Hello American!

The Library will be closed for the winter holidays:

Saturday - Monday December 24-26, 2022
Saturday - Monday December 31 - January 2, 2023

Download our December brochure! 
Sign up for our children's or teen newsletters, too

Gingerbread Festival

Come in to see our beautiful Gingerbread Creations. You can even fill out a raffle ticket to win one to take home for the holidays - drawing will be on Monday, December 18th. It's one raffle ticket per person per visit. Or, you can exchange goods for the food pantry for raffle tickets - it's a win/win!

Here's one of our amazing creations! 

Adult Programs

We have in person, hybrid or virtual programs! Please click on the link to receive the zoom information if its online. Check your spam folder if you don't see the confirmation in your inbox.

Virtual: How to Break into Movies and Television
Tuesday, December 13 @ 7pm

Have you ever wondered how you or someone you love could break into movies or TV? Or, have you ever wondered how it happens for someone? If you said Yes to either of these questions, this program is for you!

Virtual - Winter Raptors: Birds at the Top of the Food Web
Friday, December 16 @ 1pm

This one's for our bird watching and nature lovers out there! Did you know that female raptors are bigger than their male counterparts? Did you know that some species of owls hunt in the daytime? Join us for an informative afternoon exploring these interesting birds of prey.

This Week and Next:

Virtual: The Roosevelts At Christmas
Tuesday, December 13 @ 2pm
Learn about the customs and traditions followed by the Roosevelt family as they celebrated Christmas, one of their favorite holidays of the year. 

Bio/Memoir Book Club
Wednesday, December 14 @ 11am
Read: "Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family" by Mitch Albom.

Mystery Book Club
Wednesday, December 14 @ 6:30pm
Read "The Forger’s Daughter" by Bradford Morrow.

Virtual - Beyond the Library presents a Visit to the Discovery Museum
Thursday, December 15 @ 1pm
Join Discovery Museum CEO Neil Gordon for a look at Acton’s STEM-focused children’s museum and its accessible outdoor nature playscape and giant treehouse, and learn about what families can expect and enjoy when visiting. 

Virtual: Trivia Night -- Holiday Traditions From Around The World
Friday, December 16 @ 7pm
Join us on Zoom to test your knowledge of holiday traditions from around the world! Play solo or organize a team! The ability to view slides on a screen is all you need for this fantastic trivia fun!

Virtual: A Trip To Antarctica with Jack Holmes
Tuesday, December 20 @ 2pm
Is Antarctica on your bucket list? Penguins and more penguins, Polar Dips, Sea birds, Orcas, Zodiac explorations, Amazing ice and scenery. Join traveling photographer Jack Holmes as he cruises to Antarctica with stops in Buenas Aires and Ushuaia, Argentina.

Weekly ELL Classes with Hopkinton Library

These weekly classes alternates between in person and online. Contact the group leader for information on joining for the meetings. We are happy to be collaborating with the Hopkinton Public Library for this series!

Beginner ELL Conversation Circle
Thursdays at 2pm
Contact Janet Fannon to join

Advanced ELL Conversation Circle
Fridays at 11am
Contact Ellen Deustch to join

Knitting

Saturday Knit & Crochet Club

Saturdays at 2pm

Monday Knit & Crochet Club

Mondays at 6pm

Children's Programs

Unless otherwise specified, all programs are in-person walk-in. There may be room capacity limits for some, though, so come early!

Turtle Dance Music Program
*For All Ages
Saturday, December 17 @ 10:30am

This autism-friendly "Winter Wonderland Music & Comedy Show" will be Hybrid over Zoom. The audience will be able to watch the performance live at the Library with other kids, or from the comfort of their own home.

If you would like to watch from home, register here and you will receive a Zoom link a few days before the event. If you would like to watch at the Library, there is no need to register.

Story and Craft - "First Snow"
*For Ages 4-7
Saturday, December 17 @ 2pm

Listen to a story about the first snow of the year and make a paper craft project to take home.

Read to a Dog with Knives and Machete
*For kids who are reading on their own
Thursday, December 22 @ 6pm

Children with some reading ability will have the chance to read to one of our registered therapy dogs for 10 minutes. Books may be brought from home or checked out from the library shelves.

This Week

Project ABC Play, Learn, and Grow Group
*for Ages 0 to 5
Tuesday, December 13 @ 11am
This program is limited to 20 people in the storytime room and is first come, first serve. 

PJ Story Time with Ryan (and his stuffed animals!)
*For Ages 3 and up
Tuesday, December 13 @ 5:30pm
We will read stories about a different one of Ryan's stuffed animals every week.

(Hybrid) - Lapsit
*Infants, Toddlers &  Caregivers
Wednesday, December 14 @ 10:30am
Please register to receive the zoom link if joining us online.

Lego Club
*For Ages 5 and up
Thursday, December 15 @ 4pm

Friday Morning Storytime
*For Pre-School Aged Kids
Friday, December 16 @ 11am

Next Week

Ashland Moms - Little Crafters
Monday, December 19, 2022
Join this story & craft program for infants thru age 5. Caregivers are asked to participate with their children. Attendance is limited for this program.

Project ABC Play, Learn, and Grow Group
*for Ages 0 to 5
Tuesday, December 20 @ 11am
This program is limited to 20 people in the storytime room and is first come, first serve. 

PJ Story Time with Ryan (and his stuffed animals!)
*For Ages 3 and up
Tuesday, December 20 @ 5:30pm
We will read stories about a different one of Ryan's stuffed animals every week.

(Hybrid) - Lapsit
*Infants, Toddlers &  Caregivers
Wednesday, December 21 @ 10:30am
Please register to receive the zoom link if joining us online.

Friday Morning Storytime
*For Pre-School Aged Kids
Friday, December 16 @ 11am

Crafty Saturdays! 
Saturdays 10am-3pm

Drop in on Saturdays in the Children's Room and find a different craft to do every week!

Teen Programs

Coming Up:

Flag-Book Making 
Saturday, December 17 @ 2pm

A flag-book is a unique sculptural hand-made book that's fun, easy to make, and makes a great gift! Stop by the Teen Room and try making one yourself.

If you're in 8th grade or higher (aged 13 or up) and want to keep up-to-date on events, be the first to know about new books coming in, and have easy access to library resources, join our Discord server!

Program Videos

Check out the library's YouTube Channel! We are recording many of our programs so subscribe today so you don't miss out.

Author Panel: Women in SciFi featuring Julie E. Czerneda, K. Eason, Mur Lafferty, & Lena Nguyen

Democracy Talks - Russia's Invasion, Ukraine's Resistance, & Prospects for Peace

Spacesuits -- What Every Fashionable Astronaut Is Wearing

The Friends of The Ashland Library

In 2023, the Friends Mini Book Sale and Donation Day is moving to the 1st Saturday of the month from 10-1pm (next sale is Saturday, Jan 7th). Same great format - you can shop AND drop your books for donation off at the same time - just a bit earlier in the month. .

If you cannot make it at this time you can drop off small donations in the drop box that is in the lobby of the library. 

Contact the Friends with any questions — they'd love to hear from you! 

Art in the Library

16th Annual Senior Watercolor Exhibit 
Dec 6  - Jan 14th, 2023

Upstairs Display Case

“Shaker Boxes”
Handmade Wood Products by Shane Colledge
December 6, 2022 – February 27. 2023

More of Shane’s creations can be found at his web site for Cord & Oak.

Questions? 

Contact us at [email protected] or 508-881-0134

Click Here for more information.