Crochet
2026-05-04 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
May 4th, 4 PM
Join us to learn how to crochet a chick amigurumi with Melissa Rivera of Nerdy Mom Craft. All materials are provided. Registration and confirmation required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/gGWzikNefwP8bMDs6
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

An Introduction to Nature Photography for Children
2026-05-05 15:15 - 17:00, 2026-05-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Chestnut Hill Community School, 59 State St, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
There will be two ViewFinder photography workshops for children. These will be open to children 4 years old and above. Children up to the sixth grade must be accompanied and assisted by an adult. Maximum group size is 6 children. Click here to register.
Location: The School Garden in front of the Swift River Elementary School
Instructor: Holly is interested in the colors, forms, and patterns displayed throughout the diversity of life. She believes that photography allows us to look more thoughtfully and carefully at all of nature’s beauty, big and small. She volunteers with students at Swift River Elementary and in the Belchertown School Garden.

BHS and Swift River Elementary Present A Collaborative Art Show
2026-05-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The public is invited to the Clapp Memorial Library on Tuesday, May 5th from 6-7pm for a Collaborative Art Show featuring works by BHS and Swift River Elementary School students! The reception will celebrate Swift River students’ 2D monster drawings reimagined into 3D sculptures by BHS students. Light refreshments will be provided. Artwork will remain on display throughout the month of May. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Sushi Diamond-Painting with Kansai!
2026-05-06 16:30 - 18:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Teens in grades 7-12 are invited to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with a special Sushi Diamond-Painting Program at the Clapp Memorial Library featuring free sushi donated by Kansai Asian Bistro! On Wednesday, May 6th from 4:30-6:00PM in the library’s Activity Room, teens will diamond-paint their own kawaii sushi magnets while enjoying sushi from Kansai. Instruction and materials will be provided. Space is limited; email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com to register. Upon registering, please make our Teen Events Coordinator aware of any allergies. The library wishes to thank Kansai for their generous donation and partnership!

Free Food Friday (May 2026)
2026-05-08 14:00 - 15:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us for the last Free Food Friday of the school year! Teens in grades 7-12 are invited to the library Friday, May 8th, from 2:00-3:30PM for free snacks (as supplies last) as they visit and use the library. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Cookbook Club (May 2026)
2026-05-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
May 8, 6:30 PM
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! The May cookbook is Nothing fancy by Alison Roman.
Registration & confirmation required, click here to sign up.

Janet Crosier Book Talk
2026-05-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us for a presentation and book signing with author Janet Crosier. Her novel, Shadows on the Heath, imagines the missing three years of Heathcliff’s life from Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. Copies of the book along with Janet’s latest novel, Weymouth House, will be available for purchase.
Janet Crosier is an adjunct English Professor in Western Massachusetts and member of the Brontë Society, Modern Language Association, and Straw Dog Writers’ Guild. She has published her research, poetry, and several short stories with the International Academic Forum, New Dimensions in the Humanities, Common Ground, and the University of Massachusetts.

Teen Advisory Board (May 2026)
2026-05-15 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 have its last meeting of the school year on Friday, May 15th from 4:30-5:30PM in the library’s Activity Room. Free pizza will be provided as we celebrate this year’s accomplishments and talk about opportunities for summer programming and volunteering. Teens who have attended any TAB meetings during the past school year are invited and can email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com to register.

Plant Swap
2026-05-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Bring a plant (or not!) to the library and swap it for a new one. The program takes place on the library lawn. Monthly on the third Tuesday of the month from May to September.
This program is funded by the Belchertown & Around Plant Swap

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.

Teen Book Club (May 2026)
2026-05-20 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 in 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. May’s meeting will be Wednesday, May 20th from 3:00-4:00PM. Teens will discuss Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the library’s circulation desk and on the Libby and hoopla apps. Snacks will be provided at the meeting. Email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com with any questions.

ViewFinder Submission Support
2026-05-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Taking part in ViewFinder, Belchertown’s all-ages photo contest? Come by the library for assistance submitting your photos online:

Saturday, May 23, 10am-12pm
Tuesday, May 26, 5:30-6:30pm
Wednesday, May 27, 5:30-6:30pm

What is ViewFinder?
A juried, all-ages, photo contest will run from March 21 through May 30. Photographs must be taken in Belchertown. Contestants will be juried alongside their peers in youth and adult age groups, and between wildlife, landscape, and macro/close up categories.
Winning photos will be printed and exhibited at the library in July, with a reception on July 1st at 6PM to celebrate the winners. Winners will receive a certificate and 5 postcards with their photo, and can pick up and keep their photo after the exhibit.

