HNPL May 2026 e-Newsletter

Published: Fri, 05/01/26

Updated: Fri, 05/01/26

What's happening at HNPL in May 2026?

Hello patrons! April showers bring May flowers, as well as more fun events and programs throughout the month. Learn more about these upcoming events, programs, and opportunities by exploring each one below. We hope to see you in the library soon!

Summer Reading Challenge 2026

It's almost that time of the year again! The Summer Reading Challenge 2026: Unearth a Story is set to begin June 1. Stay tuned as more details are to be released throughout the month on our social media.

The Summer Reading Program theme is in the center of a tan background. It says, "UNEARTH A STORY."

A picture of the Hamilton North Public Library building at an angle and a cloudy day.

HNPL Closures

Memorial Day: May 25

Silent Art Auction

May 1–30

Introducing the Friends of the Library's Silent Art Auction!

Much like the popular Silent Basket Auction, this event works the same way. The auction consists of donated artwork to help benefit Friends of the Library and the Summer Reading program. Bid sheets will be located near their corresponding artwork, in which you have until the end of the business day Saturday, May 30, to place a bid. Winners will be notified on June 1 and will have until Friday, June 5, to collect their art. Look forward to bidding on some gorgeous works of art!

Blue paint streaks are at the top, bottom, and on the right side of the title.

The image has a teal background with pink flowers in the top left and right corner. Children dressed in costumes are at the bottom and all information is displayed on a white silhouette of a teapot in the center.

Costume Tea Party

May 9 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM | Jenkins Meeting Room | All Ages

Tea! Lemonade! Cookies! You're cordially invited to our special tea party. Please feel free to dress for the occasion in your favorite costume or dress-up clothes or come as you are! We will also have a tissue paper flower craft after refreshments are served. This special event is brought to you by Friends of the Library.

Special Open Makerspace Event: Triceratops Builders

May 6 | 4:00–5:30 PM | Makerspace | All Ages

Meet us in the Makerspace for a Dino-Mite good time! We need your help putting together our Summer Reading HNPL Mascots--Triceratops twins, Tony and Tilly! We'll build our dinos and paint them so they can represent our library all summer long. A good time is guaranteed!

The theme throughout the image is inspired by art deco and a color scheme of navy blue and dark gold. Needles and thread decor can be seen in each corner.

The background is made out of pixels with red pixels towards the top, gray pixels in the middle, and black pixels at the bottom of the section. Below that is an image of the library's Nintendo Switch 2 and below that is a blue line made out of pixels.

The Great Gabsbee Quilting Bee

2nd & 4th Tuesday of the Month | 11:00 AM–3:00 PM | Meeting Room A/B | Ages: 18+

Join in on the fun and learn a new technique or two. Quilters of all experiences are welcome!

Steps & Stories

Tuesdays | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM | Picnic Table Area | All Ages

Grab your earbuds and water bottles! HNPL has a new club for you, the Steps & Stories Club. We will be listening to audiobooks while we walk along the park trail. Once we have done our laps, we will stretch and discuss which books we are listening to. Please meet at the picnic table on the west side of the library building. There we will gear up and head to the park next door for our laps. See you there!

A man and woman are walking in a park off to the left side with headphones on or in their ears. The title looks like a gaint shoeprint in the center and slighly right side of the image.

Write On!

2nd & 4th Tuesday of the Month | 4:30–5:30 PM | Meeting Room A/B | Ages: 18+

Calling all writing enthusiasts! Write On is our new gathering at HNPL for writers, aspiring writers, and those who appreciate good writing. Join us as we discuss writing and actually flex our writing muscles.

Rooted in Art

HNPL Friends of the Library's biggest fundraiser ever has kicked off! Paint a small 4"X4" tile and it will become part of this beautiful 8'x8' mosaic mural.

Your painting kit is $25 and includes everything you need - tile, paint, brushes, and ideas!

Visit the library to purchase your tile painting kit and join us on this incredible journey to raise money for our library art programs and Makerspace.

Get ready - let's PAINT!

A small version of the Rooted in Art flyer. All information can be found in the paragraph next to the image.

A variety of board games, like Yahtzee, Uno, and Battleship, displayed on a table.

