richmond library

Press Release:

Museum Quilt Guild is hosting a members quilt exhibit at Richmond Library in the gallery room for the month of February 2022. Twenty-one small quilts with various interpretations of this year's annual challenge theme feature a variety of techniques and subjects for "Rock, Paper, Scissors". 
 
Rock signifies traditional quilt block or quilting technique. Paper indicates paper piecing, foundation or English paper-pieced. Scissors represents traditional needle turn, or modern fusible or raw edged applique. Members were asked to choose a category for their quilt when submitted. So far, Scissors is winning with 9 entries, but members will be able to vote for their favorites in several categories on blue ballots. The public can vote for their favorite "Viewer's Choice" on white ballots. The categories of the quilts which get the most overall votes, will help determine the answer to the ultimate game of Rock, Paper, Scissors!
 
Some of the quilters who have entries in our challenge show will be available at the library after our monthly meeting on Saturday February 19, 2022 from noon until 2pm for an informal "meet and greet". Stop by and see the quilts, ask questions of the quilters and vote for your favorites!
 
Museum Quilt Guild has survived the challenges of covid with Zoom meetings and meetings at a local park this summer, and is happy to be once again at the VA every third Saturday of the month at 9:30am. Masking and social distancing are required for the meetings. Guests are welcomed to visit for a short business meeting, information on local quilt-related activities and community service. Presentations about quilting and fiber arts and "show and tell" are favorites with our members. Dues are $20.00 a year for guild members. Additional information is available as a hand out at our show.
 
Escape the winter doldrums and see our show at the Richmond Library in Batavia, and vote for your favorites! Will Rock, Paper, or Scissors be the ultimate winner? You help us decide!

Press release:

As part of its summer reading program, the Richmond Memorial Library is offering the following craft programs to children and teens.

Registration for craft pick up as well as our reading challenge can be completed online.

Children Ages 3-12

The craft bag will include crafts and supplies. The crafts in each bag will change every week!

TEENS Ages 13-18

The craft bag will include materials and written instructions. 
Video instructions will also be posted on our Facebook page Mondays at 9 a.m. and can be found under the videos tab.

TWEENS & TEENS

Crafter noon Zoom with Miss Sue -- Thursdays Weekly at 2 p.m.
A Zoom gathering for crafters who would like to socialize while they craft, or may need minor guidance or trouble shooting.

Crafters of all crafts and abilities are welcome to come share projects, show off finished objects, be cheered on working through a work in progress, or share stories to help each other conquer challenging craft steps.

*Younger crafters may join with their trusted grown-up.

Press release:

Richmond Memorial Library will kick off its summer reading programs for adults and youth on June 24! This year’s theme is “A Universe of Stories” and our programming will highlight outer space, inspired by the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing.

We are excited to offer programs for adults, children and the whole family through August!

The library is excited to kick off summer reading in partnership with the Batavia Concert Band.

On Monday, June 24, conductor John Bailey will share a preview of the band’s season at 7 p.m. at Richmond Memorial Library. On Wednesday, June 26, the Batavia Concert Band will kick off its 94^thseason with “Sounds from A Universe of Stories,” at 7 p.m. at Centennial Park (or GCC’s Stuart Steiner Theatre in case of rain). For more info about the band, visit bataviaconcertband.net.

Adult Summer Reading - BINGO!

Back by popular demand, Summer Reading BINGO will return for adults from June 24-Aug. 17. The program will feature a BINGO board full of reading and library challenges. Participants will get a weekly prize entry for each square they get stamped and a grand prize entry for each BINGO (five completed squares).

This year’s grand prizes include a chance to attend an Afternoon Tea with the Richmond Reads author Silas House, as well as a Book Lover’s basket! Our seven weekly prizes will include gift cards to local businesses and there will be prizes for participation as well.

