Volume 165 | April 2025

National Library Week (April 6-12)

National Library Week is April 6 - 12! Check out anytime this week at your local CCLD branch for your chance to be the lucky winner of a $25 gift card or Artist Starter Pack. Bonus entries awarded for inquiring about our digital services, attending a program, or checking out an item from any of our "special" collections. For more information, call or stop by your neighborhood library.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April. National Library Week is a time to celebrate our nation's libraries, library workers' contributions, and promote library use and support. This National Library Week, the public can show their appreciation and support for libraries by visiting their library in person or online, following them on social media, and using the hashtag #NationalLibraryWeek.

Friends Books Sandwiched In

The Friends of CCLD's Books Sandwiched In series will continue this month on April 4, & April 11 from 12pm - 1pm in the large meeting room at Steele Memorial Library. Learn more about the Friends of CCLD.

Steele Pop Expo (May 17)

Steele Pop Expo is next month, on May 17, 11-4pm! This free event will take place at Steele Memorial Library and features vendors, food trucks, free activities, giveaways, and more! It is a celebration of comics, art, games, and pop culture. For more information, visit the Steele Pop Expo page on our website and follow @SteelePopExpo on Instagram and Facebook.

Steele Memorial Library is starting a new in-person book club! Join us Friday, April 25th at 10am. Each month will feature a new tea to enjoy while discussing a new literary work. In honor of April being National Poetry Month, participants are encouraged to bring a poem of their choice to share.

Join us for chocolate history and a tasting with Dr. Bob Hansen on Wednesday, April 9, 6pm. On Saturday, April 12, 1:30pm, join us for Spring Foraging with MaryJo Lane; learn to identify and locate wild mushrooms and edible plants.

Circular Pattern Drawing with Gail Lewis has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 3, 6pm. On Tuesday, April 15, 1:30pm, join artist Wynn Yarrow for Watercolor Texture (Part 1); Part 2 will take place on May 6th. These classes are made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program.

Stop by for our regularly scheduled activities, including Tablet Talk, Photography Group, "So bad, it's good!" Movie Night, and Spice of the Month.

Tuesday, April 1, at 6pm - Jeanette Sheliga presents "County Courthouse Records of New York". Tour New York State County Courthouses to see records one can expect to find. (Virtual).

Our Genealogy Club is Saturday, April 5, 10am. This is an informal get together to talk about searching your family history. Participants are encouraged to bring records and problems from their own research for discussion. (Virtual).

Thursday, April 24 at 1:30pm join Librarian Maggie for an in-person presentation about "Exploring Online Newspapers".

Tuesday, April 29 at 6pm - David Robison leads a virtual presentation of "The Dangers of Online Family Trees". Don't automatically believe the online family trees that others have created; learn how to avoid mistakes in your family tree.

Join us for National Library Week! 7th-12th graders earn one grand prize entry for each program or one checkout daily at Steele Library 4/7- 4/18. Join Safe Zones April 9th and 23rd at 6pm, Steele Teen Hide & Seek Night on April 11th at 6:30pm (Registration required), Steele Teen RDY 2 Rumble Game Tournament April 14, 15, and 17 at 2pm, and Just Dance Event on April 29th at 6:30pm. Registration is required.

The April take & make craft is Rockin' Robin. Preschool Playtime is Mondays, 10am. Storytimes will be Tuesdays, 6pm & Fridays, 10am. Grades K-6 can stop by for LEGO Club (walk-in), & a SPECIAL EVENT, Passport to Paris (must sign-up in person). Ages 3-12 (registration required), sign up for Wildflower Seed Bombs & Spring Chick Craft. All ages can attend Tanglewood's "Animals That Hatch" presentation on Tue., April 15 at 3pm & Pictures w. Easter Bunny (mult. dates). Tweens (ages 8-12), register (required for all) for Tween Theater Camp: April 2, 9, 23, & 30 at 3:30pm & Theater WEEK: Mon. April 14-Thurs. April 17, 1-3pm. Tween DIY fairy doors is on April 28. Movies this month: "Mufasa: The Lion King" Sat. 4/12 & "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" Sat. 4/26.

The Makerspace will have new hours starting in April - we will be open Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to 6:00pm and Friday and Saturdays 1:00pm to 4:30pm.

NEW Art and Crafts classes are starting every Thursday morning in April. These new classes will have a varied array of crafts for all ages and all skill levels. Makerspace classes are available by request to learn about 3D printing, the Laser Engraver and other amazing S.T.E.A.M machines! Visit the Makerspace website to browse the options available. Sewing classes will be held every Monday and Tuesday nights, please see the Calendar of Events to sign up for any classes that are available in the Makerspace.

April 24, 3:30pm, Celebrate Arbor Day! Let's plant a tree! Registration is required & limited, call the Big Flats Library (607)562-3300 or register online.

