Volume 174 | January 2026

January 1 - All CCLD libraries will be closed.

January 19 - Steele will be open 9-5pm; other branches will be closed.

The Steele Tea Library is in Season! 

The Steele Seed Lending Library is on winter hiatus. Starting in January, try out our Tea Library! If you have always wanted to try new flavors, but didn’t want to commit to an entire box, come visit us! The Tea Library is located adjacent to the Seed Lending Library, near the Reference Desk, and provides samples of undiscovered tea blends.

We will provide fresh, unopened, individually wrapped tea bags for you to try at home. Limit of 3 tea bags per visit. Please vary your selection, and enjoy! The Tea Library will run until the end of March, when new selections in the Seed Lending Library will become available

Celebrate the new year at Steele! Make sure to pick up our winter kits near the main entrance when you’re in the library: starting on January 3, the Spice of the Month packets will be available, featuring dried mint, as well as a Library of Me DIY Bookmark kit, starting on January 16. Register to make a Vellum Luminary with Gail Lewis on January 8. Show and Tell for adults will be on January 15; bring in a special item and tell its story! Winter Knitting with Christina will take place Saturdays at 1pm, starting January 17 (space for beginners is limited). Special Needs D&D will take place on January 21 & 28. Register for Drawing with Needle Felt with Wynn Yarrow, January 27, 1:30pm. Join our new book club focused on LGBTQ+ authors; the first meeting will be on January 28. The Poetry & Tea Book Club will meet Friday, January 30. See the full events list for more events and details about the activities mentioned.

Start the New Year "write" with a special zoom presentation by guest presenter Allyson Maughan, "A Genealogist's Guide to writing Poetry" learn how to connect with your ancestors through your writing and find a connection that spans through the ages. Virtual on ZOOM - anyone in the world may attend. Tuesday, January 13 at 6 PM EST.

Introduction to genealogy will be held in-person at the Steele Memorial Tech Lab on Tuesday, January 20 at 1:00 PM EST. Always wanted to start looking into your family tree but don't know where to start? Come to this informational session to learn more!

On Tuesday, January 27, 5:15pm, Lights! Camera! Action! for a viral moment; participate in the Mannequin Challenge at the Steele Memorial Library. Join teen Jayce for New Year's BINGO and a surprise snack celebration on Thursday, January 15, 4pm! T.A.L.E. (Teen Acting Lab of Elmira) returns on Tuesday, January 20, 6pm. Make Mini Pies in the Teen Space, Monday, January 26, 4pm. See more teen events and register for programs, by clicking the "view full events list."

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.

January special events: NEW program for ages 1-5, Jumping Beans movement time, Bingo day, and a special penguin craft.

Check out our Events Calendar for details and to register.

The Makerspace will be CLOSED January 1-3 for the holidays, and on Jan 19 for MLK Day. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Sewing, arts, and craft classes are not taking place in January; we will resume these classes in February. If you have any projects you are working on and need to use any of our equipment, or just the space in general, please make an appointment online to get creating! 

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 3:00 for “Hard Reads: A Video Game Group”! 

This January, the Big Flats Library will be celebrating Polar Bears. We will begin with our Family Popcorn Movie Matinee: "The Little Polar Bear" (rated G) on January 2, 3:30pm. Stop by and enjoy the show on the big screen! Join us for a cozy afternoon, enjoy a heartwarming film, and belly-warming popcorn!

The Big Flats Craft Table will have supplies all month to make adorable polar bear bookmarks and polar bear template cutouts; fun for school age and up!

The Big Flats Needle Felting Group will meet on January 8 and 22 from 2:30-4:30pm.

On January 22 at 1pm, the Big Flats Library Book Club will meet in person and via Zoom. Please contact library staff for zoom invite information.

On January 15 at 2pm, join us for an afternoon film: "Small Things Like These." Cillian Murphy delivers a stunning performance as devoted father Bill Furlong in this film, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Claire Keegan. Please call 607-562-3300 to reserve a seat.

