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.

March Highlight

Library Science Fair

Phillips Free Library is excited to have hosted the Science Fair Prep Group facilitated by the Dudgeon Family for the 3rd year. This group prepares students in 4th-8th grade for the Central New York Science and Engineering Fair held at the end of March in Syracuse. The group has been working hard for the last couple of months to prepare their experiments, analyze their data and learn how to share this information with the judges.

As a practice for them and to highlight these young scientists, we invite you to the Library Science Fair on Friday, March 28th from 6:30-8:00 pm. Spend time meeting the scientists, learning about their projects and asking questions. These are the projects you will see at the fair:

1.You say Tomato, I say Toe-Mat-O - Taste Differentiation between Organic and Non-Organic Fruits and Vegetables

2. Rising, Reusable Rockets

3. Fun with Flight - Designing a Better Paper Airplane

This will be a drop in event, come and go as your schedule allows.

At the Library in March!

Waterways of Change: Women and the Erie Canal

In March we will celebrate Women's History Month. This year is also the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Erie Canal.

On Thursday, March 13th at 6 pm staff from the Erie Canal Museum will be at the library to teach us how these 2 events are related. The program will program will talk about how the Erie Canal revolutionized Upstate New York, bringing new ideas, people, and industries to the region, sparking a firestorm of change. It will cover how the fight for women’s rights grew out of the changes brought about by the Erie Canal and the movement’s dependence on networks that the Canal facilitated.

Light refreshments provided.

Registration preferred: office@phillipsfreelibrary.org

Sweet 60 and Up!

The last Sweet 60 and Up! for this winter is on Friday, March 21 from 1-3 pm.

We will have an introduction to Tai Chi and Qigong with Mike Kniffin OR make your own triangle peg game. This portion of the program is for adults age 60 and up.

At 2 pm Doug Riehlman will entertain with live music. This portion of the program is open to all ages.

Registration is preferred: office@phillipsfreelibrary.org

Light refreshements served

Sensory Story Time

Spring!

The next Sensory Story Time is on Thursday, March 20th from 6:00-6:45 pm. 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 of sensory play and activities. No registration required.

New Books

Adult Fiction

Life Hacks for a Little Alien

by Alice Franklin

place hold here

Before she thinks of herself as Little Alien, our protagonist is a lonely girl who doesn’t understand the world the way other children seem to. So when a late-night TV special introduces her to the mysterious Voynich Manuscript—an ancient tome written in an indecipherable language—Little Alien experiences something she hasn’t before: hope. Could there be others like her, who also feel like they’re from another planet?

Convinced the Voynich Manuscript holds the answers she needs, Little Alien and her best (and only) friend Bobby decide they must find this strange book. Where that decision leads them will change everything.

Middle Grade Fiction

Chickenpox

by Remy Lai

place hold here

All big sister Abby wants is to spend more time with her friends, far away from the sticky fingers and snooping eyes of her annoying brothers and sisters. But when a case of the chickenpox leaves the Lai kids covered in scratchy red spots and stuck at home together for two weeks of nonstop mayhem, Abby thinks this might be the end . . . of her sanity. Yet she feels responsible for the situation since her best friend was Patient Zero and brought chickenpox into their home.

Will the itch to escape her siblings overwhelm Abby or will she realize being a big sister isn’t all bad?

The Book Shelf is a monthly e-newsletter sharing the books that have arrived and are expected to arrive for the month. You can subscribe by clicking the button in the top right corner of the newsletter. See what books have arrived for January, click the Book Shelf button below.

February 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: Save and Share Files with Dropbox

Tech-Talk Tip: Using Storyboards in Your Planning

Webinar of the Month: Simple Steps for Password Protection and Authentication

Coming in April

Rube Goldberg Machine

In April we will have a Rube Goldberg afterhours program for youth in 3rd-8th grade. A Rube Goldberg Machine uses a series of chain reactions to transfer energy and complete a task. In the picture, the planks fall like dominoes into the paper which moves the marble through the tube and into the cup.

A date and time for the program will be coming soon. Watch our website and social media for more information. Or, you can email and be put on the interested list. We will contact you when the date and time is set. office@phillipsfreelibrary.org

A Glimpse from February

Phillips Free Library received a grant from the Ralph R Wilkins Foundation, Inc. in part to provide books to high school students who aren't able to participate in our library based high school book club. This year we have 19 students who will receive 5 books that they were able to select along with a snack and another fun extra. This year we have asked the participants to return their boxes to the school librarian for us to pick up and reuse. They received markers to decorate them however they wanted to. We just love this box that Olivia decorated with some favorite books!

Did You Know...

The NYS DEC has donated fishing poles to Phillips Free Library. We have 4 poles that can be borrowed. We also have money for 10 single day passes. If you bring your one day fishing license pass and receipt to the library we will reimburse you the $5. We look forward to hearing your fish tales!

Monthly Poll

When and where was International Women's Day first observed?

February 28, 1909 United States

March 19, 1911 Austria-Hungary, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland

March 8, 1914 United Kingdom

March 8, 1917 Russia

Results from our poll last month

Hopefully you chose correctly on Valentines Day! Our poll from last month asked if people would prefer 100 roses or 100 pieces of chocolate... chocolate was the winner.

Calendar of Events

March 2025

Monday, March 3

Nifty Knitters 1p

Tuesday, March 4

Yoga #1 of 4 10:30a please register

Wednesday, March 5

Knee High Story Time 9a Wild Animals

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

Tioughnioga River Writers on Zoom 6:30p

Monday, March 10

Nifty Knitters 1p

Family Book Club 6p

Tuesday, March 11

Yoga #2 of 4

3rd & 4th gr Book Club 6p

Wednesday, March 12

Knee High Story Time 9a Toe-Tapping Music

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

Thursday, March 13

Computer Cafe 1p Internet Search Techniques

Waterways of Change: Women and the Erie Canal 6p

Monday, March 17

Nifty Knitters 1p

Board of Trustees Meeting 7p

Tuesday, March 18

Yoga #3 of 4

Wednesday, March 19

Knee High Story Time 9a Springtime

K-2 Library Zoo 3:35-4:20p Story Time It's All About the Pictures!

Tioughnioga River Writers on Zoom 6:30p

Thursday, March 20

Sensory Story Time 6p Spring!

Friday, March 21

Sweet 60 and Up! 1-3p

1-2p Intro to Tai Chi and Qigong OR Woodcraft

2-3p Live Music with Doug Riehlman

Monday, March 24

Nifty Knitters 1p

Tuesday, March 25

LEGO Club 3-5th gr 4p

Points of View Book Club 6:30p Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

please register: ashley@phillipsfreelibrary.org

Wednesday, March 26

Knee High Story Time 9a Foods I Like

K-2 Library Zoo Science Club

Friday, March 28

Library Science Fair 6:30-8p

Monday, March 31

Nifty Knitters 1p

Reach Out to Us

Visit our Website

Phillips Free Library

37 South Main St

Homer NY 13077

607 749 4616