Adult:

Virtual - The Two Nerdy History Girls Ride Again! 

Tuesday, January 10 @ 7pm

We had so much fun with Loretta and Susan in June we had to bring them back for an encore performance! You know them as the Two Nerdy History Girls - authors Loretta Chase and Susan Holloway Scott were the originators of the infamous blog. We, once again, have Loretta and Susan here to answer all of our burning questions. How do they find interesting tidbits of historical lore, which libraries of the world have they visited, and how do they avoid the inescapable “rabbit hole”? We can’t wait for what we think is going to be a fascinating conversation between these two friends and researchers.

Virtual: Democracy Talks: Immigrants’ Rights

Tuesday, January 10 @ 7pm

On September 14, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis (FL) routed approximately 50 asylum seekers from San Antonio, TX, to Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Professor Sarah Sherman-Stokes, associate director of the Immigrants’ Rights & Human Trafficking Clinic at Boston University School of Law, will share the legal implications of DeSantis’s actions and current issues in asylum law and policy.

Virtual - The 86th Village: A Talk with Author Sena Desai Gopal

Wednesday, January 11 @ 7pm

Join Sena Desai Gopal for a talk about her experience growing up in Yadahalli, a village in Southern India whose days are numbered. In her lifetime it will drown in the backwaters of one of India’s biggest, most ambitious dams, The Upper Krishna Project. One hundred and seventy-six villages will go underwater, and more than 123,000 families will be displaced. The government does not have a concrete rehabilitation plan for the people who will be left homeless and without livelihoods.

A Meditative Outdoors Winter Walk with Hannah Stein

Saturday, January 14 @ 10am

Join fellow Ashlanders and Hannah Stein, Owner of Ashland REIKI & Wellness Center, on this walk designed to increase your awareness of the relaxing and healing benefits of nature that you can discover right here in Ashland, Massachusetts. It’s a WINTER walk which will be very different from our previous summer and fall walks - what will you see?

Virtual - What’s on Your TBR pile? with author KJ Charles 

Saturday, January 14 @ 2pm

Don’t you ever wonder What’s On Your TBR Pile? about some of your favorite authors! Join one of our favorite authors, KJ Charles, as she answers this age old question - for the 2nd time! TBR is “to be read” and we all have stacks we know we can’t read in our lifetime. KJ will talk about what she’s reading and loving or looking forward to reading in the near future!

Virtual - Mediumship: Reconnect With Your Loved Ones! 

Saturday, January 21 @ 10am

Are you a fan of the Long Island Medium or the Hollywood Medium? Well even if you’ve never heard of them or are a skeptic, please consider joining us for this session of entertainment and inspiration.

Virtual: Hopepunk with Writers Renan Bernardo, Brianna Castagnozzi, Susan Kaye Quinn, and T. K. Rex

Tuesday, January 24 @ 7pm

Do you wish you felt more hopeful about the state of our world? Then you’ll want to hear from Renan Bernardo, Brianna Castagnozzi, Susan Kaye Quinn, and T. K. Rex—they’re writing hopepunk stories that challenge us to look up from our doomscrolling and envision a future filled with defiant optimism!

Virtual: The Ransomware Hunting Team with Authors Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden

Wednesday, January 25 @ 7pm

Join authors Pulitzer Prize finalist Renee Dudley and local Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Golden as they discuss their latest book, “The Ransomware Hunting Team: A Band of Misfits’ Improbable Crusade to Save the World from Cybercrime”. Urgent, uplifting, and entertaining, Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden’s “The Ransomware Hunting Team” is a real-life technological thriller that illuminates a dangerous new era of cybercrime.

Virtual - The Alcatraz Escape with Author David Kruh 

Thursday, January 26 @ 1pm

It is one of America’s most enduring mysteries; what happened to three inmates who, sixty years ago June, 1962, escaped from Alcatraz prison in a raft they constructed inside the prison? In his talk, David Kruh will talk about the exciting true story of the planning and execution of the escape, which was also the inspiration for his novel, “Inseparable”, published on the sixtieth anniversary of the escape.

