Category: Uncategorized

Message from the Director

As we say goodbye to summer and welcome the beginning of a new school year, I want to take a moment to celebrate what an incredible few months it has been at the library. The excitement and energy throughout the library this summer were remarkable. During the last three months, we welcomed more than 2,200 additional visitors compared to the same period last year. We also now have more active library cardholders than at any time since 2020!

Our collections have been busy as well. In August, we circulated more Adult Fiction books and more Children’s Chapter books than in any other month since before 2019. It is exciting to see so many members of our community discovering new books, revisiting favorite authors, and sharing the joy of reading.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, making it the perfect time to remind everyone about the many resources available with a library card. For students and families, getting a library card is a great way to prepare for heading back to school. Beyond borrowing books, your library card provides free access to our digital library, online resources, and so much more.

If you don’t have a library card, September is the perfect time to get one. If you already have one, stop in and see what else our library has to offer!

See you at the library!

Youth Services Updates

Another summer reading program series has wrapped, but the dinosaurs remain: you can still stop in to play with our dinosaur toys, check out our soil strata mural (made by our teen volunteers Ava, Alison, and Joslyn), and read all kinds of books about our favorite prehistoric friends. Even as they linger, next summer’s reading can be seen way off on the horizon: mysteries will be hiding throughout the library leading up to next year’s theme, Mysteries Await at Your Library.

As the season changes, the work we do in the children’s area shifts as well. When you stop in, you will notice new dramatic play sets. You may see our library staff out and about at the schools or hosting programs around town. Our regular programs will be returning as well: storytime will be weekly on Tuesday evenings, STEM Session will be monthly meetings in the afternoon of the second Tuesday, Homeschool Hangout will be returning for monthly meetups, and there will even be regular opportunities for a junior version of Dungeons & Dragons modeled on the Drama & Danger Club.

Update 09/03/26  The monthly calendar below was replaced to reflect the corrected date of the Multiverse Pokémon night; the correct date is 09/30/26 and not 09/23/26 as originally listed.

Dansville Public Library is seeking an organized, detail-oriented Part-time Clerk to provide excellent customer service at the circulation desk and assist with the day-to-day operations of the library. This position performs a variety of clerical and customer service duties that contribute to an efficient, welcoming library environment.

• Immediate start
• 15-17 hours/week (days, evenings, & rotating Saturdays)
• $18-$19/hour
• NY State Retirement eligible
• Paid Holidays & Paid Sick Leave

The ideal candidate enjoys working with the public, is comfortable managing multiple priorities, and demonstrates professionalism, accuracy, and discretion when handling confidential information.

For full position description, please see the Part-time Clerk Position Description

TO APPLY

Complete an Employment Application Form, available online and at the Dansville Public Library main desk. Email completed application to Margo Prak, Library Director at dansvillelibrarydirector@owwl.org.

Priority consideration will be given to applications received by July 22, 2026.

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.