CALENDAR

HISTORY AND MISSION The Vestal Public Library, formerly the Vestal Free Library, was founded in 1947 and proudly serves an area of more than 26,000 residents. Located in Broome County in Southern New York state, our library has more than 161,000 items in its collection, over 19,500 registered borrowers, and an annual circulation of over 225,000. The Vestal Public Library is a member of the Four County Library System, which allows us to bring you access to nearly 50 public libraries in our system. 4CLS also serves Chenango County, Delaware County, and Otsego County. History The Willow Point Community Library, located in a home and stocked through the New York State Lending Library, was Vestal’s first library. Within 3 years the town opened a larger, more centrally located, Vestal Free Library. A rapidly growing population during the mid-20th C. required a larger facility with a larger inventory of materials and programs. The current library opened in 1974 in 17K sq. feet of space, later adding 4K square feet of additional space for meeting rooms. Originally a municipal library, the voters of the Vestal School District voted in 2016 to separate the library from the town, creating an independent entity funded by a library tax and operated by an elected Board of Trustees. Mission The mission of the Vestal Public Library is to be recognized as the resource for life-long learning, community involvement, and entertainment. Located in the heart of the community, the library will provide a welcoming, accessible, comfortable, and safe environment for users of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. Vision The Vestal Public Library has been chartered to serve the taxpayers within the Vestal Central School District. Our mission is to provide our community through well-chosen materials, programs, events, and meeting spaces, opportunities for personal & social growth, education & entertainment. VPL is committed to seeking continuous community feedback to ensure we meet the needs and desires of our community and fulfill our goals and commitments. Our Values Include: Nurturing lifelong learning and personal growth. Maintaining a physical library space that continues to meet patron needs. Providing professional development opportunities for staff to remain current in new systems and technologies. Encouraging opportunities for social and cultural interaction

EVENTS & PROGRAMMING EVENTS CALENDAR Mad for Art - Rock Gnomes Ready to Rock and Gnome! Paint a new rock friend for your garden or spring decorations. All supplies provided. Sign up online starting Tuesday, April 30. ** This class is only available in person at the library. Virtual kits will not be available. ** Please be aware that Mad for Art classes fill up quickly. Tuesday, May 14 at 6 PM SIGN UP HERE! Yin Yoga & Sound Bath This slow-flow yoga class targets deep connective tissues, ligaments, joints, and bones. The asanas or poses in yin yoga are held for longer allowing you to get a deep stretch physically and mentally with extended time for meditation. On the first Thursday, we have a Sound Bath by Jennifer Landers that follows Yin Yoga at 7 PM. Use the sign-up link below to register for one or both classes. All yogis welcome, new or experienced! Bring your own yoga mat or use one of VPL's. Donations encouraged, but not required. Any Donations will go to VPL for future programs and events! Thursdays at 6 PM on 1st Thursday Sound Bath at 7PM on 1st Thursday SIGN UP HERE! Seedy Saturday: Earth Day Celebration Help VPL spring into summer with our 4th annual Seedy Saturday: Earth Day Celebration! At Seedy Saturday, gardeners and plant lovers can gather in the VPL Reading garden for a perennial, annual, seed & seedling swap and the spring opening of the seed library. Kids can participate by helping in the garden or enjoying outdoor games and activities like seed “bombs”, bubbles, jump ropes, hula hoops, and more! Families who registered for a free tree through Neighborhood Forest can pick up their saplings too! Seedy Saturday is a great opportunity for volunteering by weeding, planting, and mulching the VPL Reading Garden. Saturday, April 27 from 11 - 1PM Game Night Game On! Disconnect from your screen and connect over board games. All ages can jump in to learn a new game or an old favorite like Catan, Ticket to Ride, Uno, Dixit, What Do You Meme?, Unstable Unicorns, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Exploding Kittens. Third Wednesday at 6 PM at VPL Java Joe Jammers Join VPL as we enjoy the talents of local musicians, Java Joe Jammers. This jam band has been together since the mid-1970s performing folk and country music. The Jammers will perform in the meeting room at 6PM every 4th Tuesday. Drop in for a song or stay until the last note. 4th Tuesday | 6:00 PM | Meeting room Pins & Needles Pins & Needles is meeting twice a month now! Every second and fourth Wednesday at 6 PM. Check VPL calendar for dates. Take the time to come in and work on that long-forgotten knitting project with other knitters and crocheters or learn how to start your own project. We will meet in the Library to work, chat, and share patterns and project ideas!

SHELF INDULGENCE: BOOK CLUB May GOODREADS SUMMARY May GOODREADS SUMMARY Vestal Public Library presents Shelf Indulgence, a book club for adventurous readers. Selecting from recently published titles, a book is chosen to be read and discussed on the third Wednesday of each month. The goal is to explore popular books from a variety of genres, and share the discoveries with a group of readers. ​ This book club is held both in person every third Wednesday of the month. Shelf Indulgence book picks may change based on availability. SIGN UP HERE! Are you captivated by the stories of the past? Welcome to Shelf Discovery, where history comes alive through the pages of popular nonfiction books. Embark on an exciting journey through the annals of time. From ancient civilizations to modern revolutions, our selections will cover it all. Connect with fellow history buffs and join the discussion! ​ This book club is held both in person every first Tuesday of the month. Book picks may change based on availability. SIGN UP HERE!

