@ Your Library 9.16.22

by Beverly Ewart

National Wilderness Month, 2022.

A Proclamation on National Wilderness Month, 2022 – The White House

CFL is a wild place!  If you want to explore National parks, build a tiny house in the woods, or learn how to survive on your own in the wilderness, check us out!  You might lose yourself in wild places through fiction or film, or you might learn a few things about the history of our national parks in the non-fiction collection.

We have so much access to wilderness right on our doorstep, living as we do between the Adirondack Park and the Thousand Islands region.  Browse our shelves and check out some materials that will inspire exploration! 



Upgrade to Libby. In early 2023, the OverDrive app will be discontinued. We encourage you to make the switch to Libby, our newer reading app. Libby is made by the same people, with the same goal of connecting you to your library and to your favorite books, audiobooks, and magazines.

Download Libby or visit libbyapp.com to get started.


Anime Club happens on Thursdays, 5pm-7pm.  Contact Zach for more information at zwoodleywhite@ncls.org.


CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS: 

Programming at the Canton Free Library (CFL) plays an important role in providing literary  opportunities for St. Lawrence County children and their families. All events are free, though some require registration.

Ongoing Programs  – Programs will resume for the fall the week of September 12th!

0-17 months:  Baby Storytime is for our youngest library babies and a caregiver and meets from 10:00-10:45 each Tuesday morning.  We’ll share books, bounce rhymes, songs, finger plays, and close with social/play time. No registration.

18-35 months: Toddler Storytime for children and caregivers meets on Monday mornings from 10:30-11:00.  We’ll read stories, make music, do flannel board tales, finger plays, and movement activities. No registration necessary during the school year.

3-5 years: Preschool Storytime is offered each week on Wednesdays from 10:30-11:15am, and is intended for children and caregivers. This 45-minute program involves stories, songs, movement, and art activities. No registration during the school year.

Grades K-2: Our program for elementary age children is called Books and Beyond.  Each third Thursday afternoon from 3-4 pm, we’ll explore a theme with books, activities, games, and art. Registration for each month is required by the Monday before.

Grades 3-6: Tween Time offers a mix of cool crafts and art exploration, games, STEAM, and booktalks of popular and classic literature, and meets each fourth Thursday afternoon from 3-4 pm.  Registration for each month required by the Monday before.

Lego Club: For Kindergarten-6th grade. Meets the last Monday of the month from 3:30-4:45pm, and a different challenge or theme will be given each meeting.     Creations will be displayed in the Children’s Room until the next meeting. Legos will be supplied; please don’t bring any from home. Space is limited. Registration required by the Friday before.                                                                     

Young Writers Group: A theme or seed of an idea is given, and kids brainstorm, write, and maybe even illustrate their creative stories. They may then share their work with the group if they wish. Ages 8-12 years. Meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 3:30-4:50 pm. No registration needed.      

Teens:  Anime Club for grades 8-12 . Gather together on Thursdays from 5-7pm to share your interest in anime with friends.  No registration is necessary.  Contact Zach Woodley-White for more information. zwoodleywhite@ncls.org   

Outreach: Each month during the school year, Ms. Val visits schools and daycare centers to read to children and share songs, fingerplays, and movement.  In the spring, all local first and second grades are invited to take a class trip to hear stories and tour the library.  

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten: Track the books listened to by children from birth to the beginning of Kindergarten, and move up for every hundred books read on the     Celebration Board in the Children’s Room . You can get a folder from Ms. Val to track on paper forms, or do it on the app.

Special  Programs                       

Battle of the Books: This program for grades 4-6 involves children forming teams, reading a list of 16 books over 8 months and then competing against other local teams in an exciting quiz game about the books. The top team from the CFL goes on to compete in a regional competition.                        

Summer Library Program (SLP): This is a month-long celebration of reading fun      during July for ages birth-12 years.  Specific age-group programs happen weekly, and we offer family programs with performers such as magicians, clowns, storytellers or musicians, as well as Books at the Beach and the annual Pet Show!  Registration is required for most programs and the  SLP is advertised beginning in April of each year. 

Programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Canton Free Library and the St.  Lawrence County Youth Bureau.                                  

Questions?  Need to register for a program?                                              

Contact Youth Services Specialist   

Valerie White  (Ms. Val)                                             

(315) 386-3712 ext 4                         

vwhite@ncls.org


If you are short on time, consider curbside service!  Give us a call at 315-386-3712 (choose option 1 “Front Desk”) or send an email to canlib@ncls.org, and we will pack up your books, check them out, and hand them to you from the front door of CFL. If you’re not sure what you’re in the mood to read, we can even choose some titles for you!


MORLEY BRANCH is open on Tuesday 1pm-3pm; Wednesday 4pm-6pm; Thursday 10am-12pm.  There is a computer available for your use, but it’s a good idea to call first to check on availability. Call for more details: 315-379-0066.


RENSSELAER FALLS BRANCH is open Tuesdays from 11am – 5pm. Children under age 10 must be with an adult. Call the library (315-344-4155) for additional information. 

A great way to find out what’s happening at our Morley and Rensselaer Falls Branches is to check out their Facebook pages:

Morley: https://www.facebook.com/MorleyBranchLibrary

Rensselaer Falls: https://www.facebook.com/RensselaerFallsLibrary


Canton Free Library’s Hours: 9am-6pm Monday – Friday; 10am-3pm Saturday.  For more CFL news, stay tuned on Facebook, Instagram, or our website.  Find new additions to our collection on our website: cantonfreelibrary.org. To renew your current checkouts, login to catalog.ncls.org; you may also renew via email at canlib@ncls.org, or by calling (315) 386-3712 (choose option 1, “Front Desk,” on the menu).

It’s wild @ your library!