pecial Event:

Minuteman Library Crawl

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

We invite you to spend a day visiting local libraries – find out what is special about each and what they have to offer to you and your family. This is an event for all ages – all you need is a love of libraries and a way to get from place to place (feet, bikes, cars, llamas :) !

The challenge is to visit as many libraries as you can and take a picture of yourself with a designated item in each library – it’s a 21st century scavenger hunt! Post your pics and tag the libraries #mlncrawl2023. Each library will have handouts and giveaways – show your pictures to a librarian (or if you don’t have a camera, just tell a librarian you’re on the crawl, we’re pretty trusting) and receive a PRIZE!

Download your “passport” with all of the relevant information.

In addition to the Ashland Public Library, other participating MLN libraries include:

Acton, Concord, Concord/Fowler Branch, Framingham Main, Framingham/McAuliffe Branch, Lexington (Cary), Lincoln, Maynard, Millis, Natick (Bacon), Natick (Morse), Sherborn, Sudbury, Wellesley Fells, Wellesley Hills, Wellesley Main.

Adult:

Virtual - Environmental Book Club 

Wednesday, August 2 @ 6:30pm

Watch “2040”

HYBRID - Romance Book Club

Thursday, August 3 @ 6:30pm

Read Romances By Authors of Color & Indigenous Authors

Nature Photography Special Field Session with Steve McGrath

Saturday, August 5 @ 10am

Join photographer Steve McGrath out in the “field” for this nature photography program. Learn how to use your various devices to take the best nature photographs that you can! Steve will assist you in how to get the best light, best angles, and how to pay attention to your surroundings to find magic all around.

Virtual - Q&A with Romance Author Tracey Livesay

Monday, August 7 @ 7pm

We are so excited to be chatting with romance author Tracey Livesay! We loved her book “American Royalty” and are celebrating the book birthday of “The Duchess Effect”. Bring your questions because we’re going to have a rapid fire Q&A!

Mystery Book Club

Wednesday, August 9 @ 6:30pm

Read “City of Windows” by Robert Pobi.

Virtual - Q&A with Gail Sahar, Author of “Blame and Political Attitudes: The Psychology of America’s Culture War”

Wednesday, August 9 @ 7pm

Have you been asking yourself “what does culture war even mean” and “what does it mean to be ‘woke’” and how do these questions contribute to the current divide in America? If you have been, please join us for this conversation with Professor Gail Sahar, author of “Blame and Political Attitudes: The Psychology of America’s Culture War”.

Local Writer Poetry Reading 

*For Teens and Adults

Thursday, August 10 @ 6pm

We’re excited to be hosting local poets Lillian Breen, Cynthia Franca, Howard Kogan, Cheryl Perreault, and Jason Tandon for an evening of poetry and camaraderie! Join us to listen to our panel read their own poetry and feel free to bring your own to grab the mic for a couple of minutes. It’s a community poetry event! Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion

Friday, August 11 @ 7pm

Watch “Wilaya”

 Virtual - Seaside Escapes: The Art & Architecture of the New England Coast

Monday, August 14 @ 7pm

From artist colonies to robber baron “summer cottages,” the New England shoreline has inspired countless creative works. This program looks at seascapes by beloved American artists including Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper as well as the over-the-top elegance of Newport, RI summer homes designed for the titans of industry in the nineteenth century. Gloucester’s eccentric summer retreat Beauport is also featured.

Bio/Memoir Book Club

Wednesday, August 16 @ 11am

Read “The Fox Bridge Ladies” by Betsy Lerner.

Half-Past Crafts: Cardstock Embroidery

Wednesday, August 16 @ 6:30pm

We will be using some simple but decorative stitches to dress up our cardstock birds with embroidery floss. All materials will be provided, just bring yourselves! Virtual - Zero Waste Kids: Birthdays, Lunches, and More with Sarah Robertson-Barnes 

*For All Ages

Wednesday, August 16 @ 7pm

We learned so much from Sarah last time she was with us, we just had to have her back! This time, we’ll dig into practical tips to make your children’s birthday parties and school lunches eco-friendly and low waste. We’ll also be discussing how kids, families, and communities can be more sustainable as some towns/cities/states move towards free lunches for all. All ages are welcome!

Great Decisions

Thursday, August 17 @ 6:30pm

Discuss Global Famine

Virtual: An Evening with Author Jane Roper

Thursday, August 17 @ 7pm

Don’t miss MA author Jane Roper in conversation about her latest book, “The Society of Shame” - about how a viral photo of a politician’s wife’s “feminine hygiene malfunction” catapults her to unwanted fame in a story that’s both a satire of social media stardom and internet activism, and a tender mother-daughter tale

Cookbook Club

Saturday, August 19 @ 12pm

Cook from “Indian-ish: Recipes and Antics from a Modern American Family” by Priya Krishna with Ritu Krishna

Saturday Knit and Crochet Club & Workshop

Saturday, August 19 @ 2pm

Crochet a Mitered Square Pillow

Live @ the Harvard Bookstore: Author Katee Robert in Conversation with APL Director Meena Jain

Saturday, August 19 @ 7pm

Harvard Book Store welcomes KATEE ROBERT—New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author—for a discussion of the fourth book in her Dark Olympus series “Cruel Seduction “. She will be joined in conversation by director of the Ashland Public Library and lifelong reader of romance, MEENA JAIN.

