From HPL,
The Hornell Public Library has a wide variety of programs for all ages being offered throughout May, including ongoing community events, Teen Programming, Storytime, and even a hide and find!
Announcements
Multilingual Storytime – May 8th through July 3rd – Thursdays at 4:00 PM: This story time is open to all patrons who are interested in learning about different languages and cultures! Each week a volunteer will read a book in both English and a language they have brought to share with us. After each reading, we will have a game or a craft.
Featured Programs
Cultural Explorations with the Hornell Public Library – Saturday May 17th at the Community Art Center at 11 AM and 1 PM*
Join us on May 17th at 11 am as we explore the ancient Asian art of Blue & White porcelain painting with Leah Ou. Inspiration will come from her shared sample pieces and photos of this decorative art. Then it’s time for participants to practice painting their Blue & White designs on cardboard vase shapes. Leah will guide you through translating that design onto real ceramic tile pieces. By the end of this interesting workshop everyone will have a ceramic coaster to enjoy. Registration is required for this project, register today by contacting the Hornell Public Library at 607-324-1210.
A Pipa Music Performance -Saturday, May 17th at 1 pm- open to all ages*
Join us on Saturday, May 17th for a solo pipa performance by Leah Ou. She will be demonstrating a full range of compositions spanning two millennia as she takes her listeners on a journey through classical Chinese songs. Come listen to the pipa, the most popular instrument in China, to be transported into another world. Registration is not required for this performance.
The Journey to Loving Your Brain
This May, the Hornell Public Library is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association of Rochester to offer a special three-part educational series designed to help children and their families explore the importance of brain health in a fun, accessible, and meaningful way.
This series begins at 4 PM each Monday in May and will guide families through topics like building healthy habits, practicing mindfulness, and understanding the brain’s development and aging process.
Event Schedule:
May 5 – Healthy Minds and Habits for Your Brain: Discover how nutrition, sleep, and physical activity help support brain health at every age.
May 12 – Mindfulness Matters: Introduce children to simple, calming techniques that build focus, reduce stress, and support emotional wellness.
May 19 – Our Brains as We Age: A gentle, age-appropriate program focused on helping children understand what happens when a loved one develops Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, with tools for coping and supporting their own mental and emotional health.
We hope to create a supportive environment where families can learn together, ask questions, and build awareness around brain health and Alzheimer’s disease.
All programs are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Hornell Public Library or contact the Alzheimer’s Association of Rochester.
Programs for Kids
May Hide and Find: There will be a scavenger hunt in the children’s area during the month of May. Pop in any time the library is open to get in some indoor birdwatching! This activity is open to patrons of all ages.
Story Time in partnership with the Family Resource Center – Wednesdays at 10:30 AM The library and the Family Resource Center have come together to provide a new Storytime adventure! May 7th and 14th we’ll be meeting at the Family Resource Center at 10:30 AM for singing, reading, and crafts. Then on May 21st and 28th we will be meeting at the library at 10:30 AM for the same activities.
Lego and Duplo Club – May 13th and 27th from 4:00-5:00 PM:This club is open to children of all ages. At each meeting we’ll have a different prompt for participants to work from to create incredible Lego and Duplo masterpieces!
Circus Club – May 14th and 28th – Wednesdays at 3:00 PM: Get ready for fun at our Circus Club! Join us for exciting circus activities on Wednesdays, May 14th and the 28th at 3 pm!
Whether you’re twirling with hula hoops, dancing with ribbons, or mastering the art of juggling, there’s something for everyone.
All materials provided – including hula hoops, dancing ribbons, and poi balls. So bring your best circus spirit and get ready to show off your skills!
STEAM Saturday – May 31st from 11 AM – 1 PM Come into the library on May 31st to create your own kaleidoscope! Learn about the concepts of reflection and refraction while making art! This program is open to children of all ages.
Programs for Teens & Adults
Adult Book Club/Local Author Visit: Kristal Fox – May 22nd at 6 PM Join us on Thursday, May 22nd at 6 PM for a special visit from local author Kristal Fox! Discover the book series inspired by a single, powerful question: “If it all fell apart tomorrow, what could an average person do to survive?”
Drawing from life on her 160-acre farm and her passions for gardening and seed saving, Kristal’s novels The Road to Hidden Acres and its sequel Ashes to Ashes explore survival, self-reliance, and hope in a post-collapse world. Don’t miss this chance to meet the author and hear the stories behind the stories.
This event will be held in lieu of Adult Book Club this month. We hope to see all our book club attendees here for this special event.
Teen Programming: Teen Mini-Golf in the Library – Wednesday, May 21st from 3:00-4:00 PM. Calling all TEENS – join us on May 21st from 3-4pm, when we transform the library into a mini golf course! You won’t want to miss this, bring your friends and your best swing!
Teen Programming: Video Game Fridays – Every Friday in May from 3:00-4:00 PM. Teens, get ready for Video Game Fridays at the library! Every Friday from 3-4 p.m., join us for a fun, interactive gaming session featuring themed games of the week. Whether you’re racing through Mario Kart, building Legos, exploring Minecraft, or testing your skills in a cooking challenge, there’s something for everyone. Play on our Nintendo Switch or dive into virtual reality with our VR headset. Bring your friends and level up your Fridays at the library!
Tech Help – By Appointment. Need help with your phone or tablet? Looking for tips on how to stay safe online or use the library’s digital resources? Then call the library today to set up a one-on-one Tech Help appointment with one of our staff members to get all of your questions answered.
Recurring Programs
Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group – Thursday May 1st from 12:30-1:30 PM
Writer’s Group with Lee Marcus – Saturday, May 10th, 10 AM
Crochet for Beginners – Mondays, 5:00-7:00 PM (Don’t have your own hooks? Borrow a crochet kit from the library’s Tool Lending Shed!)
Chess Lessons – Thursdays, 6:00-7:00 PM
Open Chess – Thursdays, 7:00-9:00 PM
Homebound Book Delivery – Can’t visit the library? We’ll bring the books to you with our Homebound Book Program!
Call us before the first weekend of the month to sign up for our Homebound Book program and have books delivered to you on the last Tuesday of every month-607-324-1210.
Coming in June:
Teen Programming: Live Action Angry Birds – Wednesday, June 25th from 3:00-4:00 PM.
Get ready to fling, fly, and smash your way into summer fun June 25th from 3-4pm at our Life-sized Angry Birds Teen Program! We’re bringing the legendary video game Angry Birds to life—OUTSIDE at Union Park!
Team up with friends, build crazy towers, and launch giant “birds” to knock them down just like in the game. It’s all the action, chaos, and laughter of Angry Birds—no screens required!
Open to all teens, this wild outdoor adventure will have you dodging pigs and aiming for epic high scores. Grab your friends and get ready to fling into action — this is one summer event you don’t want to miss!
Registration for the Summer Reading Program begins on June 1st. Call, come into the library, or register online!
The Summer Reading Program is quickly approaching for 2025. This year at the library we will “Color Our World” with vibrant art projects, STEAM activities, games, and Special Guests for patrons of all ages. Registration for the program will begin on June 1st in person, via phone, or online. Pick up your swag bag, grab a calendar of events, and sign up for the programs you are interested in from June 28th – July 8th. We are looking forward to an incredible summer as we Color Our World here at the Hornell Public Library.
*This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes
The Hornell Public Library is located at 64 Genesee Street, Hornell, NY. The library’s open hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Wednesday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Friday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, and Saturday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
