Tag: Corning

Suggested Reading Five: April 1, 2026

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, here are our five suggested reads of the week!

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Final Storm by Fern Michaels 

In an exciting and richly moving new standalone page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels, an acclaimed photographer who has overcome her difficult past is suddenly faced with a test of all her courage and resilience. 

In her award-winning wildlife photographs, Charlotte Gray captures all the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Far better to focus on breathtaking landscapes than to turn the lens on her own painful childhood and the uncaring mother she left behind in Florida. Piece by piece, Charlotte has built a new, independent life, one she’s eager to protect. 

A chance encounter on assignment in Las Vegas sparks an intriguing relationship, and for the first time, Charlotte impulsively follows her heart. But along with love and fresh beginnings comes a trove of secrets about her new husband. And someone in his past is determined to upend Charlotte’s happiness by threatening what she cares about most. 

After everything she’s weathered, Charlotte is about to face the task of rebuilding her life yet again. But this time she’s doing it with hard-won strength, experience, and the wisdom to know when to forgive, when to let go, and how to walk into the sunshine and claim the support and love she deserves . . . 

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Game on: An Into Darkness Novel by Navessa Allen 

Book three in the #1 New York Times bestselling Into Darkness Series, following the dark rom-com sensations Lights Out and Caught Up. The game is on for these enemies-to-lovers with laugh-out-loud banter and scorching-hot brat play. 

I hate that woman. 

Tyler Neumann has spent years looking for his father, and not because he wants to meet the man. No, he wants to destroy him. And he’ll manipulate whoever he can to exact his revenge. 

Including Stella McCormick. She’s everything Tyler hates. Her wealth and privilege have protected her for her entire life, and Tyler thinks it’s time she finally paid the price. Whether she’s ready to or not. 

I hate that man. 

Stella might not believe in love at first sight, but loathing at first sight—no question. From the moment she sets eyes on Tyler in her tattoo parlor, she knows he’s the devil planning to make her life hell. 

Forced to play the part of his girlfriend and invite him into her family’s glittering circles, Stella quickly clocks Tyler’s ulterior motives. But love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and soon she doesn’t know which is worse: being blackmailed by a man who wants to ruin her, or that they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. 

This is an enemies-to-lovers dark romance with morally grey characters. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the content warning at the beginning of the book. 

Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers / Forced proximity / Fake dating / Rom-com / Morally grey MMC / Black cat FMC / Blackmail / Kidnapping / Power imbalance / Age gap / Betrayal and redemption / Dark past / Revenge 

 
Reader’s Note: Game On is the third book in the Into Darkness series. If you’d like to start reading the series from the beginning, check out book one: Lights Out. 

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The Keeper by Tana French  

Retired Chicago detective Cal Hooper has now spent three years in the Irish village of Ardnakelty. His work with young Trey is going well, and his relationship with his fiancé Lena is progressing nicely. He’s also close with a group of local men who have accepted him into their complex social circle. But Lena wants nothing to do with their rumor mill and petty squabbles. When Rachel Holohan, girlfriend of the son of the town big shot, is found dead, she is not just mourned; her death stirs up generations of old grudges, power struggles, and stifling anger. As tensions mount and actions become more vicious, an exposed plan to upend the entire fabric of the town sheds new light on Rachel’s death, demanding vengeance and casting suspicions everywhere.  

VERDICT French is an expert at writing suspense and depicting the stifling tensions of small towns, and her final book in the Cal Hooper trilogy (following The Searcher and The Hunter) brings Cal’s story to a pulse-pounding conclusion. His legions of fans will mourn the end of this exceptional series.–Starred Booklist Review  

Reader’s Note: The Keeper is the third book in the Cal Hooper series. If you’d like to start reading the series from the beginning, check out book one: The Searcher. 

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News from Dublin: Stories by Colm Toibin 

Celebrated as “his generation’s most gifted writer of love’s complicated, contradictory power” (Los Angeles Times), Colm Tóibín is a master of short fiction as well as the novel, able to summon an extraordinary intensity of emotion in a brief tale. The eleven stories transport readers across continents and eras. 

In “The Journey to Galway,” a mother who has learned of the death of her son, a fighter pilot in World War I, travels to Galway to inform his wife and their three now fatherless children. “Sleep,” originally published in The New Yorker, explores the rift between two lovers as one of them cannot reckon with his grief and fear after the death of his brother. Death, again, is a central character in the title story, “The News from Dublin,” as Maurice Webster travels to Dublin to try to save his younger brother who is dying of tuberculosis. Maurice must petition the health minister for access to a new experimental drug, and this is the only hope. 

