Clapp Memorial Library

Frankenstein Reading Group
2026-04-07 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-14 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-21 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

Frankenstein (1931) movie screening
2026-04-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Clapp Memorial Library will host a screening of the 1931 version of Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff, on Tuesday, April 7 at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. The screening is offered in conjunction with the Library’s Frankenstein Book Group and will be introduced by book group facilitator and retired professor, David Spector.

Wednesday Whodunnits
2026-04-08 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.

Anime & Manga Club
2026-04-08 16:00 - 17:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Clapp Memorial Library is hosting an Anime and Manga club for tweens and teens in grades 6-8! The club meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 4-5pm in the library’s Activity Room. During club meetings, we will watch 1-2 episodes of an anime, discuss manga, share artwork, eat snacks, and more! Registration is required–email macona@cwmars.org to sign up.

Preschool Storytime (3-5 year olds) Spring 2026
2026-04-09 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.

Full STEAM Ahead
2026-04-09 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-04-16 15:30 - 17:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Full STEAM Ahead – Afterschool Club
Dates; March 19th – April 16th Thursdays
Time: 3:30 pm to 5 pm
Ages: 8 to 11
Students ages 8 to 11 are invited to register for this afterschool series. Full STEAM Ahead will inspire kids to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) through interactive activities and problem-solving challenges, all while learning about the value of persistence and creativity.
Each session will begin with a book that will lead to a creative activity such as building mazes for Hex Bugs, creating with Lego, inventing with Makey, Makey kits, dissecting owl pellets, drawing maps, and much more! We will play games, sing some songs, practice some breathing to help with focus, and explore with arts and crafts.
Registration is required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/Njhw535LBXRq1E4j7. Children under the age of 10 years must have a caregiver who is 14 years or older on the Library premises. Students who are 10 or 11 years old that would like bus transportation from a Belchertown Public School should contact Jennifer Whitehead, jwhitehead@cwmars.org

Fiber Arts with the Woolies
2026-04-09 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-04-16 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-04-23 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
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:15, 2026-04-16 19:00 - 20:15, 2026-04-23 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.

Free Food Friday (April 2026)
2026-04-10 14:00 - 15:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Free Food Fridays are back! Teens are invited to the library after school on the second Friday of the month for free snacks as they visit and use the library! Students must be in grades 7-12 and arrive between 2:00-3:30PM on Friday, April 10th for a free snack, courtesy of the library, as supplies last. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Teen Advisory Board (April 2026)
2026-04-10 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, April 10th from 4:30-5:30PM in the library’s Activity Room for an early celebration of Good Deeds Day by making cards for Cards for Hospitalized Kids! 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. Teens can email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com to register. New members are welcome!

Smartphone Photography
2026-04-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Parks & Recreation, 66 State Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Saturday, April 11 – Smartphone Photography with Linda Repasky
Belchertown Recreation Department, 66 State Street (behind the police station).
The classroom session will be from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, followed by outdoor practical sessions at Lake Wallace (weather dependent), so come prepared to walk a short distance to Lake Wallace and spend some time outside!
ViewFinder workshops are open to anyone, you do not have to be a Belchertown resident. Seats are limited, and registration is required. Click here to sign up.
Instructor: Linda Repasky
Linda 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. You can see her work on Instagram @lindarepaskyphotography

Mass Save Pop-Up Resource Table
2026-04-11 09:30 - 14:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Learn about no-cost Home Energy Assessments (HEAs) and other MassSave benefits for homeowners and renters. The goal of these assessments is to make residents’ homes safer, healthier, and more comfortable, while identifying ways to lower energy consumption, carbon emissions, and utility bill costs. There will be a table with resources and representatives of HomeWorks Energy will help explain all the benefits and answer any questions.
This program is funded by HomeWorks Energy, Inc.

Magic: the Gathering
2026-04-11 10:30 - 13:30, 2026-04-18 10:30 - 13:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us for Magic the Gathering in the Activity Room. Bring your own deck or use one of our learning decks. Everyone is welcome, however players must be fluent readers. Players under the age of 10 must have a caregiver who is at least 14 years old on the Library premises. Join us for every session or just one – it’s up to you!
We will have two instructors to help get games started and assist with the rules of the game. No registration is required. Check the Library website or Facebook page if there is inclement weather.
Saturdays, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
February 28th, March 14th, 21st, 24th, April 4th*, 11th, & 18th.
Magic will start at 11am on April 4th

RPG Night - Lost Mountain Saga
2026-04-14 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.

