Canastota Public Library news
By Elizabeth Totten
(Canastota, NY – May 2013) May is a busy month at the Canastota Public Library. As well as our featured artists of the month, we have two knitting groups, two writing groups, a book club and several children’s activities planned for May. We hope that you might find your way to the library to pick up a book, magazine or DVD or even to take part in one of our programs.
The Library’s Seed Savings Exchange is up and running. Here’s how it works. You come into the library, browse our seeds and borrow some to plant at home. These might be vegetable, herb or flower seeds. You nurture and grow your seeds into healthy plants. Once the growing season is over, you let some go to seed and then return twice the amount of seeds, dried, in an envelope or baggie with an original label detailing the name and seed variety, your name and the year that the seeds were harvested.
We currently have 58 different types of seeds available with more than 25 members. There is still time to stop in and get seeds to plant in your garden for late May and early June. We are only accepting open-pollinated seeds, heirloom seeds and non-genetically modified organisms (non-gmo seeds). We also cannot accept hybrids. The library staff tells me that they love the donations of family heirloom seeds that have been donated because these seeds often come with interesting family stories and history.
Our library staff recently planted some of the seedlings indoors at the library. They are getting a sunny start atop a book shelf on the main floor. Stop in and see how these seeds are doing when you select your own garden seeds.
The CNY Pen Women theme for their Art Exhibit for the month of May is “Peace: Pass It On,” combining peace and hope with an end goal of healing.
The National League of American Pen Women was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1897. The CNY Pen Women, the local branch, is composed of professional writers, artists, composers and lecturers. Members must meet high criteria of professionalism in their respective fields in order to qualify for membership.
The Central New York Branch was formed in 1926 and has promoted and encouraged the development of creative talents. There are 28 local members. An Opening Reception for the Exhibit will be held on May 2 at 7 p.m. A special presentation will be offered at that time by Poet and Owner of Foothills Publishing, Michael Czarnecki.
The Library Knitters meet every Friday morning at the Canastota Public Library from 10 a.m. until noon. The Night Time Knitters meet every Thursday evening at the library beginning at 6 p.m. Both knitting groups are currently working on baby hats, which will be donated to the Oneida Healthcare Maternity Ward to be given to new babies. If you want to learn to knit, please stop by at one of our sessions. No experience is necessary, just the enthusiasm to learn. And, if you are already a seasoned knitter, stop by for some great time with like-minded artists.
The Canastota Scrapbookers meet the second Monday evening of every month in the Library’s Lawson Community Room. All are welcomed to bring their projects and work in a group setting. There is much comradarie and sharing within this group. The session begins at 5:30 p.m.
The Book Chat Club of the Canastota Public Library will meet on Wednesday, May 29 at 1 p.m. in the Lawson Community Room. This month’s discussion will revolve around books by Nora Ephron. The books available include “Heartburn,” “I Feel Bad About My Neck” and “I Remember Nothing”. Anyone interested in reading and attending this month’s Book Chat should stop in to pick up a copy of this month’s novel at the Library.
Baby and Me Lap Sit with Miss Angela is a program full of story reading, finger plays, songs, rhymes and more to stimulate your infant to 24 month old child. This program is held every Wednesday morning beginning at 10 a.m. on the second floor of the Canastota Public Library. The last meeting for this session of Baby and Me Lap Sit will be held on May 22.
Thursdays at 10 a.m. is Preschooler Storytime. Bring your preschooler for stories, games, crafts and a snack. This group meets on the second floor of the library each Thursday morning through May 23.
The Canastota Librateens meet every Wednesday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the library. The group (6th graders and up only.) creates crafts, writes, hears speakers and has book discussions. If school is not in session, there is no meeting. The last meeting of the year for the Canastota Librateens will be on Wednesday, May 29.
The Evening Writers Group will meet on Monday, May 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Afternoon Writers will meet twice this month, on Tuesday, May 14 and Tuesday, May 28. Both of these sessions will begin at 3 p.m.
There are several dates that the library will be closed during the month of May. The Canastota Public Library will be closed on Sunday, May 12 for Mothers Day as well as Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day.
On June 1, the library will switch to summer hours. We will be closed on Sundays and Saturdays hours will be changed to 9am to 1 p.m. We will also close the library each evening at 8 p.m.
The Library is located at 102 W. Center Street, Canastota. For more information, call us at 697-7030.
Elizabeth Totten provides public relations for the Canastota Public Library.