Tóibín’s stories are rich with the complexities of family dynamics, the haunting pull of the past, and the quiet revelations that define our lives. His characters, whether navigating the aftermath of war, or forbidden love, or the desires of a girl in Catalan, or the quiet struggles mundane life, are rendered with illuminating, unforgettable empathy and insight. 

The News from Dublin is an exquisite introduction to Tóibín’s short fiction for new readers who may have discovered Tóibín with the publication of Long Island, and a glorious new collection for longtime fans of this “achingly beautiful writer…with infinite compassion” (The Miami Herald). 

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Son of Nobody by Yann Martel 

The Booker Prize-winning author of Life of Pi (2002) turns his eye to ancient Greece in this inventive novel about a classics scholar who makes a thrilling discovery. Much like the ancient Greek warriors who left home to journey to Troy, Harlow Donne leaves his wife and eight-year-old daughter in Canada to accept a research position at Oxford. Once there, Harlow becomes absorbed by fragments of an epic poem he christens The Psoad, which chronicles the plight of everyman Psoas, referred to as a “son of nobody,” a Greek fighter from Midea who is anything but one of the legendary heroes who take the spotlight in Homer’s Iliad. His attempts at plunder prove fruitless, but Psoas is a skilled fighter, and after he’s rudely insulted by one of King Priam’s 50 sons, Prince Mestor, Psoas vows to kill him. Harlow loses himself in his research just as surely as Psoas loses himself in his quest for vengeance. This tale has an unusual format. Half is the epic poem, the rest unspools in Harlow’s footnotes, which run the gamut from annotating the poem to missives to his faraway daughter. Martel’s brilliant examination of how history is made and of who pays the price for all-consuming obsessions is original, thought-provoking, and utterly absorbing. –Starred Booklist Review  

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Happy reading!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.

–

Weekly Suggested Reading Five postings are usually published on Wednesdays, unless Monday is a holiday and then they are published later in the week.

–

Information on the four library catalogs

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

–

Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron check out limit is 10 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

–

Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders!

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV).

–

StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

–

Have questions about how to access Internet based content (i.e. eBooks, eAudios)? Feel free to drop by the Reference Desk or call the library and we will assist you! The library’s telephone number is: 607-936-3713.

–

Tech & Book Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Suggested Reading Five: March 18, 2026

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, here are our five suggested reads of the week!

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Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief: A Novel by Benjamin Stevenson 

Stevenson’s hot streak continues with the fabulous fourth case for Ernest Cunningham (after Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret), an amateur sleuth and former writer of instructional texts about how to write whodunits. When Ernest and his fiancée Juliette visit a bank in the small Australian town of Huxley in search of a loan to finance Ernest’s PI business, they’re taken hostage by “a bank robber who doesn’t seem to care about money.” Puzzlingly, the robber locks the doors to the building but allows his captives to roam free as he attempts to fish out a single dollar from a locked vault. Unable to resist investigating, Ernest soon finds that many of his fellow hostages—including a film producer, a priest, numerous healthcare workers, and a security guard—also planned to rob the bank. Then someone in the party dies, piling a locked-room murder mystery on top of the already-curious case of overlapping heists. As always, Stevenson plays scrupulously fair with readers, offering all the evidence needed to solve his devilishly intricate puzzle from the jump. Still, even the most seasoned mystery fans will struggle to beat him to the final reveal. This series continues to impress. –Starred Publishers Weekly Review 

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Feather Wars: And the Great Crusade to Save America’s Birds by James H. McCommons 

The late 19th century was not a good time for North American birds, which were being hunted (for food, sport, and feathers) to the brink of extinction, until bird lovers intervened and called for protection. Journalist McCommons’s (Camera Hunter) account meticulously guides readers through the battles of the feather wars as politicians, socialites, artists, tycoons, gun makers, and game wardens collaborated to preserve birds and their habitats. The stories shared are truly awe-inspiring, as the bird crusade brought together the unlikeliest of allies who triumphed against overwhelming odds. McCommons hopes this account will serve as proof that big problems are not insurmountable. This is a timely message, as the United States once again faces a bird extinction crisis. The chapters are easy to follow, though descriptions of bird slaughter can be graphic. Contemporary photographs are sprinkled throughout the well-researched book for which McCommons visited libraries, museums, national parks, and wildlife refuges. There is an extensive notes section at the book’s end. VERDICT The chronicle of the fight to save birds will have widespread appeal to bird lovers, nature enthusiasts, and readers interested in environmental conservation.–Starred Library Journal Review  

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Love Song by Elle Kennedy 

A Briar universe standalone romance featuring the next generation Off-Campus characters—where one unforgettable summer changes everything. 

