Adult Programs
For more information on previous programming and projects, including videos of recorded programs please visit our
Previous Programs and Projects page.
Digital Navigator Office Hours
Every Wednesday
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Struggling to get online? Finding it hard to job hunt, find housing, pay bills, or schedule appointments without internet access? The Digital Navigators of the Hudson Valley are here to help! Join Kate, our Communications Manager and Digital Navigator of the Hudson Valley, for free tech assistance. She can help you with:
- Setting up and using email
- Navigating websites for job applications
- Accessing online government services
- Scheduling online appointments
- Basic troubleshooting for personal devices
- And much more!
Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are appreciated! Email communications@roejanlibrary.org or call 518-325-4101 to reserve your spot with Kate.
Qigong & Tai Chi at the Library
Every Thursday
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Qigong and Tai Chi are approaches to movement that have been practiced for hundreds of years and are particularly helpful for dealing with stress, limited ability to move, those wishing to developing better balance and flexibility and can be practiced by nearly everyone young and old. Although Tai Chi is generally practiced standing, Qigong can be modified to allow participants to be seated.
This weekly drop-in class, open to all, is taught by David Haines, who has been a practitioner of Qigong, Tai Chi, and mindful movement for 50 years, a teacher for 40 years, and a certified Trager Movement practitioner for 35 years. Since moving into the area in 2006 he has taught at Omega Institute, Simon’s Rock college, Columbia-Greene Community College, as well as various libraries, senior centers, and school district community education classes.
Classes are held in the Roe Jan Library Community Room or outdoors, weather permitting. Wear comfortable clothes.
This project has been supported by a grant from the Fund for Columbia County of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
Free English-Language Tutoring // Tutoría del Idioma Inglés Gratuito
Thursdays // jueves
6:00 – 7:30pm
by appointment // con cita previa
Free English-language tutoring will be available at Roeliff Jansen Community Library between 6:00 and 7:30pm. This tutoring program is intended primarily for adults. Instruction will be one-on-one or in small groups with Yvonne Acevedo and will be geared toward everyday conversational needs. Free childcare will be provided for children ages 3 and up. Please e-mail director@roejanlibrary.org or call 518-325-4101 to schedule an appointment.
La biblioteca ofrecerá tutoría del idioma Inglés gratuito, los jueves entre las 6:00 pm hasta 7:30pm, con cita previa. Estas lecciones están diseñadas principalmente para adultos. Las lecciones serán dadas individualmente ó en grupos pequeños por Yvonne Acevedo y estarán orientadas a fomentar fluidez en el lenguage coloquial cotidiano. Ofreceremos servicio para el cuidado de niños(as) de 3 años de edad y mayores. Por favor, comuníquese por correo electrónico con la director@roejanlibrary.org ó marque el 518-325-4101 para reservar una cita.
This project has been supported by a grant from the Fund for Columbia County of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
Book Marks! Book Club
Thursday, November 21
1:00 p.m.
Join our nonfiction book club, Book Marks!, led by Circulation Librarian Robin Gottlieb. Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month.
For our November 21st meeting we are reading Animal, Vegetable, Junk by Mark Bittman. Copies are available through the Mid-Hudson Library System and Libby.
Email circulation@roejanlibrary.org for more information.
Tea Time at the Library
Every Fourth Thursday of the Month
Next Meeting: November 21
2:30 p.m.
Plan to visit the library on the fourth Thursday of each month at 2:30 p.m. to discuss fun and informative topics. Each month’s gathering will have a different theme; listen, discuss, and enjoy a cup of tea (or coffee if that’s your preference!), and sometimes a fun activity. There will also be plenty of time to chat, get to know your neighbors, and wind down.
For our November gathering, we’re excited to welcome Qigong & Tai Chi teacher David Haines to lead our discussion!
Come join the discussion and enjoy a cup of Harney’s Tea (or coffee) and some fresh baked goods on the house.
Season of Light and Hope Family Concert
Saturday, November 23
1:00 p.m.
Join local musicians John and Ann Marie Farrell in a joyful music program for families and people of all ages. This program includes original and familiar songs and is filled with audience participation. Be prepared to sing, laugh, and learn as we celebrate this Season of Light and Hope. For over 25 years, John has traveled the world, visiting schools to sing and write songs that promote peace and understanding. Ann Marie Farrell is a retired elementary school teacher and has sung on all of John’s CD’s. The duo perform at schools, community concerts, and educational conferences.