As a bonus, the first 20 participants to register will receive a paperback copy of "Southernmost" by Silas House, the Richmond Reads selection for 2019. All prizes are made possible courtesy of the Friends of Richmond Memorial Library.

BINGO square challenges include everything from attending a library program to watching a documentary to reading a book with “sun,” “moon” or “star” in the title (in keeping with our theme!). The goal of the program is to help you get to know the library better as you step out of your “reading comfort zone” -- as one patron said about last year’s program, “I enjoyed that it was at my own pace yet encouraged me to read more…it encouraged me to step out of my normal reading genres.”

We welcome all patrons 17 and older with a valid library card to participate in our Adult Summer Reading program! All information and rules will be provided with registration. Visit the library for a sneak peek at our BINGO Board for 2019.

Our Reel Discussions series over the summer will feature space related films, such as “The Martian” (2015), “First Man” (2018) and “October Sky” (1999).

Children's Summer Reading - A Universe of Stories!

Read and Bead is back! Our Summer Reading program will help kids to fight boredom and discover new worlds! Bring your kids in and sign up! They'll get a necklace with starter beads and their Summer Reading record. For each 15 minutes of reading, they get a new bead. At the end of each week, we reveal a new special bead!

Kids who complete the program will end the summer with prizes including special books.

Start the summer with our Constellation Kick-Off on Friday June 28th with an indoor planetarium! Our Family Fun Fridays continue throughout the summer with visits from the Rochester Museum and Science Center, Buffalo and Brandy, Animals in Space (reptile show), Checkers the Inventor, and a Traveling Farm!

We cap off the summer on Aug. 9th with African Drumming, Dancing and Storytelling! We will also have the classic beauty "Belle" reading stories to kids on July 16th, and two Homeschooler Meet and Greet gatherings on July 19th and Aug. 2 at 1 p.m.

For 8-12 year old kids, we have a Nailed It! program at 3 p.m. each week. With limited supplies and time, they will have to be creative and work fast! On Thursdays at 10, it's STEAM Time! Explore tech gizmos, science gadgets and have fun. Register for each program by calling us or stopping in.

Teens can enjoy some cookies and book discussion in our low-pressure "What are You Reading? Book Club" on Fridays at 10. Come with a book you're reading or one you love! This is a fun, friendship-building group that encourages the love of reading.

Youth Summer Reading Program runs from June 24th to Aug. 10th.

For information about all upcoming events and library services, visit batavialibrary.org

Richmond Memorial Library continually provides access to physical and virtual resources and services that meet the educational, informational and recreational needs of its diverse community in a safe and comfortable environment. Learn more at www.batavialibrary.org

Press release:

As interior renovations continue to progress at Richmond Memorial Library, the library can once again accept donations for their monthly book sale.

What exactly happens with donated materials? 

Library selectors have first dibs on all of the donated material, although very little of it winds up in the circulating collection.

“It’s just very rare that we receive a current, in-demand title that we don’t already own, or that we need additional copies of,” said Samantha Stryker, Community and Adults Services librarian. “Most of the donations are older titles, so it’s more likely that something of local, historical interest will get added to the collection, if it’s in pristine condition.”

Some donated books get used for literacy and outreach programs instead.

According to Youth Services librarian Jennifer Potter, “That’s where most of the donated children’s books wind up. Our GIFT program puts them back out in the community for free, at sites targeting lower-income families,” including schools, laundromats, Family Court, medical offices, and an annual Christmas program run by the Kiwanis Club of Batavia.

Some donated adult materials – especially Large Print books – are given to people who enroll in The Library Visits program, which delivers library services to some older adults in Genesee County.

The majority of donated books – 80 to 90 percent of them, by Library Director Bob Conrad’s count – go to the Friends of the Library for fundraising or disposal. Volunteers determine whether a book is in re-saleable condition, and if it is, they price it to move quickly, from as little as 25 cents to as much as five dollars.

