Author: Melissa Fasanella

As the days get longer and our community comes alive with the warmer weather, there is no better place to connect, learn, and celebrate than at your Xenia Community Library! We’re excited to invite you to two special events coming up to celebrate the past year and to kick off an exciting season ahead.

Happy Birthday, Xenia Community Library!

Saturday, May 9^th

10:30am – 4:00pm

Celebrate one year since the grand reopening of your Xenia Community Library with a full day of activities for all ages. Whether you stay all day or drop in for a favorite activity, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Highlights Include:

• 10:00am – 12:00pm: Button-making with Spark Place
• 10:30 – 11:30am: Crystal Clear Science: May the Force Be With You
• 12:00pm: Birthday celebration on the patio with cupcakes
• 1:00 – 2:00 PM: Book Bingo
• 2:00 – 3:00pm: Write It Out Xenia!
• 3:00 – 4:00pm: Madcap Puppets: Fantastic Fairy Tales

All-Day Activities:

• Explore a special Greene County Room display honoring Revolutionary War veterans
• Sign a giant birthday card
• Join a themed scavenger hunt

*Some activities are available while supplies last. Registration is encouraged but not required.

 

Summer Reading Kickoff: “Unearth a Story”

Friday, June 5th

3:30 – 7:00pm

Get ready to dig into a summer full of stories, discovery, and fun! Our Summer Reading Kickoff Party launches this year’s theme, “Unearth a Story,” with hands-on activities and engaging presentations for all ages.

 

Timed Activities:

• 3:30 – 4:30pm: Pick up a 2026 Summer Reading tote bag or T-shirt (while supplies last)
• 4:30 – 5:30pm: SuperNeatWowScience! with presenter Bill Richey
• 6:00 – 7:00pm: Interpreting the Past with Amanda Rollins, PhD — an interactive look at how scientists reconstruct history

 All-Day Activities:

• Popsicles and a Dino Dig on the patio
• Family Tree Youth Take & Makes from the Greene County Room
• “What Is It?” identification game
• Dino puzzle station
• Summer Reading sign-ups

From celebrating a milestone year to launching a summer of imagination and exploration, these events are all about bringing our community together.

Here is a link to all of our programs coming up in Xenia so you can mark your calendars, invite a friend, and come be part of the fun at YOUR Xenia Community Library!

The Greene County Public Library is excited to introduce several supervisors who have recently joined the Xenia Community Library team.  These dedicated professionals bring a wide range of experience, passion for public service, and a shared commitment to supporting our community. Each of them also brings unique strengths to their roles and we’re thrilled for all of you to get to know the people helping lead and shape services at your Library.

Sarah Hedrick – Head of Youth Services                                 

Sarah Hedrick joined our Xenia team shortly after the 2026 New Year began as the Head of Youth Services. Sarah brings more than a decade of public library experience, having worked in libraries since 2012, including positions with the Washington-Centerville Public Library and The Lane Libraries.

Sarah holds a degree in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Science from Heidelberg University, as well as a Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University. Outside of work, she enjoys playing open-world video games and reading teen fiction, fantasy, and the occasional romance novel.

What Sarah loves most about library work is that no two days are ever the same. She values the opportunity to help our patrons with a wide variety of needs and finds particular joy in supporting young people as they grow. One of her most meaningful experiences was helping a young teen discover a passion for coding through a library program and years later assisting that same patron with college applications as he pursued a degree in Computer Science. For Sarah, seeing the lasting impact libraries have on patrons’ lives is what makes her interactions truly special.

Amanda Cahill – Head of Circulation

Amanda Cahill may be a familiar face to some in our community. After eight years of service at the Fairborn Community Library earlier in her career, Amanda was thrilled to return to the Greene County Public Libraries as our new Head of Circulation in January 2026.

Amanda has dedicated her professional life to public service with experience spanning Greene County Public Libraries, Jobs and Family Services, and the education field since 2005. As lifelong learner and creative spirit, she enjoys fantasy and science fiction novels, music, theater productions, arts and crafts, and cheering on her favorite hockey teams.

Since rejoining our GCPL family, Amanda has found the Xenia community to be welcoming, vibrant, and a true joy to serve. She is excited to continue learning in her new role and looks forward to discovering new ways to best support and serve the community she cares so deeply about.

