Babytime Story Time (3-12 months) Spring 2026
2026-04-27 09:00 - 09:45, 2026-05-04 09:00 - 09:45 (America/New_York) | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Babytime Story Time (3-12 months)
9:00-9:45 AM, Mondays, Mar 16, 23, 30, Apr 6, 27, May 4
Babytime is for ages 3 – 12 months and begins @ 9:00 AM. Registration & confirmation required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/uZjXjHN6ZJkiNcwN6. Our story times feature age-appropriate stories, songs, finger plays and art activities.
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.

First Steps Storytime (12-24 months) Spring 2026
2026-04-27 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-05-04 10:00 - 10:45 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
First Steps Story Time (12-24 months)
10:00-10:45 AM, Mondays, Mar 16, 23, 30, Apr 6, 27, May 4

First Steps is for ages 12 – 24 months and begins @ 10:00 AM. Registration & confirmation required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/Xb2xXyQhxDnQGNbHA. Our story times feature age-appropriate stories, songs, finger plays and art activities.
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.

Clapp Critics
2026-04-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Our fiction book club, Clapp Critics meets every 4th Monday of the Month. Email mmarszalek@cwmars.org with any questions.

Toddler Time (2 year olds) Spring 2026
2026-04-28 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-05-05 09:30 - 10:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Tuesday Toddler Time (2 years) Spring 2026
9:30-10:30 am, Tuesdays, Mar 17, 24, 31, Apr 7, 28, May 5
Toddler Time is for children 2-3 years old, and begins @ 9:30 AM. Registration & confirmation required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/EUYVfSKvghX9Fuw96. Our story times feature age-appropriate stories, songs, finger plays and art activities.
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.

Frankenstein Reading Group
2026-04-28 14:00 - 15:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Have you ever wanted to take the time to discuss a novel in depth? In this five-session group, we will discuss the Gothic novel, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. The discussion will be introduced and facilitated by retired professor David Spector. Copies of the book will be available to checkout at the circulation desk.
Registration and confirmation required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/PSFBMP9xJmUxE5Ru5
The group will meet from 2 to 3:30 PM on Tuesdays. The first meeting is on Tuesday, March 31 and meets weekly through April 28. All sessions take place in the Library’s activity room except for the April 14 session, which will meet in the Town Hall.
A public screening of Frankenstein, the 1931 film starring Boris Karloff will take place on Tuesday, April 7.

SFF Book Club
2026-04-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
A monthly book group for lovers of high fantasy, hard science fiction, fable, far future, and all of the speculative fiction options.
We meet online via Google Meet.
Upcoming reads:

A Letter to the Luminous Deep / Sylvie Cathrall (8/25)
Kaiju Preservation Society / John Scalzi (9/22)
Of Monsters and Mainframes / Barbara Truelove (10/27)
The Mimicking of Known Successes / Malka Older (11/24)

To sign-up or ask questions email Tegan at tmannino@cwmars.org

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.

Teen Book Club (April 2026)
2026-04-29 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! On Wednesday, April 29th from 3:00-4:00PM, teens will discuss The Wilderness of Girls by Madeline Claire Franklin. 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.

Teen Crafternoon: Perler Bead Earrings
2026-04-29 16:00 - 17:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Teens in grades 7-12 are invited to the library’s Activity Room for a Teen Crafternoon on Wednesday, April 29th from 4:00-5:00PM! Teens will make their own earrings using perler beads. Design options are endless, but patterns will be provided for those needing inspiration. No prior experience is necessary. Space is limited; email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com to register. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Preschool Storytime (3-5 year olds) Spring 2026
2026-04-30 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-05-07 09:30 - 10:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Preschool Story Time (3-5 year olds)
9:30-10:30 AM, Thursdays, Mar 19, 26, Apr 2, 9, 30, May 7
Preschool Story Time is for children ages 3 to 5, and begins @ 9:30 AM. Registration & confirmation required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/26pDnS3jV5Hbg2Se9. Our story times feature age-appropriate stories, songs, finger plays and art activities.
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.