“We don’t have a warehouse to store our inventory,” said Friends of the Richmond Memorial Library President Kathy Pipkin. “What we have instead is a community of readers, and a very quick turnover. Once a month, we’re the busiest bookstore in the county!”

The monthly book sale, staffed by volunteers, generates about $10,000 per year. The Friends can use it for public library advocacy, or to support library programing.

“When we serve food at a library event,” Conrad said, “it comes from the Friends. Prizes for the summer reading program, they come from the Friends. Poinsettias, coffee, and cookies at Christmas; advertising expenses, when we have them; food and lodging for an out-of-town author.

"Anything, really, that we just don't feel happy spending tax dollars on, we can ask the Friends. They have oversight and final say, and they do a lot for us.”

The library accepts donations of gently used hardcover and paperback books, but cannot do anything with books in very poor condition.

“We know it's hard to throw books away," Conrad said. "It's hard for us, too! But books that come from the attic or basement that have not been stored properly will probably have issues.”

Before bringing your books for donation, the library asks you to consider:

• Is there significant wear and tear, such as a broken binding, or loose, torn, or missing covers or pages?
• Is there mold or mildew? Books with mold or mildew often smell musty and are discolored or spotted.
• Is there water damage or staining?
• Do the books have a strong odor such as cigarette smoke?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, the library will not be able to make use of your donation.

Other types of materials that are not needed are textbooks and encyclopedias, but there is a free swap box in the lobby for magazines.

Donations are accepted anytime the library is open, Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For very large donations (more than four boxes at a time) the library asks you to call ahead.

The next Friends of the Library Book Sale will take place on Thursday, June 6 from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., with a preview sale for Friends of the Library members on Wednesday, June 5 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. New Friends memberships are always welcome, and you can sign up at the preview sale.

For more information about the Book Sale, the Friends of the Library, or other library programs, please visit batavialibrary.org

Richmond Memorial Library continually provides access to physical and virtual resources and services that meet the educational, informational and recreational needs of its diverse community in a safe and comfortable environment. Learn more at www.batavialibrary.org

Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross St in the City of Batavia.

Richmond Memorial Library's budget vote and trustee election takes place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 2nd.

Norm Argulsky and Jessica Ecock-Rotondo are candidates for the two trustee seats, each with five-year terms.

The library is seeking an increase in local public funds of $25,350 for fiscal year 2019-20.

Voting takes place in the Library's Gallery Room. The library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia. Phone is 343-9550.

Any registered voter residing in the Batavia City School District is eligible to vote.

To learn about the 2019-20 budget, the trustee candidates and general information about the library and its plans, click here.

Library Director Robert Conrad explains the proposed budget:

"On the revenue side, we’re prepared for small drops in PILOT funds and income from library fines and fees. We expect them to be counterbalanced easily by increases to gifts, memorials, and withdrawals from our appropriated fund balance.

"Of course, the bulk of our revenues come from the local property tax levy. New York’s property tax cap formula allows us to ask for an increase of $60,557 without breaking the cap – but we’re asking for an increase of only $25,350. That increase, which would be under 2 percent for the sixth year in a row, would raise the tax rate per thousand of assessed value by 0.0288 – in other words, by less than $3 for a home assessed at $100,000.

"On the expense side, we're budgeting slight increases in local funding for library materials; we're adding capacity to the Imagination Library program (free books for kids to keep every month, from birth through age 5), which would allow up to double the enrollment we see today; and we’re doubling down on our very popular and well-attended library programs for adults, teens, and children of all ages.

"Long supported by additional funding from the Friends of the Richmond Memorial Library, our music, movie, book, and family gaming programs are popular with Batavians as well as with families from the surrounding communities who come here to share, learn, read, and play, helping to make Batavia the vibrant hub of the GLOW county region.

"Thank you to everyone for making the Richmond Memorial Library the extraordinary place that it strives to be!"

