Adult Programs
For more information on previous programming and projects, including videos of recorded programs please visit our
Previous Programs and Projects page.
New Parent Meet Up
Every Tuesday
10:30 – 12:00 p.m.
Join our weekly meetup for parents with babies under 1 to connect, share experiences, and get out with your little ones!
Community Still Life
Every Tuesday
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Community Still Life offers a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where people come together to draw and observe. Enjoy the quiet energy of creating alongside others, slow down, and let simple objects spark inspiration. All levels welcome—just come to draw… or paint.
Some supplies are available or bring your own. There will be a different still life every week for inspiration. Led by Tia!
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:
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Setting up and using email
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Navigating websites for job applications
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Accessing online government services
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Scheduling online appointments
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Basic troubleshooting for personal devices
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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.
Drop In Fly Tying
Bimonthly on 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the Month
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Come join fellow fly fishing enthusiasts to socialize while tying flies during the bimonthly drop-in program. Come for part of the time, or the entire 2.5 hours. Newcomers to the sport also welcome to learn from more experienced tyers.
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.
Nick Nickerson: Paintings and Sculpture
On Display March 3 – April 30
Inspired by nature and his inventive playful quirky imagination, Nick Nickerson has been creating art since he was a child.
After attending Ringling College of Art and Design, Nick became an award-winning advertising art director in NYC. Always finding new ways to imagine and design, in the ‘90s Nick created rustic art frames for private customers and designers all across America. This led to the creation of his dynamic sculptures and landscape paintings. More recently, Nick has been painting vibrant and energetic abstracts. To see all of this, visit his website www.nicknick.com.
Tech Lab on Zoom: Computer Security & Internet Scams
Wednesday, March 11
6:00 p.m.
In need of some tech pointers? The Columbia County Libraries Association presents a series of six online Tech Labs designed for those seeking help managing basic to moderate functions like online searches, Google Drive, avoiding scams, and more. All labs will be presented by our resident tech guru, Pam Doran, on Zoom.
These days, with cyber attacks intensifying, it’s even more important to protect yourself by keeping safe on the Internet. In this Lab, learn about cyber security and how you can protect yourself from hackers and online scams, avoid falling prey to viruses and phishing emails, manage your passwords, secure your data, and understand security attacks! There are many ways to protect yourself online. Stay safe online with tips to recognize scams, protect your accounts, and secure your digital presence.
To register and receive the Zoom link, email columbiacountylibraries@gmail.com.
History Webinar: The Roosevelts, Race, & Civil Rights
Monday March 16
6:00 p.m.
Join us for the first in a series of history programs on FDR, presented by Jeff Urbin, educator from the Roosevelt Presidential Museum and Library in Hyde Park.
The election of Franklin Roosevelt in 1932 brought about great changes in America’s political, economic and racial landscapes. This session explores how the support of Black voters shaped the Roosevelt Administration’s policies in New Deal and World War II and helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement of the 50s, 60s and 70s. How did support from Black voters help elect FDR? In what way did the New Deal seek to address racial inequalities?How well did it work? What role did Black servicemen and women play in Roosevelt’s approach to winning World War II? Why wasn’t greater progress made during this time? What was Mrs. Roosevelt’s role during the Administration and beyond?
This program is sponsored by the Columbia County Libraries Association. To register and receive the Zoom link, email columbiacountylibraries@gmail.com.
Read On! Book Club
Wednesday, March 18
6:00 p.m.
Join us for the March meeting of Roe Jan’s Read On! Book Club. This month, we are reading The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. The book is available to borrow through the Mid-Hudson Library System and Libby. Led by Fran & Kate, this fiction book club meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. All are welcome!
For more information, email communications@roejanlibrary.org.
Book Marks! Non-Fiction Book Club
Thursday, March 19
1:00 p.m.
Join our nonfiction book club, Book Marks!, led by Circulation Librarian Robin Gottlieb. Meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month. For our March meeting, we are reading A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst. Copies are available through the Mid-Hudson Library System and Libby.
Email circulation@roejanlibrary.org for more information.
