Pittsford Community Library prepares a week of engaging programs for residents of all ages this spring

Pittsford, New York – As spring unfolds, the Pittsford Community Library is preparing to welcome residents with a diverse lineup of programs designed to inform, inspire, and bring people together. From film screenings and environmental talks to youth activities and live music, the library’s late March schedule offers something for nearly every age group and interest.

The upcoming events reflect the library’s ongoing effort to serve as more than just a place to borrow books. Instead, it has become a gathering point for learning, conversation, and shared experiences within the community.

The week of activities begins on Monday, March 23, with an evening film screening. As part of its “Fabulous Films @ the Library” series, the library will show Hamnet, a 2025 film rated PG-13 that runs for 125 minutes. The story explores themes of love and loss and examines the emotional experiences that inspired William Shakespeare’s enduring tragedy Hamlet. The screening will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. and is open to the public without registration.

Later that same evening, attention will turn from the silver screen to the natural world. From 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., residents can attend the program Creating a Butterfly-Friendly Landscape, which focuses on ways homeowners can help support butterfly populations that have been declining in recent years.

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The discussion will highlight practical steps residents can take to transform their yards into habitats that support butterflies, moths, and other pollinators. Participants will learn how thoughtful landscaping choices—such as planting certain flowers and reducing chemical use—can have a positive impact not only on insects but on the surrounding ecosystem. Registration is required for the session.

Programs for younger community members are also part of the library’s busy schedule. On Tuesday, March 24, teens will have the opportunity to give back during the Teen Community Service program, running from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students in grades 6 through 12 can earn one hour of service credit while helping with tasks that benefit the library and its visitors. Registration is required to participate.

Younger readers will gather that same afternoon for the Kids Book Club, scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Designed for students in grades 2 through 5, the group encourages children who enjoy reading to talk about books with their peers. This month’s discussion will center on Firefly Hollow by Alison McGhee. Copies of the book are available at the library’s checkout desk for participants to borrow ahead of the meeting. Registration is required for children attending the club.

The library’s programming also ventures into deeper and more reflective territory later in the week. On Thursday, March 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., author Jennifer Sanfilippo will lead a Death Café discussion. Sanfilippo wrote Our Last Walk Home: Love, Cancer, and the Agony of Letting Go, and the program will provide a space for open conversation about death.

Unlike structured lectures or seminars, Death Café gatherings encourage participants to talk openly in a relaxed environment.

“Jennifer Sanfilippo, author of Our Last Walk Home: Love, Cancer, and the Agony of Letting Go, leads this discussion of death with no agenda, objectives, or themes.”

Later that evening, another nature-themed session will focus on attracting hummingbirds to home gardens. The program, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., will introduce participants to the basic needs of hummingbirds and explain which plants can encourage the tiny birds to visit residential landscapes.

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Registration is required for the session, and attendees must provide an active email address to receive a Zoom link before the event. The program is hosted by the Greece Public Library and offered through a partnership with local organizations.

The educational series is part of the Master Gardener program coordinated by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County. Through collaboration with Monroe County Library System (MCLS) libraries, the initiative connects communities while sharing knowledge about gardening and environmental stewardship.

Environmental awareness continues on Saturday, March 28, when a presentation titled Bird Safe Design will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The talk will be led by Dr. Richard Fadok, a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

During the presentation, Fadok will discuss the growing concern surrounding bird collisions with glass windows—an issue that claims the lives of an estimated billion birds each year across the United States. His talk will explore the science behind these collisions, as well as the historical and political factors shaping conservation efforts.

In addition, he will highlight a collaborative research initiative involving multiple universities that aims to better understand and address the problem in Rochester, New York. The event is supported through a Flight Path grant from HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and STAR Net, organizations working to educate the public about bird conservation.

The week of programming concludes on Sunday, March 29, with a musical performance celebrating the long tradition of protest and hope in American music. From 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., musicians Henry Padrón, Maria Gillard, and Mary Lester will present a selection of songs—both classic and contemporary—that reflect the power of music to inspire social change.

The performance, titled An American Tradition: Songs of Protest & Hope, is free and open to the public, offering a lively and thoughtful way for residents to gather and reflect on the role music plays in shaping communities.

Altogether, the upcoming events highlight how the Pittsford Community Library continues to evolve as a center for learning and connection. Whether residents are interested in gardening, conservation, literature, music, or community dialogue, the library’s spring schedule invites people to come together, share ideas, and explore the world—sometimes through books, and sometimes far beyond them.