Clapp Memorial Library

Community Mosaics in Guatemala
2024-11-22 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Cynthia Fisher has been making trips to Guatemala since 2013 creating community mosaic murals. Come learn how she got started and how a small lakeside town is filling up mosaics that represent the indigenous community and beautiful natural environment.

Becoming Darlene: The Story of Belchertown Patient #4952
2025-01-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Wednesday, January 8 at 7PM, join us at the Clapp Memorial Library for a book talk with Ed Orzechowski. Becoming Darlene: The Story of Belchertown Patient #4952 is Orzechowski’s second account of life within the Belchertown State School following You’ll Like It Here: The Story of Donald Vitkus. After the presentation, books will be available for purchase and signing.
“Born in a Massachusetts mill town in 1956, Darlene Rameau is number eight of what would become 14 children. When she is three years old, a social worker reports that Darlene is segregated from the rest of the family in a filthy room, treated like an animal, and unable to walk. At age seven, Darlene is sent to Belchertown State School, a de-humanizing institution where she meets a sister she didn’t know she had. Darlene considers herself an “it,” unworthy of a name. Little Girl, Boy, and Brains are voices in her head who help her survive. Her dream is to raise a family of her own, but at 17 she is discharged into a world where she has no idea how to make that dream a reality.”

Legacy with Cliff McCarthy
2025-02-03 18:30 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
For the first time, local historian Cliff McCarthy will speak publicly about his mixed-race family, telling the story of his grandfather’s “passing” over the color line, his accomplished family members, and describing how his family’s incredible story illuminates many aspects of African American history and the history of our nation – from Negro League baseball to the violence of the Red Summer of 1919. He will relate what he has learned about his enslaved ancestors in Georgia and their enslavers. He will share the adventure of his fifty-year genealogical journey and its moments of discovery, heartache, joy, and dumb luck.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

NEW DATE: Be Ready to Save a Life with Hands Only CPR
2025-02-13 15:00 - 16:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
NEW DATE – program has been moved to 2/13 at 3PM.
More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital each year. Learn how to deliver lifesaving CPR care without rescue breaths. When you immediately provide Hands-Only CPR, you can increase the chance of survival.
Program will take place in the Town Hall Auditorium. Registration required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/UHZmg5ikZHu7mjfB9

Create Better Health
2025-03-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, in partnership with SNAP-Ed, offers a nutrition education program at the Clapp Memorial Library. Learn about Explore MyPlate healthy eating guidelines, learn to decipher the nutrition facts labels and how to make a budget-friendly meal, and get tips to add more exercise into your daily routine.

The Magic of Mushrooms: Explorations in the Wonderful World of Fungi
2025-03-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Jonathan Kranz offers an introduction to mushrooms: what they are, how they live, why they’re fascinating. The talk will cover the basics of fungal life with insights on foraging for food and avoiding toxins, with a special emphasis on common mushrooms you are likely to find in our neck of New England.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Servas
2025-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Are you interested in having a greater cultural experience when you travel in the US or abroad? Do you have commitments preventing you from traveling yet you are still looking to make connections with the world? Are you 18 to 30 years of age and want a language or cultural immersion experience? Perhaps Servas is for you?
Servas connects hosts and travelers from over 100 countries to provide a network for its members to build friendships and broaden their understanding of the world. Are you interested in learning more about what Servas can offer you? Join this informational session where current members share their experiences and answer your questions about hosting and travelling.