Included in the program are songs about the season including “One by One, a Thanksgiving Song,” which they teach in sign language; “It’s Snowing!” a joyful song about the first snowfall of the year and children’s hope that school will be cancelled; “Holidays All Around the World!,” which introduces the names of diverse cultural celebrations while highlighting the similarities in the practices; “A Little Bit of Scrooge in Everyone,” which pokes fun at how grownups often get grumpy around the holidays, and more. The program includes an emphasis on gratitude, humor, respect, and understanding.
John’s work has received a Parents Choice Award and a Dove Foundation Award. He is the founder of the non-profit organization, Bridges of Peace and Hope and was honored by Judith’s Reading Room as a recipient of a Freedom Through Literacy Award. In addition to releasing 8 CDs, John is also the author of three picture books published by Boyds Mills Press, including Stargazer’s Alphabet, an International Reading Association Notable Book of the Year.
Zoom Around the World Book Club
Monday, November 25
6:30 p.m. on Zoom
Join our new online book club, sponsored by the Columbia County Libraries Association
This club will meet via Zoom on the fourth Monday of each month to read and discuss books by international authors. The third book up for discussion is Irish writer Sally Rooney’s Normal People.
To join, email columbiacountylibraries@gmail.com
Normal People, published in 2018 is Rooney’s second novel, published after Conversations with Friends (2017). Normal People tells the story of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can’t and explores the subtleties of class, the electricity of first love, and the complex entanglements of family and friendship. The book became a best-seller in the US, selling almost 64,000 copies in hardcover in its first four months of release. A number of publications ranked it one of the best books of the 2010s. An Emmy nominated television adaptation of the novel aired on BBC Three and Hulu.
Sally Rooney was born in 1991 and lives in Dublin, where she graduated from Trinity College. Her work has appeared in Granta, The Dublin Review, The White Review, The Stinging Fly, and the Winter Pages anthology. Her most recent book, published in fall 2024, is Intermezzo.
Family Movie Screening: Paddington
Saturday, November 30
12:00 p.m.
Join us for a free, family-friendly movie screening of Paddington! This heartwarming film, following the adventures of a lovable bear from Peru, is perfect for all ages. Gather with friends, family, and fellow library patrons to enjoy an afternoon filled with laughter and fun. We’ll have popcorn and beverages available to make your movie experience complete!
The Last Dragon: A Marionette Performance
by the Puppet People
Saturday, December 7
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Are all princesses helpless? Are all knights brave and strong? Are all dragons evil? Find out in this whimsical retelling of the fairy tale by E. Nesbitt. Join us for a spectacular marionette performance presented by the Puppet People, which explores the issues of stereotypes, discrimination, self-esteem, greed, and friendship. All ages welcome!
Healthcare Navigator Appointments
Monday, December 9
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m
A Navigator from the Healthcare Consortium will be available the second Monday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Navigators can assist individuals and families in Columbia and Greene Counties with shopping for, comparing, and enrolling in quality, affordable health insurance, including Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan, through the New York State of Health Official Health Plan Marketplace. Navigators can also assist with applying for financial assistance to help pay for coverage. Navigator services are free of charge. You can make an appointment by calling (518) 822-9600.
Friends Cookies & Books Sale
Friday & Saturday, December 13-14
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Stop by the Library and enjoy baked goods and a book sale! All proceeds go to the Friends of Roe Jan Library.
Job Search and Resume Help
Job search coaching, with an emphasis on resume writing and using online resources to find jobs, is offered by volunteer Career Coach, Beth Gordon. Beth provides help with finding career opportunities, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing preparation and reviewing job resources.
Career Coaching and Job Search Help sessions cover résumé and letter writing, skills assessments, career planning and Internet job search. These one-on-one sessions are designed to help people of all ages seeking career coaching, goal setting, or help updating and improving their professional profiles.
Job Help sessions are by appointment only and are typically conducted via Zoom. You can make an appointment by calling or emailing the library or contacting Beth Gordon directly at bagordon323@gmail.com. In person help at the library can be provided with prior arrangements as well.
Senior Balance and Strength Class with Dr. Paul Spector on Zoom
Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
ZOOM LOGIN INFORMATION:
https://zoom.us/j/759916157
Meeting ID: 759 916 157
Passcode: 592902
*Please note the start date has been moved from January 12th to January 19th.*
To watch past recordings of Dr. Spector’s class, visit our YouTube channel playlist.
