Clapp Memorial Library

Gardening Basics
2023-05-30 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
REGISTRATION REQUIRED – Click here to sign up for one, two, or all three sessions
All are welcome to our series of Homesteading Workshops, by local teen Zackery W. Zawalski. You can come to one, two, or all three, and learn about ways to grow and raise your own food and make use of the land you live on.
Tuesday, May 2: Introduction to Homesteading
Tuesday, May 16: Livestock Basics
Tuesday, May 30: Gardening Basics
Zackery Zawalski has raised livestock since 2010, including ducks, chickens, goats, doves, dogs and a pig. He has helped his parents with their local 4-H club and has been a member of 4-H since 2013. Zackery takes pleasure in helping with his family garden since he could walk and still enjoys it to this day.
All workshops start at 6:00 PM in the Clapp Memorial Library’s Activity Room and include a presentation and activity.

Concert: Crowes Pasture
2023-06-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Saturday, June 10, 6pm
Concert on the Library Lawn, weather permitting.
From https://crowespastureduo.com/home
Monique Byrne and Andy Rogovin perform moving and inspirational songs that are sometimes joyful, sometimes wistful, and oftentimes, poignant, and that reflect a mutual passion for life, family and humanity. Their intimately blended vocal harmonies are mixed with an expressive and unique instrumental style that is best described as “a banjo-guitar romance.” Crowes Pasture’s style of intimate and soulful folk transports and connects listeners through universal experiences in their “skillfully crafted, emotional songwriting” (Chris Eastburn, award-winning composer).

Artist Reception for Brendan Stecchini
2023-06-13 17:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us on the Library’s front lawn for a reception honoring Belchertown-based artist, Brendan Stecchini, and his sculpture, REFLECTIVE WIND. The reception will feature music, light refreshments, and the opportunity for people of all ages to build their own mini-sculpture to take home. The sculpture is on loan to the Clapp Memorial Library from the artist and will be on display on the front lawn through mid-October.
Brendan Livio Stecchini has resided in western Massachusetts since 1972 and has spent the last 25 years in Belchertown. Throughout this time, Mr. Stecchini has had numerous art exhibitions and awards in painting and sculpture. For the last three decades, his focus has been on creating public, kinetic, interactive sculpture and he has had installations and commissions in cities, parks, museums, and colleges.
His sculpture, REFLECTIVE WIND, is designed to be a visually dynamic and engaging experience, viewed up close and from afar, contemplative of the surrounding environment and our place in it. The artwork is an equilateral, triangular pyramid, derived from ancient history, mathematics, and engineering. It distinctly defines and locates a single reference point on our global Earth and uses stainless steel mirrors to reach out and reflect the surroundings.
REFLECTIVE WIND is perhaps like a scientific instrument, a lighthouse; the round mirror projects light and reflections, turning 360 degrees and oscillating in the wind somewhat like a weathervane. It is the center and focal point of the sculpture, looking in and reflecting out. The mirrors on the outside of the legs capture light, the sky, and the upper reaches of trees. The mirrors on the inside reflect the ground and our footprints. Finally, the polished, stainless steel rod on top points the entire sculpture to the heavens, like a lightning rod.

Out of the Shadows: Hollywood’s History with the LGBTQ+ Community with Frank Mandosa
2023-06-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Clapp Memorial Library invites all film buffs for Out of the Shadows: Hollywood’s History with the LGBTQ+ Community by film historian Frank Mandosa. On Wednesday, June 14 at 7PM, Mandosa will take a look at LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream film, both onscreen and off. Over the past century, Hollywood has had a troubled history with both onscreen depictions of the LGBTQ+ community and their real-life interactions. This program explores not only the ongoing evolution of this dynamic before, during, and after the cameras roll, but also the portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community in films of all genres, both past and present.