After a brutal breakup, college junior Blake Logan escapes to her family’s lake house in Tahoe, determined to shut out the world. Her plan is simple: no men, no drama. Until Wyatt Graham shows up. Four years older and far too good at getting under her skin, Wyatt is the living embodiment of a “bad idea,” and the guy who shattered her pride when she confessed her crush at sixteen. 

With his music career stalled, Wyatt has come to Tahoe for inspiration. The last thing he expects is to find it with Blake. He’s spent years keeping his distance, convinced he’s all wrong for her, but she’s no longer the innocent girl he once knew. She’s confident, captivating, and impossible to ignore. And the slow-burning tension between them? It’s catching fire fast. 

They both know this can’t last, but one reckless kiss turns into another, and soon they’re tangled in something that feels dangerously like more. Just as they finally give in to the pull, tragedy tears them apart, leaving their hearts in pieces. 

But forgetting that one, nearly perfect summer? Not a chance. And when fate brings them together again, Blake and Wyatt must decide if this is a second chance…or the final verse. 

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Meet Me at the Library: A Place to Foster Social Connection and Promote Democracy  by Shamichael Hallman 

America is facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, with troubling effects on our mental and physical health. We live in one of the most divisive times in our history, one in which we tend to work, play, and associate only with people who think as we do. How do we create spaces for people to come together—to open our minds, understand our differences, and exchange ideas? 

Shamichael Hallman argues that the public library may be our best hope for bridging these divides and creating strong, inclusive communities. While public libraries have long been thought of as a place for a select few, increasingly they are playing an essential role in building social cohesion, promoting civic renewal, and advancing the ideals of a healthy democracy. Many are reimagining themselves in new and innovative ways, actively reaching out to the communities they serve. Today, libraries are becoming essential institutions for repairing society 

Libraries have a unique opportunity to bridge socioeconomic divides and rebuild trust. But in order to do so, they must be truly welcoming to all. They and their communities must work collaboratively to bridge socioeconomic divides through innovative and productive partnerships. 

Drawing from his experience at the Memphis Public Library and his extensive research and interviews across the country, Hallman presents a rich argument for seeing libraries as one of the nation’s greatest assets.  He includes examples from libraries large and small–such as the Iowa’s North Liberty Library’s Lighthouse in the Library program to bring people together to discuss important topics in a safe and supportive space, to Cambridge Cooks, an initiative of the Cambridge MA Public Library that fosters social connection by bringing people together over shared interest in food. 

As an institution that is increasingly under attack for creating a place where diverse audiences can see themselves, public libraries are under more scrutiny than ever. Meet Me at the Library offers us a revealing look at one of our most important civic institutions and the social and civic impact they must play if we are to heal our divided nation. 

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On Sunday She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield 

In their first full-length novel, Schofield (author of the story collection Just a Little Snack) weaves a haunting, surreal Southern gothic meditation on generational trauma and what it takes to escape the bonds of toxic relationships. Time both drips and rushes by as readers follow 41-year-old Jude’s flight from her childhood home and abusive mother to take refuge in an abandoned cottage in the Georgia woods, where she finds freedom, despite the horrors that surround her. When the mysterious Nemoira arrives at her door, Jude takes her in and becomes enamored of her. Through their vivid, intoxicating prose, Schofield creates a visceral tale infused with feminine rage and the inherited trauma from being Black in America that is beautiful, bloody, and gory. VERDICT This evocative work that’s lush as a humid Georgia summer night will stick with readers for a long time. Fans of Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Rivers Solomon’s Sorrowland, or Tananarive Due will find themselves transfixed.–Starred Library Journal Review  

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Happy reading!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.

–

Weekly Suggested Reading Five postings are usually published on Wednesdays, unless Monday is a holiday and then they are published later in the week.

–

Information on the four library catalogs

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

–

Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron check out limit is 10 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

–

Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders!

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV).

–

StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

–

Have questions about how to access Internet based content (i.e. eBooks, eAudios)? Feel free to drop by the Reference Desk or call the library and we will assist you! The library’s telephone number is: 607-936-3713.

–

Tech & Book Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Suggested Reading Five: March 11, 2026

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, here are our five suggested reads of the week!