VOLUNTEER @ VPL The Vestal Public Library Board of Trustees recognizes that volunteers are a valuable resource for the Library. Volunteer services aid the Library in making the best use of its fiscal resources and helps connect the Library to other community groups and organizations. Volunteers enhance, rather than replace, adequate staffing. Volunteers also act as valuable advocates for the Library within the community. The Vestal Public Library and its volunteers work together to ensure a successful relationship. A volunteer’s energy and talents helps VPL meet its commitment to providing quality customer service to the public. Library staff will continually strive to recognize the contributions of Library volunteers and seek to expand the Library volunteer group as needed. Please read through the VPL Volunteer Policy before applying online. VPL VOLUNTEER POLICY VOLUNTEER APPLICATION VOLUNTEER CHECK-IN/OUT VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

1 on 1 TECH ASSISTANCE Technology and Reference Assistance is available by appointment. Fill out the form below to let us know how we can assist you and a librarian will contact you to schedule an appointment. REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT HERE HOW TO GUIDES These guides show the basics on either how to use a program or how to find information on a particular topic. Click on the boxes to open the document. HOW TO USE MICROSOFT WORD HOW TO USE MICROSOFT POWERPOINT RELIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION HOW TO DOWNLOAD EBOOKS AND AUDIO BOOKS

COMMUNITY BREW CAFE NOW OPEN! The Community Brew is a small-scale cafe that offers tea, cocoa, and hot coffee. ​ All proceeds from the cafe go towards funding VPL programming and projects. “I believe humans get a lot done, not because we’re smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee.” - Flash Rosenberg Now Open ​ 9am - 7:30PM

TEEN EVENTS & CLUBS BOOK CLUBS I'D RATHER READ YA Attention all fans of young adult lit! George F. Johnson Library, Your Home Public Library, and Vestal Public Library have joined together to create a book club dedicated to all readers and fans of YA books. You can pick up copies of this month's book at a library in different formats or on Libby! Join us every last Wednesday of the month at 6 PM on zoom for our book discussion, register by phone, online, or by visiting one of the three libraries to get zoom information. Last Wednesdays at 6 PM Virtual - by zoom SIGN UP HERE! EVENTS

Need a document notarised? Fill out the form below and we will schedule a time to meet with you! Send Thanks for submitting! The Vestal Public Library has a Notary Public available to all. Notary Public services are available Monday - Thursday 9AM - 3PM by appointment only. NOTARY SERVICES

KIDS Tiny Tot Storytime Tiny Tots Storytime and Playtimes are great for babies and toddlers ages 0-3 to practice listening, engaging, and socializing. Each six-week session will have three weeks of storytimes followed by three weeks of playtime. ** No Registration Required ** Thursdays at 10 AM Storytimes: May 2, 9, & 16 Playtimes: May 23, 30 & June 6 Tiny Tot Storytime Spring into a good book! Preschool Storytime (kids ages 4 - 6) starts on Tuesday, April 23 at 10:30 AM! The six-week session begins Tuesday, April 23. Tuesdays at 10:30 Themes: 4/23 - Wind 4/30 - Music 5/7 - Sharks 5/14 - Jungle ** 5/21 - Pirates 5/28 - Jobs ** This craft involves paint. Please, bring a smock or wear clothes that can get messy. Crafts are prioritized for kids ages 4 - 6. Kids outside the 4 - 6 age range are welcome to listen to the story and create any remaining crafts. Doors open ten minutes before each Storytime Session. Youth Servies Calendar LEGO CLUB Join us on the first Tuesday of each month for Lego Club! 4:00 - 6:00 PM open to ages 7-12. Each month we will build new lego creations based on a challenge. Creations will then be put on display on the library's website! All legos provided. Inclusive Storytime Inclusive and engaging story reading, arts & crafts, and movement activities designed to support augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users and model communication strategies. Saturday, April 27 from 5:30 - 7:30 For all ages Registration Recommended. ​ SIGN UP HERE! Read It & Eat Read a book, get a snack, and join the discussion! Read It & Eat is a book club for middle grade readers (ages 10 - 13) looking to explore new worlds through a variety of books and genres. Book discussions are on the third Tuesday of the Month at 4PM in the Library . Book club books are available at the Youth Services Desk! **Currently FULL**. Bookaneers! Ahoy mateys! Vestal Public Library has a book club for kids ages 7 - 9 ! Become a Bookaneer by signing up and reading with us. Book discussions are on the third Tuesday of the month at 4 PM . Arrrr! There be snacks there too! Book club books are available at the Youth Services Desk. ** Currently FULL**.

