add to your holiday decorations from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday Dec. 18. Please bring a bag of assorted candy to decorate your house. We’ll provide the gingerbread and icing. Registration is required.
Books for Breakfast
Get in the holiday spirit at 9 a.m. Tuesday Dec. 21 when the group will discuss “The Christmas Scrapbook,” by Philip Gulley. Refreshments will be served. New members are welcome.
Valerie Chism is the young adult librarian at the Baldwinsville Public Library, 33 East Genesee St. in Baldwinsville.
