See the fundraising page for info on the upcoming auction and how to bid.
Here is where you’ll find all the information for our upcoming online auction fundraiser October 13-17.
Our reopening plans change week by week. The next stage in our reopening will begin July 29. Browsing will be allowed by APPOINTMENT ONLY on Wednesdays and Fridays. These appointments will be in 15-minute increments.
We will also have one public computer available. Half hour time slots will be offered by APPOINTMENT ONLY.
The childrens’ room will remain closed. Picture books and easy readers can be preordered (see below).
*The library is not open for social gatherings or nonessential meetings at this time.
We will continue to provide curbside service for those who need it. People may stop in to pick up their pre-ordered books Tuesday-Friday, 1-5 and Saturday 10-1. Face coverings are required and there’s one-way traffic.
You may pre-order by calling the library at 642-2525. The answering machine is on.
Or you can send a note to pember.library@gmail.com.
Or you may request through the card catalog. https://pac.sals.edu/polaris/Search/default.aspx…
Our third activity kit is Journals and fractured fairy tales. Imagine your story using the story hints. Then write in your journal. There are pencils, colored pencils, a sharpener, some stickers etc etc. This picture asks you to rewrite the story of the Princess and the Pea from the viewpoint of the prince. I tried it. It isn’t easy! But it was fun. My story involves a Prince named Hartley, three beautiful girls named Isobel, Rosalind, & Sadie and Queen Morrigan and King Rory and of course a pea (or two or three?).
Anyway call the library or email to reserve a journal kit for your family.
Don’t forget to join our online summer reading: You can sign up at https://pemberny11.readsquared.com/
and keep track of your reading there. Or print out paper logs https://gralib.sals.edu/summer-reading-3/
to keep track and return to the library in September.
You may enter our building through the front door. You can pick up your pre-orders or ask us to put something on hold. No browsing or internet access yet.
This week the hours will be Tuesday-Friday, 1-5 and Saturday 10-1. Face coverings are required and there’s one-way traffic. If you still require curbside, we will be happy to deliver to your vehicle.
You may pre-order by calling the library. 642-2525 . The answering machine is on.
Or you can send a note to pember.library@gmail.com.
Or you may request through the card catalog. https://pac.sals.edu/polaris/Search/default.aspx… Not all libraries are filling inter-library loans yet but some are. Or you can choose from items in our building by selecting Pember at the top left down arrow “Library”
The Pember Library will allow limited access to our building beginning July 7.
(through the front door only)
Tuesday through Friday 1-4, Saturday 10:30-noon
We will continue curbside service for those who need it. Books still must be requested ahead of time by phone or email. You may also request through the online catalog but ILL with other libraries in our system has not started yet.
Your returns must be left in the outside drop box.
There will be no late fees for books due during the pandemic.
Library (518 642-2525)
Email pember.library@gmail.com
We are unable to accept donations of used books, videos etc. PLEASE don’t leave them here.
Our newest “Imagine your Story”: activity is this Inspiration Jar. Call the library to reserve one for your family.
The directions say:
Turn the jar a few turns and see what items catch your eye. Or dump it all out on a paper plate and pull a few items from the jar and create a story about them. Use color, shapes, textures, lines, letters, & forms. Tell someone or write your story on paper.
NOT intended for small children. There are many small pieces.
Julie offered to do the writing.
She started. “Well, it’s not really a story, more a memory. That wooden spool reminds me of my Grandma Marie. One Christmas, I think I must have been eight years old, she made me a blue coat. I can just picture it. I don’t remember wearing it but I remember opening the package on Christmas morning.”
Jennie said, “I want to go next! See that shell? My story is about going to the ocean. I can smell the sea air, hear the crashing waves. I walk across the beach on a hot August afternoon. There are other people there, someone sunning themselves, another under an umbrella reading a paperback, somebody else is playing a game on their phone. This is my first ever trip to Maine, to the ocean! I can’t wait to feel the water. Oh, oh, OH. I can’t believe it’s so cold.”
“Alice, what catches your eye?”
“See that dog Christmas ornament? I have so many memories of dogs that lived with us through the years. OK, here’s my story.