James Meadows –Stack Manager 

James Meadows brings 18 years of library experience to the Greene County Public Library system in his new position as Stack Manager. Originally from northeastern Kentucky, James is a proud Appalachian and carries a deep appreciation for storytelling and community, which are values that align closely with library service.

A lifelong reader, James’s favorite author is Jonathan Maberry and he is an avid fan of the horror genre. Outside the library, he enjoys spending time immersed in Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. James was recently married to his wife, Jillian, and together they share their home with four dogs (Valkyrie, Heimdall, Delanie, and Damien) who keep life entertaining and full.

Lauren Smallwood – Head of Adult Services

Lauren Smallwood is our Head of Adult Services and joined the Greene County Public Library in November 2024. She brings experience from both academic and public libraries, having worked in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Preble County.

Lauren holds a degree in Art History with a concentration in German Studies from the University of Cincinnati, as well as a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. While she enjoys literary fiction, classics, and nonfiction, Lauren has a special appreciation for the magic found in middle-grade and teen fiction.  She is especially fond of the works of Jason Reynolds.

Lauren loves working at the library because of the opportunity to serve and connect with our community every day. One of her favorite patron interactions involves a student who stops by after school to chat at the front desk to share stories from her day while grabbing a snack bag and occasionally returning sticky notes filled with words of affirmation. Moments like these remind Lauren just how meaningful small connections can be and it totally brightens her day!

We invite all of you to stop by and say “hello” to our supervisors the next time you are in! Whether you’re checking out materials, attending a program, or just visiting for the day, our team is always happy to connect and help make your library experience the best it can be. We’re proud to have such a passionate and dedicated group serving our Xenia community and look forward to all the great things ahead.
See Ya at Xenia!

Season Greetings from all of us at your Xenia Community Library!

As the winter chill sets in and the holiday season fills the air we invite you to cozy up with a wealth of engaging programs, festive activities, and creative workshops. We have programs for everyone to enjoy so come visit us if you are a book lover, a craft enthusiast, explorer of new skills, or someone looking for fun family activities.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s coming up this December and January!

December Highlights: Festive Fun and Creative Learning

Jane Austen Quote Art with Flourishing Quirk
Monday, December 1, 6:00pm–7:30pm
Kick off the season with an evening of creativity! Join Allison from Flourishing Quirk to transform a favorite Jane Austen quote into a beautiful piece of hand-lettered art. Whether you’re a lifelong Austen fan or a newcomer to her world, this workshop is a perfect way to combine art with literary inspiration.  Registration required.

Winter Cookie Decorating
Wednesday, December 3, 4:00pm–5:00pm
Get into the holiday spirit with a fun, hands-on activity that’s as sweet as it is festive. Teens and tweens, ages 10-18, are invited to decorate cookies with a holiday twist. The best part? You get to take home your delicious creations! Registration required.

Reptiles with the WAVE Foundation   
Saturday, December 13, 10:30am–11:30am
Learn about the fascinating world of reptiles from animal ambassadors brought to you by the Newport Aquarium’s WAVE Foundation. This program is a great way for families and curious minds of all ages to discover what makes reptiles so unique. Registration required.

Jane Austen Birthday Party and Discussion                           
Monday, December 15, 6:00pm–7:30pm
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with us! Enjoy cake, conversation, and a discussion of Austen’s works. If you’ve always wanted to delve into her novels or just want to enjoy some birthday fun, this event will be a charming and memorable experience. Registration required.

Frozen Frenzy
Thursday, December 18, 4:00pm–5:30pm
Do you want to build a snowman? Join Anna, Elsa, and Olaf for an afternoon of magical crafts, games, and snacks. A perfect event for kids of ages 4 to 12 to celebrate the winter season and have some fun with their favorite Frozen characters. Registration required.

Kick Start the New Year with Knowledge and Creativity

Take & Make: Herbal Heat Pack
January 1–31
Start the New Year with a DIY project that promotes self-care and relaxation. Register to pick up a Take & Make kit to create your very own herbal heating pack, perfect for cozying up during winter. Registration required.

