Clapp Memorial Library

Longsword Training
2025-07-21 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Monday, July 21, 6-8pm
One of the historical martial arts that had died out, is being brought back to life! Join Castle Nitor for a fun lesson on the German Longsword. See how they reconstruct the techniques from period texts and try it out yourself. Must be at least 16 years old to participate in this program.
Registration required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/g8Aemp5zKPiMnvtWA
Due to the high popularity of the program and limited capacity, seats will be filled by lottery drawn from all registrants signed up by Monday, July 14.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals
2025-07-22 11:00 - 12:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Tuesday, July 22nd, 11am
Meet the author and illustrator of Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals, an award-winning STEM picture book based on and informed by real-world veterinarians. Jennifer, the author, and Rozillia, the illustrator, will first tell the story behind the book of Dr. Rosie and then engage kids in an interactive reading.
Registration is required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/Vt3LHtLrwstsczGU6
This program is for ages 4 to 8. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver who is 14 years of age or older.
Following the reading will be a hands-on activity where kids (and their grownups) diagnose and treat a stuffy. Each participant will receive a mini vet kit and diagnostic/treatment sheet to take home. This program will take place in the Activity Room.
https://drrosiehelpstheanimals.org/

Dr. Rosie's Science of Helping Animals
2025-07-22 13:00 - 14:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Tuesday, July 22nd, 1 pm to 2:30 pm
Meet the author and illustrator of Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals, an award-winning STEM picture book based on and informed by real-world veterinarians. Jennifer, the author, and Rozillia, the illustrator, will first tell the story behind the book of Dr. Rosie and then engage kids in an interactive reading. Following the reading, students will perform some experiments, make hot/cold compresses (Kitty Compress), aloe vera bath crystals and a working stethoscope. They will learn how to give stitches to their Kitty Compress and take vitals on a Brightspot Therapy Dog using real veterinary instruments.
Registration is required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/rPwnLH9Z7QaThDng6
This program is for ages 8 to 12. Children under 10 must be accompanied by a caregiver who is 14 years of age or older.

Creative Art with Crayons: Almond Blossoms
2025-07-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Come and create Vincent Van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms with crayons!
Marie Tucker will lead you step by step to make your own beautiful work of art.
Registration required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/JTJC3mp2ToojGLKG8
Due to the high popularity of the program and limited capacity, seats will be filled by lottery drawn from all registrants signed up by Tuesday, July 15.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Teen Book Club (July 2025)
2025-07-23 15:00 - 16:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Clapp Memorial Library has a book club for teens entering grades 7-12! This Teen Book Club is in conjunction with the MA Teen Choice Book Awards (MTCBA), the only book award in the state selected by teens. Each month teens will read and meet to discuss one book from the nominee list. On Wednesday, July 23rd from 3:00-4:00PM, teens will discuss this month’s pick. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the library’s circulation desk and on the hoopla app. Snacks will be provided at the meeting. Email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com with any questions. All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program.

Rolie Polie Guacamole
2025-07-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
July 23rd at 6PM on the Clapp Memorial Library Lawn! (In the case of rain, Town Hall Auditorium. Please note: as of 7/14, the Town Hall elevator is out of service for an expected 6-8 weeks, limiting access to entrances with stairs until a ramp can be installed)
Don’t miss the return of this fantastic band from Brooklyn, NY! Winner of the prestigious Parents’ Choice® and NAPPA Awards, Rolie Polie Guacamole has developed a smart, parent-friendly musical style that dresses up original tunes and classic covers with vibrant harmonies and deft instrumental layers, plugging in a sizzling electric current of rhythm that lights up lyrics humming with relevance and humor.
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 is funded by Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community sponsors.

The Dale: Author Talk with Michael Parzymieso
2025-07-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Wednesday, July 23 at 7PM, the Clapp Memorial Library is hosting an author talk with Michael Parzymieso where he will talk about his debut novel. The Dale is a supernatural thriller set in the town of Cold Springs, a fictionalized version of Belchertown. Parzymieso has written for local, regional, and national magazines. His love of the outdoors was inspired during his youth living in western Massachusetts and roaming the wild, lost, and forgotten places in the Quabbin. As a novelist, he writes about the power of faith and friendship in the face of malevolent evil. Copies of his book will be available for purchase and signing.
Celebrate Summer Reading with us! Sign up at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

Teen Card-making for C4HK
2025-07-25 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 to do good by making greeting cards to be sent to Cards for Hospitalized Kids. This program will take place Friday, July 25th from 6:00-7:00PM. Email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com or call the library to register. All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program.

