Newfield library launches new summer programming

On June 29, the Newfield Public Library held an event to kick off its summer programming series, which this year has the theme “Oceans of Possibilities.” Staff are looking forward to this year’s lineup after two years filled with lots of changes due to the pandemic.

According to Library Director Sue Chaffee, Newfield has offered its summer programming for many years. Over the years, the programming changed, such as adding weekly offerings.

“That kind of recurring event every week that they can count on each week is something new,” Chaffee said. “And basically, those are adjustments we made.”

The theme of this year’s program, “Oceans of Possibilities,” was chosen by the Collaborative Summer Library Program (cslpreads.org). In following the theme, the Newfield Public Library is offering ocean-themed events, such as showing movies like “Free Willy” and “Dolphin Town,” reading books about fish and the ocean, and having the Finger Lakes Toy Library bring ocean-themed toys.

“We’re taking the theme pretty literal and using oceans and marine life in all of our programming,” Chaffee said.

About 125 to 150 children take part in the library’s summer programming each year, but this year, Chaffee is planning for 200 participants. The program will last for eight weeks.

Christina Ward, president of the Newfield Central School District Board of Education, said the pandemic brought attention to some of Newfield’s needs as a community, from reliable internet access to community programming.

During the pandemic, the library held many events over Zoom to prevent the spread of the virus. Over two years later, as restrictions have eased, the library has held more events in person, although some have options for Zoom attendance.

“At this point in time, more and more people are comfortable coming out, so we aren’t seeing as many people join via Zoom,” Chaffee said. “In fact, most of our programming this summer will be in person.”

Chaffee said that while Zoom can be convenient for some events, such as poetry readings, it can be a challenge for other events, such as arts and crafts workshops.

“There’s a lot more planning that comes into play because for anyone joining via Zoom, you have to get the supplies to them ahead of time,” Chaffee said. “So, that just requires more planning. But we have done it and will continue to do it.”

Even with more in-person events, the library will often hold its events outside, weather permitting, such as movie showings. Apart from social distancing being easier outdoors, there is also more space outside.

“I would say COVID prompted us to do more outdoors over the last couple years,” Chaffee said. “But we’ve had outdoor programming prior to COVID. When the weather’s nice, it’s nice to be outdoors. It’s nice to spread out, so it all depends on the particular program.”

The library’s partnership with the Newfield Masons helped with holding outdoor events since the library can use the Masons’ pavilion, which is located behind their lodge.

The library has children keep a reading log and offers prizes for those who read the most minutes in the each of four age groups. The library has prizes on display, which are given to the first-, second- and third-place winners, and there is also a “reading bingo,” which gives people the opportunity to try something new. Chaffee encouraged children to read for at least 20 minutes per day.

“Even if you don’t read a lot, everything that you read counts,” Chaffee said.

Ward expressed appreciation for the library’s programming for children, as well as offering prizes as an incentive for children to read. She recalls taking her children to the library and seeing them become excited upon seeing the prizes on display.

“They make reading fun, and they also provide an air-conditioned place to come during the summer,” Ward said.

Ward said she appreciates the library’s encouragement of children to read because children will likely fall behind in school unless they keep their minds stimulated over the summer.

“We’re excited for the summer — I say ‘we’ as meaning the school district — and happy for a summer that looks more normal than it has over the last two years, and that we’re able to be together again, like inside the library together, at the school auditorium together,” Ward said. “This summer feels like a celebration on the closing of another difficult year, and [we’re] optimistic for this next school year to feel less impacted by the pandemic.”

Newfield Notes appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

School holds summer food program

The Newfield Central School District’s summer food program will offer free breakfasts and lunches for children up to age 18 from June 27 to Aug. 5. Breakfast will be held from 8 to 9 a.m., and lunch will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The program is paid for through a combination of federal and state funds.

Library news

The Newfield Public Library will hold a movie night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 8. For more information, go to newfieldpubliclibrary.org/events/movie-night-700-6/.

The library will hold its Family Storytime from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. June 12.

On July 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., the library will screen the movie “The Story of Plastic.” The film, which is shown as part of the “Oceans of Possibilities” series of summer programming, is a documentary about the consequences of plastic pollution in the oceans.

For more information, go to newfieldpubliclibrary.org/events/film-screening-the-story-of-plastic/.