Creative Nature Photography
2025-05-03 09:00 - 12:00 | Parks & Recreation, 66 State Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Registration required, click here to sign up.
Learn how to capture beautiful images of nature in this series of photography workshops. Belchertown’s abundant natural resources offer limitless opportunities for creating amazing photos. Through these workshops, you’ll gain an understanding of photography fundamentals, and then go into the field to apply what you’ve learned. All levels of photographers are welcome, as are all types of cameras (including smartphones). Attend one or all workshops. All sessions are free to attend.
Open to Adults & Teens!
The ViewFinder workshop series is sponsored by the Clapp Memorial Library and the Town of Belchertown’s Creative Economy Committee, with support from the Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library. For more on ViewFinder, visit https://clapplibrary.org/art-in-the-library/viewfinder/
Introduction to Basic Photography on Saturday, April 26 with Ed Comeau and Creative Nature Photography on Saturday, May 3 with Mark Lindhult will meet at the Belchertown Recreation Department, 66 State Street, Belchertown. The Art of Smartphone Photography workshop on Saturday, May 10 with Linda Repasky will meet at the Les and Terry Campbell Visitor Center at Quabbin Reservoir, 100 Winsor Dam Road, Belchertown
ViewFinder Workshop List – click here to sign up:

Saturday, April 26: Introduction to Basic Photography, 9am-12pm
Saturday, May 3: Creative Nature Photography, 9am-12pm
Saturday, May 10: The Art of Smartphone Photography: Nature and Landscape, 9am-12pm

Acres of Clams Documentary Screening
2025-05-03 14:30 - 16:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Saturday, May 3 at 2:30pm, the Clapp Memorial Library will host a screening of the documentary, Acres of Clams. Eric Wolfe’s Acres of Clams is a feature-length video history of the Clamshell Alliance’s direct-action campaign against the Seabrook nuclear plant in the 1970s. Acres of Clams combines archival film footage and music with the personal remembrances of the activists themselves to reveal how disciplined nonviolence can have an out-sized impact on the world – when people take action together. The screening will be immediately followed by a Q&A/discussion of the film with Cliff McCarthy and Sharon Tracy of the Clamshell Alliance.

The Art of Smartphone Photography: Nature and Landscape
2025-05-10 09:00 - 12:00 | MA
Registration required, click here to sign up.
Anyone can take a snapshot with a smartphone, but what does it take to create photos that are worthy of hanging on your walls? Learn how to elevate your smartphone photos from meh to stunning with a Clapp Memorial Library program on Saturday, May 10th from 9am-noon at the Les and Terry Campbell Visitor Center at Quabbin Reservoir. We’ll cover smartphone camera basics, as well as tips for creating compelling images. Learn how to find interesting scenes and subjects that can lead to breathtakingly beautiful photos, with many examples that can provide ideas and inspiration. A Department of Conservation and Recreation staff member will be on hand to discuss the wide range of wildlife and natural resources at Quabbin Reservoir. We’ll finish by heading outdoors to try out some of the ideas covered during the workshop. What you’ll need: just bring your smartphone. Instructor: Linda Repasky
Open to Adults & Teens!
Location: Les and Terry Campbell Visitor Center at Quabbin Reservoir, 100 Winsor Dam Road, Belchertown, MA
The ViewFinder workshop series is sponsored by the Clapp Memorial Library and the Town of Belchertown’s Creative Economy Committee, with support from the Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library. For more on ViewFinder, visit https://clapplibrary.org/art-in-the-library/viewfinder/
ViewFinder Workshop List – click here to sign up:

Saturday, April 26: Introduction to Basic Photography, 9am-12pm
Saturday, May 3: Creative Nature Photography, 9am-12pm
Saturday, May 10: The Art of Smartphone Photography: Nature and Landscape, 9am-12pm

Bio: Linda Repasky is a Belchertown resident who enjoys capturing the beauty of local natural resources with her iPhone. She particularly enjoys exploring around the Quabbin Reservoir, as well as pursuing macro photography to capture the tiny details in nature that are so easy to overlook. Her iPhone photos have received recognition in numerous international photography competitions. Her iPhone photos can be seen at: https://www.instagram.com/lindarepaskyphotography/

Wonder Women, Super Girls, and Villainous Vixens
2025-05-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
There’s been a lot of attention paid to female comics fans in the last few years, but the truth is women have always been part of superhero storytelling. We’ll explore the importance of female heroes and the women who brought them to life in the larger history of American superhero comics.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