The Grumpytime Club Band at Food Truck Friday!
2023-06-16 16:00 - 19:00 | MA
Let’s kick off Summer Reading!
On June 16th starting at 4PM, visit the Library at Food Truck Friday on the Common for fun activities, and join us at the music stage at 6PM for a family concert with The Grumpytime Club Band to kick off summer reading. Funded by the Belchertown Cultural Council.
Learn more about The Grumpytime Club here: https://carrieferguson.bandcamp.com/album/the-grumpytime-club
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.

DiviRoxxKids Concert
2023-06-17 15:00 - 16:00 | Belchertown High School, 142 Springfield Road, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Divinity Roxx is bringing a concert to Belchertown for our Summer Reading Program!
Join us at the Belchertown High School auditorium at 3 pm on June 17th, doors at 2:40 pm.
After touring with Beyonce, Divinity turned her attention to children. Her album, “Ready, Set, Go,” is about positivity in mind and body and two of her songs have been published as a book.
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.

Library Closing: Juneteenth 2023
2023-06-19 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will be closed in observation of Juneteenth

Backyard Orchards
2023-06-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Thursday, June 22 at 7 PM, Kate Donovan, owner of Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens, will present Backyard Orchards at the Clapp Memorial Library. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to grow fruit trees on your own property, this program is for you. Donovan helps clients grow food through lectures, garden planning, soil testing, tilling, and building raised beds. She’s the founder of a 69,000-member Facebook gardening group called “Vegetable, Fruit, Herbs and Flower Gardening.” Kate maintains seven extra-long raised beds, considers her home her horticulture laboratory, and tries new varieties and techniques every year.

Belchertown State School Traveling Exhibition
2023-06-23 - 2023-06-24 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
A traveling exhibition featuring items from the Belchertown State School will be at the Clapp Memorial Library on Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24. Kate Anderson will be present on behalf of the Friends of the Belchertown State School to answer questions and take donations.

Ticks & Mosquitos: An Educational Presentation
2023-06-26 15:30 - 16:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
June 26, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Learn about:

Ticks and mosquitos
Mosquito- and tick-borne illnesses
Protecting yourself

Exploration and activities for kids!
The bite lab contains illustrations about the life cycles of mosquitos and ticks, myths and facts about mosquitos, ticks, and protecting yourself. It also has a display case with 15 species of mosquitos found in Massachusetts and examples of ticks. There are also a couple of videos talking about ticks and mosquitos.
Presented by:
Kirsten Krieger RN
Public Health Nurse
Quabbin Health District
Quabbin Health District
126 Main Street, Suite D | Ware, MA 01082 | 413-967-9615 |
www.quabbinhealthdistrict.com
Director: Andrea Crete MPH, RS / Public Health Nurse: Kirsten L Krieger
RN, BSN

Teen Trivia Night
2023-06-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Celebrate the start of the Teen Summer Reading Program with a Teen Trivia Night at the Clapp Memorial Library on Friday, June 30th at 6:00PM. Test your knowledge on everything from pop culture, to local geography, to other common (and obscure) information! All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program, and the winner will receive a gift card to a local business. Teens ages 12-18 can register at the library or by emailing clapplibrarytab@gmail.com.
To sign up for Summer Reading, visit clapplibrary.beanstack.com or use the Beanstack app.

Library Closing: Independence Day 2023
2023-07-03 - 2023-07-04 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will be closed in observation of Independence Day

Summer Eats Kick-Off
2023-07-05 11:00 - 12:30 | Chestnut Hill Community School, 59 State St, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Come on by for the Summer Eats Kick-Off! 11:00AM on July 5th at Chestnut Hill Community School.
Every summer, Summer Eats provides meals at the Chestnut Hill Community School. Find Ms Jennifer at Chestnut Hill Community School on July 5th for the launch of this year’s Summer Eats program. Lunch is served 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM, doors at 11:00 AM. Free lunch for all children under the age 18.
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.

