How can we have approached midsummer when Solstice was just three days ago?! Leave it to the Almanac to give us the factual description and global traditions, while I fill you in on fun library details.

The last days for the Friends of the Library book sale have arrived. Enjoy 50% off all items in the sale today and tomorrow. Fill your bags for $5 on Saturday, June 26. If you are not aware, our Friends provide the programming funds for the classes we host with the income they receive during these book sales. If you love our classes and want to give back, visit the sale and fill a bag or 3! We get by with a little help from our Friends.

Crafting with Kimberly is our monthly crafting program for adults that uses Dollar Tree supplies to create kitschy decorations and gifts. This month we made Fairy Gardens and had the fun of hosting this class in person in the Civic Center Coutryard behind the library. Offering classes in-person is just what our patrons were waiting for, because we filled that class with 15 happy crafters, but also offered a hybrid option with a Zoom room for those who cannot get to the library for various reasons. This model allows us to record the class, which I then edit and share to the Southeast Steuben County Library YouTube Channel. I offer Take and Make kits from the class that can be used to craft along with the online tutorial. We have discovered adults truly love this creative freedom we offer.

Maker Monday in May was hosted by local artist Wynn Yarrow. We have made many paper crafts with Wynn this year, but this time we went to the Sea. The theme of the sea fits so well with summer and the New York Summer Reading theme of Tails and Tales that this edited version of the class is apropos. Summer Reading kicks off on June 28 at Fallbrook Park. Families, children, teens, and especially adults are encouraged to register and participate in this annual program focused on boosting a love of reading to all age groups. We have lots of prize incentives to build the excitement. But let’s ease into the water slowly with a Take and Make kit to compliment this class video of the Book of the Sea. Kits will be available to pick up tomorrow and the video tutorial will premiere at 7pm on June 25. Get your glue sticks ready! (Note: the video will expire on July 25, 2021.)

We hosted the Kickoff event to Elmira’s Juneteenth Celebration on June 18 in the parking lot of Steele Memorial Library. A movie showing of Buffalo Soldiers with Danny Glover was on deck for the evening. Unfortunately, thunderstorms scared most of the crowd to keep cover and stay home. Fortunately, everyone piled onto the streets near Ernie Davis Park on June 19, actual Juneteenth Day to celebrate community, peace, and unity. The smiles on every face make all the difference for a successful event. Rain washed out the afternoon, but the main event had already rocked the streets and most folks had headed home with full hearts.

The most recent Maker Monday event was hosted this week. Those threatening thunderstorms stuck around all weekend and finally struck our class at the very end. We gathered again in the courtyard to make Hypertufa Flower pots using recycled objects. Several students skipped class with the pending weather to which I was oblivious. Living in Upstate New York gives you a different awareness of the weather. I often feel it’s silly to cancel an event due to thunderstorms that will likely pass in a few minutes. With that thinking, I neglected to watch the radar to see the indications of the storm running right over the library in the window of time class was held. (Lessons learned.) We had a near Wet T-Shirt Contest, first of it’s kind at our library! Funny thing is the class was over, we just needed to clean up supplies. My wonderful students risked being soaked by the rain rather than run away and leave me to deal with the mess alone. That’s how we maintain that mantra- we get by with a little help from our friends. Sometimes we make those friends in the midst of a major midsummer downpour.

That’s a wrap for this stationary moment. I’ll check you on the flip side!