The Living Writer with Gery Deer
Saturday, January 10, 12:00pm–1:30pm           
Got a passion for writing? Learn how to turn your creative ideas into profit with local writer Gery Deer. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a beginner, this session will inspire and equip you to thrive as a professional writer. Registration required.   

Starting Your Waste-Free Journey with Waste-Free Dayton
Tuesday, January 13, 6:00pm–7:00pm
Kick off your year by learning how to live more sustainably! Waste-Free Dayton will guide you on how to reduce waste and make eco-friendly choices, whether you’re new to the zero-waste movement or looking for fresh ideas. Registration required.

Step by Step Oil Pastels: Snowman
Tuesday, January 20, 4:15pm–5:15pm
Unleash your inner artist this winter by creating a charming oil pastel snowman. This step-by-step workshop is open to kids and teens aged 8+. A perfect opportunity to explore your artistic side while having fun in the process. Registration required.

 

DIY Website Workshop
Wednesday, January 21, 10:30am–12:00pm
Want to build your own website but you don’t know where to start? Elizabeth Daniels will show you how to create and enhance a website for your business using the Squarespace platform. No coding required! Just bring your ideas and a desire to learn. Registration required.

More Fun for Everyone All Month Long

National Polka Dot Day
Thursday, January 22, All day
Celebrate the whimsical world of polka dots with us! Drop by to create your own polka dot art. Open to all ages.

National Puzzle Day
Thursday, January 29, All day
Celebrate National Puzzle Day by working through a puzzle with friends and family. We’ll have puzzles for all ages and skill levels available throughout the day. It’s a perfect way to unwind and enjoy a little friendly competition. 

Visit our website or stop by our Library to register for your favorite events. We look forward to seeing you this season as we dive into new adventures, explore new ideas, and embrace the season of learning!

Happy Holidays & have a wonder New Year from YOUR Xenia Community Library staff!

As fall rolls in there’s so much to enjoy like the cooler weather, color changing leaves, and the chance to see all of YOU in your library AND out in our community! Here’s a sneak peek at some of the programs we have planned and events we’ll see you at this season.

Teen Pumpkin Painting – October 8th, 5:30-6:30pm

Get creative with us at this special fall themed event just for teens!

Join Molly Beam as she leads an inspiring session painting decorative foam pumpkins. All supplies are provided so just bring your imagination.
Spots are limited for this program so don’t wait to encourage your teen to register now.

Xenia Fall Festival – October 11th, 12:00-5:00pm

We’re excited to be part of the Xenia Fall Festival, hosted by the City of Xenia! Come out for an afternoon packed with games, a straw maze, petting zoo, pumpkin painting, food trucks, crafts, and more. Don’t forget to visit our table in downtown Xenia for fun activities and surprises waiting just for you!

Fall Family Fun at the Library – October 11th, 12:00-5:00pm
Before or after the festival, swing by our beautifully renovated library for even more autumn fun! Enjoy a festive scavenger hunt, seasonal crafts, hands-on activities, and special visit from Gorman Heritage Farm from 2:00-4:00pm. Meet their farm friends for an interactive experience and learn more about life on the farm!

National Friends of Libraries Week – October 19–25th
Fall is also a time to celebrate a group that’s near and dear to our hearts, our Xenia Friends of the Library group! During National Friends of Libraries Week we honor the incredible work they do all year around with help organizing our annual book sale, providing prizes and movie snacks, and supporting programs with their time, resources, and passion.

Want to show your appreciation? Support their mission by becoming a member!

Click here to download the membership form.

 

Spooky Castles – October 24th, 3:30-5:00pm

Unleash your imagination and create your very own spooky castle using our festive supplies! Whether you take it home or leave it on display in the library, your masterpiece is sure to impress friends and family. Perfect for kids and teens who love a little Halloween magic!

Trick or Treat at the YMCA – October 25th, 4:00-6:00pm
The fabulous fall fun doesn’t stop there! Join us at the Xenia YMCA for a spooky-good time filled with games, crafts, food trucks, AND candy!

These are only highlights of our events that we hope to see you at this fall. Please be sure to check out our website here for a complete listing of all the programs and events that we have planned.

We look forward to seeing you more this fall and cannot wait to celebrate the season with you here in Xenia!

