Fiber Arts with the Woolies
2024-05-16 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-05-23 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-05-30 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-06-06 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-06-13 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-06-20 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-06-27 17:00 - 18:30, 2024-07-04 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) and 4 more dates | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Woolies are a local fiber arts group who meet weekly at the library to socialize and work on their various projects. Whether you’re interested in knitting, crocheting, felting, weaving, embroidery, needle point, sewing, or another fiber art, you’re welcome to join the fun.

Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library Meeting
2024-05-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
All are invited to the The Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library Board Meeting in the Activity Room at 6:30pm. For information email friendsofclappmemoriallibrary@gmail.com
http://www.friendsofclapplibrary.org/
​The Friends of Clapp Memorial Library is a volunteer not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising monies to assist the Library beyond the ordinary scope of the Library’s budget to reach its potential in our community. The group’s additional purpose is to promote and maintain close relationships between the Library and the people it serves, to increase public awareness of Library resources, and to encourage community participation in Library activities.

Ukulele Play Along (Virtual Event)
2024-06-03 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-07-01 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-08-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual, MA
Strum along with the Ukulele Play Along on the first Monday every month!
Grab your ukulele and play along – because playing your ukulele is more fun when you do it with others. We’ll be focusing on 3 and 4 chord songs, with lyrics and chords provided on screen. Participants will be muted, so don’t worry about how you sound!
To join, email Julie Stepanek (julie@musicjulie.com) for the Zoom link and to receive the songs for the program. Don’t have a Ukulele? Don’t worry – you can borrow one from us!

Birds of Prey with Wingmasters
2024-06-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Lawrence Memorial Hall (Town Hall) Auditorium, Belchertown, 01007, United States
This program is strictly for ages 5 and up.
Families, teens and adults are welcome as we kick off our summer reading programs.
Birds of prey, also known as raptors, are hunting birds characterized by hooked beaks and powerful grabbing feet armed with sharp talons. With some of the best eyesight and the sharpest hearing in the animal kingdom, raptors include eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. Learn about these different categories in a presentation that incorporates five live birds, including predation, the birds’ place at the top of the food web, their different hunting adaptations and their status in a rapidly changing world. Because many birds of prey are declining in number, this presentation also features one or more of the endangered raptors that we care for, and explains why these species face an uncertain future.
Wingmasters is a partnership of two people dedicated to increasing public understanding and appreciation of North American birds of prey. Julie Anne Collier and Jim Parks are both licensed raptor rehabilitators based in Massachusetts. Together they care for injured birds of prey. Most of the birds they rehabilitate can ultimately be released back into the wild, but in some cases the birds are left permanently handicapped.
This event is part of our Summer Reading Program and attending is worth a Kids SRP Raffle Ticket! Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.
Made possible by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community Sponsors

Teen Pizza-Tasting Contest/Teen Summer Reading Program Kick-Off
2024-06-15 14:00 - 15:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Clapp Memorial Library is kicking off the start of the Teen Summer Reading Program with a Pizza-Tasting Contest on Saturday, June 15th at 2:00PM! Teens entering grades 7-12 (and graduating students from the class of 2024) are invited to the library to blindly taste pizza from Belchertown pizza places and restaurants. Teens will vote and declare which pizza in Belchertown is “Teens’ Choice for Cheese!” and “Teens’ Choice for Specialty Pizza!” from pizzas donated by Antonio’s, Grapevine, La Trattoria, McCarthys, and Sleigh City!
Teens can enjoy games, a photobooth, and a Wii as the votes come in. Don’t miss this program, which was a fan-favorite prior to 2020! Students should email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com to register.
Attendees will receive a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program. The winning Pizza Places will be announced in The Sentinel and on the library’s social media accounts.

Food Truck Friday
2024-06-21 16:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join the Clapp Memorial Library on our beautiful Common for an evening of fun with live music and food trucks. We will have crafts and activities for all to enjoy.
This event is part of our Summer Reading Program and attending is worth a Kids SRP Raffle Ticket! Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.
Program made possible by the Belchertown Cultural Council

The Rescue of Angeline Palmer
2024-07-08 18:30 - 19:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Monday, July 8th at 6:30pm, come to the Clapp Memorial Library for a presentation by Cliff McCarthy, Stone House Museum archivist and author/editor of several books on Belchertown’s history. “The Rescue of Angeline Palmer” is the true story of a free-born, African American girl who was nearly kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War South. Orphaned at a young age and declared a ward of the town of Amherst, Angeline Palmer was “bound out” to work in the home of the family of Mason and Susanna (Dwight) Shaw of Belchertown. Only the desperate actions of three heroic Black men kept Angeline from bondage.

