Library lovers line up for library love

Kick the winter blahs with “Library Lovers’ Month” in New York State — a February event that our local libraries will celebrate in fun fashion.

Friends of the Village Library in Cooperstown plan a month filled with activities for all ages — events the group hopes will help fill the void left by a year without Cooperstown’s Winter Carnival. The group is sponsoring a month-long writing contest for all ages, looking for “a short story about being trapped in the library or write a love letter to the library.” They’ll award prizes for silliest, scariest, and best overall in three different categories — kids (5-12), young adult (13-18), and adult (19+) — with winners receiving a gift certificate for the upcoming Friends of the Library Book Sale, scheduled for March 4 – 6.

Here are some of the happenings on tap in Cooperstown:

Get crafty: February 6 – 12 and make a Valentine;

Get playful: February 13 – 19 and make a literary-themed snow sculpture at home or on the Library’s Main Street lawn;

Get puzzled: February 20 – 26, stop by the Library to do a puzzle or exchange a jigsaw puzzle;
Keep the love going: February 27 – March 6 when they’ll announce the winners of the writing contest and kick off the book sale, slated for March 4 – 6.

The Friends are lining up local businesses supporting Library Lovers’ Month with specials and remind residents to stop by the library for weekly storytime, films, book talks, computers, and books — all fine-free (so no late fees!).

Huntington Library in Oneonta celebrates Library Lovers Month with “Blind Date with a Book” through February 28. The library invites patrons to select and check out a wrapped book from its “Blind Date” display; each book contains a “rate your date” bookmark inside. Everyone returning the competed bookmark by March 1 is eligible to win a basket of books and Valentine’s Day chocolates.