Author: mclement

Summer is officially here, and so are our summer library programs for all! Whether you choose to join our reading challenge, only want to attend special events, or decide to do it all, we have something for everyone!

This year’s summer programs are largely made possible by a donation from the Dansville Rotary Club. Because of their generosity in supporting early literacy and our children’s programs, we are able to offer our special events as well as meals during our evening programs.

View our summer programs brochure to see everything at a glance.

Additional information about all of our programs and their registration can be found on our online calendar.

Are you ready to Unearth a Story this summer??

Summer Reading Challenge Sign-ups have begun! If you’d like to read and participate for rewards, do so soon: the challenge and events begin June 27 with a summer programs launch party on the lawn.

How do I register?
You can register by using our online form, or completing a physical form in the library or by printing it and bringing it in.

How do I participate?
You can take part in the reading challenge for rewards by completing 5 or more reading tasks or side quest tasks each week. Rewards are earned for participating and completing your weekly goals.

Do I have to do the reading challenge to do the other summer programs?
You don’t have to be part of the challenge to take part in the many programs we’re offering this summer (although it will make our librarian hearts a little sad). We want you to celebrate summer at the library in whatever works best for you! Everyone has their own story to unearth at their own pace.

What are the rewards? 
They vary by age group, but we have something for everyone! We’ll share more information about the rewards at the summer reading programs launch party on June 27; reading challenge participants can pick up their program info, and anyone can join in on all the dinosaur fun we have planned!

Dinosaurs didn’t read, and look what happened to them…

Summer reading is coming, and this year we’re wild about dinosaurs, archaeology, and paleontology! Be on the lookout for reading challenge registration starting next week, and our full, all-ages summer reading program calendar coming soon as we feature weekly storytimes, movie nights, teen book club & crafts, family meetups, and special events.

From the Director

The end of June will bring the 2025-2026 fiscal year to a close. The 2026-2027 levy was approved by voters: this increased support will allow the Library to continue the highest level of service to our community while investing in the building and resources that allow us to do so.

We will also say goodbye to current Board President and long time trustee, Rhea Walker, as her current term ends at the end of June. She will have served the Library as a trustee for many years.  Her departure enables us to say hello to new trustee Drew Baker, who was elected by write-in votes to serve on the board for five years. He and his family have been active supporters of the Library.

Youth Services Updates

The youth side of the library continues to evolve! Some of our materials have physically moved to allow for expansion: kids’ DVDs are on a rack, kids’ audiobooks are below the glass wall and case, and beginner books are where DVD and audio have been.

The biggest change you’ll see in the Junior collection is bins within the sections. Some of our most popular books and characters are written by different authors, so we’ve put them together to make them easier to find.
>> Picture books have bins for Bluey, the Chicka Chicka series, Curious George, I Spy, Pete the Cat, Splat the Cat, and Sesame Street.
>> Beginner bins are still in progress.
>> Chapter books have bins for the A-Z Mysteries, American Girl series, DC comics, Encyclopedia Brown, My Weird School, Pokemon, Puppy Place, R.L. Stine’s Rotten School, Time Warp Trio, Unicorn Diaries.
>> Fiction books have bins for Dear America and Minecraft.
>> Graphic novels have bins for Babysitters’ Club and Babysitters’ Club – Little Sisters, DC Comics, the Far Out series, and Marvel.

We’re working on developing our selection of Playaway audiobooks and Wonderbooks, so be sure to stop by the spinners in the youth section to see what’s new!

Summer nights at Williams Park Gazebo are for music! Starting June 1, make the most of your Monday evening by bringing your camp chairs, a blanket, and a picnic dinner to enjoy while listening to a variety of local and regional artists. These concerts are made possible by a variety of local sponsors and the Library.

We have plenty happening at the Library during this year’s Dogwood Festival!

