National Library Lovers’ Month is not over!

  • 02/23/2026
  • 17:57
  • Jackie Kolb

National Library Lovers’ Month is not over! Image of groundhog with a library card and a top hat with a heart that says Libraries Rock! A little boy with a blue party hat on is shouting out with his hands up in the air and a cake in front of him. Pink hearts are in the background.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us fill Seymour Library with LOVE this February! From writing a favorite library memory on a Post-it and sharing it on our “Library Love” Wall, to joining us at programs, or even signing up for a library card, we are so thankful to our community for helping us celebrate libraries and all that they do!

Love Your Library Month -- photo of wall at Seymour Library decorated with heart shaped post-it notes.

National Library Lovers’ Month is not over! February kicks off Seymour Library’s 150th Anniversary celebrations and the 2026 Poetry Contest! Our popular Blind Date with a Book is back, and of course, you can leave a note on our “Library Love” Wall!

Seymour Library’s 150th Anniversary!

150 years 1876-2026 -- graphic with colorful numbers and Seymour Library logo, plus a lion in the middle of the zero.

On May 20th, 1876, Seymour Library was incorporated, and plans began to open the library on the second floor of the Auburn Savings Bank- now known as the Phoenix Building! 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. All programs are free and open to the public!

The Next Mr. & Mrs. Seward

Thursday, February 26 at 6 pm

Then Next Mr. and Mrs. Seward -- graphic featuring antique photo of the Sewards, framed up with the Seymour Library Logo and the Seward House Logo

Held at the Cayuga Museum Carriage House Theater, 203 Genesee Street

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

“Mattie Bullard” Seymour Library’s First Librarian -- image with graphic of pen and quill, plus a paper banner at the top.

Held at the Cayuga Museum Carriage House Theater, 203 Genesee Street

In 1877, Mattie Bullard became Seymour Library’s first librarian, taking on the considerable task of selecting, purchasing, and organizing the 6,000 books that made up the library’s original collection. Learn about the life of Mattie Bullard-librarian, music teacher, and suffragette, with Director of Development, Dori Gottschalk-Fielding.

150th Birthday Celebration: Concert & Cake

Wednesday, May 20 at 6 pm

Sesquicentennial! Celebrating 150 Years. Graphic with image of little boy wearing a party hat, confetti and balloons in the background with the Seymour Library lion and the words celebrate in a vibrant golden color.

Held at Seymour Library, 176 Genesee Street

Save-the-date! Join us in celebrating the library’s 150th Anniversary with a concert and cake. The Friends of Seymour Library will be serving cake to the community (6 pm), followed by a concert (6:30 pm) with the Auburn Junior High School Chamber Orchestra. 

Calling all poets! 

Another way to celebrate the library’s 150th anniversary is by writing a poem! The 2026 Poetry Contest invites participants to share their Library Love through verse. Share a favorite memory of your local library, a library you always wanted to visit, or maybe even a poem about Seymour Library! 

Participants are invited to write a haiku or short poem (no longer than 12 lines) and may submit up to 3 poems. Submission Deadline: Monday, March 16. There is no entry fee to participate. For rules, guidelines, and prizes, please visit: https://seymourlibrary.org/2026-poetry-contest.

Winners will be announced on Friday, April 3, and invited to read their poems at Seymour Library’s Poetry Open Mic Night on Thursday, April 23, at 6 pm.The poetry reading will be held at the Cayuga Museum Carriage House Theater, 203 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13201.

Seymour Library’s 2026 Poetry Contest is a collaboration between The Library, The Friends of Seymour Library and The Resting Soul. 

Blind Date with a Book

Don’t miss your chance to connect (with a book), this February! Pick a “date” from a display of beautifully wrapped books- the only clue to what is inside- a brief description on the front. Check the book out with your library card, then bring your date home! 

Make sure to fill out your “Rate the Date” bookmark and return it with your book for a chance to win a prize! No worries if you don’t like your date- there are more fish in the… books in the library! 

Share Your Love/Share Your Story!

Share Your Library Love! Graphic with hearts and library stories and memories. In the left corner is a groundhog holding a Seymour Library Card.

While visiting the library, make sure to stop at the main desk, or the Family Space and grab a heart-shaped Post-it and let us know what you love about libraries!

Maybe it’s a fond childhood memory, your favorite librarian, a book that changed everything, or a moment that left a lasting impression. Whether it’s from the past, present, or hopes for the future, we want to hear from you!

Make sure to check out our “Library Love” Wall, located by the Family Space, and see what others are sharing! We can’t wait to see you at the library!

Wondering what’s happening at Seymour Library. Check out the library’s upcoming events calendar.

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