Messages from Our Orbit Will be Ending Soon!

The Bendek Memorial Library had included prompts for people to fill out and return to the library for a time capsule. We have received some prompts back that will get into the time capsule. But there are many more out there. If you want to get your prompt into the time capsule to be opened in 50 years, we need you to return them by August 31, 2026. If you do not have a prompt and would like to do one, stop into the library during opening hours to pick one up. You will need to return it by August 31.

 Another successful Summer Read Plus Program has ended.

It is sad to see the 2026 Summer Read Plus: “Unearth a Story” end. We had many people of all ages sign up for the reading challenge. Many completed the challenge and some made great strides to trying to complete the challenge. Either way everyone has won by just enjoying reading during the challenge. We hope everyone will continue to read throughout the year. The 2026 Summer Read Plus program ended with a well-attended make-your-own-sundae party. Many enjoyed making sundaes and consuming them while watching all the raffle winners get pulled. Many of the winners were at the party to claim their prizes, but a few were not. All winners have been contacted to come to the library to claim their prizes. As always we thank our local businesses and everyone who donated to the program. Without your donations we could not make the program as great as it already is. Also thank you to all the people who participated. Together we can accomplish great things!

We have caterpillars at the library!

With help from Pro-Action the Benedek Memorial Library has some caterpillars busy eating and getting ready for their great transformation. Stop by the library and see our new friends while they prepare for major life changes. So far the caterpillars have eaten a great many milk weed leaves and have grown to more than twice the size they started from. We will try to give weekly updates on how our new friends are doing.

Are you Creative?

Do you have a creative soul that wants to come out, but you never seem to have the time to indulge your creativity? Do you like to draw, paint, or make things, but keep putting working on your projects until tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes? Stop thinking about doing something creative and come to Creative Community night every Wednesday night from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at the Benedek Memorial Library. Stop in with your sketchbook or project to spend and hour or more being creative with other creative types. Share ideas, get feed back to help you improve your work, or just have some fun playing with different types of media. If you have problems getting started, there will be prompts for people to get the creative ideas flowing. Stop in and have some fun creating at the Benedek Memorial Library.

New York Bird Kits Available to Borrow!

We partnered with the NYSDEC to promote local residents to enjoy getting outside and observing the natural wild life, especially the birds. The kit includes a blue backpack, binoculars with case, blue folder with information on using the binoculars, Critters or NY pocket guide, Bird trail guides, and A Beginner’s Guide to Birding. Kits are available for a two-week loan. We have two kits available for patrons to take out and enjoy. Let’s get out of the tech and back to the wilds.

Tick Removal Kits available at the Benedek Memorial Library.

Thanks to Steuben County Public Health the library has tick removal kits for patrons to get for free. Kits include tweezers, bandage, and pamphlet on how to remove a tick and identify the tick.  We have a limited number of kits. Please, stop in and ask for your free kit.

Mobile Family Resource Center Coordinator–

Working with children and families is inspiring and something I love doing! Being there for support, a friend, helping hand when needed, and most of all providing a space for families to enjoy, connect, be silly, learn, laugh, play and grow is the joy that fills my heart!

WHAT IS A Family resource center (FRC)

Family Resource Centers (FRC) offer early and comprehensive support for parents and caregivers of young children.

Family Resource Center programs are based on the needs of families, and services are provided in collaboration with community members.

FRC programs emphasize building strengths and abilities in order to maximize the capacity of
families to raise healthy children and contribute to their communities.

We are Fine Free!

The Benedek Memorial Library has gone fine free! Do you hate when you thought you brought an item back to the library, and you find it is still in your home? You know it is late, but you are afraid of the late fines that may have incurred. Relax; all of us have made mistakes. Bring the item back and do not worry about late fines. We no longer have late fines. If you feel that you should make amends for keeping the items too long, you can make a donation (small or large) to the library. Any donations made helps us to be able to add programming and new items to our collection. Enjoy our collection; take items out without worry of late fines. Just do not keep the items too long. After an item goes four weeks beyond the due date, your account will be billed for the item. If you get billed, your account will be blocked from use by all the libraries in the Southern Tier Library System. To get unblocked bring the items back to the library or you can arrange to take care of the funds due. If you pay the bills, the library will be able to replace the items. Don’t stress out, come to the Benedek Memorial Library and enjoy the collections.

Welcome to the Benedek Memorial Library!

Welcome to the Savona Free Library website. If you are coming to our website you are looking for information on the library. You can find our hours, events, what is new to our collection, access your account, order items to pick up at the library and many other things about the library. But when you think about a library what is the first thing that comes to mind? If you are like many other Americans it would be physical books. While we do have a collection of books there is so much more to libraries these days than just physical books. We have computers and public WI-FI hot spots available for public use. We also lend out audio books on CD, music CDs, movies and television shows on DVD. Coming soon, there will be Kindle Fire tablets to borrow. All of these items are available at the library, but right now you are in cyber space. Guess what, you can still borrow from the library. Just put your pointer on “E-Library” and click to find out. Remember the library is much more than just a place to find books. We offer many other items for borrowing and many different services to the public, through your Savona Free Library card or any library card in the Southern Tier Library System. Also you can access the library not only during the days the library is open, but even when the library is physically closed. Need a book to help you to fall asleep at 2:00 am? Down load a digital book and start reading. Need to get authoritative information for a research project due real soon, check out our databases for articles from many different sources. Look around, try something new, the Savona Free Library is available for your entertainment and informational needs.

Benedek Memorial Library Dogs:  Austin, Ruby and Slim