–

Grizzled: Love Letters to 50 of North America’s Least Understood Animals by Jason Bittel 

Funny, fascinating, and scientifically grounded, this charming book reveals unknown details about 50 well-known animals. Effortlessly readable, Grizzled reintroduces nature lovers to species they thought they knew all about. From fireflies and hummingbirds to alligators and sharks, this collection of 50 brief essays combines witty prose and vivid illustrations to reveal the secret lives and oddball behaviors of North American creatures both familiar and little known. In Grizzled, science journalist Jason Bittel taps into current research about the behavior of key North American mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates, from insects to urchins. Along the way, he answers questions you didn’t know to ask, such as: -How do monarch butterflies emerge from sentient goo? -Why did beavers have to parachute into their newest habitats? -What’s inside a yellowjacket meatball? -How many jellyfish can a sea turtle eat? -Can deer really grow antlers on their legs? Grizzled offers a surprising, endearing, and altogether eye-opening tour of the animal kingdom—one you won’t soon forget. 

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Heir of Whitestone by Catherine Coulter

England, 1842. Queen Victoria reigns, Buckingham Palace is overrun with rats, and the streets of London are filled with intrigue. 

Alex Ivanov is a brilliant young innovator, designing cutting-edge train engines. But Alex has a secret—he isn’t really Alex Ivanov. As a boy, he was pulled from the Thames, presumed drowned, with no memory of who he was. Rescued and raised by the formidable Ryder Sherbrooke, Alex has built a new life, but his past is catching up with him. 

Lady Camilla Rohman has problems of her own. Trapped by a scheming stepmother and a family determined to see her married off, she is as clever as she is desperate. When fate throws her into Alex’s path, their connection is undeniable. 

But as their whirlwind romance turns into marriage, danger follows. On their honeymoon, a series of deadly attacks make one thing clear—someone wants Alex dead. As they race to uncover the truth, old enemies and long-buried secrets come to light, leading them to a shocking revelation that will change everything… 

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Hospital at the End of the World by Justin C. Key 

DEBUT Pok is in his twenties and living in the tech-centric New York City of the future, complete with augmented reality, which is necessary to function in society. His father is a respected doctor at the AI-operated medical center, the Shepherd Organization, which has managed to insert itself into all aspects of daily life. Pok wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a doctor. When a conspiracy forces him to attend the only remaining medical school not under the influence of artificial intelligence, in New Orleans, he uncovers secrets about AI in medicine, his heritage, and the fate of the last human-centered medical school in the country. This story explores the “what if” of AI in medicine and examines what a medical AI would consider best for patients. Key (The World Wasn’t Ready for You: Stories) adds a human touch to a detailed first novel that depicts a near-future world and provides realistic and thorough look into its medical field. VERDICT A medical-minded dystopia with mystery elements that emphasizes the importance of human connection and equity for everyone in a world of artificial intelligence. For readers of Laila Lalami. –Library Journal Review  

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Served Him Right by Lisa Unger 

When Paul Hayes is found murdered, no one is particularly upset or surprised. He’s made plenty of enemies in business and in his personal life, including several women who have accused him of sexual assault. Ana and Vera Blacksmith, sisters with a traumatic and mysterious past, find themselves in the middle of the investigation when police learn that Ana was Paul’s last girlfriend and has a history of volatile and erratic behavior. The investigation takes a turn when Ana’s best friend falls deathly ill, and Paul’s newest girlfriend goes missing. How are these people connected, who can be trusted, and what secrets are the Blacksmith sisters hiding? Unger’s latest mystery is an exploration of the patriarchy through the lens of female rage, with some witchy vibes added for extra fun. The combination of revenge, generational trauma, and girl power makes this a fun and twisted tale. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewel and Shari Lapena–and angry women everywhere. — Booklist Review  

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This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum 

Benny Abbott and Joy Moore’s successful podcast This Story Might Save Your Life chronicles real-life survival stories with humor. Just when the podcasters (and best friends) stand to make millions in a lucrative deal, Joy and her husband go missing in the hills of northeast Los Angeles; her cohost Benny is the prime suspect in the disappearance. Crum’s multi-timeline novel is structured in part as a manuscript of Benny and Joy’s joint memoir, with alternating chapters about each podcaster’s life, while narration from the present also switches between Benny and Joy to advance the plot and character development. Fused with the mystery of what happened to Joy and her producer husband is a will-they, won’t they romance between Joy and Benny, who seem like a perfect match. Domestic violence, pregnancy loss, and narcolepsy are all dealt with in a storyline that will have readers thinking they’ve got it figured out–until they don’t. VERDICT A timely novel for fans of the growing trend of books featuring podcasters, such as Amy Tintera’s Listen for the Lie.–Library Journal Review  

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Happy reading!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Weekly Suggested Reading Five postings are usually published on Wednesdays, unless Monday is a holiday and then they are published later in the week.

–

Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.

–

Information on the four library catalogs

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

–

Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron check out limit is 10 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

–

Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders!

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV).

–

StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

–

Have questions about how to access Internet based content (i.e. eBooks, eAudios)? Feel free to drop by the Reference Desk or call the library and we will assist you! The library’s telephone number is: 607-936-3713.