HOURS REGULAR OPERATING HOURS: Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturdays: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sundays: CLOSED PHONE: 607-754-4243 Extension 1: Operating Hours Extens ion 2: Circulation Desk Extension 3: Youth Services Extension 4: Reference Desk Fax # : 607-754-7936 MAILING ADDRESS: 320 Vestal Parkway East Vestal, NY 13850 HOLIDAY HOURS Christmas Eve Observed December 23, 2023 ​ Christmas Day December 25, 2023 ​ New Year's Eve Observed December 30, 2023 ​ New Year's Day January 1, 2024 CLOSE at 12PM ​ ​ CLOSED ​ ​ CLOSE at 12PM ​ ​ CLOSED Memorial Day Last Monday in May ​ Juneteenth June 19 ​ Independence Day July 4 ​ Labor Day First Monday in September ​ Thanksgiving Eve Fourth Wednesday in November ​ Thanksgiving Day Fourth Thursday in November ​ Black Friday Fourth Friday in November ​ Christmas Eve December 24, 2024 ​ Christmas Day December 25, 2024 ​ New Year's Eve December 31, 2024 ​ New Year's Day January 1, 2025 CLOSED ​ ​ CLOSED ​ ​ CLOSED ​ ​ CLOSED ​ ​ CLOSE at 5PM ​ ​ CLOSED ​ ​ CLOSED ​ ​ CLOSED ​ ​ CLOSED ​ ​ CLOSED​ ​ ​ CLOSED

Why go fine-free? It's good for our community. The library's mission is to connect people, build community and transform lives. Eliminating overdue fines will further that mission by removing barriers to the Library's resources. Increasing access to the Library benefits our entire community. ​ Overdue fines are not effective. Our own experience during the Coronavirus pandemic and multiple studies have shown that small fines have no impact on return rates and may work against that goal. ​ I t's good for our relationships. Going fine-free makes a trip to the Library more pleasant for both you and our staff. What does fine-free mean exactly? You will no longer receive a fine on overdue items. You are, of course, still responsible for returning items. ​ The Library will send you courtesy reminders to return items. Materials that are seven days overdue are assumed lost, and you will be billed a replacement cost. If you return the items, the replacement cost is waived. If the item has been lost and/or damaged, you are responsible for the replacement cost. What led to this decision? It's good for our community. The library's mission is to connect people, build community and transform lives. Eliminating overdue fines will further that mission by removing barriers to the Library's resources. Increasing access to the Library benefits our entire community. ​ Overdue fines are not effective. Our own experience during the Coronavirus pandemic and multiple studies have shown that small fines have no impact on return rates and may work against that goal. ​ I t's good for our relationships. Going fine-free makes a trip to the Library more pleasant for both you and our staff. Have other libraries eliminated fines? YES! Visit https://endlibraryfines.info/fine-free-library-map/ to see how many libraries around the world have adopted fine-free policies. ​ ​ ​ ​ Won’t removing fines prevent people from ever returning the items? No! Return rates are higher when fines are eliminated. We know this from our experience of being fine-free in 2020. Of course, we will continue to monitor how this change will affect patrons and will make improvements as we see necessary. Do any items have late fees? Yes, there are a few exceptions, such as materials that are owned by other libraries and borrowed through Interlibrary Loan. ​ ​ What do I have to do to have fines forgiven and removed from my account? If you have outstanding fines accrued on Vestal Public Library items that have been returned, we will waive them. No questions asked. If you are still in possession of overdue materials, return them in our book drop or in person and we'll remove the fines. ​ However, if you have fines from lost or damaged material, you are still responsible for those charges. You can always speak with us, and we will work with you to find an equitable solution. I haven't been to the Library in years. Will my card still work? Four County Library cards need to be renewed every three years, so your card may be expired and need to be reactivated. There is also a chance it may have been purged from our circulation system. You can always call us at 607-754-4243 to discuss your card status. I thought I cleared up my late fines, so why do I still have a balance? While we are doing away with fines, fees for lost or damaged materials remain. How will this affect the Library's budget? While the Library is always mindful of its bottom line watching funding, any loss of overdue fine revenue is minuscule compared to the good this new policy will do for our community. The increased use of our digital materials (ex. Overdrive, Libby, hoopla) and other factors have made fines an unsustainable form of revenue. Also, overdue fines account for less than .4% of the Library's budget; going fine-free will not significantly impact the budget moving forward. What is the difference between a fine and a fee? Fines are punitive. Fees are for library services and products such as copying, printing, and material replacement costs. I have always thought of paying my fines as a donation to the Library. Can I still donate? Yes! Donations are always appreciated and can be made at the library or online here . ​ We can always improve our services and programming, and donations greatly help! FINE FREE FAQs Are there any fines/fees that will still be charged to my account? If an item is overdue for seven days, it will be considered lost, and fees for replacing the item will be billed to your account. ​ Any accrual of fees totaling more than $5.00 will result in your library card being blocked, meaning, you will be unable to use your card.