Clapp Writing Group
2026-04-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
PROGRAM FULL
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

Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library Meeting
2026-04-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
All are invited to the The Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library Board Meeting in the Activity Room at 6:30pm. For information email friendsofclappmemoriallibrary@gmail.com
http://www.friendsofclapplibrary.org/
​The Friends of Clapp Memorial Library is a volunteer not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising monies to assist the Library beyond the ordinary scope of the Library’s budget to reach its potential in our community. The group’s additional purpose is to promote and maintain close relationships between the Library and the people it serves, to increase public awareness of Library resources, and to encourage community participation in Library activities.

Photography for Beginners
2026-04-18 09:00 - 11:00 | Parks & Recreation, 66 State Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Saturday, April 18 – Photography for Beginners with Ed Comeau
The classroom session will be from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, followed by outdoor practical sessions at Lake Wallace (weather dependent), so come prepared to walk a short distance to Lake Wallace and spend some time outside!
ViewFinder workshops are open to anyone, you do not have to be a Belchertown resident. Seats are limited, and registration is required. Click here to sign up.
Instructor: Ed Comeau
Ed’s interest in photography goes back many years, but upon moving to Belchertown over 25 years ago this interest reached a whole new level with his proximity to the Quabbin Reservoir and access to the beauty of Western Massachusetts. While he can often be found sitting in some remote part of the Quabbin, waiting for wildlife to come his way, has also explored Maine, Alaska, and Colorado, resulting in a number of beautiful landscape and wildlife photographs. A number of local businesses have exhibited his works and his photographs have appeared in several calendars. He is a member of the Friends of the Quabbin Board of Directors, the Program Director of the Quabbin Photo Group, and has been an instructor for the Belchertown ViewFinder project since its inception. You can find his work at www.ComeauPhotography.com and on Instagram @edcomeauphotography.

Kalos Trio
2026-04-18 16:00 - 17:00 | Belchertown United Church of Christ, ​18 Park Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us for an evening of classical music with Kalos Trio.
Kalos Trio is comprised of Rebecca Hartka on cello, Julia Liao on violin, and Barbara Lysakowski on piano. This concert will be held at BUCC with Ms. Lysakowsi’s playing the library’s 1877 Steinway piano.
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.

Library Closing: Patriots’ Day 2026
2026-04-20 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will be closed in observation of Patriots’ Day

Ditch the Plastic - Using a soil blocker for seed starting
2026-04-21 16:30 - 18:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Soil blocking is a method of creating cubes of soil to hold and germinate seeds. Come learn about the benefits of soil blocking and make some soil blocks to take home. Space is limited and registration is required to attend. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/Zay35MSA6FUg7YQ49
The soil for the program was generously donated by the Gardener’s Supply Company in Hadley.

Astral Evening: Star Party with the Library
2026-04-22 20:00 - 22:00 | Foley Field, 66 State Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Wednesday, April 22: Astral Evening: Star Party with the Library, 8-10pm
Raindate: Thursday, April 23
Members of Springfield STARS Astronomy Club will be setting up telescopes to lead us on a tour of the night sky. Witness some of the most impressive sights!
We’ll be outside, so please wear comfortable shoes and warm clothing. Foley Field is located behind the Police Station off Rt. 202 in Belchertown.

Advanced Nature Photography
2026-04-25 09:00 - 11:00 | Parks & Recreation, 66 State Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Saturday, April 25 – Advanced Nature Photography with Mark Lindhult
The classroom session will be from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, followed by outdoor practical sessions at Lake Wallace (weather dependent), so come prepared to walk a short distance to Lake Wallace and spend some time outside!
ViewFinder workshops are open to anyone, you do not have to be a Belchertown resident. Seats are limited, and registration is required. Click here to sign up.
Instructor: Mark Lindhult
Mark’s passion in photography is capturing the beauty of nature and the unique behaviors of birds and wildlife in their environment. As a Professor Emeritus of Landscape Architecture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Principle Emeritus at The Berkshire Design Group and a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, he brings his knowledge of landscape, ecology, design and composition to inform his photography and advocate for habitat preservation. His photographs have been exhibited at UMass Amherst in the Design Building Gallery, the US Fish and Wildlife Headquarters Gallery, Cooley Dickinson Hospital Gallery, Franklin Medical Center Gallery and the Baystate Medical Center Gallery. He has also granted permission to several non-profit groups to use his photographs in newsletters, reports, note cards and postcards, including the Friends of Quabbin, the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance and the Kestrel Land Trust.. You can see his work on his website at www.MarkLindhult.com.