The Marquis de Lafayette: Hero of Two Worlds
2025-06-02 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Betty Allen Chapter NSDAR presents the story of General Lafayette through the eyes of his wife. Please come and join us and learn of the importance that Lafayette played in the American Revolution and his stop in Belchertown during his Farewell Tour on June 14, 1825.
Sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution

Genealogy Basics
2025-09-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Learn the basics of effective family research with Dave Robinson of Old Bones Genealogy of New England. Dave will introduce research strategies and best practices when exploring records and documents on ancestry.com, familysearch.org, and others. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the program.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Ladies of the ‘70s with Laura Hicks
2025-09-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Do you enjoy the sweet voices of lady singers such as Linda Ronstadt, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell or Barbara Streisand? Would you like to learn a little more about these singers and listen to some of their songs? If so, then Ladies of the ‘70s with Laura Hicks is the event for you. Join us at the Clapp Memorial Library on Monday, September 15 at 7pm.
Laura Hicks is a local professional singer who enjoys delving into the lives of these ‘70s icons (the voices of her youth). In her 1 hour presentation sponsored by the Belchertown Cultural Council, Laura will lead you through a musical journey punctuated by educational information pertaining to 13 women who left their musical mark. She will then perform one song from each of the artists. Singing along is encouraged!!
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Seed Saving: the Why & How
2025-09-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
No matter your level of gardening, saving seeds is easy. Some people save seeds to save money, while others selectively save seeds from favorite varieties to further a particular trait. Come learn some simple seed saving basics as well as resources to further your knowledge.
Paulina Borrego, Wrangler of the Mass Aggie Seed Library at UMass Amherst. Sponsored by the UMass Seed Library.

Who Goes There…
2025-10-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Are you interested in local paranormal investigations? Join us as Rob Goff from Agawam Paranormal showcases some local sites and investigations done there. Beginning with an introduction as to the historic value and events that happened there, we will get into the actual investigations that were conducted and finally end with the potential evidence captured on site. Learn about paranormal investigations and a little history from our own backyard.
This program is sponsored by Agawam Paranormal.

Halloween Harvest: Ghost Stories with Davis Bates
2025-10-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Clapp Memorial Library is excited to welcome back award-winning storyteller Davis Bates on Friday, October 24th at 6:00PM for a night of ghost stories, supernatural songs, and harvest tales. His performance will conclude with a workshop for teens on telling their own ghost stories. Will a certain library or local state school be a feature? Teens in grades 7-12 are asked to email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com to register.
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Gravestone Girls
2025-10-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
“Welcome to the Graveyard!” is a 90 minute in-person ‘virtual tour’ chronicling cemetery art, history and symbolism. From colonial New England burial grounds of the 16 & 1700s, through the nation-wide rural cemetery movement of the 19th century and into 21st century locations, the program examines why we have cemeteries and gravestones, why they look like they do and how styles and art have evolved over almost 400 years. The presentation is robust with photographs of original gravestones and burial grounds from cemeteries visited by Gravestone Girls over many years, including plenty of content from Belchertown’s local haunts!
About:
Gravestone Girls create replicas of old New England tombstones in the form of wall hangings, magnets, coasters, mirrors, tombstone chocolate and more! Cast directly from originals still on cemetery landscapes, their art is a piece of history in your hand! “Keeping Our Dead Alive” through lectures, tours, classes and art, they work nationwide, raising cemetery awareness and teaching citizens the history buried under their feet.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

In Defiance Book Talk
2025-11-03 18:30 - 19:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Authors Tom Weiner and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz will be at the Clapp Memorial Library on Monday, November 3 at 6:30pm to present on their new book, In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught in School (April 2025, Interlink Publishing). In Defiance uncovers the stories of individuals who risked their lives to fight enslavement, serving as a compelling call for justice and the preservation of history. This book brings to light the often-suppressed stories of 20 Black and white men and women – their courage, activism, and unwavering commitment to freedom.
Amid ongoing efforts to erase history, these stories serve as a powerful corrective—meant to challenge, inspire, and ignite action. Co-authored by Tom Weiner, a Northampton-based writer, educator, and anti-racist activist, and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, professor and former president of the National Council for Black Studies, the book weaves their perspectives into the narrative, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past. For fans of The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander and The Color of Abolition by Linda Hirshman, In Defiance is both a testament to those who fought for justice and an inspiration for those who continue the struggle today.
If you would like to place a hold for In Defiance to read on your own, you can ask the circulation desk or visit the catalog here.

