Our 2024 summer library program is in full swing! With a theme of Read, Renew, Repeat you’re sure to find something of interest. Everyone from children to adults who register for the summer program can win great prizes just by reading! Stop by the library to register and learn more about the prizes, programs, and special events we have planned.
School Reading Lists
Both SHPL and Gaylord have summer reading displays highlighting required/recommended books for South Hadley High School, Michael E. Smith Middle School, and Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School. Staff can point you in the right direction and possibly recommend a good match for each student. What we don’t have on hand we can order for you, but don’t let your students wait until the last minute!
Adult Programs at SOUTH HADLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY-MAIN (SHPL)
Looking for a summer book club? Romance readers can check out Between the Covers book group for a monthly get-together of novels that offer happy endings and often are part of a series. Our next meeting is Tuesday, July 9 at 3:00 to discuss Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs. Meanwhile, the Hello Sunshine Book Group will meet on Wednesday, July 10 at 6:30 to discuss The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Copies of our book discussion titles, as well as titles being talked about at the Senior Center, are available at the library.
On Wednesday, July 10 at 6:00 join us for South Hadley DPW: Recycling from Beginning to End. Learn what happens with our local recycling from the moment it is picked up by Republic Services, delivered to the Material Recycling Facility (MRF), processed, separated and shipped to additional locations for further handling.
Our outdoor craft for those 12 on up: Upcycle DIY Stencil T-shirts with Carla on Wednesday, July 17 from 5:00 – 7:00. Please sign up by calling 413-538-5045. Bring a single dark colored plain cotton or poly cotton T-shirt. Please note we are working with bleach.
The Conservation Commission’s Rebekah Cornell will be here on Wednesday, July 24 at 6:00 for Growing Wild – Why it Makes a Difference! This initiative is quickly gaining momentum to increase native pollinator species across the community. Small backyard efforts make a big difference across greenway connections. This talk will discuss the importance of Growing Wild in your yard, how you can get started, tips for success, and what changes you’ll see in your yard by changing the habitat.
The Connecticut River Conservancy will talk about its Connecticut River Source to Sea Clean Up on Wednesday, July 31 at 6:00. The Source to Sea Cleanup, which will be in its 28th year in 2024, coordinates thousands of volunteers to remove trash from waterways and communities, resulting in not only cleaner water and healthier habitats, but also a greater sense of connection to our shared environment. Learn more about the cleanup, trash tally data, current legislation to reduce plastic pollution, and how you can get involved in this important community effort.
Teen Programs at SHPL
This month for Teens we continue our regular monthly programs with Crafternoon, Snackternoon and Xbox1. Our Crafternoon on Tuesday, July 9 at 4:00 will feature DIY glow Stars and our Snackternoon on Thursday, July 25 at 4:00 will feature Microwave Nachos! Thank you to the Friends of the South Hadley Public Library for sponsoring our Teen Snackternoon. We have a different game selection for this month’s Xbox1 sessions on Tuesday, July 2 and Monday, July 15 at 3:30. Reach out with any questions through email or call the library 538-5045 and ask for Bethany. See the Teen Room door for more information. We will end the month with our Teen Night Craft andwill be crafting Calming Glitter Jars on Tuesday, July 23 at 6:30. This program is usually held on the last Tuesday of the month.
Our Summer Reading Program is in full swing – don’t forget to sign up today! Summer Reading Program specials include Paper Beads (Monday, July 1 at 4:00), Vision Boards (Monday, July 8 at 4:00), T-shirt Tote (Thursday, July 18 at 4:00), Photo Collage (Monday, July 29 at 4:00), and our Guest Presenter for Teen Yoga (Tuesdays, July 16 & 30 at 6:30!
Teens are invited to learn about the power of poetry in an online author talk with Elizabeth Acevedo on Tuesday, July 23 at 2:00! In this exciting author conversation and Q&A, Acevedo will provide a short reading from her National Book Award winning and New York Times bestselling novel-in-verse, The Poet X serving as the backdrop to this amazing chat! This program will be streamed in the Community Room.
Our Teen Takeaway craft this month is Clay Dragon Eyes! See Bethany for more details or to sign up. Finally, our Teen Advisory Board will be having a meeting this month. Ask Bethany for details!
Children’s Programs at SHPL
Beat the heat at the library! Check out a book from our “Read, Renew, Repeat” display, or brush up on your Olympics knowledge. Sign up for summer reading (if you haven’t already) and come play Book Bingo on Thursdays, July 18 & 25, to win free books!
We also have lots of special events this month. Sign up online for:
- Trevor the Games Man
- Music with Michelle (for ages 6-10)
- Wildlife on Wheels (from Forest Park Zoo)
- Smokey the Bear and fire truck visit
Got a rising kindergartner or first grader? Join our first meeting of “My First Book Club” on Saturday, July 20; email Jenny (jarch@cwmars.org) if you’re interested.
This summer, for the first time, we’ll be screening author talks from some exciting children’s authors: Kate DiCamillo on Tuesday, July 9 at 2:00, author of the Mercy Watson series; Max Brallier on Tuesday, July 16 at 2:00, author of The Last Kids On Earth series; and Dan Santat on Tuesday, July 30 at 2:00, author/illustrator of A First Time for Everything. Screenings will take place in the Community Room.
Our regular weekly programs continue, including Rhyme Time, Story Time, and Playgroup for little ones, Comics & Crafts (Tuesdays), and Lego & Board Games (Mondays & Wednesdays) for ages 5-11.
Programs at the GAYLORD MEMORIAL LIBRARY
At Gaylord, we’re enjoying our outdoor space and eagerly anticipating the return of our air conditioning (soon!). On Friday, July 5 at 12:00, we have our first meeting of Gaylord’s Garden Group for anyone interested in helping get our pollinator garden set up and help keep Gaylord green. On Friday, July 12 at 3:00 we have a Summer Planting for a Fall Harvest workshop with Brian Schrauf.
Our outdoor book club, Books on a Blanket, will meet Thursday, July 19 at 5:30 for Beach Blanket Reads. We also have Evening Cornhole for ages 12+ on Thursdays, July 11 and 25 at 6:00 and our usual crafty get-togethers every other Friday at 3:00 in the rotunda.
For kids and families, we have three outdoor weekend events:
- Family Outdoor Games on Saturday, July 6 at 10:15am
- Water Play for Kids on Saturday, July 13 at 10:15am
- Sidewalk Chalk on Saturday, July 27 at 10:15am
Indoors, we have our usual Story Times every Friday at 10:30, with several special story time events:
- Mary Westgate of Berkshire Hills Music Academy joins us to sing and read braille books on Friday, July 5 at 10:30am
- Little Roots Music will be here for a musical story time event on Friday, July 19 at 10:30 (pre-registration required)
- Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary will tell us about Birds of Prey on Friday, July 26 at 10:30am
Our regular LEGO Club meets Thursday, July 11 and 25 at 3:00, and drop-in crafts on Thursday, July 18 at 3:00
KEY WEBSITES to STAY CONNECTED:
- Event calendar for library programs (including registration information)
- SHPL Facebook page
- South Hadley Public Library homepage
- Gaylord Memorial Library homepage
- Town of South Hadley homepage
Are you traveling this summer? Want to take an audio book or e-book with you? Download the Libby app for all your devices. Just use your library card and pin and you will have access while you travel!