Volume 173 | December 2025

Holiday Book Shopping?

Gift shopping for books this holiday season? Don't forget to check out the in-house Friends of the Library book sales at each of our branches! Books are reasonably priced and your purchase helps support our libraries.

All CCLD libraries will be closed or closing early on the following days:

December 24 - Closing at 1pm

December 25 - CLOSED
December 31 - Closing at 1pm

January 1 - CLOSED

Celebrate the end of the year at Steele! On December 4, 6pm, join us for this year's final Live-Play D&D with Tim Collins and cast. In honor of National Disney Day, we will be hosting a Disney Trivia Night on Monday, December 8. BYO Book for Book Bedazzling on Tuesday, December 16. The Poetry & Tea Book Club will meet Friday, December 26. Throughout December, visit the second floor to take advantage of our free gift-wrapping station. Art classes continue this month, including "Quilted" Tiles with Wynn Yarrow on December 18. Our regularly scheduled activities will continue this month, including Tablet Talk, MTG Commander, and Special Needs D&D. See the events calendar for full details.

Tuesday, December 9, join us on Zoom at 6pm for "African American Genealogy," presented by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson. She is fabulous—don't miss this one! Librarian Maggie is hosting an in-person "Introduction to Genealogy" at the Steele Memorial Library on Tuesday, December 16 at 1:30pm. Genealogy Club this month is Saturday, December 13, 10am on Zoom.

Open to the public: The T.A.L.E. performance of the teen-written play, “The Knight’s Daughter,” is on Tuesday, December 16, 6pm! Join the Indoor Paper Snowball Fight, Friday, December 5, 3:30pm. After-hours NERF Battle with Spot is December 12, 6:30pm (thanks to the Chemung County Youth Bureau and SPOT). Teens Make Mozzarella Sticks on December 15, 3:30pm; watch the Steele Teen Holiday Movie and enjoy the Hot Cocoa Toppings Bar on December 13 & 30, 1:00pm. View the full events list for program details and registration.

Stop by for our regularly scheduled activities, including take-home crafts, Preschool Playtime, Storytime, LEGO Club, Tween Theater, Tween D&D, Tween Chess, and lots of different crafts.

December special events: Letters to Santa, Pictures with Santa, DIY stuffie, Reindeer Food making, “Snowy Day” storytime & craft, Noon Year’s Eve, movie showings, & more!

Check out our Events Calendar for details and to register.

The Makerspace will be CLOSED December 21st to January 3rd for the holidays. 

We will have Open Sew on Monday the 1st and 15th; on the 8th, create Jar Openers and a Sandwich Wrap. These are great little gifts to use for stocking stuffers. Arts and Crafts are done for the year; we will resume these classes in February of 2026.

We have our 3D printers, laser engravers, a heat press, Cricut Maker, Digital Media Lab, and so many tools to learn how to use, please see our site to reserve any equipment.  

If you love video games, be sure to come in on Tuesdays at 3pm for “Hard Reads: A Video Game Group”!

Big Flats Family Popcorn Movie Matinee: "Freakier Friday" (2025 PG) is on December 9, 4:30pm. Stop by and enjoy the show on the big screen!

Big Flats Craft Table will have supplies all month to make winter-themed Glass Gem Magnets & Wooden Bead Wreaths, fun for school age and up! 

Big Flats Needle Felting Group will meet on December 4 and 18 from 2:30-4:30pm.

On December 19, at 1pm, the Big Flats Library Book Club will meet in person and via Zoom. Please contact library staff for Zoom invite information.

There will be a 3-D Paper Bag Snowflake Luminar craft for adults on December 9, 2-3:30pm (all materials are supplied). Call to reserve your space (607)562-3300.

On December 11 at 2pm, there will be an afternoon film: "Bosch, the Garden of Dreams," an inquisitive study of Hieronymus Bosch’s renowned painting, "The Garden of Earthly Delights," featuring exclusive interviews from top art critics and experts, as well as legendary author Salman Rushdie. Please call (607)562-3300 to reserve a seat.

The December Big Flats Teen "Crafts & Stuff" is Sharpie Tile Art. Wednesday, December 3 and Wednesday, December 10, from 3:30-5:30pm.

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

On December 16 at 6:00pm, the Big Flats Kids Chef's Club will be making Cocoa and Holiday Snacks. Big Flats Chef's club is a series of monthly programs for older children and tweens to socialize, learn some basic recipes and skills, and of course EAT! All supplies and ingredients are provided. Register online, or by calling the Big Flats Library at (607)562-3300.

Wednesday storytimes at 10:30am - December 3, 10, and 17. Join us for songs, stories, and puzzles!

Pick up a take-home preschool & school-aged craft: Paper Plate Reindeer!

