After-School Activities Program (A.S.A.P.)
The ASAP program continues through the summer! It is geared for children ages 9 – 14, but all ages are welcome to come. Bancroft Library features Makerspace Mondays, LEGO Club (and board games) on Tuesdays, Wild Card Wednesdays include a variety of activities (indoors and outdoors), Thursdays is for Art Club, and Fridays are movies days. Please note, sometimes activities need to be rescheduled due to weather or other circumstances. The program will continue through the summer.
USS Slater History Talk
| Date | Wednesday, August 27, 2025 |
| Time | 1:00 pm |
| Description | This presentation shares the history of USS SLATER and why she was chosen to become the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum. Stories will be shared about the history of Destroyer Escorts, SLATER’S involvement in WWII, her service in the Greek Navy, and her restoration transforming her into a world class museum. Presented by a SLATER volunteer you will get a first-hand look at the hard work that goes into keeping the “Old Girl” afloat. Program sponsored by the Friends of Bancroft Library. |
| Location | Proudfit Hall |
| Registration | Registration is strongly suggested |
| Contact | 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu for questions or to register |
Craft Supply Swap
| Date | Tuesday, September 23, 2025 |
| Time | 4:00 – 6:00 pm |
| Description | Bancroft Library is hosting a craft supply swap. Anyone is welcome to come and find new-to-you craft items. You may also bring in your gently-used craft supplies (anything from kids’ items to supplies and tools for knitting, scrapbooking, painting, drawing, etc) that you no longer use and are ready to pass on to another person or family! Enjoy a few snacks while you meet fellow crafters and then choose items new to you to take home. Learn about various craft groups that meet in our area. Green Arts Supply will be on site to take craft supplies that are left over. www.greenartsupply.com |
| Location | Proudfit Hall |
| Registration | No registration needed. |
| Contact | 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu for questions |
Hunter Safety Classes – Use the Library for the Online Hunter Safety Courses (Book A Time)
| Date | Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays, September 03 – October 15, 2025 |
| Time | Call library to set up a time |
| Description | Bancroft Library is opening its computers to hunters who are interested in taking the NYS or VT State hunter safety online courses. These online courses generally run 7 hours or so, and if you lack good internet, taking the class online may be difficult. Please review the options for NYS or VT Online Hunter Safety Classes before you call the library to set up a time to use our computers. Note: persons taking the courses are responsible for online payment for the class. NYS Classes, click here. VT Classes, click here. |
| Location | Bancroft Library |
| Registration | Call to set up a time. |
| Contact | 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu for questions |
Alzheimer’s: 10 Warning Signs Program
| Date | Thursday, October 9, 2025 |
| Time | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
| Description | Lindsay Stanislowky from the Alzheimer’s Association comes to Bancroft to give this talk on recognizing the warning signs of Alzheimer’s. Learn what to watch for in yourself and others. – The difference in normal aging and Alzheimer’s – Common warning signs – The importance of early detection and diagnosis – Next steps for the diagnostic process – Alzheimer Association resources For additional questions on the program, please contact Lindsay at listanislowsky@alz.org or (518) 888-5368. |
| Location | Proudfit Hall |
| Registration | Registration highly recommended |
| Contact | 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu for questions or to register |
History Talk with Fort Ticonderoga Historian
| Date | Wednesday, October 22, 2025 |
| Time | 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm |
| Description | Come and learn about the events that occurred in 1775 and 1776 at Ticonderoga and how they led up to the Revolutionary War. Historian and outreach coordinator Gordy Hamilton from Fort Ticonderoga will come give this presentation. Program sponsored by the Friends of Bancroft Library. |
| Location | Proudfit Hall |
| Registration | Registration Recommended |
| Contact | 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu for questions or to register |
Self-Massage Class with Mandy McKillop, LMT
| Date | Thursday, October 23, 2025 |
| Time | TBD, evening |
| Description | Mandy McKillop, a licensed NYS massage therapist, comes to Bancroft Library for an evening of relaxation. She’ll share some of her tried and true methods for helping to promote relaxation through self-massage. Spots are limited, please contact the library to register! |
| Location | Proudfit Hall |
| Registration | Registration Required |
| Contact | 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu for questions or to register |
World, Weather, and Clothing: What Should I Wear?
| Date | Saturday, November 8, 2025 (this program was rescheduled from the summer). |
| Time | 10:30 am – 11:30 am |
| Description | World, Weather, & Clothing: What Should I Wear? A fun program that explores how people’s geographic location influences their choices in what to wear. There will be interactive stations, including clothing to try on, a matching game with international dolls, and an art project. Program is 60 minutes. Program is best suited for children ages 5 through 11 years old. Program sponsored by the Friends of Bancroft Library. |
| Location | Proudfit Hall |
| Registration | Registration is required. There are limited spots for this program! |
| Contact | 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu for questions |
Self-Defense Class with Lisa Boucher
| Date | Sunday, November 9, 2025 |
| Time | 1:00 pm – 2:20 pm |
| Description | Lisa Boucher of Boucher Marital Arts comes highly recommended to Bancroft Library for her self-defense classes In this 1.5 hour long course, she will teach women, both teens and adults, some of the best ways to protect yourself from physical assault or attack. Attendees must be age 13 or older. Under age 18 must have parental consent. All participants must sign a consent form. Lisa Boucher is a 6th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do who has practiced and taught basic self defense classes for over 20 years. |
| Location | Proudfit Hall |
| Registration | Registration Required |
| Contact | 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu for questions or to register |
Learn About Land Conservation and Easements with Agricultural Stewardship Association
| Date | Thursday, November 13, 2025 |
| Time | 5:30 pm |
| Description | Have you ever wondered about conserving your land, or what that even means? What about easements-what are they? Do you want to keep your land as agricultural land or forest forever? Agricultural Stewardship Association, the main conservation easement group in Washington and Rensselaer counties, comes to Bancroft Library to break down what it means to put an easement on your property (whether it be farm, forest, or a combination of the two) and explain the steps of the process. |
| Location | Proudfit Hall |
| Registration | FREE – Registration Recommended |
| Contact | 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu for questions or to register |
Bird Talk: Avian Research at the Albany Pine Bush
| Date | Postponed until the Fall |
| Time | |
| Description | Inland pine barrens are a rare yet important habitat for shrubland birds in the northeastern U.S. However, many of these ecosystems are limited to fragmented remnants in heavily urbanized landscapes. The 3,407-acre Albany Pine Bush Preserve protects the remnants of an inland pine barrens following decades of loss, fragmentation, and degradation due to human development, species invasions, and fire suppression. To understand the effects of their protection efforts, researchers have been monitoring the response of bird populations at the Pine Bush, conducting point counts, capturing birds to band and release, and documenting the territory fidelity of two target shrubland birds: the Prairie Warbler and the Eastern Whip-poor-will. Neil Gifford will provide a synopsis of the individual studies and conservation work being conducted there and share that their efforts have had a positive impact on the local shrubland bird community. |
| Location | Proudfit Hall |
| Registration | Registration is required. |
| Contact | 518-854-7463 or slm-director@sals.edu for questions |