Summer Reading is in full swing for children and adults, so be sure to sign up. This month put your puzzle solving prowess to the test at our puzzle race, learn the basics of birding and complete a scavenger hunt. For details about this and more, please see below or check our calendar.
Adult Programs and News
Meet Our New Librarian: Sabrina Fairley
The Pelham Public Library is pleased to announce Sabrina Fairley has joined our staff as a full-time librarian. She received her bachelor’s degree in politics with a minor in psychology from the University of Virginia. She received her Master of Library and Information Studies degree from Old Dominion University last December. You may have already met Sabrina at story time or at the reference desk, as she has been working on a part-time basis since April. Sabrina spends her free time crafting, baking, and reading. Libraries have always been her favorite places, and she looks forward to working with the Pelham community.
Adults: Read Books, Win a Prize
Reading contests for children have been a staple of the Library’s Summer Reading program for years. But why let the kids have all the fun? Adults and teens in 9th grade and up can play our Reading BINGO game and enter a raffle to win a brand-new Kindle! Download a BINGO board with instructions by clicking here or stop by the Library reference desk to pick up a form.
Now through Tuesday, September 8 🏛
Krochet Kritters with Kathy
Join us on Tuesday afternoons to crochet an amigurumi. “Amigurumi” means a crocheted or knitted stuffed toy in Japanese. We’ll work on a new critter each month. All supplies (yarn, crochet hooks, and stitch markers) will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.
This month we’ll be making a miniature whale.
This drop-in program is for ages 13 and up, and no registration is required. Attendees should have basic crochet skills. No instructor will be present.
Tuesdays in July 3:30-4:30 pm 🏛
New York and the Founding of America with The New York Historical
At the close of the American Revolution, following the British evacuation in November 1783, New York became the first capital of the United States. How did a body of elected representatives establish a form of government that had never existed previously? This virtual presentation covers an era from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the opening of the Erie Canal, providing insight and history as to how New York developed from a British colony to the largest and wealthiest American city.
This program takes place on Zoom, and registration is required. Click here to register.Thursday, July 2, 7-8 pm 💻
Philip Pell: Revolutionary War Leader, Last Member of the Continental Congress with St. Paul’s Church National Historical Site
Phillip Pell, who is buried in the historic cemetery at St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site in Mount Vernon, contributed to the success of American independence through commendable military and governmental service, but he ultimately opposed the Revolution’s greatest enduring achievement — a supreme Federal Government.
Join us to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the Battle of Pell, and to learn more about one of the most famous Pells of Pelham with this presentation from our local National Historic Site: St. Paul’s Church.
Friday, July 10 , 3-4 pm 🏛
The Great Pelham Puzzle Race
Ready, set, go—it’s the inaugural Great Pelham Puzzle Race! Gather your crack team of four puzzlers, and join us for a little friendly competition.
Here’s how it works: Register with your team of four (or, if you don’t have four people, please let us know, and we will help you complete your team beforehand). Each team will get a copy of the same 500-piece puzzle, a separate table, and two hours to work. The team that finishes first will win bragging rights and, if members wish, will be featured in our August newsletter. Each participating team will get to take the puzzle home afterwards, even if they don’t finish.
This program is for puzzlers ages 18 and up. Max team size is four, and we can accommodate a total of five teams. Registration is required. For more information and to register, email Tash at [email protected].
Saturday, July 18, 1:30-3:30 pm 🏛
Crafty Adults: Polymer Clay Hot Dog Earrings
July is not only the Semiquincentennial Anniversary of the United States, it is also National Hot Dog Month! Join us at Crafty Adults as our resident artist/instructor Sara Mallach shows us how to make iconic and patriotic miniature hot dog earrings out of polymer clay.
This event will take place in-person at the Library and each attendee must register separately. Click here to register. Sign up early, as space and supplies are limited.
Class begins at 7 pm. Please arrive on time as late arrivals disrupt the class.
Monday, July 20, 7-8 pm 🏛
Red Snow with Pelham Author Robert Zweig 
It is November 10, 1938. The Zweigs, a prosperous Jewish family, are sitting down to dinner in their Breslau, Germany home. The family is about to hear some ominous news: for the past two days, hordes of Nazis have been rampaging through the streets, beating Jews at random, removing them forcibly from their shops, and smashing their businesses, in an event that would come to be known as “Kristallnacht.” So begins Red Snow, the true story of the Zweig family’s abrupt removal from a life of security and comfort to one of uncertainty and fear.
Red Snow is a son’s exploration of the experiences of his parents during the Holocaust and World War II. In his endeavor to understand and imagine their lives, through research, he discovers the brutality and horrors they survived and the miraculous circumstances that brought them together.
Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing.
Thursday, July 23, 6:30-7:30 pm 🏛
Birding Basics with Teatown Lake Reservation
Can you tell an eagle from an egret? This beginner-friendly introduction to birding will help you build confidence in identifying birds in the field. Learn essential tools, helpful resources, and practical tips—then put your skills to the test together. This program is designed for adults and children ages 8 and up.
This project is made possible in part with support from the Westchester Library System through a Strategic Partnership Grant from Con Edison.
Saturday, July 25, 2-3 pm 🏛
Tai Chi at the Library
Join Master Yao-Wah Chan for beginning Tai Chi. He has over 40 years of experience teaching throughout New York City and Westchester and is trained in multiple Chinese disciplines.
Tai Chi is a series of slow, gentle, and meditative body movements that can help you reduce pain, increase flexibility, improve balance, and cope with stress. These classes are walk-ins that do not require preregistration, but space is limited. Class begins at 10:30 am. Please arrive on time as late arrivals disrupt the class.