Summer Reading Bingo
2023-07-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Teens ages 12-18 are invited to the library’s second annual Summer Reading Bingo program on Friday, July 7th from 6:00-7:00PM. Teens will play bingo for the chance to win awesome prizes like gift cards and new board games, signed books, and more! All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program. Teens can sign up for this program at the library or by emailing clapplibrarytab@gmail.com. Teens must be registered for the Teen Summer Reading Program to attend this program.
To sign up for Summer Reading, visit clapplibrary.beanstack.com or use the Beanstack app.

Babytime Story Time (3-12 mo) Summer 2023
2023-07-10 09:00 - 09:45 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Babytime Story Time (3-12 mo) Spring 2023
9:00-9:45 AM, Mondays, July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7 & 14
Babytime is for ages 3 – 12 months and begins @ 9:00 AM. Registration is required. Our story times feature age-appropriate stories, songs, finger plays and art activities.
Registration and confirmation required, click here to sign up. Registration open until all slots are filled. If the program is full you will be placed on a wait list. Confirmations and program information will be sent out several days before the program starts.
Summer Story Times are part of our Summer Reading Program, starting June 16th. Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

Firststeps Story Time (12-24 mo) Summer 2023
2023-07-10 10:00 - 10:45 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Monday Firststeps (12-24 months) Summer 2023
10:00-10:45 AM, Mondays, July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7 & 14
Firststeps is for ages 12 – 24 months and begins @ 10:00 AM. Registration is required. Our story times feature age-appropriate stories, songs, finger plays and art activities.
Registration and confirmation required, click here to sign up. Registration open until all slots are filled. If the program is full you will be placed on a wait list. Confirmations and program information will be sent out several days before the program starts.
Summer Story Times are part of our Summer Reading Program, starting June 16th. Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

Needle Felting Workshop - Program Full
2023-07-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
PROGRAM FULL
Come learn the art of needle felting at the Clapp Memorial Library! Local fiber artist Anna Sunschauer will teach you how to sculpt fluffy wool fiber into a bluebird ornament using felting needles. No prior needle felting experience is necessary, but it is recommended that all participants have good fine motor skills to avoid injury with the sharp needles.
The Library is offering this workshop at two different times: Monday, July 10th at 6 PM and Wednesday, July 12 at 2:30 PM.
This workshop is open to adults and teens ages 12 & up, and is limited to 8 participants per session. All necessary tools and materials will be provided.
Program is currently full, all new sign-ups will be added to the waitlist
https://www.instagram.com/whimsical.fiber/

Tuesday Toddler Time (2 years) Summer 2023
2023-07-11 09:30 - 10:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Tuesday Toddler Time (2-3 years) Summer 2023
9:30-10:30 AM, Tuesdays, July 11, 18, 25, August 1, 8, 15
Toddler Storytime is for children aged 2 years, and begins @ 9:30 AM. Registration is required. Our story times feature age-appropriate stories, songs, finger plays and art activities.
Registration and confirmation required, click here to sign up. Registration open until all slots are filled. If the program is full you will be placed on a wait list. Confirmations and program information will be sent out several days before the program starts.
Summer Story Times are part of our Summer Reading Program, starting June 16th. Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

Getting Ready for Kindergarten Summer 2023
2023-07-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Getting Ready for Kindergarten Summer 2023
10:00-11:00 am, Wednesdays, July 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16
Getting Ready for Kindergarten is for children entering Kindergarten this fall and beings at @ 10:00 AM. Getting Ready for Kindergarten feature age-appropriate stories, songs, finger plays and art activities independent of their caregivers to prepare young children for school. Program will be held in the Children’s Activity Room.
Registration and confirmation required, click here to sign up. Registration open until all slots are filled. If the program is full you will be placed on a wait list. Confirmations and program information will be sent out several days before the program starts.
Summer Story Times are part of our Summer Reading Program, starting June 16th. Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