Puzzle Competition
2025-07-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Tuesday, July 29, 6-8pm
Are you ready to puzzle? Sign up in a team of two for a speed puzzling competition where pairs of contestants race to finish a 500 piece puzzle. The 1st place finishers receive a brand new puzzle.
Registration required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/rzH7JPQw1ZA8RKQy6
The puzzles for this program were generously donated by Ravensburger.
Celebrate Summer Reading with us! Sign up at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

Pokémon Diamond-Painting
2025-07-30 15:00 - 16:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Teens ages 12-18 are invited to diamond-paint a Pokémon drink coaster at the library! All materials will be provided, but Pokémon options and space are limited; email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com or call the library to register. All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program. Teens must be registered for the Teen Summer Reading Program to attend. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Ultraviolet Concert
2025-07-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Come rock out with Belchertown’s own teen band on the Clapp Memorial Library Lawn (in case of rain, Town Hall. Please note: as of 7/14, the Town Hall elevator is out of service for an expected 6-8 weeks, limiting access to entrances with stairs until a ramp can be installed) on July 30th at 6PM.
Ultraviolet is a teen band from Belchertown. Lily (vocals), Wesley (bass), Jake (drums), and John (guitar) have performed at local venues and events such as Food Truck Friday, Auction Allegro, the Belchertown Fair, and Arcpoint Brewery and the DCU center in Worcester. From rock to pop punk they play hits from bands such as Greenday, Paramore, Pat Benatar, and more.
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 Summer Reading Party: Tie-Dye, Ultraviolet, and Free Books!
2025-08-01 17:00 - 18:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Teens ages 12-18 are invited for a fun evening of activities on the library’s lawn at the Teen Summer Reading Party on Friday, August 1st from 5:00-6:30PM. Belchertown’s own teen band, Ultraviolet, will provide the entertainment and music as teens choose their free book for participating in the Teen Summer Reading Program. Teens are also encouraged to bring a white shirt (bonus points if it’s a past Summer Reading shirt!) to tie-dye on the lawn during the event.
Email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com or call the library to register.
The rain date for this event is August 8th.
All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program; teens must be registered for the Teen Summer Reading Program to attend. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Peregrine Road
2025-08-01 19:00 - 20:15 | Belchertown United Church of Christ, ​18 Park Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join the Clapp Memorial Library on Friday, August 1st at 7pm for a performance by the musical duo, Peregrine Road. The concert will take place at the Belchertown United Church of Christ at 20 Park St, where the library’s 1877 Steinway grand piano is housed, and features Karen Axelrod on piano & accordion and Rachel Bell on accordion. Peregrine Road plays captivating acoustic music that blends chamber music with folk music from Celtic, Appalachian, Quebecois, and other traditions.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.
Celebrate Summer Reading with us! Sign up at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

Oriole Needle Felting
2025-08-05 15:00 - 18:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Tuesday, August 5, 3-6pm
Come explore the exciting world of needle felting in this intergenerational program to be enjoyed by teens and adults! Learn and practice new skills while making a cute bird ornament! Join fiber artist, Tracy Kochanski, as she helps you develop your needle felting skills. In this workshop you’ll learn how to choose wool, use proper needle technique and how to sculpt and attach basic shapes to create the various elements of the bird. Explore form, texture, and detail in a relaxed atmosphere while working with an array of wool. All materials and tools will be provided. All experience levels are welcome.
Registration & confirmation required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/HExU7jULKMw1cvE97
Due to the high popularity of Program and limited capacity, seats will be filled by lottery drawn from all registrants signed up by July 25. Priority will be given to teen/adult pairs.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.
Celebrate Summer Reading with us! Sign up at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

The Grumpytime Club Band
2025-08-06 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
August 6th at 6PM on the Clapp Memorial Library Lawn! (In the case of rain, Town Hall Auditorium)!
The Grumpytime Club offers children and families welcoming and inclusive messages about accepting feelings, celebrating differences, and loving ourselves exactly as we are.
As a queer and gender queer artist, Carrie learned that inner strength derives from knowing, accepting, and loving yourself. They also learned how important it is to use that strength to celebrate and show up for other people and the world in general.
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.
Program is funded by Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community sponsors.

Teen Book Club (August 2025)
2025-08-13 15:00 - 16:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join the library’s Teen Book Club for its last meeting of the summer on Wednesday, August 13th from 3:00-4:00PM. This Teen Book Club is in conjunction with the MA Teen Choice Book Awards (MTCBA), the only book award in the state selected by teens. Copies of the book from the MTCBA nominee list are available for checkout at the library’s circulation desk and on the hoopla and/or Libby app. Snacks will be provided at the meeting. Email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com with any Comment end questions. All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program.