1. The Friends of the Dansville Public Library annual book sale runs Monday through Saturday during regular Library hours. Stop in to browse the books, and then check out all the new options to borrow from our collection. Proceeds from the book sale help fund programming and more at the Library.
2. Our coloring contest for ages 4yo-18yo runs Monday through Friday (5p). Coloring sheets can be picked up from the Library or any DCS front office. They may be returned to either DPL or Ms. Friday at DHS.
3. Tuesday is super busy with CCE providing AARP’s CarFit program in the AM, Rube Goldberg machines during STEAM session in the afternoon, and a history scavenger hunt provided by the DAR for storytime in the evening. Our annual budget vote and trustee election runs from 12p-8p inside the Library.
4. Wednesday has our regular weekly Adults’ Afternoon Cards and Magic: The Multiverse meetup.
5. On Saturday, you can catch us outside the library as well as inside: we’ll be at the Church Park Lawn Fete and in the Dogwood Parade.

“May is the month of expectation, the month of wishes, the month of hope.” – Emily Brontë

Much like the nature blooming around us, many of the projects we’ve been working on at the Library are now out and available to the public! Stop in to see our refreshed fishing and outdoor rack that includes several new materials for checkout as well as the updated NYS fishing regulations handbook.

From the Director

May is an important month for the Dansville Public Library, as it brings our annual Budget Vote and Trustee Election. This vote determines the level of funding the library receives through the community tax levy. This year, we are requesting a total increase of $23,240. For most residents, the estimated impact is minimal—roughly the cost of a single cup of coffee over the course of the year for a home assessed at $100,000. While the library’s levy appears on your school tax bill, it’s important to remember that the library operates as an independent entity, governed by its own Board of Trustees.

We will also see a transition on the Board, as Rhea Walker concludes her term and will not be seeking reelection. One trustee seat will be filled through a write-in vote. All registered voters residing within the Dansville School District are eligible to participate. Voting is open Tuesday, May 12 from 12:00 PM through 8:00 PM.

To learn more, I encourage you to attend our Budget Hearing on Tuesday, May 5 at 5:30 PM, visit the library, or see our Annual Budget Vote & Trustee Election website page for details.

This May is also a time of reflection. Each year, New York State requires libraries to complete a comprehensive annual report, offering a detailed look at our collections, programs, usage, and financial health. Highlights from this report are available in our Annual Report to the Community, providing a snapshot of how your library continues to grow, adapt, and serve.

Youth Services Updates

May’s programming will focus on our regular events with one special highlight at the beginning of the month: a celebration of the Kentucky Derby’s 150th anniversary. Check out our calendar for information.

This time of year is a great chance to stop in and be inspired! Whether you check out our Pollinators poster exhibit from Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Services, or play with our latest dramatic play set in the Enrichment Room, there’s always something new to the lending collection to take home with you to keep the fun and learning going. If you need any help navigating the new stuff in the children’s room, please don’t hesitate to ask our staff!

“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
– 1984 by George Orwell

Don’t let April fool you– there is much to do at Dansville Library this month! From spring break to-dos, to earth-inspired affairs, to hauntingly historical happenings, you’ll find a reason to be here almost every day.

From the Director

April is a season of renewal, as signs of spring begin to appear and new things start to bloom. It’s a time of fresh beginnings, and at the Library, we’re embracing that spirit with a full calendar of programs and activities for all ages.

April is also an important time for our Library and our community. In the coming weeks, we will be preparing for our annual budget vote and trustee election—an opportunity for residents to have a direct voice in the future of the Library. Anyone interested in running for a Trustee position can find more information online.

The proposed budget supports the programs, services, and resources our community relies on every day, while also helping us continue to grow and improve. It reflects our ongoing commitment to serving residents of all ages and responding to the needs we hear from you. More information about the budget, candidates, and voting details will be available in the Library and online in the weeks leading up to the budget vote and election, which will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

We hope you’ll join us this month—whether you’re trying something new, getting involved, or discovering a piece of your past.