Tuesdays in July, 10:30-11:30 am 🏛
More Mah Jongg
We are adding a Monday evening session to this popular drop-in Mah Jongg program for adults ages 18 and up. This program is for players of all skill levels who already know how to play American Mah Jongg. No beginners, please. The Library will provide Mah Jongg sets, but please bring your own Mah Jongg card. The Pelham Recreation Department is offering beginner Mah Jongg classes. For more information, visit their website or call them at 914-738-0153.
Mondays in July, 6-8 pm and Tuesdays in July, 12:30-3 pm 🏛
Far-Away Fiction Book Club
If you’re transported by stories that take place “once upon a time,” or in “a galaxy far, far away,” then join our fellowship of Sci-Fi/Fantasy book fans! This month’s read will be Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett.
Discussions are held once a month on Thursdays at 7pm in person at the Library and on Zoom for those who wish to attend remotely (subject to change). Please email Tash at [email protected] to register. All readers ages 16 and up are welcome!
Thursday, July 30, 7-8 pm 🏛
Adult Hybrid Book Clubs
The After-Dark and 2nd-Friday Book clubs will be taking a break for July and August but will return in the fall. 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.
Fiber Fridays, and Stitching Saturdays
Love to knit or crochet? We have something for everyone. Join us every Friday afternoon for an informal needlework group for adults and teens. Knitters, crocheters, and needlepoint enthusiasts of all abilities are welcome, but please bring your own materials and note that no instructors will be present. We also meet on the first Saturday of each month for Stitching Saturdays, where we work on our crochet community banner celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the Battle of Pell. If you are new to crochet and would like to learn, please email Tash ([email protected]) to make sure he is available to get you started with a mini-lesson. To learn more about where and how to participate in our community banner, click here.
Every Friday, 1-3:30 pm and Saturday, July 11, 2-3:30 pm 🏛
Digitizing Days are Wednesdays
This program for digitizing photos has been a great success. Bring in your family photos and our librarians will assist you with scanning them to a USB drive using our high-speed scanner. Appointments are required for a 45-minute session. To learn all of the details and to register, please click here.
Holiday closing
The Library will be closed in observance of Independence Day. We will reopen on Monday, July 6 for our regular hours. Closed Saturday, July 4 🏛
Children’s News and Events
Kids’ Summer Reading Program
Join the Library’s Summer Reading Program. Register on our website or come to the Library and we’ll register for you. You can even click here to watch a YouTube video that explains how to register and log reading minutes. Read or listen to any book(s) you like and earn points to redeem for the following prizes:
- 60 points or 1 hour = one cookie from Little Bird Cookie Co.
- 180 points or 3 hours = one slice of pizza from Four Corners Pizza
- 300 points or 5 hours = one small ice cream cone from Flour Power
Please note that this year there is a limit of one ice cream per reader and a limit of two cookies and two slices of pizza per reader. You also have the option of selecting a book to take home and keep in lieu of a food prize. For more information call 914-738-1234 or email Kathy ([email protected]).
From now until our wrap-up party on Friday, August 14 featuring the Pelicones Ice Cream Truck
New York State Scavenger Hunt
Did you know that New York has a state bird and a state butterfly? There are ten state symbols hidden around the Library. Can you find them all? Visit the reference desk to pick up your scavenger hunt sheet any time during the months of July and August. Once you’ve found all the state symbols in the Library, return your sheet to the reference desk for a prize.
Wednesday, July 1 through Monday, August 31 🏛
Music and Crafts with Shay
Music and art aren’t just fun: they can help kids to develop speech and language skills, reduce stress, and cope with all sorts of daily challenges. Join Shay Armand for crafts, sing-alongs, and more fun activities this summer! This program is open to all kids ages 5 and up, but we would like to especially welcome neurodiverse and intellectually disabled kids.
Mondays, July 13, 20, and 27, 4-5 pm; Thursdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 4-5 pm; Saturday, July 18, 11 am-12 pm 🏛
Kids’ Craft: Star-Spangled Sunglasses
Come and decorate your very own pair of star-spangled sunglasses, just in time for the Fourth of July! Friday, July 3, 3:30-4:30 pm 🏛
Family Music Class with Bach to Rock
Join teachers from Bach to Rock Music School for this family-friendly interactive music class! We’ll learn basic concepts like loud and soft, high and low, fast and slow, etc., and kids will get to play with rhythm instruments like boomwhackers, shakers, and bells (with teacher guidance). You will also have the option to enter a raffle for a free music lesson at Bach to Rock’s Scarsdale location. This program is for families with kids ages 3 and up, and will take place in person at the Library. Max class size is 25. First come, first served.
Thursdays, July 16, 23, and 30, 11am-12 pm 🏛
Lego Club!
Join us for an hour of open Lego play at the Library! This program is for children ages six and up, and will take place in-person at the Library. Registration is not required but an adult must accompany the child.
Wednesdays in July, 3:30-4:30 pm 🏛
STEM Story Time by Pelham High School Student
Join us for a special STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Story Time and craft with Pelham High School senior Aanika Roy. This program is for children ages five and up. Registration is not required, but please arrive on time: first come, first served.
Saturdays, July 11, and 25, 11 am-12 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. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Story Time will be held outdoors throughout the year, but will be cancelled on days when the temperature is extreme, or if it is raining. You may call the Library when we open at 10 am to inquire.
We are excited to offer outdoor programs for children and families at the Pelham Public Library! Participation in any outdoor activity comes with some natural risks and children must be under the vigilant supervision of an accompanying adult. By choosing to have your child participate, you acknowledge these risks and understand that the Library cannot be responsible for any illness, injury, or loss that may occur during the program. For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, please follow all instructions provided by Library staff. Thank you!
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:30-11 am 🏛
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Pelham Public Library. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community.
