Volume 166 | May 2025

Steele Pop Expo is Saturday, May 17, 11am-4pm at Steele Memorial Library! Join us for this free all-ages celebration of comics, art, games, and pop culture! Get a free comic book signed by special guest, artist Ethan Young, while supplies last! Other activities include: a free Magic the Gathering Draft at 11:30am, a cosplay contest (ages 10+) at 2:30pm, vendors, food trucks, free crafts, face painting, & more! Visit the Steele Pop Expo page for more details.

Thanks to our sponsors: Heroes Comic Shop in Elmira Heights, the Friends of CCLD, and the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc.

May 9 - All CCLD libraries will be closed for staff Continuing Education Day

May 17 - Horseheads Library will be closed (staff are working Steele Pop Expo)

May 24-26 - All CCLD libraries will be closed for Memorial Weekend

Stop by the 2nd floor desk and borrow up to 3 packs of seeds (non GMO, so the plants produce nice seeds for saving); when you harvest your vegetables, herbs or flowers, save some seeds to bring back to the library for the next season! We are featuring easy-to-grow items that will yield impressive produce and seeds!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month – learn more about support for mental health at Steele on Thursday, May 8 and speak with organizations AspireHope and Smile Through the Storms in the commons on the first floor. Also tabling at Steele in May will be community partners Catholic Charities, Southern Tier AIDS Program, and BOCES Adult Education.

Watercolor Texture (part 2) with artist Wynn Yarrow is on May 6 at 1:30pm (registration is required). In honor of Get Caught Reading Month, we will have Bookish Trivia on May 8 at 5:30pm. Donate blood at the library with the Red Cross on May 13 from 1-5:30pm. On May 22, 6pm, join us for Live-Play D&D, an awesome adventure with audience interaction, prizes, and D&D trivia! Tea & Poetry Book Club is May 30 at 10am! Trendy Tiles with artist Wynn Yarrow will be May 30 at 1:30pm.

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

Our virtual genealogy seminars continue on Tuesday, May 13 at 6pm EST with Old Bones Genealogy's presentation "Which DNA Test and Why?" On Tuesday May 27 at 6pm, genealogist Robert Cameron Weir presents "10 Genealogical Brick Walls you will face and how to Demolish Them".

Steele Library teens in 9th-12th grade can learn Mental Health First Aid on Saturday, May 3 & 10. On May 7 at 6:30pm, learn to make a Zine with Tim Collins and contribute to the Steele Pop Expo zine! Don’t miss the T.A.L.E Showcase on May 21 at 6pm: Teens act out improv sketches and dramatic readings of work by teens Flynn & Kiara. Have a blast at the Steele Teen After-Hours Nerf Battle on Friday, May 2 at 6:30pm (registration is required). Check the events calendar at chemunglibraries.org for more teen events at Steele Library and to register.

May take & make craft: Pool Noodle Lightsabers begin May 12. Preschool Playtime: Mondays at 10am. Storytimes: Tuesdays at 6pm (last one on May 20) & Fridays at 10am.

Ages 0-12: Cinco de Mayo – Try a Mangonada drink (walk-in while supplies last) 4:30-6:30pm on May 5! SPECIAL EVENT: Kid Prom 2025 (register) on May 23 from 5:30-7:30pm. Grades K-6: LEGO Club (walk-in) on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 3:30-4:30pm. Ages 3-12: Painted Flower Craft (register) on May 7 & May 8.

Tweens (ages 8-12) (registration required for all): Tween Theater Camp: May 7, 14, & 28 (no 21st) at 3:30pm, Tween Craft: DIY Cacti Decoration on May 13 & May 31.

Steele Pop Expo (May 17, 11-4pm) Kid's Craft: Superhero Wrist Cuffs from 2-4pm

The Makerspace is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to 6:00pm and Friday and Saturdays 1:00pm to 4:30pm.

For this month we have lots of amazing crafts to celebrate moms, grads and loved ones. Every Thursday there is a different craft class to attend, be sure to reserve your spot on the Events Calendar. Makerspace classes are available by request to learn about 3D printing, the Laser Engraver and other amazing S.T.E.A.M machines! Visit chemunglibraries.org/makerspace 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.

May 1, 3:30pm - Family Movie Afternoon: "Paddington In Peru" on May 1, 3:30pm. We will sample Paddington’s favorite food: orange marmalade, and there will be popcorn served with the film. Stop by to try marmalade and stay for a great film! (PG)

On May 29, 2pm, there will be a showing of the film “Saving the Right Whale". North Atlantic right whales are among the planet's most critically endangered large ocean mammals. With fewer than 350 remaining as of 2023, they could be extinct within 20 years. But teams of marine biologists and whale rescuers are determined to help save the species.

