Our Library is an Open Book

Libraries change and evolve to meet the needs of their community and adapt to new technologies. At Phillips Free Library though, one thing is constant - we exist to create an equitable world. Our mission is to empower and inspire all people to grow and connect with one another to create a better world for all. Here are some ways to connect with your community at the library this month.

January Highlight

Computer Cafe

Phillips Free Library is starting a new program for adults in 2025! The Computer Cafe will meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 1-2 pm. We will utilize our new subscription to Tech-Talk to watch a short video and then apply what we learned. We will have time at the end for other tech help questions. On January 9th, we will be learning about WhatsApp. This mobile phone app allows you to text, call, video chat, and more with people around the world for free! Bring your own mobile phone.

Registration is not required, if you have questions email: office@phillipsfreelibrary.org

New at the Library!

Movie Night

Join us for a movie night on Friday, January 10th starting at 6 pm. The movie is The Wild Robot based on the middle grade book by Peter Brown. The movie is rated PG, you can see the trailer here. The library will provide popcorn.

Come with your family or on your own. Children should be accompanied by a teen or adult.

Registration is preferred: office@phillipsfreelibrary.org OR 607 749 4616

Homer Winter Fest 2025

Songs of the Shakers with Liam Lawson

On Friday, January 24, 2025 Liam Lawson will be guest artist at the library sharing Songs of the Shakers with the community as part of Winterfest 2025. The program will run from 5-6:30pm and is open to everyone, though probably most enjoyed by teens and adults.

Liam will share stories and songs of the Shakers during this program and also some original songs inspired by Shaker philosophy. As part of the program he will talk about the history of the Shakers, their communities, inventions and beliefs.

Registration is preferred: office@phillipsfreelibrary.org OR 607 749 4616

Sensory Story Time

Help us find a good day and time for our January Sensory Story Time. This story time is for all children and all abilities. The interactive stories and songs will allow for movement and accommodate varying needs. This will be followed by a time for sensory play and activities. The program will be 45 minutes but you can feel free to leave when your family is ready.

Please only fill out if your family is interested in participating. Use this link to help us plan Please share this link with families who might be interested.

New Books

Adult Non-Fiction

Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures

by Katherine Rundell

place hold here

The world is more astonishing, more miraculous, and more wonderful than our wildest imaginings. In this brilliant and passionately persuasive book, Katherine Rundell takes us on a globe-spanning tour of the world's most awe-inspiring animals currently facing extinction.

Consider the seahorse: couples mate for life and meet each morning for a dance, pirouetting and changing colors before going their separate ways, to dance again the next day. The American wood frog survives winter by allowing itself to freeze solid, its heartbeat slowing until it stops altogether. Come spring, the heart kick-starts itself spontaneously back to life. As for the lemur, it lives in matriarchal troops led by an alpha female (it’s not unusual for female ring-tailed lemurs to slap males across the face when they become aggressive). Whenever they are cold or frightened, they group together in what’s known as a lemur ball, paws and tails intertwined, to form a furry mass as big as a bicycle wheel.

But each of these extraordinary animals is endangered or holds a sub-species that is endangered. This urgent, inspiring book of essays dedicated to 23 unusual and underappreciated creatures is a clarion call insisting that we look at the world around us with new eyes—to see the magic of the animals we live among, their unknown histories and capabilities, and above all how lucky we are to tread the same ground as such vanishing treasures.

Young Adult Fiction

Libertad

by Bessie Flores Zaldívar

place hold here

As the contentious 2017 presidential election looms and protests rage across every corner of the city, life in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, churns louder and faster. For her part, high school senior Libertad (Libi) Morazán takes heart in writing political poetry for her anonymous Instagram account and a budding romance with someone new. But things come to a head when Mami sees texts on her phone mentioning a kiss with a girl and Libi discovers her beloved older brother, Maynor, playing a major role in the protests.

As Libertad faces the political and social corruption around her, stifling homophobia at home and school, and ramped up threats to her poetry online, she begins dreaming of a future in which she doesn’t have to hide who she is or worry about someone she loves losing their life just for speaking up. Then the ultimate tragedy strikes, and leaving her family and friends—plus the only home she’s ever known—might be her only option.