Page Turners YA Book Club
Thursday, March`19
6:00 p.m.
Teens and adults are invited to join our new Page Turners YA Book Club, led by Xondra O’Connell. For our March meeting, we’ll be reading 1984 by George Orwell.
Copies are available to borrow through the Mid-Hudson Library System and on Libby. If you’d like to participate, please email Xondra at youth@roejanlibrary.org.
Cookbook Club
Saturday, March 21
1:00 p.m.
This month’s selection is Movie Night Menus: Dinner and Drink Recipes Inspired By Films We Love by Jenaya Darlington & Andre Darlington (2016). Why not cue up Casablanca with some French 75s and a Moroccan-themed spread? Filled with entertaining tips and background on each film, dish, and cocktail, the book offers a unique culinary tour of movie history, including menus inspired by The Thin Man, The Philadelphia Story, Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot, American Graffiti, Moonstruck, and many more.
Cooks of all levels are welcome to join a fun and yummy afternoon! The book is available for browsing at the Library’s front desk.
History Webinar: Frances Perkins
Monday, March 23
6:30 p.m.
Join us for the second in a series of history programs on FDR, presented by Jeff Urbin, educator from the Roosevelt Presidential Museum and Library in Hyde Park.
To commemorate Women’s History Month, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library honors Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor and the first woman appointed to a presidential cabinet.
This program is sponsored by the Columbia County Libraries Association. To register and receive the Zoom link, email columbiacountylibraries@gmail.com.
Tech Lab on Zoom: Social Media
Wednesday, March 25
6:00 p.m.
In need of some tech pointers? The Columbia County Libraries Association presents a series of six online Tech Labs designed for those seeking help managing basic to moderate functions like online searches, Google Drive, avoiding scams, and more. All labs will be presented by our resident tech guru, Pam Doran, on Zoom.
In this Lab, we will look at various social media platforms and the risks and benefits of using and understanding your digital footprint.
To register and receive the Zoom link, email columbiacountylibraries@gmail.com.
Tea Time at the Library with Cynthia Nicosia
Thursday, March 26
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.
In March, join Cynthia Nicosia for a discussion on rugmaking!
Come join the discussion and enjoy a cup of Harney’s Tea (or coffee) and some fresh baked goods on the house.
Webinar: Don’t Get Ticked, Columbia County
Monday, March`30
6:00 p.m.
Avoiding Lyme and other tick-borne diseases requires avoiding a tick bite! Join Cornell Integrated Pest Management Program’s Joellen Lampman as she talks about the different ticks in New York and their biology, the diseases they carry, and how to protect yourself from being bitten.
Joellen Lampman is the Tick and School IPM Coordinator with the Cornell Integrated Pest Management program. With a bachelors in natural resources from Cornell University and a master’s in science communication from Stony Brook University, Joellen is a lifelong environmental educator. At the Cornell IPM Program, she utilizes the clear knowledge-based, decision-making process of Integrated Pest Management to teach ecology and make a difference, one property at a time.
This webinar is sponsored by the Columbia County Libraries Association. Please email columbiacountylibraries@gmail.com to register and receive the Zoom link.
Film Screening: The Librarians
Sunday, April`19
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Join us in celebrating National Library Week at this free screening of the new documentary, The Librarians, at the Library!
In this documentary by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Kim A. Snyder, librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. Snyder’s illuminating documentary follows librarians in Texas, Florida, and other states, as they unite to combat book banning in the United States and offers a rattling look at coordinated efforts to ban books. The documentary introduces viewers to the everyday and increasingly vital heroes pushing back: the librarians who sound the alarm to both legislative and grassroots attempts to pull books from school and public libraries.
The Librarians had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2025.
The screening will be followed by a discussion of the issues raised by the film, facilitated by library director Tammy Gaskell.
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
Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
ZOOM LOGIN INFORMATION:
https://zoom.us/j/759916157
Meeting ID: 759 916 157
Passcode: 592902
To watch past recordings of Dr. Spector’s class, visit our YouTube channel playlist.
