Updates from the Library
Spring 2025

See the Library's full calendar of events.

Friends Programs

The Friends of the Library Annual Spring Book Sale will be held at the beginning of May! There will be thousands of titles available and all of them will be sorted and organized.

Book Sale Dates
• Friday, May 2 from 9:30 AM - 6 PM
• Saturday, May 3 from 9:30 AM - 3 PM

Friends' Preview Night
• Thursday, May 1 from 5 PM - 8 PM

Members of the Friends ($10 to join!) get in early for first dibs at the thousands of offerings! You can join the Friends at the door or join in advance here.

Book Donations
Do you have books to donate to the Friends of the Library? We are completely out of storage space at the Library, so please HOLD your donations until the following dates:
• Monday, April 28 from 10 AM - 3 PM and 6 - 8 PM at the Youngstown Red Brick Gym
• Tuesday, April 29 from 10 AM - 3 PM and 6 - 8 PM at the Youngstown Red Brick Gym
• Wednesday, April 30 from 10 AM - 3 PM and 6 - 8 PM at the Youngstown Red Brick Gym

Please note, we cannot accept textbooks, encyclopedias, VHS tapes, and any materials with mold issues.

All proceeds go to the Friends of the Youngstown Free Library, a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to support the Youngstown Free Library.


The Ruby Carey Scholarship Application is a $1,500 award jointly presented by the Friends of the Library and the Youngstown Free Library Ruby Carey Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Applicants must be:
• Youngstown resident (14174 Zip Code)
• Attending an accredited college, community college,university or vocational school within 12 months
• Current library cardholder in good standing from any library in the NIOGA system.

Ruby Carey Scholarship Application
Submission deadline: April 11, 2025

Spring Programs For Children

The Town of Porter's Story Hour is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers! Every week, we read together, make crafts, and practice socialization skills while having fun! No registration required.
• Tuesday, April 1 from 9:30-10:30 AM
• Tuesday, April 1 from 11-12 PM
• Tuesday, April 8 from 9:30-10:30 AM
• Tuesday, April 8 from 11-12 PM
• Tuesday, April 29 from 9:30-10:30 AM
• Tuesday, April 29 from 11-12 PM
• Tuesday, May 6 from 9:30-10:30 AM
• Tuesday, May 6 from 11-12 PM
• Tuesday, May 13 from 9:30-10:30 AM
• Tuesday, May 13 from 11-12 PM
• Tuesday, May 20 from 9:30-10:30 AM
• Tuesday, May 20 from 11-12 PM
• Tuesday, May 27 from 9:30-10:30 AM
• Tuesday, May 27 from 11-12 PM
• Tuesday, June 3 from 9:30-10:30 AM
• Tuesday, June 3 from 11-12 PM
• Tuesday, June 10 from 9:30-10:30 AM
• Tuesday, June 10 from 11-12 PM


Explore our newest Scavenger Hunt in the Children's Room!
• Finish That Poem (National Poetry Month theme)

Spring Programs for Teens & Adults

Tech Help with Sonora will be held on the first Tuesday of every month at 1:30 PM at the Lewiston Senior Center. It's a one-on-one appointment program to answer your questions about your cell phones, tablets, and laptop computers.
• Tuesday, April 1 from 1:30-3 PM
• Tuesday, May 6 from 1:30-3 PM
• Tuesday, June 3 from 1:30-3 PM
Registration is required; please call Melinda at the Senior Center to sign up for a half-hour slot: 716-754-2071.


Discover & Explore Your Digital Library will be held on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 6 PM at the Youngstown Free Library. Learn how to use your digital library to stream and/or download e-books, audiobooks, graphic novels, music, magazines, tv and movies. Bring your tablet, smartphone, or laptop and prepare to spend an hour or so getting your accounts set up and your questions answered.
• Wednesday, April 23 from 6-7 PM
• Wednesday, May 28 from 6-7 PM
• Wednesday, June 25 from 6-7 PM
No registration needed.


Tabletop Gaming is held on Tuesday evenings from 6-8 PM. Teens and adults, join us for good gaming and great company! No registration is required.


Evening Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 7 PM at the Youngstown Free Library.
• Wednesday, April 9 from 7-8:15 PM: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
• Wednesday, May 14 from 7-8:15 PM: Differ We Must: how Lincoln succeeded in a divided America by Steve Inskeep
• Wednesday, June 11 from 7-8:15 PM: How to Read a Book: a novel by Monica Wood
Here is the list of all the titles we'll be reading and discussing until the end of the year, as well as the dates of upcoming Evening Book Club get-togethers.


Afternoon Book Club meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 1:30 PM at the Lewiston Senior Center.
• Tuesday, April 15 from 1:30-3 PM: The German Girl by Armando Correa
• Tuesday, May 20 from 1:30-3 PM: Mockingbird Summer by Lynda Rutledge
• Tuesday, June 17 from 1:30-3 PM: The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Here is the list of all the titles we'll be reading and discussing until summer, as well as the dates of upcoming Afternoon Book Club get-togethers.


Non-Fiction Book Club meets virtually every other month. If you'd like to receive the Zoom link, please contact Sonora at 745-3555 or smiller@nioga.org.
• Monday, April 7 from 1:30-3 PM: I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong
• Monday, June 9 from 1:30-3 PM: Every Living Thing: the great and deadly race to know all life by Jason Roberts

All are welcome to any of the book clubs! To receive a copy of the book, you can order it here. If you have questions about how to attend, please contact Sonora at 745-3555 or smiller@nioga.org.


Library Board of Trustees meets the fourth Monday of every month at 7 PM at the Youngstown Free Library. The May meeting will be held the third Monday due to the Memorial Day closing.
• Monday, April 24 at 7 PM
• Monday, May 19 at 7 PM
• Monday, June 23 at 7 PM
Meeting reports are available online the weekend before the meeting.

Any last-minute updates to programs will be posted to the Library's Facebook page and updated on the Library's calendar.