Also, on May 8 & 22, join us for 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, 10-16yrs.

Big Flats Star Wars Bingo & Crafts on May 30 at 3:30pm. Join us for a fun afternoon of intergalactic games and prizes! Register on our website or call (607)562-3300 to save your spot at the table.

New "create kits" for teens are available for May! Make a shrinky dink key chain charm that expresses YOU!

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

On May 16 at 3:30pm we will be celebrating one of our favorite children's book characters: Pete The Cat! Songs, stories, games, bookmarks and more. Register now to get in on the fun!

The first week of May at the craft table, there will be a card making station for the special mom in your life, create a unique card to say thank you to someone amazing.

Pick up a take-home preschool & school-aged craft to make paper plate bird nest kits. Call or stop by to get your kit (607)562-3300.

Horseheads Library will be closed on Saturday, May 17. Staff will be at Steele Memorial Library for Steele Pop Expo!

The Horseheads High School Orchestra will be holding its annual concert at the library on May 13 at 5:30pm in the children’s section. Students from the High School and Middle School will be playing. The Horseheads Library will be offering its Gentle Movement Exercise and Yoga Classes on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Tablet Talk will be on May 20th at 2pm. Our monthly writer’s group meets the last Monday of the month, Monday, May 19 at 6pm. Casual Card making will happen on May 2, and a new Kindness Card Making Club is starting May 30. There will be a make-up painting class on May 12 (registration needed).

Join us to make DIY Popsockets and have an eye catching, personalized, fun way to prop up your phone or tablet while using it to watch the hottest new show or read the newest best seller! Spots and materials are limited; reserve your spot online today. Teen and tween anime and manga fans, please join us on May 21 at 5:30pm for anime-themed games, crafts, and watch parties!

This month’s take 'n make is a Robin Handprint craft. Decorate a flower pot and plant a flower just in time for Mother’s Day. Certified therapy dogs will be visiting the Horseheads Free Library on Tuesday, May 6th! Therapy dogs are trained to interact calmly with people and can be a great way to reduce stress and promote well-being. Our furry, four-legged friends will be visiting from 11:00am -12:00pm and all ages are welcome!

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! A StoryWalk will be installed May 5-20! Walk the grounds of Banfield Park in Van Etten while reading and experiencing "Big Dance" by Aoife Greenham. A story about the freedom to be yourself and the fun of joining in!

Teens/Tweens Zine-making is every Wednesday in May. A zine is a handmade mini-magazine that can take on many forms. It can be as simple or elaborate as you chose!

Book Club will be meeting Friday, May 30 to discuss "This Tender Land" by William Kent Krueger. Newcomers are always welcome!

Visit the Sciencenter and save $$$ with our Free Pass! 

Our Adult Art Series continues on May 20: Watercolor Dimensions (pt.1) with Wynn Yarrow. Registration opens two weeks before these events. This month's Cookbook Bookclub theme is Hors d'oeuvres and will be held on May 19, due to the holiday. Also, this month; May 12 - Upcycled Dog Toy Craft, and May 14 - Calligraphy Club.

Along with May flowers, this month brings opportunities for creativity to tweens and teens. Learn to make a personalized, adorable "Socktopus" companion at our Tween Maker time. Tweens can also pick up May's Club 1231 book club selection, the classic, "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry and then, join us for an engaging time of discussion with book-themed snacks. In addition, bring some friends and relax, hang out and color during the weekly Creative Coloring Club time.

May is National Pet Month! What better way to celebrate than by making simple and delicious dog treats with Mr. Jeff on May 22? Go on our monthly Scavenger Hunt to find out what the most popular pets are in the USA and win a prize. Have fun every Thursday morning with Mr. Jeff at Storytime, and never miss a Home School lesson with Ms. Lynda and the "Library Learners" every Wednesday morning. Let your imagination soar at Lego Club, the last Wednesday of the month, and win big at Bingo for Kids the last Thursday of the month. West Elmira is your community library for growth, fun, and learning!

Bookmobile will be at Book Fest on May 10, 12pm - 3pm. Stop by for games, crafts and prizes!

We will also be at the Head Start Carnival on May 14, 12:30pm- 2:30pm and the Elmira Memorial Day Parade, starting at 9:30am.

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

For the month of April, we read "Lila" by Marilynne Robinson, to discuss on May 16. We will read "The Life We Bury" by Allen Eskens, to discuss in June.

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.