Exploring the Galapagos
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Galapagos Islands are most famous for inspiring Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution. They are the home and habitat for many species of birds and wildlife that are unique to the islands. Photographer Mark Lindhult explored the Galapagos Islands in May and returned with images that illustrate many of the unique behaviors and characteristics that the wildlife exhibit. Join him on an armchair adventure to see the magic this place holds at the Clapp Memorial Library on Wednesday, November 12 at 7pm.

Magical Winter Lights
2025-11-29 18:00 - 19:00 | Town Hall Auditorium, 1 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Magical Winter Lights: From Fire Festivals to Electronic Illuminations – a fun-filled family holiday magic show.
Join the Clapp Memorial Library to warm up in the Town Hall Auditorium after the Belchertown Cultural Council’s Winter Light Night on Saturday, November 29 at 6pm for a performance of Magical Winter Lights: From Fire Festivals to Electronic Illuminations. Award-winning writer Jonah Knight will present a 60-minute interactive storytelling magic show about winter holiday lights exploring how using light in winter celebrations began with early fire festivals, how they evolved with lanterns and candles, and now with spectacular electronic illuminations. This show is warm-hearted, bringing the magic of winter lights to everyone. Topics explored include the early fire festivals of the Vikings, lights in Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas, the electronic lights of Eid al Fitr and the Japanese Winter Illuminations, Yule Logs, Butter candles and Diya lamps, and the lanterns of St. Martin’s Day and Yi Peng.
Funding provided by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and the Belchertown Community Alliance.

Passage to Poros: A book talk with Edward Tick
2025-12-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us at the Clapp Memorial Library on Thursday, December 11 at 7pm for Passage to Poros: In the Sanctuary of the Sea God, a book talk with Dr. Edward Tick. Explore the reawakening of ancient Greek healing practices by taking this journey of transformation, myth, and divine presence to the sacred island of Poros, a site of pilgrimage and healing for more than 3,000 years. This book examines pilgrimage, sanctuary, and asylum, the duties of Poseidon who was the ruling god of Poros. Edward Tick rediscovers asylia, the original practice of sanctuary that provides safety and inspiration while facilitating healing and connection to divinity. He explores “crossing the strait” as safe passage between the visible world and the invisible realms of the sacred. Drawing on ancient traditions, Tick shows how we know ourselves, our destinies, and our connection to the divine through dreams, visions, oracles, and synchronistic events. Passage to Poros offers wisdom for anyone seeking healing, sanctuary, spiritual presence, and reconnection with ancient and eternal forces. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Walking the Camino
2026-01-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join Bob and Sue Stephens as they present an overview of the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage and their experiences from 3 Caminos. They will share resources, show different options for walking the Camino, and answer your questions about this once in a lifetime experience.

Indigenous Stories from this Valley and Beyond with David Brule
2026-01-31 14:30 - 16:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Saturday, January 31 from 2:30-4:30pm, the Clapp Memorial Library hosts an afternoon of Indigenous stories with David Brule, President of the Nolumbeka Project and chair of the Nehantic Tribal Council. Brule shares stories rooted in Nipmuck tradition and histories of the Connecticut River Valley, including local events such as the Bloody Brook Massacre and the legend of the giant beaver Wequamps, known today as Mount Sugarloaf. Drawing from oral traditions, research, and a decade-long study of King Philip’s War, his stories highlight gratitude, balance with nature, and cultural resilience.