–

Tech & Book Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Suggested Listening & Viewing: January 16, 2026

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, here is our weekly Suggested Listening and Viewing post; featuring ten songs and two streaming video recommendations, one from a mainstream service and the other from Kanopy, the library’s free to access streaming service (all you need is a library card!).

First The Songs: 

Around The Clock by Jimmy Witherspoon

Found on the Album: Blues Around The Clock (1995)

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Delilah by Clifford Brown with Max Roach

Found on the Album: The Emarcy Master Takes (Vol. 1) (2009)

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Dust My Broom by Elmore James

Found on the Album: Shake Your Moneymaker: The Best of the Fire Sessions (2001)

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Make My Getaway by Big Bill Broozny

Found on the Album: Big Bill Broonzy Sings (1956)

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The Joint Is Jumpin’ by Fats Waller

Found on the Album: The Very Best of Fats Waller (2000)

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Match Box Blues by Blind Lemon Jefferson

Found on the Album: Legend (2018)

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Moonshine Blues by Ma Rainey

Found on the Album: Blues Greats (2009)

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Telephoning Blues by Victoria Spivey

Found on the Album: Victoria Spivey Vol. 3 1929-1936 (2005)

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What’s Your Story, Morning Glory? By Mary Lou Williams

Found on the Album: My Mama Pinned A Rose On Me (2005)

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Women Be Wise by Sippie Wallace

Found on the Album: Women Be Wise (1994)

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Second The Videos: 

Two recommendations a week; one title available through one of the usual U.S. streaming services, followed by a Kanopy title that you can check out with your library card and stream on-demand.

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Mainstream Stream

The Night Manager, Season 2 (2026) (Amazon Prime)

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Kanopy Stream

Metropolis (1927) 

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Metropolis Trailer

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Have a great weekend!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Information on the four library catalogs 

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/ 

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go! 

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog. 

And The Digital Catalog/Libby features titles that may be checked out via the one-copy-one-user lending model, just like print books.  

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Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/ 

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron checkout limit is 10 items per month. 

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders. 

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players. 

Titles in the Hoopla Catalog are available to be checked out on-demand by all library card holders, with the caveat of being able to check out a maximum of ten titles per month, per card.  

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Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en 

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.  

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders! 

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV). 

– 

StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org 

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System. 

Suggested Listening & Viewing: January 9, 2026

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, here is our weekly Suggested Listening and Viewing post; featuring ten songs and two streaming video recommendations, one from a mainstream service and the other from Kanopy, the library’s free to access streaming service (all you need is a library card!).

This week we’re offering ten pop/rock & blues classics from the early to mid twentieth century. Enjoy!

First the songs: 

No Particular Place to Go by Chuck Berry 

 

Found on the Album: 20th Century Masters: The Best Of Chuck Berry – The Millennium Collection (1999) 

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Today I Sing The Blues by Aretha Franklin 

 

Found on the Album: Aretha (1961) 

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Oh, Boy! by Buddy Holly  

 

Found on the Album: The Chirping Crickets (1957) 

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Bye Bye Love by The Everly Brothers  

 

Found on the Album: The Very Best Of The Everly Brothers (1964) 

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Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right by Bob Dylan 

 

Found on the Album: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963) 

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Ruby Baby by Dion 

 

Found on the Album: Ruby Ruby (1963) 

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Wild Is The Wind by Nina Simone  

 

Found on the Album: Wild Is The Wind (1966) 

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St. Louis Blues by Bessie Smith 

 

Found on the Album: Smith, Bessie: St. Louis Blues (1924-25) (2003) 

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Make Someone Happy by Dinah Washington 

 

Found on the Album: The Complete Roulette Collection (2011) 

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5-10-15 Hours by Ruth Brown 

 

Found on the Album: Rockin’ In Rhythm – The Best Of Ruth Brown (2005) 

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Second The videos: 

A new title available through one of the usual U.S. streaming services, followed by a Kanopy title that you can check out with your library card and stream on-demand, via the Kanopy app or through the Kanopy website found at https://www.kanopy.com/

Mainstream Streaming Pick of the Week 

The Pitt, Season 2 (2026) (HBO Max) 

 

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Kanopy Streaming Pick of the Week 

The Friend Trailer 

 

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– 

Have a great weekend!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

–

Information on the four library catalogs 

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/ 

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go! 

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog. 

And The Digital Catalog/Libby features titles that may be checked out via the one-copy-one-user lending model, just like print books.  

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Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/ 

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron checkout limit is 10 items per month. 

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders. 

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players. 