Virtual: Chaco & Aztec: The Center of the World

Tuesday, January 31 @ 7pm

Buried for hundreds of years under wind-blown sands, the monumental complexes they constructed were occupied for several centuries and ultimately left behind whisper echoes from the past of a complex and sophisticated society continued by their descendants today. This presentation takes us into the lives of the Ancestral pueblo people of Northwest New Mexico. We’ll look at the largest man-made structures in North America (up until the mid-1800s), examine the mysteries of the Chaco roads and explore the solar and lunar alignments built into these monumental structures.

Teen: 

Tarot Talk 

Thursday, January 5 @ 5pm

Come learn about tarot card reading through this responsive workshop, followed by a group reading by The Tarot Collective.

For ages 13-18 only!

The Tarot Collective is located in Amesbury MA, but will be coming to Ashland to do a ‘Tarot Talk’ for teens! Leeza Masia will be leading a conversation about tarot, followed by a meditation and ending with a responsive and interactive group reading!

If you have your own tarot deck you are encouraged to bring it, but Leeza will also have some decks available for people to use. Saturday Video Games 

Saturday, January 7 @ 1:30pm

Come to the library afterschool to play switch games with your friends! Nintendo Switch, Xbox, games and snacks will be provided.

No registration required, for ages 13-18 only!

Afterschool Video Games 

Friday, January 20 @ 3:30pm

Come to the library afterschool to play switch games with your friends! Nintendo Switch, Xbox, games and snacks will be provided.

No registration required, for ages 13-18 only!

Children: 

Baby Signs with Sheryl White

Saturday, January 7 @ 10:30am

Learn how to reduce frustration and give your baby the ability to communicate before he or she can speak using baby signs.  Learn and practice several signs. You will learn everything that you need to know to get started signing right away.

Lego Club 

for Kids Age 5 & Up

Thursday, January 12 @ 4pm

Each child will be given a box filled with an assortment of Lego blocks to build a creation using only what’s inside the box within the 45 minute time limit. Caregivers please stay in the room with the kids as they work on their creations. The finished creations will be displayed in the Children’s Room for a few weeks.Interactive Story Time and Speech Screening for Toddlers/Preschoolers (and a parent/caregiver)

Saturday, January 14 @ 10:30am

Come be part of the story with Ellen Gellineau, MS, CCC-SLP, an Ashland based speech-language therapist who uses children’s books and literature to help develop their pretend play and communication skills.  This story time will celebrate winter and have kids enjoying a snow day even if there’s no snow!

Afterwards, ask Ellen any questions you may have about your child’s speech-language development and schedule a complimentary screening if you have concerns.

*SPECIAL* PJ Story Time with Ryan (Stuffed Animal Sleepover!!!)

Tuesday, January 17 @ 5:30pm

Come to PJ Story Time today for a special event! Bring your stuffed animals with you and they will have a sleepover at the library. Who knows what crazy things they’ll get up to?

Come by anytime on Friday or later to pick up your stuffie, along with some photos of their crazy antics.

*Please be sure your child will be okay without their stuffed animal for a few days, and bring their second or third favorite if necessary!

DAET: Book Discussion for Parents & Children & Teens with Author Rachel Brian

Wednesday, January 18 @ 5:30pm

Read: The Worry (Less) Book: Feel Strong, Find Calm and Tame your Anxiety!, by Rachel Brian.

After the book read, the kids will make sensory calming playdough out of cornstarch and hair conditioner to take home in another room, while the parents continue discussing the material.

Parachute Party 

*For Kids Ages 3 - 8

Saturday, January 21 @ 11am

Have fun working as a group to keep the parachute up in the air.

Friends “Mini” Book Sale!

The Friends are moving their sale to the First Saturday of the Month - still from 10-1pm on Saturday January 7th. Pop on by to grab some deals and, if you have some donations well, we’ll take those, too! It’s a combination book sale/donation day!