Press release:

The sun is shining, the grass is growing, and it’s almost time for our Adult Summer Reading program at Richmond Memorial Library!

Summer Reading BINGO: Adult Summer Reading program for adults at Richmond Memorial Library begins June 25 and runs through Aug. 17. All patrons 17 years of age and up with a valid library card are invited to take part.

Summer Reading isn’t just for kids – at Richmond Memorial Library, we’re happy to provide summer reading experiences for all ages.

Complete a BINGO card filled with library challenges to be eligible to win prizes -- for each square stamped, you can enter to win a prize. For each BINGO row you complete, you’ll be entered to win a grand prize! There are 24 challenges, including reading a book based on its cover, attending a library program or reading outside.

Registration is required; visit the reference desk at the library to sign up or for complete rules beginning June 20.

No library card? No problem! Summer is the perfect time to visit the library -- stop by the library with photo ID with current address and we’ll get you set up with a card.

New to the area? Bring photo ID and proof of address. Resident library cards may be issued free-of-charge to residents of Genesee, Orleans and Niagara counties, and to those who work, own property or attend school within the borders of the Batavia City School District.

Richmond Memorial Library continually provides access to physical and virtual resources and services that meet the educational, informational and recreational needs of its diverse community in a safe and comfortable environment. Learn more here.

Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia.

Contact: Samantha Stryker, Community and Adult Services librarian: Phone -- 343-9550; email  sstryker@nioga.org

Press release:

Once again Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia will be offering a series of computer classes designed for those who are finally ready to take the plunge and learn the ins and outs of computers and those who would like to improve their computer skills. There is no charge.

Registration is required and can be done by stopping at the library or calling 343-9550.;

The library is located at 19 Ross St.

Email Start to Finish: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m on Tuesday, Jan. 16

• Learn about email and sign up for a new account, if desired. If you already have an email address log into it and let’s get the most from it.

​​Windows 10: from 1 to 4 p.m.​ on Tuesday, Jan. 16

• Introduction to Windows 10, the latest operating system from Microsoft. Use our machine or bring your Windows 10 machine.

Facebook Combo: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18

• Learn about Facebook and sign up for an account, if desired. If you already have an account, let’s get the most from it.

​Gadgets and Gear/Open Access: from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18

• Bring your questions and gadgets! Ereaders, phones, laptops, tablets!

Gaga for Google! Cut, Copy, Paste!: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5

• Do you use Google? This powerful tool is more than a search engine! We’ll explore some of its many uses. Please note: This class is for people who are very comfortable using the Internet, and also navigating Web pages. We will also copy information from the Internet into the Microsoft Word program.

Internet Resources: Safety, Security, Fun!: from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5

• Take your Internet experience to the next level! Examine Youtube, Twitter, Wikipedia, and your Library Catalog! Help keep your computer, yourself, and your loved ones safer while surfing. Class includes Downloadables with Apps.

Flash Drives/File Management: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6

• This class focuses on saving, moving, and retrieving any file on a Windows-based computer. We will learn how to add new folders to the computer, and rename both folders and individual files, with a focus on saving, renaming and deleting documents.

Submitted photo: Ronnie Scroger, age 6, and his mother, Tracey Cook, join library employees Marie Barcomb and Bob Conrad to model the safety glasses that will be available at Richmond Library programs Aug. 14 to 21.

 

Press release:

 

Due to heavy regional interest, the Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia will begin distribution of a limited supply of solar eclipse-viewing safety glasses at library eclipse-themed family programs already scheduled for Aug. 14th, 16th, and 18th.

 

The remainder of glasses will be distributed on a first-come basis at an eclipse-viewing lawn party hosted by the library on the afternoon of Aug. 21, after a brief safety demonstration.

 

"We got a thousand pairs of these glasses from NASA," Library Director Bob Conrad explained. "But under the terms of their grant, we can only distribute them after a safety demonstration that's a part of our summer reading program.