CANCELED Taylor Swift Diamond-Painting
2025-08-13 16:00 - 17:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Program has been canceled, and will be rescheduled at a later date.
Taylor Swift will never go out of Style! Have The Best Day at the library at this Diamond-Painting program for teens ages 12-18! Make your own Bejeweled Diamond-Painted Swiftie Eras bookmark! Space (and Eras) are limited so don’t wait a Fortnight!
Email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com or call the library to register! Are you… Ready for It?
All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program. Teens must be registered for the Teen Summer Reading Program to attend. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Trevor the Games Man - Up in the Air Show
2025-08-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
TREVOR will delight young and old from the moment he arrives on his stilts way up in the air at over 9′ tall! The fun will begin with some really High-Fives… it will get the kids up in the air right from the start, too! The second half of the show will be games for everyone to play on the Library lawn.
Made possible by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community Sponsors

Billy Goats and Beyond: Wildlife Bridge Challenge
2025-08-15 09:30 - 10:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
PROGRAM FULL – to join waitlist, please email jwhitehead@cwmars.org
Beyond Billy Goats: Wildlife Bridge STEM Challenge Presented by the Hitchcock Center for the Environment
Three goats crossing a bridge? Sounds like a fairytale, but it’s actually a great way to keep animals safe! Join a Hitchcock Center educator for this hands-on children’s program. We’ll read a quick story about a real-life animal crossing; then express your inner engineer as you and your adult design, build and test a bridge using simple materials. Can it stand strong in a salamander stampede or a mammal migration? And we’ll end with a visit from a live critter who puts wildlife bridges to use.
Best for children ages 5 to 10 with an adult. Registration is required.
Program is funded by Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community sponsors
Celebrate Summer Reading with us! Sign up at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

Summer Reading Finale
2025-08-18 18:00 - 19:30 | Chestnut Hill Community School, 59 State St, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Monday, August 18th, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Doors open at 5:45 PM
All the children that complete Level Up at Your Library are invited to join the fun at our finale in the Chestnut Hill Community School auditorium (subject to change). Following the show, everyone will go to the cafeteria for ice cream, a free book, and some social time.
Program is funded by Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community sponsors.

Library Closing: Labor Day 2025
2025-09-01 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will be closed in observation of Labor Day

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.

Wednesday Whodunnits
2025-09-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Our Mystery Book Group is held on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. Join us as we discuss a different mystery novel each month. Copies of the current month’s pick available at the library. Email mmarszalek@cwmars.org with any questions.

Teen Advisory Board (Sep 2025)
2025-09-12 16:30 - 17:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Clapp Memorial Library’s Teen Advisory Board will meet Friday, September 12th from 4:30-5:30PM in the library’s Activity Room for its first meeting of the 2025-2026 school year! TAB is a group of 7th-12th grade students who meet monthly during the school year to propose library programming for teens, provide input on teen services, volunteer, and have fun! At this meeting, teens will socialize, discuss the year ahead, and plan their community craft for the Belchertown Fair’s Exhibit Hall. Teens can email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com to register.

Cookbook Club (Sep 2025)
2025-09-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Friday, September 12, 6:30pm
Do you like browsing cookbooks and trying new recipes? In the Cookbook Club, we each make a recipe from a cookbook and bring it for everyone to try. Taste, enjoy, and chat with your new cookbook friends!
This month’s book is The Ikaria way by Diane Kochilas. Please register and choose a recipe by September 5.
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/mPiAFca8fDv8Riov6
Registration & confirmation required. Program limited to 12 participants

Literary Monsters
2025-09-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
A unique perspective on the works of Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, Washington Irving, Emily Dickinson and others is coming to the Clapp Memorial Library through the marriage of original music, shadow puppetry and cinematography and special effects.
The group, known as Shadow, Sound, Spectacle, will be performing Literary Monsters on Saturday, September 13 at 4pm. The performance is a collaborative project of different pieces led by Northampton-based singer-songwriter Jess Martin, Boston puppeteer Amy West and musician/visual artist Abby Hanna, who is also Northampton-based. The production seeks to reimagine iconic gothic figures like Frankenstein’s creature, Poe’s raven and the Headless Horseman, as symbols of resistance, transformation and queer identity. The event is free and open to the public. 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.

Early Closing: Belchertown Fair 2025
2025-09-19 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will close at 4pm.

Teen Wellness Table
2025-09-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Clapp Memorial Library will have a table on their front lawn from 2:00-3:30PM on September 19th for teens in grades 7-12 walking from school to the Belchertown Fair. Teens can stop by for free water, granola bars, and snacks as supplies last! This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.