“Once upon a time there was a dog named Cassie. It was her first Christmas with the Thurber family. Seven year old Dawn Alice had told Cassie that Santa was coming tonight so Cassie was trying very hard to stay awake. She tried to remember all the holiday things that had happened so far in December. There was the tree lighting in the village park, the festival of wreaths at the library, the tractor parade, and all the school concerts. Cassie had even been included on the family hay ride out at the Fir Sure Christmas Tree Farm. She looked out the window and saw the ‘reindeer food’ Dawn Alice and her brother Timothy had left in the driveway. Cassie fought sleep but eventually it overtook her. She slept a while and awoke part way when she heard some noises (on the roof?) but fell right back to sleep. Cassie could smell bacon cooking, and hear Dawn Alice and Timothy giggling over near the tree. Colorful boxes with shiny ribbon in all shapes and sizes surrounded the tree. And Look! The puppy shaped stocking on the mantle was overflowing with doggie treats and toys.”
Eliza said, “I guess it’s my turn. I keep looking at those scrabble tiles. They remind me of my aunt. She gave me a scrabble game when I was young. She would play against me. I don’t remember if I won or lost just that it’s a really good memory of her. I love to play Words with Friends now. I sure wish she was still around so we could play again!”
The Museum is set to reopen on July 14 (1-5pm) after being closed for four months during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, things will not be back to normal. Before coming to visit the museum, please make sure you do not have a fever, cough, fatigue, or shortness of breath or have been out of state within two weeks of your visit. Face coverings will be required and social distancing (6 feet) expected. Hand sanitizers will be available at the museum entrances.
Our hours will be Tuesday-Friday, 1-5pm and Saturday 10-1.
We don’t know what the future will bring but we hope that you will be here with us.
Lucy is getting older. We have recently faced several visits to the vet clinic with her, with issues that unfortunately come with aging. We find a need for extra funds for Lucy to cover vet visits, medicines and looking ahead to the end of life care. Lucy has been a faithful loving companion to many people who visit the Pember; some drop in just to spend time with her. We are asking, if you are able, to consider donating money toward Lucy’s care. Please send contributions to the Pember Library, 33 West Main Street, Granville NY 12832. Indicate your donation is for “Lucy.” Any amount will be greatly appreciated.
Edit: for those who have asked about online donations, there’s a donate button under the catalog at https://pember.sals.edu/ . Please mark any donation “for Lucy.” Thank you.
“Time spent with cats is never wasted”. Sigmund Freud
Want to create a clay mushroom but don’t want to sit through the entire Fungus Among Us program? Here’s instructions in under three minutes.
Program video from the Pember Nature Preserve.
The Dahls are working on their summer reading. Our theme this year is “Imagine your Story.”
The first activity kit is story cubes. The directions are in the kit. You just cut out your story cube, fold along the lines and tape or glue each one into a cube. There are people, places, objects, and animal cubes. The combination of pictures will prompt ideas for magical and exciting stories. Younger children can tell the stories aloud and older ones can practice writing out the story. Contact the Pember to reserve a kit for your family.
#PTHWeekend
We have put together some grab ‘n go kits of childrens’ books. We currently have ten different themes. They will each check out as four or five items but they are in one bag.
The themes are Dogs, Cats, Dinosaurs, Bugs, Library, Senses, Pete the Cat, Magic School Bus, Trucks, and Birds.
The adventures of the Dahl family continue:
Jennie, Ruth & Ella drank a toast to the First Friday art work last night. They were joined by Marie, Alice, & Hannah. Alice had a cola since she is only 17. They loved getting all dressed up for the occasion and remind you that the (virtual) display will be available all month at https://thepember.org/index.php/first-friday/.
Please enjoy a slideshow of the First Friday Granville Central School’s Student Artwork. Thank you to Mrs Monroe, Ms Dashef, and Mr Houston for sending us these beautiful pics. The virtual exhibit will remain on display through the month of June.
We are doing curbside delivery! Send us an email pember.library @ gmail .com
Or call and leave a message at 642-2525
Include your name, phone number and a list of up to 5 items (2 may be DVDs.) Currently, you may only request items available in our library.