Titles in the Hoopla Catalog are available to be checked out on-demand by all library card holders, with the caveat of being able to check out a maximum of ten titles per month, per card.  

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Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en 

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.  

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders! 

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV). 

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StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org 

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System. 

Suggested Listening & Viewing: January 2, 2026

Linda Reimer

Happy Friday everyone & best wishes for a happy, healthy & prosperous 2026! 

As is now the post-holiday season, the library is open our usual hours today and tomorrow, 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. today (Friday) and 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.  

This week’s Suggested Listening & Viewing blog post has been cancelled due to a challenge pitched the library’s way by YouTube itself. It seems that YouTube thinks the new library IP address might be malicious, and so it is blocking anyone using YouTube at the library to access videos without signing in.

  

So instead of sharing the music and trailer clips I was going to share, I will share information about how you can access digital library content, some of which, for example anything in the Hoopla or Kanopy catalogs, offers on-demand access.  

And I should note, you can probably access YouTube as a guest, without logging in at your location if you’ve done it before – or have used your internet service for a long time. As you may know, you can search for songs, music playlists (i.e. New Years Jazz, New Year’s Easy Listening etc.) or ambience videos (i.s. Winter Fireplace, Coffee Shop Jazz, relaxing ambience, snow falling background music etc). Just go to https://www.youtube.com/ and type whatever your subject in the search box.

Having said that, let’s jump in! 

The library has four catalogs you can access online; and you can look at all four without a library card; however, to actually do anything in any catalog, except look that is, you have to have a library card.  

1. StarCat: The catalog of physical library materials for the entire Southern Tier Library System; where you can go to see what items you have checked out and place holds for items. StarCat can be accessed through the library’s website found at https://ssclibrary.org/ or you can go directly to the catalog by clicking/tapping on the following link: https://starcat.stls.orgStarCat does not feature a companion app.  

2. Hoopla: This catalog, the only one of the four listed that is only accessible to SSC Library patrons (meaning you need a library card from our library that starts with the numbers 10014)* features the following digital content: audiobooks, eBooks, comics, TV shows, movies and albums. All content is available on-demand – so you don’t have to wait for it. Hoopla features a companion app, which you can access from the store on your mobile device or smart tv. You can also access Hoopla through a web browser on a computer by going to the following webpage: https://www.hoopladigital.com/ 

3. Kanopy: This catalog features streaming videos for the whole family. Kanopy is an on-demand catalog. You can download the Kanopy app through the app store on your mobile device or smart V, or access it online via the following link: https://www.kanopy.com/en/catalog 

4. Libby (formerly OverDrive): Libby features eBooks, digital audiobooks and digital magazines. The eBooks and audiobooks are available in the one copy/one user lending model; which means they may be checked out just like print books one-cop-per-one-patron at a time. The magazines are available in the simultaneous access/on demand lending model. You can access Libby by downloading the app from your app store, or by going to the Digital Catalog online, and it is available in two web browser formats the newer one is: https://libbyapp.com and the older one, which long time library patrons will recognize is https://stls.overdrive.com/  

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Linda Reimer, SSCL  

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*Hoopla is the lone catalog of the four mentioned, that is paid for solely by the Southeast Steuben County Library; and that is why it is available only to Southeast Steuben County Library cardholders.

The other three catalogs, StarCat, Libby & Kanopy, are paid for by the 48-member Southern Tier Library System, which our library is a member of – and those catalogs can be logged into by anyone with a card from any of the Southern Tier Library System member libraries, which includes all the public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Allegheny and Schuyler Counties.

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Library Closing Early Today 12.26.25

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, just a quick FYI on this snowy afternoon.

Due to the inclement weather, the library is closing today, Friday, December 26, at 3:00 p.m.

So unfortunately, we won’t be showing our December Monthly Matinee, Wicked (2024), today.

Our Monthly Matinees are shown the fourth Friday of each month, with a start time of 2:30 p.m.

An as we are finding that many patrons are inquiring if we will reschedule showing the movie Wicked – we have done so!

Wicked will now be our January Monthly Matinee, bumping the film The Wild Robot, which we may show at a later date. Wicked will be shown Friday, January 23, 2026 with a start time of 2:30 p.m.

And here is the current Monthly Matinee Schedule January – August 2026

As mentioned, Monthly Matinees are shown the fourth Friday of the Month, start time 2:30 p.m.

This list updated 12.26.25 LR

January 2026:

Wicked (2024)

February 2026:

In The Heights (2021)

March 2026:

The Courier (2020) with Benedict Cumberbatch

April 2026

News of the World (2020) with Tom Hanks

May 2026

42 (2013) with Chadwick Boseman & Harrison Ford

June 2026

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) with Ralph Fiennes & F. Murray Abraham

July 2026

1776 (1972) with William Daniels, Howard DaSilva & Ken Howard

August 2026:

Wicked for Good (2025)

Have a great weekend!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

Suggested Reading Five: December 24, 2025

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, here are our five suggested reads of the week!

