Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Thank you


While we did not win a Trustee seat (10th place out of 17) we made many new friends, learned a lot, and gained a new appreciation for the Albany Public Library and the Friends of the APL.

Many thanks to all those who voted for me, signed my petition, carried my petition and encouraged me to run.

I had a great time and of course I will continue my involvement with APL issues and other community matters in the City of Albany. Congratulations to those four who were elected and also congratulations to all the others on the ballot.


Many, many thanks to my GOTV crew: Eileen, Anne, Leora and Brandon and to all the many family, friends and supporters who assisted me throughout the campaign. The unofficial canvas by the school district is:

School Budget

Yes 2345

No 2699



LIBRARY TRUSTEES:

Dennis Gaffney 1828 Trustee Elect

Mary Ellen O'Connor 1718 Trustee Elect

Leonard Ricchiuti 1423 Trustee Elect

James Gallagher 1368 Trustee Elect

Andrew O'Toole 1063

Linda Mallory-Mitchell 999

Deborah Williams - M 798

Lois Parsons 793

Alexandra Streznewski 788

Andrew Bechard 732

Patricia Polan 719

Ethel Silverberg 699

Gene Solan 622

William Newman 587

Jose Lopez 527

Anton Konev 426

Thomas Preston 365

Building Blocks of Equity


Why is the Branch Improvement Plan so important?

Two words: CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

There is a U.S. census statistic that doesn’t get talked about very much in Albany.

It’s not a good statistic.

Almost 30% of Albany’s school age children (5-18 years) live in poverty. That means for every three kids you see in Albany, one of them is struggling.

How wonderful is it that a neighborhood kid can walk three to five blocks to an Albany branch library and ask the librarian questions, get internet access, browse hundreds of books, magazines and newspapers – ALL FOR FREE.

Internet access, books, magazines and newspapers are luxuries that are just not in the household budget for many of Albany’s poorest families.

I’ve talked to dozens of professionals who came from meager means and I always ask them about the secrets to their success. Very often I would hear a story about a special librarian or a special teacher who opened their eyes to books and reading. I would hear a story about a neighborhood school or a neighborhood library that became a special place. It was a place close by that they could walk to, or ride their bike. In that special place a whole world was opened up – and a child was inspired to dream big and study hard.

Some in Albany are quick to point out that the Albany City Schools have a troubling graduation rate. The Branch Improvement Plan will help every child in the district. The plan will help give our neighborhood kids bigger, better and nicer places to go when school ends for the day.

Working together, the Library and the school district can close the achievement gaps and improve the graduation rate. I believe the Plan is integral to Albany’s success.

Neighborhood libraries are more than just buildings – they are building blocks of equity – they can raise people up and give them a foundation to stand on.
Please feel free to contact me at 489-2393 or abechard@gmail.com

Please vote Tuesday, May 15. Polls are open from 7 AM to 9 PM.

I am asking for your vote

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Making Time to Read to your Children - Andrew Bechard for Library Board


Parents can have endless demands on their time. There is a long list of tasks to attend to: shopping for groceries, preparing nourishing meals, trying to scale ‘laundry mountain’, checking to make sure everyone’s homework is done.

All the daily chores can make it hard to find time to read with a child. We want to spend time reading, but so many things demand our attention.

Reading to a child is a gift we give both to ourselves and to our kids. Kids who are familiar with books and like to read are better prepared to succeed in school and to entertain themselves rather than be entertained by TV and video games. Adults who read with a child are building shared memories and bolstering their child’s reading skills. But where can we find the time?
Here are some thoughts:

• Is there an older child who plays little league baseball or Albany Youth Soccer? Is it a challenge to keep a younger one entertained while you wait in the stands or on the field? Maybe “sports time” for the older child becomes that special “reading time” for the younger one.

• Do you ride the CDTA bus together every morning? Commute time can be story time. Do you drive instead of take the bus? Maybe a tape/CD book becomes a treat you both can look forward to.

• Do you have two or more children to guide through the bedtime routine? Although they might not admit it, the older one might enjoy listening to a picture book along with the younger one. And a younger child may enjoy listening to a book picked out by the older child as you read it
to both of them. A child’s listening skills are generally stronger than their reading skills until about eighth grade, so continue to read aloud.

• Is everyone in your house an early bird? Maybe breakfast time is story/reading time.

• Make every Tuesday or Thursday afternoon your regular visit to the library. New books can add big excitement to your regular reading time.

Whatever time you decide on, try to make it a regular and predictable event. Kids thrive on a regular schedule and look forward to their story time with you.

I was a very fortunate child as I always had adults reading to me. The regular reading time made me an early reader and I have loved books ever since.

There is no magic formula for making time to read. Try things, and then keep doing what works for your child and discard what doesn’t.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Making Time to Read - Andrew Bechard for Albany Public Library Trustee


My name is Andrew Bechard and I’m running for Albany Public Library Board of Trustees, if you’d like to know more about me and why I’m running for Trustee you can read my profile on the right side of the blog screen or scroll down to my April 21st post which is a couple of posts below. This post is about the importance of making time to read.

If you are leading a busy life, finding time to read can sometime seem impossible. I’ve listed some tips below that will allow you to make more time to read.

BRING YOUR READING WITH YOU. Always keep reading material with you. If you have to sit in a waiting room for 30 minutes, if you have to stand in a line for 10 or 15 minutes, don't waste that time – use the time to read. If you have a book or article with you (or one that's on your Personal Digital Assistant / Palm Pilot) you’ve just created more time to read. I always try to bring a small book or article with me wherever I go – you never know where you’ll get the opportunity to read.

MAKE IT A HABIT. Everybody has different reading habits. Mine is to try to read ten to thirty pages every night before I go to sleep. Others get up early and read in the morning quiet. Some read during their lunch break at work. Some read while commuting on the bus. Whatever your habit is – you’ve made time to read.

TAKE A READING VACATION / RETREAT. Some people can't get reading done at home or work. Their lives are just too busy. I’ve been there. I recommend taking a reading ‘vacation’ every month or quarter where you give yourself some quiet time and try to cruise through 1 to 3 books over a couple of days.

The above tips are some that have worked for me. Some others tips are: join/start a book club; keep a short reading list so you don’t find yourself trying to read 10-15 books at the same time; make reading time an unbreakable appointment on your calendar.

There is no magic formula for making time to read. Try things, and then keep doing what works for you and discard what doesn’t.

My next post will be tips on making time to read to your children.