The catalog is available online. https://pac.sals.edu/polaris/Search/default.aspx…
We have no way to access any online requests which is why we ask you to use email or leave a phone message. (I’ll let you know when this changes.)
We will call you to arrange a time to pick up your books.
The Library & Museum now has a YouTube Channel. It will take time but we hope to post videos of the museum’s exhibits, programs, featured artifacts and trails at the Pember Nature Preserve. In addition, the library will be able to post videos too.
Grace, Marie & Eliza wanted to get out for a bit. Yesterday, I took them with me to Price Chopper to help get supplies for a picnic. I told them they needed to wear masks and to behave!
I’ll put a description with each picture. I think they had a good time!
Our building is still closed but we will be allowed to start curbside delivery next week!
You may pre-order up to five items by leaving a detailed message on the library answering machine or send an email to pember.library @gmail.com with Your Name, Your phone Number, A list of requested items
Our delivery hours this week will be Wednesday through Friday 2-4 PM and Saturday 10:30 AM to Noon. We will call you to arrange a time for pick-up and get more details.
The adventures of the Dahl family continues…..
Grace, Jennie and Alice were very excited to learn about animal skulls at the Pember Nature Preserve. They stopped in for a quick program before heading down the trails. Yes, the trails are open! Grace is a big fan of skulls and educated Jennie and Alice on the woodchuck skull. Did you know that their teeth never stop growing and will grow up to 1/16th of an inch each week? That’s why they have to chew, chew, chew on everything! However, they don’t chuck wood.
The girls also learned about the gray squirrel, raccoon and white-tailed deer too.
What’s next? Bones!
The continuing adventures of the Dahl family
There’s a lot of work to do before we can plant this garden. We’re waiting for the plow and harrows to arrive. There will probably be beans, tomatoes and cucumbers here. We might even add a few squash. At the front of the building, Ella is trying to decide if the geranium and the spike will be enough (Thanks to Van Ripers Gardens for providing these.). Then she and Grace are working on a plan to get the weeds taken out of here. Looks like we probably won’t have to worry about snow for a little while!
The continuing adventures of the Dahl family
(overheard at the campfire)
I love camping out. There’s just something about the smell of a campfire!
Yes, and it’s definitely the best way to cook a steak or a few burgers.
I’m not so thrilled by the black flies we encountered while we were hiking.
Do you think we packed enough sunscreen? I want to take the kayaks out on the water tomorrow.
I’ll check, I need to figure out how we’re going to store the leftover food away from bears and other hungry critters.
When you come back, can you bring the star guide? I can figure out the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper but I wonder what that constellation is that looks like a “W” over to the east.
It’s so relaxing here. And we’ll have great stories to tell the cousins when we get back.
The adventures of the Dahl family continues…
Jennie, Alice and Grace decided to head to the Pember Nature Preserve for a program on Bird’s Nests. It seems Jennie knows all about birds and their nests and even educated Alice and Grace. The Nature Center and the Pember’s loan kit has many nests to investigate. Please remember that people cannot collect eggs, nests or feathers of migratory birds. The Pember has a special federal and state license to collect these items for education.
The continuing adventures of the Dahl family
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it began in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
The girls are disappointed there is no parade today but love to show their patriotism.
Ella and Hannah traveled up to North Street to see the clock that is described in Michelle Yauger’s book “We gave our best.” Eliza, Ruth and Marie are reading about Sullivan Fringi, one of the soldiers for whom VFW post 1653 is named.
The continuing adventures of the Dahl family
The Dahls wanted to get out in the beautiful sunshine before the day gets too hot. We have lovely benches and a pretty garden behind the Pember. This overlooks the beautiful Mettowee River. They can also see the walking bridge over the river and behind those trees, the Slate Valley Museum.
Jennie wonders, “Why is it called the ‘Slate Valley’ ?”
Slate was discovered in this area in the 1830s. There is an area about 6 miles wide and 24 miles long that has many slate deposits. Someone discovered that the thin pieces make great roof coverings and an industry was born. This area is also called “the colored slate capital of the world” because the chemical and mineral composition of the vein of slate produces a variety of colors. More information can be found by visiting www.slatevalleymuseum.org/ and of course the Slate Museum itself when they are able to reopen.