Our doors may be closed, but that doesn’t mean we can’t open minds. We’ve just announced, via our email newsletter , a pretty full slate of lectures, book discussions, readings and even a film discussion that will hold you through April and into May. Adult Programs include such old favorites as the Short and Sweet and Literary Bites Book Groups, as well as unique lectures on topics as diverse as Alzheimer’s and the War of 1812. So how will we do it?
We are going to use the heck out of technology and you are too. Our primary tool is a free (for you) video conferencing service called Zoom. More on Zoom below. You’ll need a Facebook account to see Frank Connelly’s weekly readings from Washington Irving’s Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon (first published exactly 200 years ago, this collection’s best known stories are “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”).
Every book that will be discussed is available online from either Hoopla or Overdrive a.k.a. Libby. If you are new to these services and get stuck, you can call Reference at our new remote number, 914-734-5362. The phone is manned on weekdays between 10am and 4pm.
These are only a few of our offerings in April. Check our Monthly Calendar for a complete list.
If you are computer averse like many people, all this technology may sound daunting. However, if our resident technophobe, Frank Connelly, can use Zoom to attend our remote staff meetings, it should be possible for anyone to participate. If you don’t have a smartphone or a computer with a camera and microphone, don’t despair. You can participate telephonically. Here some things to know about Zoom:
- You do not have to pay to use Zoom for our programs. As always, our programs are free.
- It will make attending our programs easier if you sign up for Zoom well before the actual program start time.
- To attend a meeting in Zoom you need an “invitation.” We will email you an invitation the day of the program. To get that email, you must register using the link on the newsletter or on the calendar.
- We will have more detailed instructions on our webpage FAQ section soon.
Finally, once you create your free Zoom account, you can use it for other things too. It is a great way to keep track of loved ones while we are all in isolation. Free meetings are limited to only 40 minutes which can be more than enough for some family reunions. The Library has paid for its Zoom account, though. This means our programs have no time limits and can go on for hours and hours with no pesky limits.