Not seeing the new December books in our catalog? Our books have been delayed from the distributor due to technical issues with their new software system. They finally arrived on Friday, re processed and ready for you to come check them out!

December Book Shelf

Tech-Talk

Tech-Talk is a premier collection of articles, videos, and webinars developed each week

by top training experts for busy professionals, educators, and learners.

It helps people stay up-to-date in using technology and becoming better communicators in the workplace and at home.

check here each month for new tips

Tech-Talk Basic Tip: Quick steps to clean out your inbox

Tech-Talk Tip: What music streaming service should you choose? And Pandora too!

Coming in February

Winter Reading Challenge

As a fun way to make it through the long stretch of winter, we will have a winter reading challenge. The challenge starts on February 1st and runs through the last day of winter, March 19th. Keep track of how many books you read and enter a ticket for each one. Entries will be accepted in person, online or by phone. There will be a small prize for one person in each age group. Be watching for more information soon!

A Glimpse from December

We had 73 people come to our Gingerbread Wonderland at the beginning of December. Over 50 gingerbread houses were decorated that night!

It is already on our calendar for 2025 - December 5th at 5:30 pm

Did You Know...

The Stuttering Foundation recently donated materials for adults, teens, and children who stutter and also for parents of children and teens who stutter. Stop in and check out the collection which is currently on display in the adult non-fiction room.

Monthly Poll

What are the most important things on our website? (feel free to vote more than once)

Catalog of books

Calendar

Library Hours

Event/Program information

Board of Trustees Information

Digital Databases (Mango Language, Genealogy, etc)

Library Policies

Non-Book Services (food pantry, print/copy/fax, 3D printer)

Social Media Links

New Books Display at the top of the page

Results from our poll last month

The results from our poll last month show most of you would choose to stay home instead of travel for the holidays. It also shows that by a more narrow margin you'd rather never eat turkey again than eat an entire turkey in one sitting!

Calendar of Events

January 2025

Wednesday, January 1

Library Closed

Thursday, January 2

New Adult Book Club 6:30p

Friday, January 3

Science Fair Prep Group 4p

Monday, January 6

Nifty Knitters 1p

Tuesday, January 7

Yoga #1 of 4 10:30a *please register

Wednesday, January 8

Knee High Story Time 9a Trains

K-2 Library Zoo 3:35-4:20p Book Club

Thursday, January 9

Computer Cafe 1p learn about What's App

Friday, January 10

Science Fair Prep Group 4-5p

Movie Night - The Wild Robot 6p *please register

Monday, January 13

Nifty Knitters 1p

Family Book Club 6p

Board of Trustees Meeting 7p

Tuesday, January 14

Yoga #2 of 4

3rd & 4th gr book club 6p

Wednesday, January 15

Knee High Story Time 9a Winter Snow

K-2 Library Zoo 3:35-4:20p LEGO Club

Tioughnioga River Writers 6:30p on Zoom

Friday, January 17

Sweet 60 and Up! *please register

1-2p Mindful Movement by Meg OR Woodworking Talk with Charlie Dellow

2-3p Live Music with Colleen Kattau and Jane Zell (open to ALL ages)

Science Fair Prep Group 4p

Monday, January 20

Library Closed

Tuesday, January 21

Yoga #3 of 4

Wednesday, January 22

Knee High Story Time 9a Colors & Patterns

K-2 Library Zoo 3:35-4:20p Story Time - Chickens

Friday, January 24

Science Fair Prep Group 4p

HOMER WINTERFEST

Songs of the Shakers with Liam Lawson 5-6:30p *registration preferred

Monday, January 27

Nifty Knitters 1p

Tuesday, January 28

LEGO Club 3rd-5th gr 4-5p

Points of View Book Club 6:30p The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

please register: ashley@phillipsfreelibrary.org

Wednesday, January 29

No Knee High Story Time or K-2 Library Zoo Today

Tioughnioga River Writers - TBD

Friday, Janaury 31

Science Fair Prep Group 4p

*unless otherwise noted email office@phillipsfreelibrary.org to register for programs

Reach Out to Us

Visit our Website

Phillips Free Library

37 South Main St

Homer NY 13077

607 749 4616