Caravan Puppets - Read, Renew, Repeat
2024-07-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us at 6PM on July 10th for an evening full of stories and music on the Library Lawn (in the case of rain, Town Hall Auditorium)!
Multi cultural puppet tales that celebrate how we learn (“Read, Renew”) and we can enjoy taking the time to get things right (repeat!)! Read Renew Repeat! Features original hand crafted puppets and classic stories that teach: “If your patient and you keep trying…. you’ll succeed!!”
This event is part of our Summer Reading Program and attending is worth a Kids SRP Raffle Ticket! Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.
Program made possible by the Belchertown Cultural Council

Gross, Cool, Weird Science
2024-07-17 18:00 | Lawrence Memorial Hall (Town Hall) Auditorium, Belchertown, 01007, United States
Join us at 6PM on July 17th at the Town Hall Auditorium for Gross, Weird, Cool Science – Things to make you go “EW!” “What?!” and “WOW!!!”
The world is full of gruesomely gross, wildly weird and incredibly cool things. Animals, insects, microbes, plants, even the earth itself is full of unbelievable wonders waiting to be explored. In this program we uncover incredible things like…

real world zombies
fish that can climb trees
a creature that can grow a whole new body out of it’s head
an animal that can come back to life after being frozen solid
a worm with more butts than any other animal
the world’s most indestructible creature
pink lakes

Life on earth is endlessly fascinating and this program is designed to spark curiosity to discover more, and never stop discovering! Packed full of amazing examples of grossness, weirdness and coolness, this is a fast paced, fact filled program, with the same trademark blend of science and silliness as The Poop Museum!
This event is part of our Summer Reading Program and attending is worth a Kids SRP Raffle Ticket! Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.
Made possible by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community Sponsors

Friends Book Drop Off Day
2024-07-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Got books? Donating books to the Friends of the Library will be super easy on July 20th & August 10th from 9am to 12pm. Load up your car and drive to the Library where members of the Friends will unload the items. No need to get out of the car! DVDs also accepted but no VHS tapes. Drop off takes place in the Library parking lot.

Jacques’ Concert
2024-07-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us at 6PM on July 24th for an evening of music on the Library Lawn (in the case of rain, Town Hall Auditorium)! Singing dancing and fun for all ages with Ann Marie Messbauer and Jacques “Pop” Hooten
This event is part of our Summer Reading Program and attending is worth a Kids SRP Raffle Ticket! Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.
Made possible by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community Sponsors

Critters of Lake Wallace
2024-07-27 09:00 - 10:00 | Foley Field, 66 State Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us on Saturday, July 27 to investigate fascinating creatures and critters in Lake Wallace. Join local biologists and parents Caralyn Zehnder and Will Duncan as we learn about the life cycles of aquatic invertebrates like dragonflies and damselflies and sample the lake to see what we can find. Geared towards ages 4 years and up.
9AM PROGRAM IS FULL. 10:30AM SESSION ADDED
Registration is required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/QCQrMQTv3ZqtUaLL6
We will meet at the end of the ball fields. Play clothes and bug spray are highly suggested. The 9am program has filled up, we are offering a second program at 10:30am.
Any questions, call the Clapp Memorial Library at 413-323-0417

Critters of Lake Wallace
2024-07-27 10:30 - 11:30 | Foley Field, 66 State Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us on Saturday, July 27 to investigate fascinating creatures and critters in Lake Wallace. Join local biologists and parents Caralyn Zehnder and Will Duncan as we learn about the life cycles of aquatic invertebrates like dragonflies and damselflies and sample the lake to see what we can find. Geared towards ages 4 years and up.
Registration is required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/QCQrMQTv3ZqtUaLL6
We will meet at the end of the ball fields. Play clothes and bug spray are highly suggested. Our 9am program is full, join us for the 10:30am program!
Any questions, call the Clapp Memorial Library at 413-323-0417

Free Teen Book Hours & Book Swap!
2024-08-02 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-08-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
This summer, Teen Summer Reading Program participants are invited to donate up to two books (preferably Middle Grade or Young Adult) in exchange for picking out up to four books during the Free Teen Book Hours at the library on August 2nd from 5:00-6:00PM and August 7th from 6:00-7:00PM. Donations for the Free Teen Book Hours can be dropped off at the library’s circulation desk. Teens will then be given passes that allow them to take additional books at the FTBHs. Teens do not need to donate a book in order to attend the Free Teen Book Hours. Teens can automatically choose at least one free book at each FTBH they attend. Teens must, however, be signed up for the Teen Summer Reading Program to receive a free book. Leftover books after the last FTBH, and books above and below a MG or YA reading level, will be donated to the Friends of the Library for their semi-annual booksale.

Duckworld
2024-08-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Come meet live ducks and learn about their diet, habitat, behavior and more. Duckworld Rescue at Ripley Farm will bring ducks and give children a chance to hold them and watch them swim.
This event is part of our Summer Reading Program and attending is worth a Kids SRP Raffle Ticket! Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

Belchertown’s Connection with China
2024-08-05 18:30 - 19:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Monday, August 5th at 6:30pm, come to the Clapp Memorial Library for “Belchertown’s Connection with China,” a presentation by Cliff McCarthy, Stone House Museum archivist and author/editor of several books on Belchertown’s history. Belchertown has a deep, historic connection to China. Elijah Coleman Bridgman was the first American Protestant missionary to China beginning in the 1830s. He and his Connecticut-born spouse devoted their lives to bridging the chasm between the two worlds. Then in the 1870s, a group of Chinese students came to live in Belchertown as part of the innovative experiment called the “Chinese Educational Mission.”
