In Person - Ashland Library Young Artists Comics Fest!

Sunday, July 13 @ 10:00 AM—5:00 PM

Please plan on joining us for our very first Young Artists Comics Fest! You all know what a comic book fest is but this one is special in that it will feature Young Artists - kids 8-18 who are making their own comics and, now, will have the opportunity to sell them.

We are thrilled to welcome headliners Jarrett J. Krosoczka (author of the Lunch Ladies series and graphic memoir, Hey Kiddo) and John Patrick Green (author of the popular InvestiGators series). Jarrett and John will both be leading workshops for the kids! 

We’re also so pleased to welcome workshop leaders Cara Bean (mindful doodling), Jannie Ho (Fry Guy), Mark Parisi (Marty Pants), and Debbie Dadey & Angeli Rafer (The Bailey School Kids). 

We are excited to have CalmerCon at our event to support kids who might need a break from the festivities. 

We’ll certainly be well fed with Food Trucks Melt (best grilled cheeses in town!) and Snappy Dog Hot Dogs  as well as SubZero Nitrogen Ice Cream to fill our bellies as the art fills our souls.

Adult:

Visit our Website Calendar for Additional Info & Registration links: 

https://tinyurl.com/apl-calendars

In Person - Mah Jongg

Wednesday, July 2 @ 6pm

Whether you have a rudimentary knowledge of Mah Jongg or have been playing for years, we would love to have you join us for an evening of strategy, luck and fun. This is an opportunity for the novice to hone their skills and experienced players to share their knowledge. 

Virtual - “Heal the Beasts” with Author and Veterinarian Philipp Schott

Monday, July 7 @ 7pm

This history of veterinary medicine provides an abundance of bizarre, funny, surprising, and heartwarming anecdotes. Heal the Beasts: A Jaunt Through the Curious History of the Veterinary Arts chronicles human efforts to treat animal illnesses from 14,000 BCE to today.

Virtual - Historical Fiction Book Recs with Bestselling Author, Jane Healey

Tuesday, July 8 @ 6:30—7:00 PM

Love Historical Fiction but not sure what to read next? Join bestselling author, Jane Healey (and Ashland fave!), monthly for 30 minutes of pure book recommendations - the best of historical fiction out there! We’re sure you’ll find something to like from Jane’s many enthusiastic reviews.

Virtual - Thriller/Horror Book Recs with Bookstagrammer @redreadreviews

Wednesday, July 8 @ 7:30—8:00 PM

Not sure what to read next? Join Jody Blanchette (aka @redreadreviews), monthly, for 30 minutes of pure book recommendations - the best of horror and thrillers out there! We’re sure you’ll find something to like from Jody’s many enthusiastic reviews.

Virtual - Environmental Book Club

Wednesday, July 9 @ 6:30pm

Read Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves by  Nicola Twilley.

Virtual - In Conversation with Romance Author Rachel Reid

Wednesday, July 9 @ 7pm

Do you love sports romances? With a tagline of “I like to write cute smut about hockey players and other people”, you really can’t go wrong! We’re excited to be chatting with romance author Rachel Reid who our romance book club has dubbed, “the queen of M/M hockey romance”. So, even though it’s hot outside, join us for this discussion with one of our favorite authors, writing one of our favorite romance sub-genres.

HYBRID - Romance Book Club 

Thursday, July 10 @ 6:30pm

Read a Southeast Asian Romance

Virtual - Declutter series with Jamie Novak: How to File Pile Sort Shred which papers to keep

Thursday, July 10 @ 7:00—8:30 PM

Jamie Novak shares a quick list of which papers you can toss, which to shred and the ones you need to keep and for how long. Plus, the one paper she would NEVER toss. Then join the live guided tidy-up for a quick jumpstart!

In Person - Mystery Book Club

Friday, July 11 @ 12pm

Read an Agatha Christie Novel

Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion

Friday, July 11 @ 7pm

Watch The Lunchbox (Kanopy)

In Person - Card Making with Jan Poppendieck

Monday, July 14 @ 6:30pm

Jan will teach embossing, die cutting, proper stamping, and use of equipment individually and group techniques of creating unique cards.

Virtual - “Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal” with Author Samuel Marquis

Monday, July 14 @ 7pm

We are excited to chat with author Samuel Marquis about his most recent book, “Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal”  which is both thrilling and tragic. Behind the legend is a real man woven into the tapestry of early America, rendering him a unique colonial hero and scapegoat whose life story was fascinating, exciting, bizarre, and heartrending.

In Person - Cook Book Club

Tuesday, July 15 @ 5pm

Cook from The Joy of Pizza: Everything You Need to Know by Dan Richer.

