Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Town of Pelham Public Library. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community.

Start the year off with our Coding for Clueless Adults class. Join us for in-person author talks and so much more. For our full calendar please click here.

Programs with a 💻 icon will be on Zoom and programs with a 🏛 icon will be held at the Library.

Adult Programs and News

Planning Our Future

The Town of Pelham Public Library Board of Trustees has initiated a master planning process to prepare for a new chapter in the Library’s service to the community. To read more about this please click here.

Author Talk with Rich Zahradnik

Local author and mentor to the Pelham Examiner staff, Rich Zahradnik will be at the Library discussing his new book, The Bone Records. Copies of his book will be available to be purchased and signed. To learn more about Rich, visit his website by clicking here. Registration is preferred. To register click here. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Tuesday January 10, 7-8:30 pm 🏛

Crafty Adults: Star Garlands

Crafty Adults will be meeting virtually this month! Join Crafty Adults as we celebrate Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rabbit by making festive garlands out of lucky paper stars. At home, participants will need scissors and a glue stick. All other materials will be available for pickup at the Library after you register. This event will take place on Zoom, and registration is required. Sign up early, as space and supplies are limited! Please sign up here.

Monday January 9, 7:30-8:30 pm 💻

We Have a Dream Board: What Can We Do to Make Our Community a Better Place?

Even though we will be closed on January 16, come into the Library between Monday, January 9 and Saturday, January 21 to put your idea on our new “We Have a Dream” community board centered around what we can do to make Pelham a better place! And before you go, make sure to take one of our MLK Day quizzes.

Monday January 9 to Saturday January 21 🏛

Selling on eBay

In this Zoom presentation, Rick Feingold will discuss how eBay works, safe trading, registering on eBay, selecting items to sell, learning the value of your items, writing a description, uploading photos, shipping your goods, eBay fees, delivery confirmation, handling feedback, and more. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

Tuesday January 17, 7-8:15 pm 💻

Coding for Clueless Adults: Scratch 101

Want to find a fun way to dip your toes into coding? Or do you just want to know what the kids are doing on Scratch? Come to the Library for an absolute beginner’s guide to Scratch, a block-based visual programming language developed by MIT that will introduce you to basic coding concepts. Please bring your own fully charged laptop. To register please email Kathy Palovick at [email protected].

Monday January 23, 7-8 pm 🏛

American Rascal: Author Talk with Greg Steinmetz

Are you eagerly awaiting the new season of The Gilded Age? Want to know who inspired the George Russell character? Come learn about a real 19th-century robber baron, Jay Gould, from author Greg Steinmetz!

Greg Steinmetz is the author of American Rascal: How Jay Gould Built Wall Street’s Biggest Fortune. His first book, The Richest Man Who Ever Lived: The Life and Times of Jacob Fugger, was heralded by Andrew Ross Sorkin as one of the best reads of 2015.

Registration is requested, but walk-ins are welcome. To register, please click here.

Thursday January 26, 7-8 pm 🏛

Adult Hybrid Book Clubs

The After-Dark Book Club will meet on Thursday, January 5 at 7:30 pm to discuss The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish and on Thursday, February 2 at 7:30 pm to discuss Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones.

The 2nd-Friday Book Club will meet on January 13 at 10:30 am to discuss Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour by Lynne Olson and February 10 at 10:30 am to discuss Song Yet Sung by James McBride.

Book Clubs are currently meeting both in person at the Library and on Zoom. This is subject to change. Please check our website for updates.To join, email [email protected]. For more information about the 2nd-Friday Book Club click here and for the After-Dark Book Club click here.

Looking to Improve Your Computer Skills?

We now provide half hour, one-on-one beginner computer training sessions for those interested in improving their computer skills. This is being offered on a limited basis. If interested, please email our librarian, Kathy Palovick at [email protected] or call her at 914-738-1234.

Museum Passes Are Going Digital!

We have several museum memberships available to Pelham Library cardholders. Starting in January, many of these passes will be available to be printed from home. To learn more about this process, see what museums are included, and to reserve your pass, click here.

Holiday Closing and Hours

We will be closed on the following days:

• January 2 (New Year’s Day Observed)
• January 16 (Martin Luther King Day)

Please click here to see our Library Hours page for more information on closings including any weather related events.

Wishing all a happy and healthy New Year!

Children’s News and Events

In-Person Coding for Tweens

Learn the basics of coding at the Library with a different activity each week. No previous coding experience required. Bring your own fully-charged laptop. Registration is required, please email Kathy Palovick at [email protected].

Friday January 6, 3:30-4:30 pm 🏛

Friday January 20, 3:30-4:30 pm 🏛

Friday January 27, 3:30-4:30 pm 🏛

JLP Storytime and Craft

This month the Junior League of Pelham will be here at the Library reading I am Brave: a little book about Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer. We will also be making a “how will you change the world” craft. Please note that this program is geared towards 4-6 year olds and is not a drop off program. Adult supervision is required. This program takes place at the Library and we recommend registering in advance by clicking here.

Wednesday January 4, 3:30-4:15 pm 🏛

Jewelry-making with Aribah!

Volunteer Aribah Zaidi is back with her popular jewelry-making program for children ages 4 and up! This event will take place in person at the Library. Registration is requested, but walk-ins are welcome. To register please click here.

Saturday January 21, 1-2 pm 🏛

Outdoor Story Time

Join us for our popular Story Time for infants and toddlers outside on our front lawn. Story time is designed to enhance early literacy skills and features diverse children’s books in which all children can see themselves represented… plus we have a lot of fun! Please bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on. Story Time will be held outdoors throughout the year, but will be cancelled on days when the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 C) at 9:30 am, or if it is raining. Cancellations will be posted on our website at the top of our homepage. You may also call the Library when we open at 10 am to inquire.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:30-11 am 🏛

COVID-19 Test Kit Update

Unfortunately, our stock of COVID-19 testing kits has been depleted, but other options are available.

The White House has reinstated the option for each household to receive 2 free testing kit boxes via USPS. Kits can be ordered at https://www.covid.gov/tests.