May 2022 Newsletter

Check out our Events Calendar to see a list of library events that you can access from home, take and make crafts, and in-person activities.

Holiday Closing & Summer Hours

All CCLD Libraries are closed for Memorial Day on May 30th.

Summer hours begin May 28th. May 21st is the last Saturday that Steele & Horseheads will be open until Fall hours begin.

Now's the time to think - seeds!

Now is the perfect time to think about spring planting. Our Seed Lending Library is ready to browse any time we are open, so check it out!

Seed Lending is easy; visit our seed collection, check out the seeds that interest you, and bring back seeds you harvest in the fall!

Come visit the Reference Desk on the second floor at the Steele Library for more information and, to check out some seeds!

Technology Training at CCLD Libraries

One-on-one basic computer/device instruction is available in the evenings. Let us know what you'd like to learn! Contact Steele Memorial Library (607-733-9175) or Horseheads Free Library (607-739-4581) to schedule an appointment with one of our librarians. Horseheads appointments are available on Mondays at 6:30pm; appointment days and times at Steele will vary by instructor.

CCLD Makerspace

The Tinker Lab has resumed walk-in visits. Appointments are no longer required, but are still recommended in order to guarantee the use of specific equipment. Classes will still require registration. Making an appointment or scheduling a class may be done using our online calendars.

New resources are available for use in CCLD Makerspace's Digital Media Lab at Steele Memorial Library. Equipment includes:

Patrons will be required to attend a free training session on the equipment that they would like to use.

Activities for Kids

Virtual Activities

Friday, May 6, 10:30am - Virtual Storytime - Facebook Live with Mr. Jeff

Takeaway & In-Person Activities

Big Flats Library

Call 607-562-3300 to register for programs.

This month's Children's & Teen Craft Program is a Personalized Candle! Join us at the Big Flats Library and make a special candle for someone special!

May 3, 6pm & May 5, 3:30pm - Personalized Candle Craft

Wednesdays, 10:30am - Toddler Storytime with Miss Melanie

May 4, 10:30am - Storytime & Mother's Day Craft: Popsicle Stick Flower Craft!

May 17, 6pm & May 19, 3:30pm - Refrigerator Magnet Craft (all ages welcome)

All Month -   Scavenger Hunt: This month, children's authors

Bookmobile

May 21, 10am-2pm - Town of Big Flats Bicentennial celebration at Big Flats municipal campus

May 22, 10am-2pm - Book Fest at Wisner Park

May 30, 9:30am - Look for the Bookmobile in the Elmira Memorial day parade.

Horseheads Library

This month's take n make is R2-D2. The kits will be available all month long. This month's book club selection is A River of Words by Jennifer Bryant. Book club will begin meeting in person on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. We will continue working through the alphabet with letters V, Z, Q, and Y in storytime.

May 18, 3:30pm - Children's Book Club

Thursdays, 10:30am - Family Storytime

Steele Memorial Library

Join us LIVE and IN-PERSON at the library for Family Storytime every Tuesday at 10:30 am. Enjoy a storytime with your child that includes early literacy fun with books, songs, fingerplays and body movement.

May 3rd join us as we celebrate Mother's Day by crafting cards with Ms. Chris O'Malley, space is limited so remember to register by calling 607-733-9174.

May the 4th Be With You all day Wednesday May 4th as we celebrate Star Wars Day with a lightsaber craft in the children's department. This is an all-day program, while supplies last.

May 3, 6pm - Mother's Day Card Craft, registration required
May 4, all day - Craft Lightsabers in honor of Star Wars Day
May 12, 6pm - Musical BINGO

Weekly Activities
Tuesdays, 10:30am - Family Storytime
Available while supplies last - Interactive Story Kits

Van Etten Library

Wednesdays, 3pm-6pm - Lava Lamp Craft

All Month Long - Book Bingo!

West Elmira Library

Monthly Scavenger Hunt - Celebrate National Pet Month by finding all of the animal pictures hidden in the library and win a prize!

May 4, 10:30am - IN-PERSON Homeschool Group

May 5, 3pm - Celebrate Mother's Day early and make this special craft just for her!  A heart made of colorful fingerprints on a small, framed canvas is a treasure that your mom will want to hold onto forever.