Melissa Fasanella

Head Librarian, Xenia Community Library

We’ve had an exciting, activity-filled summer here in Xenia with our Summer Reading Club! From hands-on STEM programs with the Cincinnati Museum Center to a magical performance and workshop by Rusty Ammerman, and even learning about rabbit families and building vermicomposting bins with Gorman Heritage Farm- we’ve welcomed a fantastic lineup of engaging presenters. Combined with our weekly art sessions and teen craft programs, it’s been a colorful, creative, and truly captivating summer.

It’s been especially rewarding to see how dedicated our readers have been to reaching their goals. Along with all the great SRC prizes, the Youth Department handed out over 2,500 Reading Dragon cards to our enthusiastic school-aged readers—and we’re not slowing down anytime soon!

As we shift gears for the upcoming school year, we’d love for you to explore all the ways your library can support you.

Starting the first Monday in August, we’ll offer free tutoring every Monday and Wednesday from 4-6pm. All school-aged children are welcome- no appointment necessary! (Note: There will be no tutoring on August 18, as well as any day that Xenia Community Schools are closed.)

We also offer monthly clubs you can register your child for, including Harry Potter Club, Art Club, and STEM Club. And don’t miss our weekly Aspiring Artists program for ages 3-9, where we read stories and do an art project together every Monday from 10:30-11:30am. Check out our events page for a full line up of what we’re getting up to here in the next couple of months.

New this year for homeschooling families is our monthly Homeschool Hangout! Bring a packed lunch and connect with other homeschooling families. We’ll provide fun activities and a themed book selection each month to check out and explore together.

Speaking of book collections, we’d love to highlight one of our most helpful resources for both educators and homeschooling families: librarian-curated classroom collections! With a teacher card, you can request a custom book collection on any topic. Your youth librarians will gather a tailored selection of books for a six-week checkout period. You can be as specific or as broad as you like in terms of reading levels, subjects, or titles. Just ask your librarian how to get started!

Lastly, don’t forget to mark your calendars for our annual Friends of the Library book sale– back for the first time since before the renovation! The sale will be happening on Friday, September 26 from 10am-5pm, and Saturday, September 27 from 10am-4pm. We will have a variety of adult, teen, and children’s materials for purchase. This event is organized by the Xenia Friends of the Library to benefit our library’s resources. Proceeds from the sale support library programs and services. Come find some new titles to fill your bookshelves and support your local Xenia library!

It’s been a jam-packed summer, and we can’t wait to see you continue using- and loving- your community library as we head into fall. See you soon!

Mackenzie Boggs

Youth Librarian, Xenia Community Library

Stop by our newly renovated library and take a tour of all the exciting new updates! Discover our expanded children’s area, relocated makerspace, and the stunning new Xenia community mural that was specially designed by a local artist. There’s so much more to explore!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 10^th, our grand reopening celebration! We’ll have refreshments from Glazed Donut Eatery and Frios Gourmet Pops, face painting with a local community artist, a performance by the Xenia High School Jazz Band, a special visit from the Newport Aquarium’s shark, friendly goats from GoatCountry, storytimes, and guided tours of our Library. It’s an all-day celebration you won’t want to miss!

But the fun doesn’t stop there…we’ve got an exciting summer ahead!!!

Our Summer Reading Club kicks off in June and we’re celebrating with a big party on June 9th from 3–6 p.m. Enjoy a visit from the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, get creative with sidewalk chalk art on our new patio, and dive into other hands-on art activities. And yes!—there will be popsicles!!

This year’s Summer Reading Club theme is “Color Our World” so we’re hosting a variety of art and imagination inspired programs:

• Aspiring Artists for kids (Mondays)
• Summer Art Camp for kids (Tuesdays)
• Teens can join us on June 6th for a Sharpie Tie-Dye program and on June 11th for a Teen Magic Workshop with Rusty Ammerman   

And don’t worry—there’s something for adults too!

• On June 2nd, join us to quill Butterflies of Summer with Debora
• On June 3rd, register for our Glass Painting program

We can’t wait to welcome you back to the Xenia Community Library where stories, creativity, and connections come to life all summer long.

See you at the Library!

Melissa Fasanella

Head Librarian, Xenia Community Library