Mending the Body with the Mind Book Talk
2026-02-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Wednesday, February 11 at 7PM, join us at the Clapp Memorial Library for a talk from Belchertown resident and pediatrician, David Gottesgen, who is the author of a new book, Mending the Body with the Mind: Harnessing Kids’ Superpowers To Heal and Stay Healthy. Dr. Gottesgen will discuss integrative medicine in general, then talk about how he utilized the mind-body-spirit connection in all parts of his practice. He will discuss how children and teens can utilize this connection, in a wide array of common disorders, from chronic pain (specifically headaches and stomachaches) to asthma and other respiratory problems, to habit disorders like tics and bedwetting, to sleep issues, to ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, and phobias to anxiety in sports. Copies of his book will be available for purchase and signing.

When a Loved One Is Dying: A Book Talk with Maureen Groden
2026-03-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Wednesday, March 11 at 7pm, the Clapp Memorial Library will host a book talk with Maureen Groden on her new book, When a Loved One is Dying: Conversations About Care, Connection, and Coping. When faced with a loved one’s serious illness, many families find themselves overwhelmed, uncertain, and afraid. In this compassionate guide, hospice nurse and educator Maureen Groden, RN, offers a sympathetic and deeply human glimpse into one of life’s most challenging passages. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

Viet Nam in Peace and War
2026-04-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Most Americans, especially our veterans, only know of Viet Nam as a place of horrible warfare. But Viet Nam is an ancient culture with a rich spiritual, artistic, and historical heritage stretching back 3,000 years. This week marks the 51st anniversary of the end of the Viet Nam-American War.
Join Belchertown resident and psychotherapist Dr. Ed Tick and area war veterans Gene Herman and Pete Rogers for a program on Tuesday, April 28 at 7pm presenting Viet Nam in both peace and war. Ed has led 19 healing and reconciliation journeys to Viet Nam since 2000. Pete has returned on his own. In Viet Nam we find loving, forgiving people with no wartime PTSD who say, “Please bring your veterans here so we can heal them with our love.”
Join us to explore Viet Nam in peace and war. Share stories of Viet Nam during the war and at peace. Learn why these remarkable people have no wartime PTSD and how understanding and reconciliation brings healing. Immerse with us in Vietnamese culture and honor our veterans and the end of that war. Ed Tick will also read from his full poetry collection, Coming Home In Viet Nam. Books will be available.

Transform Your Yard to Support Pollinators: A 12 Step Program
2026-05-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Many people now realize the importance of pollinators and other essential wildlife. They want to make their yard pollinator-friendly, but don’t know where to start. This talk will step you through the process of evaluation, planning, and implementation, with many options for large and small changes.

Love and Loss After Wounded Knee: A Book Talk with Julie Dobrow
2026-05-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Wednesday, May 27 at 7pm at the Clapp Memorial Library, Tufts University Professor Julie Dobrow shares the tumultuous and storied lives of Charles Eastman, and his wife, Elaine, former Belchertown residents. Like most star-crossed lovers, they came from vastly different worlds. Elaine Goodale, a white woman who grew up on a farm in the remotest part of the Berkshires, was a poet, writer and teacher who’d come to the Dakota Territory in 1884 to teach Native American children. Ohíye S’a, or Charles Alexander Eastman, was a Santee Sioux, born in Minnesota and one of the only Native Americans educated at Dartmouth College and Boston University Medical School. He’d come to Pine Ridge as a reservation physician. Elaine and Charles improbably met in December 1890, and more surprisingly, fell in love. And then the Wounded Knee Massacre happened, and changed everything. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

Emily and J.G.
2026-07-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us at the Clapp Memorial Library on Monday, July 20 at 6pm for Emily & J.G., a lively conversation that will touch the heart. For much of her life, Poet Emily Dickinson corresponded with Belchertown’s own J.G. Holland and his wife, sharing the intimate moments of their lives through language—currents of the 19th century, recipes, snippets of poems, news of children, the nature of friendship, love, art, longing and grief.
The conversation between Emily and Dr. Holland brings to life the ideas, humor and wisdom of the lifelong relationship between the poet who never married, the traditional Victorian woman raising a family (Mrs. Holland) and her husband—the renowned writer of his day, whose newspaper, The Springfield Daily Republican, printed the only poems Emily published in her lifetime.
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