And on another library note, just a reminder, the library is closed today, Wednesday, December 24, and tomorrow, Thursday, December 25 for the Christmas holiday. We will re-open on Friday, December 26 at our usual opening time of 9:00 a.m.

This week we’re going to take a look at five of the best romances of 2025, selected from several Best of 2025 book lists – links to the lists are found at the end of this post.

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After Hours at Dooryard Books by Cat Sebastian 

1968 New York City

News about the war might be keeping Patrick up at night—news in general might be keeping Patrick up at night—but he’s doing fine. He’s sure of it. He gets to spend his days selling books in the gayest neighborhood on the East Coast and his nights merrily sleeping his way through the rare book community. But when he takes in a drifter who seems to be hiding something, and his best friend and her newborn move into the apartment upstairs, his life gets turned on its head.

A sleepy little bookstore should be the perfect place for Nathaniel to lie low, waiting for his past to catch up with him, but it turns out Dooryard Books is full of political radicals and anti-war agitators. If the FBI isn’t actively surveilling this place, it will be. Nathaniel should go anywhere else. The last thing he expects is to like these subversives. There’s a grieving folk musician and her baby—a demon of a child who will only sleep if Nathaniel, of all people, holds her. There’s a pair of rabble-rousing teenagers who, upsettingly, seem to be right about everything. And then there’s Patrick, who can’t walk past anyone who needs his help—and who is perplexingly determined to help Nathaniel.

As the world balances on the precipice of something new and scary and maybe even hopeful, Patrick needs to decide what he’s willing to risk for this chaotic new community he’s accidentally created. And Nathaniel needs to figure out whether he has a place in this messy, flawed world—and whether he can believe he deserves it.

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Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley 

In her U.S. debut, Stanley follows a decade in the life of Coralie Bower, beginning in 2013 when she’s newly arrived in London. A chance encounter with Adam, a handsome journalist, blossoms into a romance, and her life becomes everything she’s hoped for. But the reasons she left Australia–family issues, an abusive boss–still lurk. Adam is her rock throughout numerous life events, but when their first daughter’s birth coincides with a major book deal for Adam, Coralie finds herself struggling to stay afloat. As the years pass, Coralie feels like she’s surrendered herself to motherhood and managing the household, abandoning her own dreams to ensure that Adam succeeds. By the time COVID hits, the resentment has built, and Coralie realizes that something must change. Stanley cleverly entwines British politics with the plot of the story, grounding the narrative in a specific time. The trajectory of Coralie and Adam’s relationship is authentic, and the family relationships enhance the story, providing further detail about the characters’ motivations. Fans of Jojo Moyes will be drawn into this emotionally candid deep dive into a long-term relationship.

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Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone 

 

Six months after cancer took her beloved best friend and roommate, Lou, Helen “Lenny” Bellamy is still adrift, spending most nights riding the Staten Island Ferry instead of returning to the apartment she once shared with Lou or trying to check items off Lou’s “Live Again” list. An experienced nanny, Lenny can keep herself together only for short-term gigs like a weekend with Ainslie, an eight-year-old girl with a single mom and a grumpy uncle named Miles, who seems to see right through Lenny’s fragile facade. Having lost his mother and cousin in a car accident years ago, and more recently his father and Ainslie’s pop pop, Miles is determined to be a lifeboat for Lenny, with no judgment. As Miles helps Lenny fulfill the items on Lou’s list, they both find they have so many things to live for. VERDICT A stunning book by Bastone (Ready or Not), who delivers another slow-burn and emotional romance that doesn’t shy away from also exploring life’s hardest moments. Recommended for readers who also enjoy Abby Jimenez. – Starred Library Journal

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Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola 

 Sweet and spicy second-chance romance animates this delightfully layered contemporary from Babalola (Honey and Spice). Kiki Banjo was heartbroken after her first love, filmmaker Malakai Korede, left London for what was supposed to be a six-month job in Los Angeles only to never return. Fast-forward three years, and Kiki has a wealthy new man (though she’s not sure how she feels about him) and doles out romantic advice as the host of popular podcast The Heartbeat. When her employer insists on bringing an out-of-touch white woman in as Kiki’s cohost, Kiki quits. In the midst of this personal upheaval, she has to put on a smile to play maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, a task made harder by the knowledge that Malakai is the best man. After the pair’s reunion at the engagement party, they struggle to navigate the still-powerful attraction between them. When a musician they both love asks Malakai to direct and Kiki to produce a documentary, working together brings even more old feelings to the surface. Babalola has a talent for convincingly depicting the extremes of human emotion, from devastating heartbreak to intense passion, and her characters feel wonderfully real and well rounded. Readers won’t be able to resist. – Publishers Weekly Review

