“Just think happy thoughts and you’ll fly.” – J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan.
Join us at the library this month as we embrace the warmer season.
Want to learn some new cooking skills with your children? Families are invited to join “Cooking Together,” a grant-funded program offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension. This free, hands-on series is for parent/caregiver and child teams (grades 3–12) and will run Thursdays, May 7–June 25, 6–7 p.m. except June 18. There are seven total classes, and participants are encouraged to commit to attend a majority of the sessions. Each session includes nutrition education followed by simple, healthy cooking activities. As an added bonus you won’t have to decide what’s for dinner. Space is limited, and registration is required—call the library to sign up.
For adults and teens 16+ this month our Crafterwork, Wednesday, May 13, 6-7:30 p.m. will teach participants to create a beautiful, beaded dragonfly perfect for spring and summer decorating. Supplies are provided, however space is limited so registration is required by calling the library.
The popular Bingo Night returns Wednesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. Adults and teens 16+ will play several rounds of bingo - prizes for every round. There will also be door prizes between games, adding to the excitement. Space is limited so be sure to call the library to register.
Library Events
Sensory Playgroup - Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. Join us for an engaging, hands-on play session designed especially for littles birth to age five and their caregivers. Each week features themed free play, creative activities, and sensory-rich materials to spark curiosity and support early learning. It’s a wonderful opportunity for preschoolers to play, explore, and grow in a fun, welcoming environment.
Knit & Crochet Group - Tuesdays, 3-4:45 p.m. Community members gather every week on the main floor of the library for yarn crafts and conversation. Bring the project you are working on and enjoy friendly conversation as you knit or crochet.
Mahjong - Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Everyone who loves Mahjong or wants to learn is welcome. Bring a friend or come alone. All skill levels are welcome.
Storytime - Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Join us on the lower level for songs, rhymes, stories, and crafts to entertain your littles!
Cereal Cinema - Family Friendly Movie & Cereal Buffet - Saturday, May 2, 10-11:30 a.m. Showing: Willy Wonka & Chocolate Factory. Start your weekend with a spoonful of fun. Join us for a cozy morning featuring a family-friendly movie and an all-you-can-eat cereal buffet. Your child will have a chance to win a golden ticket redeemable for a fun prize. Don’t miss it—this will be the final cinema until fall.
Sourdough Bread Making Workshop - Wednesday, May 6, 6-7:30 p.m. Martha Ma will lead this popular hands-on workshop where participants will learn to use and care for a sourdough starter. Attendees will then practice each step of making a small loaf of bread — from measuring and mixing, to fermentation, shaping, proofing, scoring, and baking. This is a make-up class for the program that was canceled last December due to weather. Registration is full. Participants: bring an apron, small hand towel, mixing bowl, and a small, lidded jar for taking home starter.
Mobile Office Hours: Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) - Thursday, May 7 and 21, 1-3 p.m. Members of Congressman Riley’s team will be at the library so this is your chance to get one-on-one help from Congressional staff with Medicare, Social Security, veterans’ benefits, passport delays, or any issue involving a federal agency. No question is too small—and no appointment is needed.
Cooking Together: Family Nutrition and Simple Meals - Thursday, May 7 - June 25, 6-7 p.m. except Thursday, June 18. Families are invited to join this grant-funded program offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension. This free, hands-on, seven-week series is for parent/caregiver and child teams (grades 3–12). Each session includes nutrition education followed by simple, healthy cooking activity, and as a bonus, you won’t have to decide what’s for dinner! Registration is required. Space is limited, and because this is a series, participants are encouraged to attend the majority of sessions. Parents/caregivers can bring up to four children on their teams. Call the library at 607.865.5929 to sign up.
Medicare 101 - Tuesday, May 12, 10-11 a.m. Robin Williams will join us in person at the library to answer your questions concerning Medicare. Bring your questions about HMO vs PPO, EPIC, money savings programs and more. Robin is a local, licensed insurance agent and coverage educator.
Crafterwork: Beaded Dragonfly - Wednesday, May 13, 6-7:30 p.m. This month, adults and teens ages 16+ are invited to make beaded dragonfly ornaments. Hang your sparkling dragonflies in a sunny window, add them to a wreath or potted plant, or give one as a thoughtful, handmade gift. Supplies are provided, but space is limited so registration is required. Come craft, unwind, and leave with something beautiful.
Lego Club - Friday, May 15, 3-4:30 p.m. (third Fridays) Elementary-age children and older - enjoy free building, choosing from our large selection of LEGOs. Let your creativity soar as you construct and explore! Stop by right after school to join us for this fun, free program. Light snacks provided. This is the last Lego Club until September.
School Budget / Library Proposition Vote - Tuesday, May 19, noon-8 p.m. at Walton Central School Bus Garage - 220 Delaware Street, Walton. A proposition concerning the library’s budget will appear on the school district ballot May 19. Voting will take place from 12 noon to 8 p.m. This proposition relates to funding that supports library services, programs, and resources for the community. Residents are encouraged to take part in the voting process.
Bingo Night - Wednesday, May 20, 6-7:45 p.m. This free event is for adults and teens 16+. We’ll play a variety of traditional game layouts for a total of 10. Each round will have a prize for the winner and there will be door prizes between the rounds. Enjoy a free night out full of entertainment, friends, and prizes! Space is limited so sign up today by calling the library at 607.865.5929.
Board of Trustees Meeting - Tuesday, May 26, 7-8 p.m. The Ogden Library Board of Trustees will hold their regular business meeting on the lower level of the library. The public is encouraged to attend.
Book Club Discussion - Wednesday, May 27, 7-8 p.m. The book club meets monthly on the lower level of the library. This month’s book is “Of Women and Salt” by Gabrielle Garcia ©2021. Copies can be reserved through interlibrary loan by calling the library at 607.865.5929 or visiting www.4cls.org
In present-day Miami, Jeanette is battling addiction. Daughter of Carmen, a Cuban immigrant, she is determined to learn more about her family history from her reticent mother and makes the snap decision to take in the daughter of a neighbor detained by ICE. Carmen, still wrestling with the trauma of displacement, must process her difficult relationship with her own mother while trying to raise a wayward Jeanette. Steadfast in her quest for understanding, Jeanette travels to Cuba to see her grandmother and reckon with secrets from the past destined to erupt.
From 19th-century cigar factories to present-day detention centers, from Cuba to Mexico, Gabriela Garcia’s “Of Women and Salt” is a kaleidoscopic portrait of betrayals―personal and political, self-inflicted and those done by others―that have shaped the lives of these extraordinary women. A haunting meditation on the choices of mothers, the legacy of the memories they carry, and the tenacity of women who choose to tell their stories despite those who wish to silence them, this is more than a diaspora story; it is a story of America’s most tangled, honest, human roots.
Library News
The library has five fishing poles available for public checkout, through partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s I FISH NY program. You can borrow a pole for up to two weeks and enjoy the great outdoors. Remember, individuals 16 years or older must have a valid freshwater fishing license—but this is a fantastic way to cast a line without buying gear.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten This ongoing program encourages caregivers to read 1,000 books with their child before kindergarten to build strong early literacy skills and reading confidence. It’s self-paced, fun, and flexible. Sign up at the library’s front desk to get your reading record and earn prizes along the way!
Summer Reading Program - School will be out before you know it which means it’s almost time for the library’s Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme is Unearth a Story. There will be a kickoff event for children June 27 for the reading incentive program. Stay tuned for news about the exciting events coming up for both kids and adults.
