On the Book Front:

Notes from the
Dutton S. Peterson
Library in Odessa

The following column was written by Karin Thomas, Director of the Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library, 106 First St. in Odessa.

November was an especially busy month at the Dutton S. Peterson Library. On November 12, we hosted a public reception to introduce the partners and artists behind the new art mural installation at the library.

This project -- part of the 2025 CHARM Initiative -- was funded by the New York State Council of the Arts and administered by The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes. Our many thanks go to Chris Walters at the ARTS Council for reaching out and overseeing the project, artists Jennifer Thomas and Cynthia Cratsley for their beautiful contributions, Jeff Stevenson for installation, and Deb Yeager for help with the solar lights keeping the art illuminated through these shorter seasonal days.

Looking ahead, the library will continue adding color and biodiversity to the Odessa landscape in 2026 with the installation of a pollinator garden in the spring. This project is supported by the Sustainable Finger Lakes and Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program and will be designed and planted with help from staff and volunteers from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County.

We were also honored to receive two significant Southern Tier Library System grants in November. The 2025 Coordinated Outreach Services Advisory Council Outreach Grant will allow us to offer artistic and cultural programs for people with disabilities living in Arc Residences in Schuyler County. It is our hope to reach individuals who may have trouble attending library programs due to physical or transportational barriers.

In addition, the 2025 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Micro-Grant will support a county-wide “Big DEI Read.” Free copies of The Good Lord Bird by James McBride will be available in January at the Odessa, Montour Falls, Watkins Glen, and Hector Libraries, with book discussions scheduled for February at each location.

Mark your calendars for the return of Gary Emerson’s Winter History Talks, held on the third Saturday of January, February, and March at 10 a.m. in the Village of Odessa Community Room. Topics will be announced soon!

As we close out a strong year of public programming, there is still space available in our upcoming DIY Greeting Card series:

--Paper-Quilling Cards: Monday, December 8 at 6 p.m.
--Watercolor Cards: Saturday, December 13 at 10 a.m.
--Scrapbook-Style Cards: Tuesday, December 16 at 2 p.m.

To register, please call the library at 607-594-2791.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!

Photos in text: Artists Jennifer Thomas (left) and Cynthia Cratsley, and the murals they created outside the Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library in Odessa. Thomas created the one with the books (middle photo), and Cratsley the one below it.