Big Flats Spring Story Walk - A Picture Book story, "Cat's Colors", told in colorful panels, will be placed outdoors around the beautiful Big Flats Library property to be enjoyed at your own pace. This program is self-led and will be available any time the library is open, for the 10-day run of the program.

On April 22, 3:30pm Celebrate Spring by making a Sparkling Sun Catcher to hang in your window to spray colored light around your favorite space! On April 17, 2pm, there will be a showing of the film "Conclave". This film follows one of the world's most secretive and ancient events–selecting a new pope. Also, on April 10th & 24th, join us for Spring time needle felting group; funded by a generous donation from the Big Flat's Women's Club.

Join the Big Flats Teen D&D gaming group! Every Tuesday at 5:30pm, our Teen D&D party will be gathering to embark on an epic quest of magic and mystery; we would be honored if you would join us! For Tween & Teens, 10-17yrs.

On April 16, 4pm, teens can join us for popcorn and a showing of the movie "SONIC 3" (2024) (PG). Teen Take and Make: April is National Poetry Month and an opportunity to try blackout poetry. Blackout poetry is created by blocking out text from the page of a book to create your own poem with the remaining words.

Teens are also welcome to stop by for Lego Club and crafts.

April 4, 3:30pm, Daffodil Air Dry Clay Craft: In this craft program for school aged kids, we will create a small trinket bowl! April Craft Table: Beaded Butterfly, stop by our craft table anytime to make your fluttery friend! Pick up a take-home preschool & school-aged craft to make Paper Ladybug Leaf kits. Call or stop by to get your kit (607)562-3300. Family Story time for all ages is on Wednesday mornings at 10:30am.

From April 1-14 at the Horseheads Library, with every checkout, enter to win our beautiful Baking Basket, in honor of National Library Week. The drawing will be on April 14. Musical BINGO-Disney songs will be on April 11, all ages welcome. Tablet Talk will be on April 15. Our monthly writer's group meets the last Monday of the month, Monday, April 28 at 6pm. Our exercise classes will be taking a break from April 22-May 6.

Bring your inner artist and Hack That Painting! Pick from a variety of famous paintings and see if you can turn it into an even bigger masterpiece on April 9, 6pm.

The Horseheads Anime & Manga Club (originally scheduled for April 16) will not meet this month.

This month's take 'n make is a Baby Yoda Easter Egg craft. The Easter Egg hunt is back! On Friday, April 18th, there will be an egg hunt, a meet and greet with the Easter Bunny, and a springtime craft. On Earth Day, we will paint birdhouses. All of the regular monthly programs continue as usual.

Family Storytime is held every Friday at 10am, for Pre-K children and their caregivers. The Finger Lakes Toy Library will also be bringing new toys to play with after Storytime! The library will be participating in a community-wide Easter Egg Hunt on April 19!

Teens/Tweens can create and craft a custom bird feeder, Wednesdays in April.

Book Club will be meeting Friday, April 25 to discuss "The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos".

Visit the Sciencenter over Spring Break and save $$$ with our Free Pass!  

Adult Art Series; 4/7 Paper Quilling Greeting Card with Jennifer Thomas, 4/25 Spring Bunny Pattern Drawing with Gail Lewis registration opens two weeks before these events. This month's Cookbook Bookclub theme is Family/Community Recipe. Celebrate National Library week on 4/9 by making a Book Bouquet. Also, this month; 4/21-Deco-Mesh Wreath Workshop, and 4/9- Calligraphy Club.

Tweens and Teens can welcome spring with us in April. "Diamond" art is back with Tween Maker! For this often-requested project, we will be "painting" stickers to decorate water bottles. Tweens can also pick up this month's Club 1231 book club selection, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl and then, join us for a fun discussion and book-themed snacks. In addition, join your friends to relax, hang out, and color during the weekly Creative Coloring Club time.

April is National Poetry Month! Go on our monthly Scavenger Hunt and get to know some famous poets from throughout history. Have fun every Thursday morning with Mr. Jeff at Storytime. Never miss a Home School lesson with Ms. Lynda and the "Library Learners", every Wednesday morning. West Elmira is your community library for growth, fun, and learning! Celebrate National Library Week with these events; 4/8- Stuff a Friend, and 4/10- Decorate a Book Bag.

Our book club meets the 2nd Friday of the month at Bulkhead Hardware in Southport at 1:30pm.

For the month of March we read "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson, to discuss on April 11th at 1:30pm.

We will read "Lila" by Marilynne Robinson this month, to discuss on May 16th.

Can't make it to the library? Attend a virtual genealogy workshop via Zoom or join one of our virtual book clubs! The Big Flats Library's book club meets both in-person and online. The CCLD Virtual Evening Book Club meets online only.

Enjoy ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, streaming video, online classes, language learning, and more, from the convenience of your home! Check out the library's website for a list of digital services that can be accessed remotely with your Chemung County Library District card.