Library Closing: Memorial Day 2026
2026-05-25 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will be closed in observation of Memorial Day

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.

Kinti Ensemble
2026-06-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On Tuesday, June 2 at 7pm, the Clapp Memorial Library will be hosting the musical duo, Kinti Ensemble. Kinti is named after the Quechua word for hummingbird, qʼinti, and, like their namesake, builds a bridge between North and South America. Inti Curi Cachimuel is a virtuosic Quichua indigenous musician and composer from Otavalo, Ecuador with fluidity in a wide range of styles from traditional Andean to jazz. Cellist Rebecca Hartka has always concurrently explored a variety of styles and improvisation. With a strong impulse to connect across cultures, Hartka was inspired to travel to Cuba and the Yucatán, Mexico in 2019 and 2020, where she collaborated with Mayan musicians in concert. The duo has been inspiring audiences since 2021 in a range of venues throughout New England with a unique sound rooted in the music of their Celtic and Andean indigenous ancestors, as well as original looped and partially improvised compositions inspired by the natural world. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Teen Crafternoon: Show Your Pride with Perler Beads!
2026-06-05 16:00 - 17:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Teens in grades 7-12 are invited to a special Pride-themed Teen Crafternoon on Friday, June 5th at 4:00PM in the Clapp Memorial Library’s Activity Room! Teens will show their pride or allyship by making Pride-themed perler bead keychains and magnets. No prior experience with perler beads is necessary. Space is limited; email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com to register. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Pride Movie Matinee: Were the World Mine
2026-06-09 15:00 - 16:45 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Grab your popcorn for this program series! Tuesdays in June we’re showing a series of films for Pride Month in our Activity Room! Features include a Hayes-code era classic, a teen coming of age, parents helping their son propose, and a documentary. Snacks provided, no registration required.
Were the World Mine (2008), TV14, 1hr 36min
A coming of age romance at a private boy’s school where a gay teen is cast as Puck in his school’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, ending up with a love potion that causes havoc in his conservative town.
Starring Tanner Cohen, Nathaniel David Becker, Zelda Williams, Judy McLane, and Jill Larson.
Public performance rights provided through Kanopy

Fabric of the Revolution: Recreating a 13 Star American Flag
2026-06-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On June 9, 2026, join fiber artist Holly Field for a talk about her project “The Fabric of a Revolution: Recreating a 13 Star American Flag.” She will discuss the process of creating a historically accurate 18th century American flag, and display her finished product. In her talk she will share how her flag was constructed – starting with the raw materials of sheep’s fleece and flax, then spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finally sewing – as well as the connection to people in American history who would have been involved in these same processes.
Talk from 7 – 7:30 followed by discussion with the artist until 8pm. The flag will continue to be on display at Clapp Memorial Library through June.
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Fabric of the Revolution Workshop
2026-06-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
On June 13 at 10am, local fiber artist Holly Field will be hosting an activity at the Clapp Memorial Library where participants can make their own copy of George Washington’s headquarters flag, the Washington Standard. This flag was flown during the Revolutionary War to mark Washington’s position in camp and on the battlefield. During the activity, participants will dye a Washington Standard of their own using a natural Indigo dye bath to color our flags blue. The cotton fabric we will be using has been pre-treated so that the dye will not stick to the area where the stars are, creating the star pattern as if by magic when the flag is removed from the dye. The dyeing process can be messy so please dress appropriately. This activity is limited to 18 participants, ages 10 to adult, and will take place on the front lawn of the library. Kids under 13 need to be accompanied by an adult. Click here to sign up.
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.

Pride Movie Matinee: The Children’s Hour
2026-06-16 15:00 - 16:45 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Grab your popcorn for this program series! Tuesdays in June we’re showing a series of films for Pride Month in our Activity Room! Features include a Hayes-code era classic, a teen coming of age, parents helping their son propose, and a documentary. Snacks provided, no registration required.
The Children’s Hour (1962), PG, 1hr 47min
Based on the play of the same name by Lillian Hellman, this movie tells the story of two women who start a boarding school and have their lives ruined by a lie. This movie was only possible due to an amendment to the Hayes code the previous year, and is the second film adaptation of the play by director William Wyler.
Starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner, and Miriam Hopkins
Public performance rights provided through SWANK

LibraryBEATS! Drum and Rhythm Circle
2026-06-18 17:30 - 18:45 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Celebrate Juneteenth at the Clapp Memorial Library!
LibraryBEATS! Drum and Rhythm with Otha Day is a fun and lively drumming circle. Otha believes that rhythm has the power to build community, promote well-being, and create joy. Let’s share this experience together.
The drumming circle will be on the Library’s front lawn. Bring chairs or blankets but no experience in percussion is needed. In case of inclement weather, we will meet in the Town Hall Auditorium.
Geared towards ages 3 to 103. Children under the age of 10 must have a caregiver at least 14 years old on the Library property
Funded in part by The Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency funded by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Library Closing: Juneteenth 2026
2026-06-19 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will be closed in observation of Juneteenth

