Adult Programs

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

Featured this week:

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!

Recurring through the summer

Register or Walk-in

Adult Book Bingo!
Tuesday, August 1 @ 6pm

Adult Book Bingo!
Tuesday, August 8 @ 6pm

This Week and Next

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: Inside the Mysterious Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping Case
Friday, August 11 @ 12pm
Explore the trial of Richard Hauptmann, the accused kidnapper of the baby of aviator Charles Lindbergh. Measured by the public interest it generated, the Hauptmann trial is among the most famous trials of the 20th century. The trial featured America's greatest hero, a good mystery involving ransom notes and voices in dark cemeteries, a crime that is every parent's worst nightmare, and a German-born defendant who fought against U. S. forces in World War I.

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
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.

Virtual: Sewage in the Merrimack: Solving a 200-year-old problem
Tuesday, August 15 @ 7pm
Every time a moderate rainstorm passes through the Merrimack Valley, you can be sure that raw sewage is being discharged into the Merrimack, sometimes so much that it’s unsafe to swim in the river for days. The summer of 2023 has been a particularly active period for sewage discharges. Why is this happening, and what is being done to stop it.

More Next Week

Bio/Memoir Book Club
Wednesday, August 16 @ 11am
Read "The 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!

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.

Knitting

Saturday Knit & Crochet Club

Saturdays at 2pm

Monday Knit & Crochet Club

Mondays at 6pm

ESL Conversation Group with Theresa Cerullo

Mondays @ 7pm
(except Aug 21st)

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!

Featured

Teddy Bear Emergency!
Friday, August 11 @ 10:30am
At the Corner Spot

Kids will bring their stuffed animal "boo-boos" to visit the Ashland EMTs and ambulance.

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.

Summer Reading

It's not to late to join the Summer Reading Program this summer! Pick up a reading log to keep track of how much you read or join us online with Beanstack to earn up to 10 Prize Books at the end of the summer. Read anything you like! Everything you read counts for your reading log. The Summer Reading program will end on August 19th.

Teacher Tales

Please note: these are subject to change so check our website calendar before heading over

This Week:

Tiffany Farrell
(Grade 2 - Warren)
Monday, August 7 @ 6:30pm

Next Week:

Robbie Elbaum
(Grade 1 - Warren)
Monday, August 14 @ 6:30pm

Leigh Tripp
(Grade 1 - Warren)
Wednesday, August 16 @ 6:30pm

Shannon Mackay
(Grade 2 - Warren)
Tuesday, August 15 @ 6:30pm

Kate Gillis
(Occupational Therapist - Mindess)
Thursday, August 17 @ 6:30pm

Stem Thursdays

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.

Recurring Programs

Wednesday Afternoon Story and Craft
*For Ages 4-7
Wednesdays @ 3:30pm
Stop into the children's room as we read a story and do a related craft project.

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

More Recurring Programs

Friday Afternoon Story and Craft
*For Ages 4-7
Fridays @ 4pm
Stop into the children's room as we read a story and do a related craft project.

Saturday Story Time
*For Ages 3 and up
Saturday, August 12 @ 10:30am
Come listen to Ryan read some of his favorite stories aloud!

Visit our website calendar for all of the details.

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

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. No new recording events from last week but we have a lot coming up!

A Trip To Ireland's Castles & Manors
Available until August 15^th

Advice From Literary Agent Doug Grad
Available until August 15^th

Art in the Library

Ashland High School 
Annual Student Art Exhibit
June 21 - August 23, 2023

Downstairs Picture gallery and the Upstairs Display case featuring some of the best work created in the art rooms under the direction of Art Teachers Scott Smith & Leah Marquist

Click Here to Read More about Ashland Public Library Weekly News - August 7, 2023