"Join IN" with Diane Edgecomb
2023-07-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us at 6PM on July 12th for an evening full of stories and music on the Library Lawn (in the case of rain, Town Hall Auditorium)!
Sing, Dance & Join right in Diane’s Musical Stories in this fun-loving family event. We’ll learn the song of the wind in the Old Apple Tree tale and act out rainforest animals in the Amazon story of Kibungo, joining together to defeat a great, big, smelly monster! Did you know that Jack didn’t just have a beanstalk but a whole pocketful of bugs that made everybody dance?? Don’t miss the fun as he turns the town inside out getting everyone to kick up their heels and dance. Led by award-winning performer Diane Edgecomb we’ll all JOIN IN a warm-hearted celebration of community and fun.
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.
Funded by the Belchertown Cultural Council

Raising Readers Story Time (3-6 years) Summer 2023
2023-07-13 09:30 - 10:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
STORYTIME FULL WITH WAITLIST.
Raising Readers Story Time (3-6 years) Summer 2023
9:30-10:30 am, Thursdays, July 13, 20, 27, August 3, 10, 17
Raising Readers Story Time is for ages 3-6 and begins @ 9:30 AM. Registration is required. Our story times feature age-appropriate stories, songs, finger plays and art activities.
Registration and confirmation required, click here to sign up. Registration open until all slots are filled. If the program is full you will be placed on a wait list. Confirmations and program information will be sent out several days before the program starts.
Summer Story Times are part of our Summer Reading Program, starting June 16th. Make sure to sign your child up for Summer Reading at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

Red Sox Nation
2023-07-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Take a fun and enlightening journey through Boston Red Sox history with the author of The Ultimate Boston Red Sox Time Machine Book. This presentation features exciting and nostalgic videos of the greatest and most fascinating players, teams, events and moments in franchise history. The program also includes trivia questions for patrons to ponder and covers Sox history from the Royal Rooters, who launched Red Sox Nation, to Babe Ruth to Ted Williams to The Impossible Dream Season of 1967 to Lynn, Rice and ’75 to the heartbreak of 1986 all the way to the four World Series championships and beyond. It will conclude with a question-and-answer period. Author Martin Gitlin will have autographed and personalized copies of his book available online following the program.

Drive by Book Drop Off
2023-07-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Friends of the Library are collecting donations for their Fall Book Sale! Clearing your shelves? Have boxes of books that need a home? Load your car up and drive up on Saturday, July 15th or Saturday, August 12th, from 9am-12PM. Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library will be on hand to unload any book donations. Event is rain or shine.
The Friends take more than just books:

DVDs
CD Audio Books
Records (LPs and 45s)
Music CDs
Comic Books
Hobby magazines & National Geographics
Postcards

The Friends cannot accept donations of the following items:

Cassettes – Music or Audio books
VHS
Encyclopedias over 5 years old
News, cooking, or decorating magazines
Reader’s Digest Condensed Books
Textbooks older than 15 years

Raising Our Voices with Davis Bates
2023-07-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Raising Our Voices Together: A Song and Story Performance and Workshop by Davis Bates!
Teens are invited to the library on Tuesday, July 18th at 2:00PM for a lively event by award-winning singer and storyteller, Davis Bates! The program will include sea shanties, songs from the sixties, union songs, civil rights songs, & stories about Davis’s journey as a storyteller and involvement in various social movements over the last 60 years. There will also be exercises designed to get folks to share their own stories. Register at the library or by emailing clapplibrarytab@gmail.com.
This performance is funded, in part, by a grant from the Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
To sign up for Summer Reading, visit clapplibrary.beanstack.com or use the Beanstack app.

Storytelling & Origami with Motoko
2023-07-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Town Hall Auditorium, 1 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us at 6PM on July 19th, Belchertown Town Hall Auditorium for storytelling and origami making with Motoko!
Motoko Dworkin, a native of Osaka, Japan, first came to the U. S. as an exchange student to University of Massachusetts. She has performed professionally since 1993, going to hundreds of schools, libraries, museums, festivals, and even “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood!
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.