Virtual - “Thomas More: A Life” with Author and Historian Joanne Paul

Wednesday, July 16 @ 10am

This one is for our history buffs out there! Join author and historian Joanne Paul as she discusses her book, “Thomas More: A Life”, the definitive biography of the man who dominated political and intellectual circles in England during the sixteenth century. This is a richly told story of faith and politics that illuminates a man who, more than four hundred years after his execution, remains one of the most brilliant minds of the Renaissance.

In Person - Bio/Memoir Book Club

Wednesday, July 16 @ 11am

Read Call Me American by Abdi Nor Iftin

In Person - Half-Past Crafts

Wednesday, July 16 @ 5:30—7:30 PM

This month we will be needle-felting adorable alpacas!

Virtual - Bill Gette: Iceland - Exploring the Land of Glaciers and Volcanoes

Thursday, July 17 @ 1:00—2:15 PM

Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic, Iceland is a land of active volcanos and extensive glaciers. During his two trips there, Bill photographed the island’s magnificent scenery and abundant wildlife. In the summer, large numbers of shorebirds and seabirds migrate to Iceland to nest. Bill will share his photographs of the nesting cliffs along the Snaefellesnes Peninsula. He’ll also take you to Flatey and Horsey Islands, Geyser, and the world’s first parliament, the Althing.

Virtual - Women’s Fiction Book Recs with Bestselling Author, Kristan Higgins

Thursday, July 17 @ 6:30—7:00 PM

Love Women’s Fiction but not sure what to read next? Join bestselling author, Kristan Higgins (and Ashland fave!), quarterly for 30 minutes of pure book recommendations - the best of women’s fiction out there! We’re sure you’ll find something to like from Kristan’s many enthusiastic reviews.

In Person - Great Decisions

Thursday, July 17 @ 6:30—7:45 PM

Discuss International Cooperation on Climate Change

Virtual - Inclusive and Diverse Book Recs with Bookstagrammer @sometimesleelynnreads

Thursday, July 17 @ 7:30—8:00 PM

Looking for the best books with BIPOC/LGBTQ+/Neurodivergent/Disabled etc. characters or by representative authors but not sure what to read next? Join bookstagrammer, Leelynn Brady (aka @sometimesleelynnreads), monthly for 30 minutes of pure book recommendations - any genre as well as YA and Middle Grade books, as long as they are by diverse authors or have inclusive storylines! 

Virtual - “Artificial Stupelligence: The Hilarious Truth About AI” with Author Lynn Raebsamen

Friday, July 18 @ 10am

We are so excited to chat with author Lynn Raebsamen,  a finance expert and tech enthusiast, who shines a light on the Artificial Intelligence that just knocks the fear out of us. She’ll be chatting about her book, “Artificial Stupelligence: The Hilarious Truth About AI”, the laugh-out-loud guide to the brilliance—and blunders—of AI. 

Virtual - “The Wisdom of Morrie” with Author (and son of Morrie), Rob Schwartz

Monday, July 21 @ 7pm

For 30 years, Morrie Schwartz’s wisdom has resonated with people around the world largely due to the beloved, best-selling memoir, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. Now we have the opportunity to speak with Morrie’s son, Rob Schwartz, about the book The Wisdom of Morrie. Written by Morrie himself and edited by Rob, The Wisdom of Morrie: Living and Aging Creatively and Joyfully is a profound and beautiful book by Morrie from a previously unpublished manuscript. Its theme is how to experience aging as a positive, creative, and connected experience. Morrie taught people how to live fulfilling lives with love. “It is by facing fears of death that we learn how to live.” Rob has got some great stories about his dad and the profound impact Morrie had on his family and the world.

Virtual - Q&A with Historical Fiction Author Camille Di Maio

Wednesday, July 23 @ 7pm

We are huge historical fiction readers and so are thrilled to be chatting with author Camille Di Maio! Her most recent book, Come Fly With Me, is about 1962, the dawn of the jet-set era. Hope takes flight for two Pan Am stewardesses navigating an adventurous new life in a novel about love, friendship, and escape.

In Person - Mocktail Making and Tasting!

Thursday, July 24 @ 6pm

We’re giving making our own mocktails a try! Join us to make 3-4 different mocktails (maybe a flight?) and then do a taste testing to see which you like best. We’re librarians, more booktender than bartender, but we think this will be a blast!

Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion

Friday, July 25 @ 7pm

Watch Woman in the Dunes (Kanopy)

Virtual - “Dinner with King Tut” with Author Sam Kean

Monday, July 28 @ 7pm

This one is for our history buffs out there! Join author Sam Kean as he discusses his book, Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Recreating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations, an archaeological romp through the entire history of humankind—and through all five senses—from tropical Polynesian islands to forbidding arctic ice floes, and everywhere in between.