Pamela Means Presents: Black, Brown Beige
2026-06-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us on the front lawn of the Clapp Memorial Library for a concert on Saturday, June 20th at 5pm as we welcome singer-songwriter, jazz musician, educator, and activist, Pamela Means. This new program celebrates the artistry and cultural contributions of Black, Brown and Beige musicians; a nod to Duke Ellington in title and celebration. This concert honors artists who have used their voices, their lives, and their art to call out injustice, inspire compassion, and prove possibilities of a just and loving world. Highlighted artists include Bessie Smith, Leadbelly, Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Marvin Gaye, Tracy Chapman, Prince, and more! Inimitable voices that have played an integral part of our nation’s history from its earliest formation to the present day. In case of rain, the concert will take place inside Town Hall.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Pride Movie Matinee: The Birdcage
2026-06-23 15:00 - 17:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Grab your popcorn for this program series! Tuesdays in June we’re showing a series of films for Pride Month in our Activity Room! Features include a Hayes-code era classic, a teen coming of age, parents helping their son propose, and a documentary. Snacks provided, no registration required.
The Birdcage (1996), R, 2hr
A gay couple who run a nightclub are challenged to play it straight when their son brings home his fiancée—the daughter of an ultraconservative senator.
Starring Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Dan Futterman
Public performance rights provided through SWANK

Teen Book Club (June 2026)
2026-06-24 15:00 - 16:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Wednesday, June 24th from 3:00-4:00PM
Are you a tween or teen age 12-18? The library has a Teen Book Club 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. June’s meeting will be Wednesday, June 24th from 3:00-4:00PM. Teens will discuss The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the library’s circulation desk and on the Libby and hoopla apps. 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.

Teen Crafternoon: Diamond-Painting Pollinators
2026-06-24 16:00 - 17:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Wednesday, June 24th from 4:00-5:30PM
Teens ages 12-18 are invited to diamond-paint a pollinator garden stake on Wednesday, June 24th from 4:00-5:30PM in the library’s Activity Room! All materials will be provided, but design 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.

Sweet Seeds of Summer Drawing Series
2026-06-25 16:30 - 18:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Come explore using the basic elements of art (with a focus on line, shape, value) to learn to draw some summer fruits and their seeds! Each class is seeded with sketching, story, and the juicy goodness of summer fruits. We will slurp up some tasty stories as we read a book that celebrates each fruit we draw.
These are introductory, instructional drawing classes for kids 7 to 11 to be held in the Clapp Memorial Library’s Activity Room. During the class, we will work out our drawing muscles and draw the fruit from what we know. Then learn to draw what we see. Completed artwork from the first two classes will be put on display at the Library during the month of August.
Registration required. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/1YTr4WEsPwa5szkk9
Thursday June 25th – Tart Art – Let’s Draw a Lemon
Monday, July 13th – Sweet Sketches – Let’s Draw a Watermelon
Tuesday, August 4th – Peaches, Peaches, Peaches – Let’s Draw a Peach

Touch A Truck
2026-06-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Hands on fun with the Belchertown community! Kick off the summer at the Clapp Memorial Library and see vehicles from our Fire, Police, and Public Works department, and more. There will be activities, registration for our summer reading program, “Plant A Seed, Read!,” special guests, and more. Families can purchase treats from Cindy’s Drive-In’s new ice cream truck. Children can stop by the summer reading table for a free book, while supplies last. No registration required. This is a rain or shine event but not a storm event.
The event is funded in part by the Friends of Clapp Memorial Library. Free books are funded by the Friends of Clapp Memorial Library and a Coordinated Family and Community Engagement grant.

Cupcake Wars
2026-06-29 16:00 - 17:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Monday, June 29th from 4:00-5:30PM
Teens ages 12-18 are invited to the Clapp Memorial Library for a Summer Reading-themed edition of Cupcake Wars on Monday, June 29th from 4:00-5:30PM in the library’s Activity Room! Participants will be given themes and timed rounds to decorate their cupcakes and can take home the tasty treats at the end of the program.
All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program; the winner will receive a gift certificate to Carefree Cakery in North Amherst. Teens can sign up for the program at the library or by emailing clapplibrarytab@gmail.com. Teens must be registered for the Teen Summer Reading Program to attend. Space is limited.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.