Thursdays,10:30am - IN-PERSON Storytime

Third Thursday of every month, 3pm - Tween Maker Hour

Fourth Wednesday of every month, 4pm - LEGO Club

Activities for Teens at Steele

Teens and adults! On May 25 and 26, 6:30pm, come and enjoy the drama and comedy of high school in the play our creative writing teens developed: "Is it the Mask, or Me?" Our creative writing teens have been writing and developing this play for months, with actor & writer Tim Collins! Free event. Bring family and friends!

Made possible with funds from the NYS Restart grant, administered by the Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.

May 4, 3:30pm - Star Wars Day

May 9 & 23, 4pm - Anime Club

May 10 & 24, 5pm - Teen Advisory Group meeting

May 20, 3:30pm - Celebrate National Pizza Party Day

May 25 & 26, 6:30pm - TEEN created PLAY: "Is it the Mask or Me?"

Mondays in May, 4:30pm - Monday Movies

Tuesdays in May, 5:30pm - Teen Play Development & Rehearsal

Wednesdays in May, 5:30pm - Teen Creative Writing

Wednesdays in May, 6:30pm - Teen Safe Zones

Thursdays in May, 5:15pm - Libraries R Lit with TC Commons clubhouse

Activities for Adults

Virtual Activities

May 10, 6:30pm - Pop-up Art Series (part 5) with Wynn Yarrow

May 13, 1pm - Big Flats Library Book Club Meeting

May 14, 10am - Genealogy Club

May 17, 6:30pm - "So bad, it's good!" Movie Night via Zoom

May 18, 6pm - Horseheads Evening Book Club

May 19, 2pm - Exploring Online Newspapers with Genealogy Librarian Maggie

May 25, 6pm - Oil Pastel Florals with Filomena Jack

Takeaway & In-Person Activities

Bookmobile

Our book club meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Chapel Park in Southport at 4pm. We will continue to offer Zoom as an option for anyone unable to join us, or if there is inclement weather. For the month of April we read, "This Tender Land" by William Kruger to discuss on May 10th at 4:00pm. For June, we will read "Midwives" by Chris Bohjalian.

Horseheads Free Library

Purple Garden club's monthly meeting is May 19 at 2:30pm. Sorry for last month's cancellation! Now that our conference room is open, we can host this club in our building. We will be discussing Umbrella plant propagations. RSVP by emailing or calling so we know how many are coming. Light snacks will be provided.

May 1-12 - Mother's Day Giveaway: With each checkout, enter the drawing to win a beautiful Garden Wind Spinner (2 winners will be drawn).

Tuesdays, May 3-June 14, 4:30pm - Tai Chi Tuesdays (under pavilion at library; rain location at St Matthew's)

May 5-12 - Gourd Birdhouse Kits: Call 607-739-4581 or email Zella@stls.org by May 12 to get your birdhouse kit.

May 18, 1-3pm - Horseheads Lit Lovers (call 607-739-4581)

May 19, 2:30pm - Purple Garden Club (at library)

Steele Memorial Library

Spice of the Month Kit - Turmeric! Pickup begins Mon, 5/23 (first come, first serve). Available until gone. Pick up a kit with turmeric powder and recipes to try it in!

May 25 & 26, 6:30pm - "Is it the Mask, or Me?" - Come and enjoy the drama and comedy of high school in the play our creative writing teens have been writing and developing for months, with actor & writer Tim Collins! Made possible with funds from the NYS Restart grant, administered by the Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.

Van Etten Library

For adults and teens:

Mondays, 2pm-4:30pm - Photo Transfer Canvas Craft

Friday, May 13, 3:30pm - In A Jar Club - Registration required

Friday, May 27, 1pm - Book Club

Library Services at Home

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

Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots are available to check out from Steele Memorial Library and West Elmira Library for those in need of internet access at home. Call (607)733-9175 (Steele) or (607)733-0541 (West) to reserve a hotspot. *You need to live in an area with cell phone reception in order for the hotspot to work at your house.*

If you need help accessing your account, email our virtual reference desk edesk@stls.org for assistance.