Virtual - “V is for Venom: Agatha Christie’s Chemicals of Death” with Author Dr. Kathryn Harkup

Wednesday, July 30 @ 2pm

Dr. Kathryn Harkup, writer, science communicator and vampirologist, will be with us discussing her book V is for Venom: Agatha Christie’s Chemicals of Death. With a tagline of “Fourteen stories. Fourteen more poisons. Just because it’s fiction doesn’t mean it’s all made-up ...”, you just can’t go wrong!

Virtual - Art on Thursday: The Art of the Selfie: Artist Reflections from the Renaissance to Today

Thursday, July 31 @ 7:00—8:15 PM

From the enigmatic gaze of Rembrandt to the bold brushstrokes of Van Gogh, self-portraits have long captivated both artists and viewers alike. This exhibition traces the evolution of the genre from the Renaissance to the present day, showcasing works by masters such as Frida Kahlo, Egon Schiele, and Cindy Sherman. How did the advent of photography in the 19th century influence the way artists portrayed themselves? Explore the changing notions of identity, self-expression, and artistic technique across five centuries of visual storytelling.

Adult Weekly:

Knit and Crochet Club

Mondays @ 6pm

Walk-In

Gentle Yoga

Tuesdays @ 6pm

Registration is required

ESL Conversation Group

Wednesdays @ 6:30pm 

Walk-In

Children: 

Special Programs:

Minecraft Madness! 

*for families

Tuesday, July 1 @ 4:00—5:00 PM

Families will have a blast with this fast-paced, interactive show that brings the world of Minecraft to life with a Building Block Madness Tournament, Balloon Firework Rocket Show, Zombie Chase Challenge and Jim’s signature awe-inspiring giant 6-foot balloon finale! Registration is required. 

Minecraft Day 

*for families

Wednesday, July 2 @ All Day

Join us for an all-day celebration of all things Minecraft in the Children’s Room! We’ll have games, crafts, a special scavenger hunt, and so much more, all themed around our favorite video game. Some aspects will require registration.

Bluey Party!

Tuesday, July 8 @ 10:30—11:30 AM

Get ready for a tail-wagging good time at our Bluey Party! Put on your Bluey gear and join us to celebrate everyone’s favorite blue heeler with fun games, stories, crafts, and music—all inspired by Bluey! No registration required.

Pokémon Club 

*for grades 2-6

Tuesday, July 8 @ 6:30—7:30 PM

Are you a Pokémon master? Kids in grades 2-6 are welcome to join us for our NEW and exciting Pokémon Club! We’ll watch episodes of the anime, work on crafts, play games, talk about our favorite Pokémon—you might even get a chance to show off your card collection! Come hang out and make new Pokémon friends. Registration required.

Movie Night: Detective Pikachu

Wednesday, July 9 @ 6:00—8:00 PM

Join us for a fun-filled evening as we celebrate Pokémon Week with a special screening of Detective Pikachu! Bring a cozy blanket (or two), sit back, and enjoy the show—we’ll take care of the snacks! No Registration Required.

Pokémon Rock Painting 

*For ages 4-10

Thursday, July 10 @ 3:00—4:00 PM

 Come choose your first Pokémon companion! Paint your favorite Pokémon onto smooth stones using bright colors and cool designs. Then, fill out a special certificate celebrating your new partner and take them on your next adventure. No Registration Required.

Pokémon Party 

*for families

Saturday, July 12 @ All Day

To cap off Pokémon Week, we’re throwing a party to celebrate all things Pokémon! Drop into the Children’s Room all day for themed activities, games, crafts, and more. Test your skills as a Pokémon master! No registration required.

Little Picassos Outside! 

*for grades K-6

Tuesday, July 15 @ 4:30—5:30 PM

Tuesday, July 22 @ 4:30—5:30 PM

Calling all budding artists! Join Miss Kayla for this special summer edition of Little Picassos Club where we’ll be taking our messy and creative fun outside into the sunshine! We’ll work on different mixed media projects each week, ranging from outdoor painting to nature collages and so much more. Registration required.

Stuffed Animal Sleepover: Pajama Party!

Wednesday, July 23 @ 5:30—6:30 PM

Grab your favorite stuffed animal and join us for an evening of fun! Enjoy a bubble dance party, tasty snacks, and get creative decorating your own bookmarks. After the celebration, say goodnight to your stuffed friend as they stay behind to conquer the night at the library.

Pick them up the next morning—and check out their overnight adventures on our social media pages! Registration Required.