Table Top Games

May 2 | 12:00–1:30 PM | Meeting Room A/B | All Ages

Bring the whole family and challenge them to games of skill, chance, and loads of gaming fun!

LEGO Builders Club

May 13 | 4:00–5:00 PM | Storytime Room | Ages: 5+

We’ll provide the LEGOs, just bring your imagination. At the end, we'll take a picture of your creation for you to take home and display. Let's get creative!

Please note: Children under 8 must be supervised by an adult. Children 8-10 must be supervised by someone 14 or older.

LEGO blocks line the top and bottom with the words, "LEGO Builders Club" in the middle.

Critter Tales Storytime

May 16 | 11:00–11:45 AM | Storytime Room | Ages: 2–6 (Recommended)

Animal of the Month: Dinosaurs!

A Dino-rrific Critter Tales awaits! Today, we'll be reading about dinosaurs, singing dino songs, and making our very own dino to take home as we welcome Tony and Tilly, our Triceratops library mascots for this Summer's Reading Program.

Recommended for children 2-6 years, but all are welcome.

Classic Movie

May 16 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM | Meeting Room A/B

Movie of the Month: Halls of Montezuma

Join us for this absolute classic. See you movie lovers there!

A black and white clapper with a black and white image of army troops walking on a battlefield in the background of the clapper.

Mystery Book Club

May 18 | 3:30–4:30 PM | Meeting Room A/B

Come join us for the monthly Mystery Book Club meeting! New members are always welcome. We will be discussing Ann B. Ross's Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind. Hope to see you there!

Mocktails & Booktales

May 26 | 5:30–6:30 PM | Meeting Room A/B

Come join us as we converse about books we are reading, while enjoying some non-alcoholic drinks and appetizers. This month's book is The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald.

You don't have to read the book to join us. We are always looking for new suggestions.

Various mocktails in the background and the words "Mocktails & Booktales" overlayed on top of the image.

Pressed Plant Bookmarks

May 28 | 5:00–6:00 PM | Makerspace | Ages: 12+

Get ready for the Summer Reading Challenge by making your own bookmark! Stylize your bookmark using various pressed flowers and plants to fit with this year’s earthy theme. A practical piece of art that you can use in your daily life.

Registration is required.

Wee Readers Storytime

Tuesdays

10:30–11:15 AM | Storytime Room | Ages: 0–5

Join us for fun stories, songs, and a simple craft!

Please note: There will be no Wee Readers Storytime on May 26.

A cartoon bear and fox reading under a tree. "Wee Readers" is overlayed ontop.

Open Makerspace Hours

Wednesdays & Fridays

2:30–4:30 PM | Makerspace | All Ages

Looking for a space to work on your arts and crafts? Hamilton North Public Library now has Open Makerspace Hours just for that. Come in to use our sewing machines to fix a hem, or make a birthday card for a friend or a relative. We still have paints, brushes, pencils, and canvas if you are looking to paint or draw.

Have a suggestion on what should be in the Makerspace? Please let the staff know your ideas.

Full STEAM Ahead Storytime

Thursdays

10:30–11:15 AM | Storytime Room | Ages: 0–5

Join us for STEAM-based stories, music with movement, and interactive play stations. A whole new way to experience storytime!

Please note: There will be no Full STEAM Ahead Storytime on May 28.

A toy looking train traveling across a landscape bellowing out smoke. In the smoke is "Full STEAM Ahead Storytime" with each letters from STEAM in a different colored hexagon.

HNPL Knitters

Mondays

10:00 AM–12:00 PM | Makerspace | Ages: 18+

A group for beginners and experienced knitters of all levels. Bring your knitting, crochet, cross stitch, and other yarn projects and work on them with others in this cozy community. Don't have a project? No worries! We will get you started on one. There is room for everyone of all experiences!

Open Art Studio

Tuesdays

12:00–2:00 PM | Makerspace | Ages: 18+

This is a great opportunity to network with other local artists, work on your art projects, and have fun at the library! Bring your projects and supplies to our Makerspace. The library has some basic art supplies, such as paints, brushes, and paper you may use along with your own personal supplies. Join us. It's free! No registration required.