The January Big Flats "Teen Crafts & Stuff" is Polar Bear Key Chains & Cookies! Join us on Wednesday, January 14 and Wednesday, January 21, from 3:30-5:30pm.

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

Big Flats KIDS WINTER BINGO is January 6 at 4pm. Have fun and win prizes!

On January 27 from 3:30-6:30pm, join us for Kids Polar Bear Tissue Paper Mosaic Art! Create you own northern lights polar bear scene using colored tissue paper and canvas. Register online or call 607-562-3300 to reserve your spot!

Join us for songs, stories, and puzzles at our Wednesday storytimes, 10:30am on January 7, 14, 21, and 25.

Pick up a take-home craft for preschool & school-aged kids: Red Cardinal Paper Bird Craft!

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! The January Build Challenge is Animals! The winner will be judged on January 29.

Kicking off our 2026 Adult Art series will be Paper Dahlias with Gail Lewis. Space is limited; registration opens two weeks before this event. 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. 

Kick off the new year with a sparkle by joining us to make a glitter snow globe tumbler! Perfect for all skill levels, this project is a fantastic way to kick off the year with a touch of whimsy and flair. Reserve your spot to create something beautiful to sip from all year round! Supplies are limited, registration required.

Come in out of the cold and take in a library program. From playdough to bingo to crafts we have something for everyone. This month’s "take n make" is an Arctic Owl Craft. Make your own penguin stuffy on January 20 or 28! Space is limited and registration opens on January 5. Check out the calendar for more event information.

Gentle Movement Mondays with Tammy Wilcox from 10:30am-11:30am continues this month! See the full events list for dates and details.

Teens, join us for Wreck-It Wednesdays at the library! Ever wanted to destroy a journal or just have more creative license with one? Well, now you can with "Wreck This Journal" by Keri Smith! It's filled with pages that tell you to go ahead and poke holes, spill coffee on it, log some stains, or color outside the lines. Wreckers are welcome to use the library's art supplies from 4pm-5pm every Wednesday. Journal supplies are limited so don't miss out!

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 joining us on Friday, January 23 from 10-11:30am, to share a variety of new toys!

Van Etten's Book Club will meet Friday, January 30, 12pm, to discuss "Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster." Newcomers are always welcome!

Save $$$ and borrow our FREE museum pass to explore, connect, and create at Ithaca's Sciencenter!

Start the New Year off at the West Elmira Library by registering for our latest craft, String Art Snowflakes on January 5. We're also happy to announce the start of an Adult Book Club, meeting for the first time on January 12. This first meeting will be a chance to meet fellow club members and to pick potential books. Our Knit and Crochet Club continues to meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Calligraphy Club takes place on the second Wednesday of the month. Last, but not least, is our Cook Book Book Club which will meet on January 26; the theme this month is soup, in honor of National Soup Month.

Start the New Year with fun teen and tween activities at the West Elmira Library! At Tween Maker Time, craft your own Snowman Snow Measuring Stick and channel your inner weather forecaster. Our Club 1231 Book Club is reading "Little House in the Big Woods"; pick up a copy and join us for discussion and themed snacks. Each week, warm up with a hot drink and unwind at our Creative Coloring Club, with friends.

Stop into the West Elmira Library and go on our monthly scavenger hunt to find all of the "Wizard of Oz" characters, 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). Don't miss the "Library Learners" Home School Group with Miss Lynda on Wednesday mornings at 10:30am, which will resume on January 14. Gather for Storytime with Mr. Jeff on Thursday mornings at 10:30am, which will resume on January 15. Celebrate the 22nd Anniversary of Disney Pixar's "The Incredibles" at our superhero-themed program, "What Is Your Superhero Power?" on January 22. West Elmira is your community library for growth, fun, and learning!

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

This month we will read "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek," by Kim Michele Richardson, to discuss on February 13.

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.