Clay Dragon Eggs 

*For ages 6-12

Tuesday, July 29 @ 3:00—4:00 PM

Come hatch your creativity! Join us for a magical crafting session where you’ll create your very own dragon egg out of air dry clay. Shape it, decorate it with shimmering jewels, and then paint on any additional touches to bring its mythical powers to life. Registration Required.

Lego Club with Kim the Lego Lady 

*Grades K-3

Wednesday, July 30 @ 4:30pm

Calling all LEGO masters! Join Kim the Lego Lady for an interactive building adventure! Afterward, your awesome creations will be displayed in the library until the next LEGO club! Registration is required and space is limited. 

Movie Night: Dog Man

Wednesday, July 30 @ 6:00—8:00 PM

Join us for a fun-filled evening as we watch the new Dog Man! Bring a cozy blanket (or two), sit back, and enjoy the show—we’ll take care of the snacks! No Registration Required.

Weekly Storytimes:

Tuesday Clocktown Rockers! 

*For ages 2-5 with a caregiver

Tuesdays at 10:30-11am

Join Miss Katrina for this new music and movement program! We’ll dance to favorite kids’ tunes, have fun with instruments and other props, and read a story, all while building your child’s early literacy and executive function skills. *Note - canceled July 8th

Friday Clocktown Rockers! 

*For ages 2-5 with a caregiver

Fridays at 10:30-11am

Join Miss Katrina for this new music and movement program! We’ll dance to favorite kids’ tunes, have fun with instruments and other props, and read a story, all while building your child’s early literacy and executive function skills.

Storytime Sprouts 

* For ages 0-3 with a caregiver

Wednesdays @ 10:30am-11am

Join us for a fun and interactive story time filled with singing, reading, bounces, fingerplays, puppets, instruments, and more! This engaging program is designed to introduce young children to the joys of literature and music while promoting early literacy skills.

Saturday Stories 

*for ages 2-5 with a caregiver

Saturdays @ 10:30am-11am

Join Miss Kayla for a new Saturday morning storytime! We’ll read lively stories, do fun rhymes and movement activities, and work on simple crafts. For families with children ages 2-5. No registration required.  

Recurring Weekly Programs:

Sensory Bin Exploration

Bring your little ones to enjoy an open play sensory bin exploration! Every Monday morning will feature a new theme, offering hands-on fun for children ages 2–6. No registration required.

July 7 @ 10:30—11:15 AM

July 14 @ 10:30—11:15 AM

July 21 @ 10:30—11:15 AM

July 28 @ 10:30—11:15 AM

Messy Art Storytime

Join Miss Paige for storytime and messy, hands-on fun! Every Thursday,, children ages 2–6 will enjoy a new art project that lets their creativity shine. Dress for a mess and get ready to create! No registration required.

July 3 @ 10:30—11:15 AM

July 10 @ 10:30—11:15 AM

July 17 @ 10:30—11:15 AM

July 24 @ 10:30—11:15 AM

July 31 @ 10:30—11:15 AM

Teen:

Snack Club

Thursday, July 10 @ 5:00—6:00 PM

Join us for our first ever meeting of the teen Snack Club! Each month we will do a snack related activity or game- from rating to making. To kick it off, we are having an ice cream social. Make the best sundae while having fun and hanging out with friends. See you there!

VEX Robotics Camp - July Session

Monday, July 14 @ 6:00—7:00 PM

Tuesday, July 15 @ 6:00—7:00 PM

Wednesday, July 16 @ 6:00—7:00 PM

Thursday, July 17 @ 6:00—7:00 PM

Friday, July 18 @ 3:30—4:30 PM

Welcome to Robotics Summer Camp! Middle school students will spend a week learning robotics by building and programming VEX robots.Topics include programming robots to pick up objects, understanding gear ratios, and building robots from scratch. Students are expected to attend the full week of classes.

Friends of the Ashland Public Library Monthly Book Sale & Donation Day!

Saturday, July 5 @ 9:30 AM—1:00 PM

The sale includes thousands of titles, organized by genre and author, with a special section for children’s books. To keep the shelves stocked with fresh selections, the Friends will be accepting donations in the library parking lot of gently used books, audio books and DVDs. Friends volunteers will be available to assist donors from 9:30am until 1pm on Saturday. There is also a cart in the mezzanine lobby for donations at any time during library hours.

Proceeds from these monthly book sales and all fundraising efforts made by the Friends fund 100% of children, teen, and adult programs, our wonderful Museum Passes, and so much more! If you can’t make it to the sales, the Friends have a book sale corner on the 1st floor of the library (in the beautiful original part of the building). There, you can find great books for yourself and your family any time the library is open.