PAWS to Read with Max
2023-07-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Students in grades 1 through 5, who are reluctant or struggling readers, may register to read with Max the therapy bunny.
Sessions will last 20 minutes, please arrive on time.
Students must have a book picked out ahead of time.
To register, contact Jennifer at 413-323-0417 ext 709 or email at jwhitehead@cwmars.org.
Benefits!

Reduces stress, lowers heart rate and therefore allows for success.
No judgement
Builds confidence

Teen Write Night: Sundaes & Stories
2023-07-26 17:00 - 18:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Teens ages 12-18 are invited to the Clapp Memorial Library on Wednesday, July 26th from 5:00-6:00PM for a Teen Write Night: Sundaes & Stories program. Teens will be invited to partake in an ice cream sundae-making station as they play writing games and write together. No creative writing experience is necessary to attend. All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program. Teens are encouraged to bring a laptop, or a notebook and pen/pencil to this program (as well as a sweet tooth!)
To sign up for Summer Reading, visit clapplibrary.beanstack.com or use the Beanstack app.

Pamela Means Jazz Project Concert
2023-07-26 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Wednesday, July 26th at 6 pm on the Library Lawn (in the case of rain, Town Hall Auditorium)
An evening of music for the whole family! Pamela Means returns to the CML to perform for families with the Pamela Means Jazz Project. Pamela is one of the fiercest guitar players and politically-rooted songwriters in the music industry and lives in Northampton. Bring your energy and enjoy an evening of music.
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.

Forensic Genealogy
2023-08-01 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Delve into the world of Forensic Genealogy, also known as investigative genetic genealogy, and advances in solving cold cases of missing and murdered persons!
Dr. Redgrave will present a general overview of forensic genetic genealogy, examples of cases that he has worked on with his team, and the particular difficulties inherent in cases involving LGBTQ+ victims. Dr. Redgrave will also be available to answer any technical or ethical questions presented by attendees.
Anthony Redgrave (he/him) of Redgrave Research Forensic Services is a founding board member of the Trans Doe Task Force, an organization that seeks to resolve cases of missing, murdered, and unidentified members of the queer community, especially Transgender individuals. His dissertation focused on determining barriers to communication between members of key stakeholder groups affected by the use of forensic genetic genealogy in order to develop standards of practice that support its use to resolve cold cases of fatal violence towards marginalized victims. He is also the founder and instructor of FG4LE (Forensic Genealogy for Law Enforcement), an online education program designed to teach forensic genetic genealogy to law enforcement professionals, and Redgrave Research Forensic Services, a forensic genetic genealogy research team for hire by law enforcement clients and private clients with difficult genetic genealogy questions that others haven’t been able to answer. He has assisted in the resolution of dozens of cold cases since 2018 and presents frequently at universities and academic conferences on the topics of forensic genetic genealogy and the reduction of postmortem violence towards Transgender individuals.
For more information on Dr. Redgrave, his work, and cases he has worked on, visit https://www.facebook.com/redgraveresearch

Free Teen Book Hours
2023-08-02 15:00 - 16:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Celebrate the end of the Teen Summer Reading Program by picking out a free teen book to keep for good! The Clapp Memorial Library is having “Free Teen Book Hours” on August 2nd from 3:00-4:00PM and August 11th from 5:00-6:00PM. A table with bins of books will be set up outside the side door of the library during this hour for teens to pick a new favorite. Teens must be registered for the Teen Summer Reading Program to pick out a book, and they may register at the table. Teens who attend will also be eligible for an additional raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program. Teens may attend both book hours for a maximum of two books as supplies last. Books are donated by the library and the Friends of the Library.
To sign up for Summer Reading, visit clapplibrary.beanstack.com or use the Beanstack app.