Youth Services News

DPL will be out and about this month!
April 8 10a-1p See us at Livingston County Department of Health’s FREE Community Wellness Fair at Geneseo Central Schools
April 30 5:30p-7p Stop by our table at DPS Camp Read-A-Lot for a magnetic activity and info about summer reading

Some of our young patrons recently stuck themselves to the task of finishing our sticker mosaic to reveal a classical masterpiece. If you’re looking for low-key letter/color practice with your little one, or just seeking a moment of zen, stop by this corner of the kids’ room.

We want to hear from you! Take a quick minute to complete this survey to let us know what you would like to see this year.

Learn more about each event by visiting bit.ly/DansvilleLibraryCalendar.

As part of our on-going efforts to keep our spaces and collections welcoming, functional, and relevant, we occasionally need to move things. Enter DHS Varsity Baseball. The team helped us consolidate our study zones, improve our reading areas, and move antiques out of rotation. We can barely find the words to express our gratitude, and we have plenty of dictionaries to reference.

We are deeply grateful for our ongoing partnerships with Dansville Central Schools. Whether we’re visiting classrooms and lunch periods, participating in school events, or collaborating on projects here at the library, this relationship is part of our foundation within the community.

In response to an increased demand for study space, we’ve reconfigured some areas to better meet the quiet study needs of our patrons. We moved the study corrals to the front of the nonfiction section, in the area recently dedicated to retired director Terry Dearing.

When newspapers and periodicals were relocated last year, we also planned to add a new seating area for patrons to read and browse. This has now been accomplished, creating a seating area that is both comfortable and spacious for patrons to enjoy.

Our Local History Room has seen a recent revitalization. Library Clerk Amanda organized the collection, we eliminated outdated equipment, and Maintenance Technician Chuck relocated the former research counter to the mezzanine, where it mirrors the popular seating in the YA area.

Another significant project involved moving cabinets from the upstairs Conklin Board Room to join other historical materials in the Local History Room. As you can see from the number of helpers it took to move these cabinets, this was no small task.

Moving these cabinets has also created an opportunity to improve public awareness of and access to some of the library’s unique archival materials, including original editions of newspapers from Dansville’s history.

We are fortunate to care for a beautiful, historic building, and a collection of wonderful antiques. However, many of these items were never intended to withstand the daily use of a public library. In an effort to preserve the collection entrusted to us, some items have been moved out of regular use to other areas of the library. We intend to maintain them for special use going forward.

Says Old Man Winter, “What’s the use?
The March wind’s rarin’, tearin’ loose,
Storming my citadel of snow
And warning me it’s time to go.
The sun is stronger–bolder, too,
Jeering an ancient almost through,
But still tho’ feeble grown, I’ll fling
A punch or two before it’s spring.
– “March” by Dansville poet Raymond Fedder (1964)

From the Director

At the Library, we’re proud of the wide range of programs, events, and services we offer for all ages. But the library doesn’t exist in a vacuum—our programs and services can only make a difference if people know about them.

That’s why the Library is working to strengthen our community engagement and communication efforts. Additional hands on this initiative will ensure more community members are aware of, and able to benefit from what the library offers. It will also give us additional opportunities to listen and learn about our communities wants and needs.

This investment in our future will help us connect more effectively with the people and make sure our programs and services continue to reflect what matters most to our community. We’re looking forward to a bright future of continuing to serve you in new and meaningful ways.

Youth Services News

This spring we’re seeing several projects come to fruition in the children’s area. Our seasonal toy rotation currently features a dramatic play diner, the LEGO table, and a solar system activity station. New to our STEM/Kit collection is a Super Smile Dentist Kit, perfect for teaching littles about brushing habits or acclimating them to visiting the dentist. Stop in today to check out what’s new to borrow and to enjoy our evolving physical space!

We want to hear from you! Take a quick minute to complete this survey to let us know what you would like to see this year.

Learn more about each event by visiting bit.ly/DansvilleLibraryCalendar.