Card Making with Jan Poppendieck 

Monday, August 21 @ 6:30pm

Come join us for an evening of card making with Jan. We will learn stamping and card making techniques using our huge stash of supplies. Jan will teach embossing, die cutting, proper stamping, and use of equipment individually and group techniques of creating unique cards.

Virtual - An Evening with Author Nan Fischer, Discussing “The Book of Silver Linings”

Monday, August 21 @ 7pm

We’re excited to be celebrating a book birthday with author Nan Fischer! Her new book, “The Book of Silver Linings” just came out on August 15th and is a must read for anyone who loves uplifting books with a touch of magic (seriously, who doesn’t?!?). It’s a timeless love story - our favorite kind! We hope you can join us for this very special Q&A.

HYBRID - Nature Photography (Discussion Session) with Steve McGrath

Thursday, August 24 @ 6:30pm

Do you love to view and discuss nature photos? Do you want to learn a little more about nature photography? If you said yes to either of these questions, join us for this HYBRID discussion of images, perhaps taken at a field session earlier this year or one’s you’ve taken on your own. 

Virtual: An Evening with Bestselling Authors Lisa Jackson & Nancy Bush

Monday, August 28 @ 7pm

Bestselling authors (and sisters!) Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush will discuss their latest books in this ZOOM webinar. Jackson will discuss “The Last Sinner”, a gripping novel of suspense featuring two veteran homicide detectives matching wits with a twisted serial killer lurking in the shadows of New Orleans. Bush will discuss “The Camp”, a chilling novel of suspense where a diabolical modern twist on Friday the 13th meets Yellowjackets at a summer sleepaway camp isolated in the woods of Oregon.

Adult Recurring:

Knit and Crochet Club

Saturdays at 2pm

Mondays @ 6pm

Adult Bingo

Tuesdays

July 11-Aug 22nd @ 6:30pm ESL Conversation Group

Tuesdays

July 11-August 29th @ 7pm

Tweens and Teens: 

Friday Video Games

Friday, July 21 @ 2:30pm

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

Children: 

Special Events:

Summer Reading Program for Kids!

Come in to pick up your summer reading packets and join us Teacher Tales all summer long! Check our website calendar to see if your favorite teachers are reading this summer Special Programs:

Author Visit with Carrie Finison

Tuesday, August 15 @ 2pm

Author Carrie Finison will read her picture book Dozens of Doughnuts, followed by a Q & A session. Kids will then meet LouAnn the bear from the story (a large stuffed animal) and make a doughnut craft activity.

Curious Creatures - Live Animals!

Tuesday, July 25 @ 3:30pm

Curious Creatures brings their interactive and educational program to the Library, featuring an assortment of live animals.  Come meet some small mammals and a variety of reptiles, including lizards, big snakes and possibly an alligator!  Fun for all ages.  This program will be held in the large meeting room for the comfort of the animals.

Space is limited.  Free tickets will be handed out starting at 2:30 pm on the day of the event.

Stem Thursdays:

Engineering Exploration 

*For Ages 5-9

Thursday, August 3 @ 4pm

Build a Bridge - Participants will work together to build a suspension bridge between two chairs.

Lego Club 

*Ages 5-9

Thursday, August 10 @ 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. 

10-Minute Creation Stations

*For Ages 5-9

Thursday, August 17 @ 4pm

Kids will be given a mystery box filled with a variety of building materials. As the timer counts down, they will have 10 minutes to create something using only the materials in their own box. Everyone will have a chance to build with at least 5-6 different boxes.

Lego Club 

*Ages 5-9

Thursday, August 24 @ 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. 

10-Minute Creation Stations

*For Ages 5-9

Thursday, August 31 @ 4pm

Kids will be given a mystery box filled with a variety of building materials. As the timer counts down, they will have 10 minutes to create something using only the materials in their own box. Everyone will have a chance to build with at least 5-6 different boxes.

Saturday Story Time 

*For Ages 3 and up

Saturday, August 5 @ 10:30am

Saturday, August 12 @ 10:30am

Come listen to Ryan read some of his favorite stories aloud!

Read to a Dog with Knives and Machete (yes, those really are the dog’s names!)

*For kids who are reading on their own

Saturday, August 5 @ 1:30pm

Children with some reading ability will have the chance to read to one of our registered therapy dogs for 10 minutes.

Children Recurring:

Hybrid Lapsit 

For Infants & Toddlers and their Caregivers

Wednesdays @ 10:30am

Wednesday Afternoon Story And Craft

*For Ages 4-7

Wednesdays @ 3:30pm

Moving to Wednesdays for the summer on 

Wednesday June 28th\

Friday Afternoon Story And Craft

*For Ages 4-7

Fridays @ 4:00pm

Crafty Saturdays

Drop in Crafting

Saturdays @ 10-3pm

Friends of the Ashland Public Library Donation Day & Mini BookSale!

Saturday, August 5 @ 10-1pm

Shop or Drop is the name of the game! Join us to buy gently used books, audiobooks, DVDs and games. You can also donate from your home shelves to make space for the “new”. The Friends accept donations in the library parking lot.   Friends volunteers will be available to assist donors during this time.