 

"Originally, those demonstrations were all going to be on the afternoon of August 21st, during the eclipse. But we're getting so many calls from people who don't live here or who are traveling for the eclipse, that we decided to start distribution early by including the safety demo at all of next week's family programs."
 

Those programs include a library craft project at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 14th ("Make a Sun Magnet"); a cooking program at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 16th ("Make and Eat Your Own Moon Pies"); and a movie to be screened at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21st (the 2015 animated DreamWorks feature "Home").

"I guess we couldn't afford the rights to 'Space Jam,' " Conrad joked.

The programs are billed For All Ages, but registration is recommended to guarantee a space. Register on the library's website at batavialibrary.org, or by calling the Children's Room at 343-9550.

According to an interactive map published by NASA's educational outreach website (eclipse2017.nasa.gov/libraries), Batavia's public library is the only one in a five-county region surrounding Buffalo to participate in the educational program, along with libraries in the Rochester area, Jamestown and Geneseo.

Press release:

Once again the Richmond Memorial Library will be offering a series of computer classes designed for those who are finally ready to take the plunge and learn the ins and outs of computers and those who would like to improve their computer skills. There is no charge.

Registration is required and can be done by stopping at the library or calling 343-9550.

The classes that you can choose from are:

Windows 10 – Introduction to Windows 10, the latest operating system from Microsoft.  Use our machine or bring your Windows 10 machine.

• Wednesday, Sept. 6 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Computer Basic & Internet Basic – Learn to read a computer advertisement and get the one that’s right for you: desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone. Explore! Discover! Learn! Surf the Internet using a common browser. Find out about websites and links; use search engines to find information you want to know.

• Wednesday, Sept. 6 – 1 to 4 p.m.

Email Start to Finish – Learn about email and sign up for a new account, if desired.  If you already have an email address log into it and let’s get the most from it!

• Friday, Sept. 15 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gadgets and Gear/Open Access – Bring your questions and gadgets! Ereaders, phones, laptops, tablets!

• Friday, Sept. 15 – 1  to 4 p.m.

Internet Resources: Safety, Security, Fun! – Take your Internet experience to the next level! Examine Youtube, Twitter, Wikipedia, and your Library Catalog! Help keep your computer, yourself, and your loved ones safer while surfing.

• Wednesday, Sept. 27 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gaga for Google! Cut, Copy, Paste! – Do you use Google? This powerful tool is more than a search engine! We’ll explore some of its many uses. Please note: This class is for people who are very comfortable using the Internet, and also navigating Web pages. We will also copy information from the Internet into the Microsoft Word program.

• Wednesday, Sept, 27 – 1 to 4 p.m.

Facebook Combo – Learn about Facebook and sign up for an account, if desired.  If you already have an account, let’s get the most from it!

• Tuesday, Oct. 3 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Library Downloads – Learn about all the options the library offers – eBooks, audiobooks, movies, music, and magazines.  See what is available, see how to download it to your device.

• Tuesday, Oct. 3 – 1  to 4 p.m.

Windows 10 – Introduction to Windows 10, the latest operating system from Microsoft.  Use our machine or bring your Windows 10 machine.

• Friday, Oct. 20 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gadgets and Gear/Open Access – Bring your questions and gadgets! Ereaders, phones, laptops, tablets!

• Friday, Oct. 20 – 1  to 4 p.m.

Computer Basic & Internet Basic – Learn to read a computer advertisement and get the one that’s right for you: desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone. Explore! Discover! Learn! Surf the Internet using a common browser. Find out about web sites and links; use search engines to find information you want to know.

• Wednesday, Nov. 1 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Internet Resources: Safety, Security, Fun! – Take your Internet experience to the next level! Examine Youtube, Twitter, Wikipedia, and your Library Catalog! Help keep your computer, yourself, and your loved ones safer while surfing.

• Wednesday, Nov. 1 – 1  to 4 p.m.