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Time Loops and Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau 

Lau (Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie) offers up a fun contemporary rom-com with a Groundhog Day twist. Workaholic mechanical engineer Noelle Tom has been in survival mode for most of her life, believing she can find a straightforward solution to every problem if she keeps her head down and works hard. However, after eating some magical dumplings that make her endlessly repeat the day she ate them, Noelle abruptly discovers the flaws in her worldview. Now no matter what she does–leaving her time zone, quitting her job, or trying to find other magic dumplings to reverse the spell–she can’t escape June 20. There are some unexpected benefits to this mystical problem: she finds a friend in Avery, who is also stuck in the loop after eating the same dumplings, and she gets myriad, consequence-free chances at redoing her first meeting with handsome brewery manager Cam Huang, who, strangely enough, seems to subconsciously remember Noelle through hundreds of meet-cutes. Despite the repetition, Lau keeps the pace moving at a brisk clip, thanks in large part to Noelle’s attempts to apply the scientific method to her predicament. The author’s fans will be very pleased with this breezy treat. – Publishers Weekly Review

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References with Links

Colgan, J. (2025, December 4). The five best romance books of 2025. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/dec/04/five-best-romance-books-2025-ali-hazelwood-bolu-babalola-jessica-stanley

New York Public Library. (2025). Best Books. Nypl.org. https://www.nypl.org/books-more/recommendations/best-books/adults?year=2025&f%5B0%5D=terms%3ARomance

Puckett-Pope, L. (2025, November 14). The Best Books of Fall 2025, According to ELLE Editors. ELLE. https://www.elle.com/culture/books/g69251844/best-books-fall-2025/

Waite, O. (2025, December 9). The Best Romance Books of 2025. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/books/review/best-romance-books-2025.html?unlocked_article_code=1.7U8.C_Eg.i5cFvhqPxSwv&smid=nytcore-ios-share

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Happy reading!

Linda Reimer, SSCL

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Note: Book summaries are from the respective publishers unless otherwise specified.

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Weekly Suggested Reading Five postings are usually published on Wednesdays, unless Monday is a holiday and then they are published later in the week.

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Information on the four library catalogs

The Digital Catalog aka Libby: https://stls.overdrive.com/

The Digital Catalog, is an online catalog containing eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines. You can use your library card and checkout content on a PC; you can also use the companion app, Libby, to access titles on your mobile devices; so you can enjoy eBooks and eAudiobooks on the go!

All card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can check out items from the Digital Catalog.

–

Hoopla Catalog: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

The Hoopla Catalog features on demand checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, comic books, albums, movies and TV shows. Patron check out limit is 10 items per month.

Hoopla is a Southeast Steuben County Library service available to all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders.

The Hoopla companion app, also called Hoopla is available for mobile devices, smart TVs & media streaming players.

–

Kanopy Catalog: https://www.kanopy.com/en

The Kanopy Catalog features thousands of streaming videos available on demand.

The Kanopy Catalog is available for all Southern Tier Library System member library card holders, including all Southeast Steuben County Library card holders!

You can access the Kanopy Catalog through a web browser, or download the app to your phone, tablet or media streaming player (i.e. Roku, Google or Fire TV).

–

StarCat: The catalog of physical/traditional library materials: https://starcat.stls.org

Card holders of all Southern Tier Library System member libraries can access StarCat to search for and request materials available at libraries through out the Southern Tier Library System.

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Have questions about how to access Internet based content (i.e. eBooks, eAudios)? Feel free to drop by the Reference Desk or call the library and we will assist you! The library’s telephone number is: 607-936-3713.

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Tech & Book Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Books Sandwiched In 2026 Schedule

Linda Reimer

Hi everyone, January is coming!

And along with the new year, will be a new season of Books Sandwiched In, hosted by The Friends of the Library, SSCL and held at the First Congregational Church (171 West Pulteney Street) in Corning.

Here is an informal version of the schedule:

Professional/formal copies of the schedule may be picked up at the library.

Have a great weekend,

Linda Reimer, SSCL

Read In At Library Tomorrow Friday, April 11 – Join Us!

Linda Reimer

For additional information visit the Read In program description on our website

https://ssclibrary.org/event/library-read-in-in-support-of-libraries/

Have a great day,

Linda Reimer, SSCL