LEGO CLUB meets Thursdays from 4pm-5pm. Build with our bricks and join optional monthly challenge-builds for a chance to win Big Flats Master Builder of the Month! December Build Challenge: Zipline! The winner will be judged on December 18.

Join us Monday the 22nd for a Stained Glass Holly class taught by Erica Unterwoman. Registration opens two weeks before and space is limited. 

Gentle Movements on Tuesdays and Yoga on Wednesdays at 10:30am continue (across the street at the St. Matthew’s Community Room). See the full events list for details and other program opportunities for adults.

Gingerbread people holiday ornaments add charm to any decor, bringing whimsy and nostalgia. Keep it or gift it to spread cheer. With intricate details and warm colors, it embodies holiday coziness. Celebrate the magic of the season with this endearing symbol of joy and togetherness. Register online to reserve your spot today.

Teens and tweens who are passionate about anime and manga, come join us on December 17 from 5:30-7pm at our Anime & Manga Club, where you can connect, share, and explore your favorite series with others who share your interests.

This month’s take n make is a Paper Bag Gingerbread House Craft. Bright Star Theatre is coming to perform the show Holidays Around the World. This show will highlight different winter holidays that are celebrated by different cultures in a fun way. Come and learn something new. Our 3rd Annual Noon Year’s Eve party is coming! Join us on the 31st and countdown to noon! All our monthly programs are up and running. Check out the calendar for event information.

Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Come to the Van Etten Library, December 1 through December 12, and create a stuffed frosty friend to keep, gift, or donate to the Toys for Tots holiday toy drive. Everything will be provided but supplies are limited!

Gentle Movement Mondays with Tammy Wilcox are on Monday, December 1 and Monday, December 8, 10:30am-11:30am. Wear comfortable clothing and bring water and an exercise mat, if you have one. Classes are free and all are welcome.

Crafternoon Wednesdays in December are from 4:00pm-5:00pm on December 3, 10, and 17. Various crafting supplies will be available to use: cardstock, mason jars, paint, yarn, stickers, mod podge, and more! Come in and create some art or make a gift for someone special.  

Friday Family Storytime is at 10am; this storytime is intended for toddlers/preschoolers and their caregivers, but everyone is welcome! The Finger Lakes Toy Library will be coming on Friday, December 19 to share a variety of toys with us!

Van Etten's Book Club will meet Friday, December 19, at 12pm, to discuss "Rebecca" a classic psychological thriller by Daphne du Maurier. Newcomers are always welcome.

Save $$$ over the holidays and borrow our museum pass for FREE Admission to explore, connect, and create at Ithaca's Sciencenter!

Join us for our Ugly Sweater Party on December 22 from 6-7pm! Don your ugliest sweater and stop in for holiday games, a winter sing-a-long around the piano, and more! Bake your favorite treats and participate in a cookie exchange. Put your wrapping skills to the test, to win prizes. This event is open to all ages and will be fun for the whole family. No registration required!

Escape the cold and get into the holiday spirit at the West Elmira Library! Register to join us on December 1 as we make Diamond Art Holiday Cards. The Adult Art Class series wraps up with Stained Glass Holly on December 8. Our Knit and Crochet Club meets on the first and third Wednesday each month; all skill levels are welcome. Join the Calligraphy Club to share your skills on December 10. Last, but not least, this month's Cookbook Book Club theme is "Holiday Brunch" and will be held on December 29.

Get ready for a festive and fun December at the library with a full lineup of creative events for teens and tweens! Teens are invited to design sparkling Diamond Art holiday cards for friends and family, while tweens can stop by to Stuff a Holiday Friend and create a cuddly companion of their own. Both tweens and teens can get hands-on at Tween Maker Time by crafting wood slice holiday ornaments decorated with their fingerprints. This month’s Club 1231 book club pick is the holiday classic, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," by Barbara Robinson—pick up a copy and join us for a lively discussion with book-themed snacks. And if you need a moment to unwind during this busy season, swing by our weekly Creative Coloring Club to relax, recharge, and spend time with friends.

Stop into the West Elmira Library and go on our monthly scavenger hunt to find all of the snowflakes hidden around the library to win a prize. Take and Make crafts will be available on a first come, first served basis with a new craft every two weeks (on Monday). Register for the Stuff a Holiday Friend program on December 9. Don't miss the "Library Learners" Home School Group with Miss Lynda on Wednesday mornings at 10:30am (not meeting Dec 24 or Dec 31). Gather for Storytime with Mr. Jeff on Thursday mornings at 10:30am (not meeting Dec 25 or Jan 1). West Elmira is your community library for growth, fun, and learning!

Bookmobile will be at Holiday in the Square in Horseheads, on December 12 at 6pm. Join us for games, crafts, and prizes!

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

For the month of November, we read "The Paris Daughter" by Kristin Harmel, to discuss on December 12.

There will be no book for December, due to the Holidays. Watch for January's book title.

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.