Kick off 2026 at Seymour Library

• 01/05/2026
• 15:08
• Jackie Kolb

A LOT is happening at Seymour Library in 2026! We start the year off with a construction project, a celebration of the library’s Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary), a new line-up of travelogues, and a relaunch of our Read More Reading Challenge.

Plus, a new Virtual Author Talk series, which will connect readers to authors from around the world!

Construction Update:

Library staff have been working hard to get the library ready for the next phase of construction.  

Upcoming construction will include replacing our fire alarm system, brightening up spaces with new lighting in the historic areas of the building, adding a second small study room in the historic lobby and reconfiguring space on the second floor to include a meeting room and quiet study area.

Construction is expected to begin in January 2026. Updates will be shared on the library’s website and Facebook page. 

In anticipation of the upcoming construction project, Seymour Library’s After Hours Lecture Series will be held at the Cayuga Museum Carriage House Theater, 203 Genesee Street, January through mid-April. Drop-in programs, including storytimes, STEAM, Mah Jongg, Crochet & Knitting Club, etc., will continue to meet at the library during this time. If you have any questions on where a program is being held, please visit our website or call 315-252-2571. 

After Hours Lecture Series:

Seymour Library’s After Hours Lecture kicks off in 2026 with lectures celebrating the library’s 150th anniversary and the return of our winter travelogue series. 

Lectures will be held at the Cayuga Museum Carriage House Theater, 203 Genesee Street. 

Seymour Library’s 150th! 

In 1876, the country celebrated its Centennial, the first successful phone call was made by Alexander Graham Bell, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was published, Heinz Tomato Ketchup was introduced, a librarian named Melvil Dewey published the Dewey Decimal Classification system, and SEYMOUR LIBRARY was formed! 

Celebrate the library’s Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary) with a variety of programs exploring the library and Auburn’s history from the 1870s through the turn of the century. 

• The Next Mr. & Mrs. Seward

Thursday, February 26 at 6 pm

By 1876, a changing of the guard had taken place at the Seward home at 33 South Street. William and Frances Seward– who lived lives of political ambition and often radical idealism– were replaced by the next generation. William Seward Jr. and his wife, Janet Watson Seward, espoused different values, but were no less determined to leave their mark on this community. In this talk, Seward House Museum Director of Education Jeff Ludwig, explores their legacy, and what Auburn meant to them during the centennial of the American Revolution.

• “Mattie Bullard” Seymour Library’s First Librarian

Thursday, March 19 at 6 pm

Learn about the life of Seymour Library’s first librarian, Mattie Bullard, with the library’s Director of Development, Dori Gottschalk-Fielding.

2026 Travelogue Series

Explore the world without ever leaving your chair during Seymour Library’s travelogue series!

• The United Kingdom

Thursday, January 15 at 6 pm

Hop across the pond with Joe Sarnicola! Joe will share photos and stories from his recent trip to the United Kingdom, which included stops at Stonehenge, Bath, Glastonbury, and London.

• Peru and the Galapagos

Thursday, February 19 at 6 pm

Head South to Peru and the Galapagos with Susan Marteney! After a quick stop in Lima, head off to explore the ancient city of Cusco, located high in the Andes Mountains. Visit Sacsayhuaman before taking a train to the village of Aqua Caliente and Machu Picchu. Then fly off to the Galapagos Islands to discover volcanoes, Galapagos tortoises, blue-footed boobies, seals and other animals.

• Italy

Thursday, March 26 at 6 pm

Travel across Italy with Deb English. From the beautiful views surrounding Lake Como and the Alps, to iconic landmarks such as Juliet’s balcony in Verona, the canals and the Piazza San Marco in Venice, the vineyards of Tuscany, the beautiful medieval village of Assisi, and the ancient city of Pompeii, to name a few destinations on this adventure.

• Dubai

Thursday, April 16 at 6 pm

Known for its luxury and modernity, Dubai is a center of commerce and tourism, featuring engineering marvels from the Burj Khalifa skyscraper to the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island, built in the shape of a palm tree. Explore the city, famous markets, and iconic sites like the Jumeirah Mosque and the historic Al Fahidi Fort (Dubai’s oldest surviving structure, built in 1787) with Andrea Price. 

Read More 2026 Reading Challenge

To celebrate our sesquicentennial and the tenth anniversary of our reading challenge, we’ve once again given Read More a new look! This year, we’re asking you to read 12 books throughout the year, with categories that tie into our library’s past and present.

Are you up to the challenge? Get ready. Get set. Get reading! Visit the library to pick up a copy of your reading log today, or visit our website (www.seymourlibrary.org) for a printable version. 

Return your completed reading log by January 2027 (don’t forget to write down your name and phone number!), and be entered into a drawing for our grand prize!

Virtual Author Talk Series

Seymour Library is participating in a year-long virtual author talk series featuring bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors!

How does it work? 

Visit: www./libraryc.org/seymourlibrary to view upcoming speakers. 

Click on the link, “See More and Register.” Then fill out the form to easily sign up. 

A link to the upcoming author talk will be sent to your email. Watch the Author Talk live or wait for the video recording. 

For those registering to watch the lecture live, there will be the opportunity to submit a question to the author. Moderators will select questions to answer during the lecture! All events are free and open to the public.

Upcoming authors include: David Brooks, Julia Hotz, Liz Moore, and Vanessa Riley.

This series is made possible through grant funding from the Fred M. Everett and Ora H. Everett Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N. A., Trustee.