Fiber Arts with the Woolies
2026-04-30 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-05-07 17:00 - 18:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Woolies are a local fiber arts group who meet weekly at the library to socialize and work on their various projects. Whether you’re interested in knitting, crocheting, felting, weaving, embroidery, needle point, sewing, or another fiber art, you’re welcome to join the fun.

Mindfulness Meditation
2026-04-30 19:00 - 20:15 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Clapp Memorial Library is once again offering a Mindfulness Meditation and Stress Reduction Awareness course. The eight-week introductory course starts on Thursday, March 12 from 7:00pm-8:15pm and runs every Thursday through April 30. The course is designed to teach and practice mindfulness-based skills. Mindfulness meditation skills teach us to be fully present in the moment and, when practiced regularly, help decrease stress levels and improve general well-being and health. Skills covered in the course are gentle and free of judgment. Because each session of this course builds on the previous week, we ask that you register only if you are able to attend all sessions.
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/mGhrxGTcd1D77ift6. If you have any questions please email clapp@cwmars.org
This course will be taught by Magda Bechar, a retired nursing professor who has taught mindfulness meditation skills to many groups, including at the Clapp Memorial Library, for many years.
Sessions will take place on the main library floor, except for April 2, which will take place in the Activity Room.

Andy & Judy
2026-05-02 15:00 - 16:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us on Saturday, May 2 at 3pm as Andy & Judy return to the Clapp Memorial Library for an afternoon of musical entertainment. Andy & Judy are a Boston-area folk duo who perform original, lyric-driven songs that combine their beautiful vocals and instrumentation. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Crochet
2026-05-04 16:00 - 17:30 | 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.

Ukulele Play Along (Virtual Event)
2026-05-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual, MA
Strum along with the Ukulele Play Along on the first Monday every month!
Grab your ukulele and play along – because playing your ukulele is more fun when you do it with others. We’ll be focusing on 3 and 4 chord songs, with lyrics and chords provided on screen. Participants will be muted, so don’t worry about how you sound!
To join, email Julie Stepanek (julie@musicjulie.com) for the Zoom link and to receive the songs for the program. Don’t have a Ukulele? Don’t worry – you can borrow one from us!

An Introduction to Nature Photography for Children
2026-05-05 15:15 - 17:00 | 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!

Clapp Writing Group
2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Clapp Memorial Library hosts a bi-weekly writing group for adults aged 18+. Whether you write romance, mystery, fantasy, non-fiction, poetry, children’s books, or screenplays, you’re welcome to join us! Come meet with other writers and share what you’ve been working on over the past month, work on your writing, and more. If you are interested, contact Annie at the library to sign up: macona@cwmars.org

What "YA" Readin' Book Club
2026-05-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The library’s What “YA” Readin’? Book Group, a group for adults who read Young Adult books, will meet Thursday, August 6th at 7:00PM in the Select Board Meeting room at the Town Hall to discuss The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the circulation desk. New members are welcome!

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.

RPG Night - Lost Mountain Saga
2026-05-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Break out your dice and join us for a monthly game!
Our current RPG campaign, Vaesen: The Lost Mountain Saga & Other Tales, is a dark Gothic setting steeped in Nordic folklore and the old myths of Scandinavia! Dive into mysteries where old struggles against the new, and myths come alive.
Players can expect to encounter ancient mysteries, old Nordic folk tales, social intrigue, and unspeakable horrors lurking in every shadow as they travel across the North and slowly uncover the truth.
Our RPG campaigns meet monthly on the 2nd Tuesday from 6-8PM.
Space is limited! Email tmannino@cwmars.org to ask about seats at the table, future campaigns, or other any questions.
Previous campaigns have included Spelljammer (Dungeons & Dragons) and Ghostbusters: a Frightfully Cheerful Roleplaying Game!
Program is for adults 18+, our Teen RPG programs are listed separately.

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.

Wednesday Whodunnits
2026-05-13 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.
