English for New Learners

ENL: English for New Learners (formerly ESL)
Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 4:45-7:45 pm (Ongoing)*

Taught at the East Greenbush Community Library by Questar III BOCES.
Registration required

*Refer to the event calendar for most information.The class schedule follows the EGCSD school calendar for holiday closures, recess, and school day cancellations. Refer to the event calendar for the most accurate start and end time.

This program teaches speaking, listening, reading and writing. It is appropriate for students for whom English is not their first language, and are 21 years of age or older. You do not have to be an American citizen, but must have a green card. For more information and to register, please contact Questar III at (518) 479-6838 or by email at ronald.valentine@questar.org  or Ann.Cioffi@questar.org

Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County (LVORC) provides tutoring to help individuals learn to read, to write, and speak English, and to improve their math skills. English Literacy Civics, Sewing & English, a telephone partner program, and Citizenship preparation classes are also available. All services are free and offered in several locations around Rensselaer County. Contact LVORC at (518) 274-8526.

Free online English lessons from GCF LearnFree.org. This resource provides instructions in Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Portuguese, and other languages.

Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary and Visual Dictionary are great resources for students of English. Both allow you to listen to the pronunciation of a word, and the Visual Dictionary includes labeled pictures.dictionary example: breads

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SubjectEast Greenbush CardUHLS CardUHLS MyCard
Library Card RegistrationFree to any individual who resides or pays taxes in the East Greenbush Community Library taxing district or Town of Schodack. Cards expire and must be renewed every three years.

Free to any individual who volunteers or works at the EGRN Library. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

Free to partner educational agencies with verified employment. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

Those that live outside the UHLS area may purchase a temporary card at the price established by our Table of Fines and Fees. Cards expire and must be renewed yearly.

All ages eligible. Youth under age 16 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who provides acceptable identification for them.

Card blocked at $5 or more in replacement costs or fines/fees

Fines vary according to individual library rules and UHLS resource sharing rules. The EGRN Table of Fines and Fees are applicable for items which are checked out from the East Greenbush Community Library

Free to residents residing in a community served by a UHLS library.

All ages eligible. Youth under age 16 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who provides acceptable identification for them.

UHLS library cards expire and must be renewed every three years.

Card blocked at $5 or more in replacement costs or fines/fees

Fines vary according to individual library rules and UHLS resource sharing rules. The EGRN Table of Fines and Fees are applicable for items which are checked out from the East Greenbush Community Library

The UHLS MyCard is a fine-free, limited-access library card for youth. It is intended to address multiple barriers to serving youth and families, including:

  • Barriers to access related to fines (e.g. computer access, checking out materials)
  • Parents not present for a child’s library card registration
  • Previous fines on a child’s card

Free for youth residing in a community served by a UHLS library.Applicants 18 and under who are applying for a limited use, UHLS Youth Only MyCard, need to provide name, address, and date of birth.UHLS library cards expire and must be renewed every three years.Youth ages birth to 18 can register unaccompanied, or with the help of a caregiver or relative who is not the child’s parent/guardian.This card may be used at all UHLS Libraries except for the Colonie Town Library.

Card blocked at $10 or more in replacement costs.

No fines for late items

Limits on # of Materials BorrowedUnlimited checkoutsUnlimited checkoutsLimited total items: Can only have 3 items checked out on their card at a time
Types of ItemsAll eligible item types.All eligible item types except Museum Passes, ILL, and Hot off the Press. Active paid members of the Friends of the East Greenbush Community Library have access to all lending collections.Only items eligible to be borrowed are books (any age level), juvenile and young adult (teen) audiobooks, and juvenile and young adult (teen) DVDs.
Databases/Digital ContentEGRN and UHLS subscription databases and digital contentUHLS subscription databases and digital contentOnly items eligible to be borrowed are books (any age level), juvenile and young adult (teen) audiobooks, and juvenile and young adult (teen) DVDs.
Interlibrary LoanNationwideUHLS LibrariesUHLS Libraries
Program RegistrationUnlimited except by limited program capacityPreference given to resident cardholdersPreference given to resident cardholders