Albany Public Library discussion

The APL winter reading program begins today! The program will run for eight weeks and end on Monday March 1, 2021.

There will be two options to participate, a paper bingo card, or online through ReadSquared. http://aplny11.readsquared.com/ Paper bingo forms will be distributed from the branches. Email us at albanyreads@albanypubliclibrary.org, if you need a PDF bingo card.

Everyone who completes a BINGO (5 squares in a line) will be entered into the prize drawing. We will randomly select 6 adult winners for prizes.

The adult prizes are:

One grand prize of a $50 gift card to the Book House
Five runners-up of $20 gift cards to the Book House.

Once you complete a BINGO of 5 squares, you can continue to read and check off more squares. If you complete EVERY square on the bingo card, you will get an APL insulated travel mug.

Return your paper bingo card to any branch book drop or email a picture of it to albanyreads@albanypubliclibrary.org

Weekly we will share book suggestions. Don't forget to stop by and chat with us about your progress.

Happy Reading!

Thank you so much! Just sent an email to get the pdf!

The ReadSquared link isn't working - is the spelling right?

Kathleen wrote: "The ReadSquared link isn't working - is the spelling right?"

The website is slow to load but here it is again,
http://aplny11.readsquared.com/

If we do the online version, do we also follow the bingo square prompts (i.e. try to get a line) or do we just record our book and try to do each week's theme?

Hi Susan. If you participate on Readsquared there is a virtual bingo card so you have to follow the bingo prompts to try and get a line just like with the paper bingo card. For winter reading we are using Goodreads to give book title recommendations for some of the bingo squares. No need to record books here like we do for summer reading. Does this help answer your question?

I think I am very dense because I don't see the virtual bingo card, only the weekly reading lists. I've gone through all the tabs on the left side of the screen in my ReadSquared account.

Susan wrote: "I think I am very dense because I don't see the virtual bingo card, only the weekly reading lists. I've gone through all the tabs on the left side of the screen in my ReadSquared account."

If you need help with ReadSquared, you can email albanyreads@albanypubliclibrary.org I believe if you try to log a book, the bingo board will appear in the next screen.

Susan wrote: "I think I am very dense because I don't see the virtual bingo card, only the weekly reading lists. I've gone through all the tabs on the left side of the screen in my ReadSquared account."

Hi Susan, when I log in, there's a tab on the far right that says 'Bingo' (underneath the progress bar). There you can mark off your bingo card. Hope this helps!

Milanna wrote: "Susan wrote: "I think I am very dense because I don't see the virtual bingo card, only the weekly reading lists. I've gone through all the tabs on the left side of the screen in my ReadSquared acco..."

Thank you!!! That worked.

Thanks, @Milanna. And I went to an APL virtual book club last night, so I checked that off. Looks like it is just on your honor, and you don't need to list what you have done or books you have read?

Susan wrote: "Thanks, @Milanna. And I went to an APL virtual book club last night, so I checked that off. Looks like it is just on your honor, and you don't need to list what you have done or books you have read?"

I believe so, I haven't had a chance yet to look too in-depth but that's the impression I get

Also if you are on the app the bingo card is labeled as a B in the row where you have your logging methods. I couldn't find it on the app, so I had to log in to the computer.

So if we do the bingo squares, it’s one square per book right? Or do you cross off all squares that apply? Like if it’s an audiobook and also the first in a series would you cross off both squares or choose one?

Jane wrote: "So if we do the bingo squares, it’s one square per book right? Or do you cross off all squares that apply? Like if it’s an audiobook and also the first in a series would you cross off both squares ..."

Hi Jane. 1 book per square :)

Thanks!

So does "screen-free evening with a book" preclude reading an ebook.... On a screen?

Mirkat wrote: "So does "screen-free evening with a book" preclude reading an ebook.... On a screen?"
I don't work for the library, but I say YES!

Susan wrote: "Mirkat wrote: "So does "screen-free evening with a book" preclude reading an ebook.... On a screen?"
I don't work for the library, but I say YES!"

Meh. I probably won't use that one. I just marked off every square that I can on the BINGO card and realized that the memoir I am currently reading will give me a BINGO row. And it's an e-galley I got from Netgalley, so it's gonna happen via a screen.

Mirkat wrote: "So does "screen-free evening with a book" preclude reading an ebook.... On a screen?"

Hi @ Mirkat. I would say reading a ebook is ok for the square even though the book is on a screen. It still honors the spirit of the square which is spending the evening reading.

Thanks, Kate. I appreciate that answer. :)