Hello American!

The Library will be closed on Monday, Oct 9th in observance of the legal holiday. 
Download our October Adult & Teen Program Brochure
Download our October Children's Program Brochure

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:

(In-Person) 
Artist Reception: Michael Frassinelli
Tuesday, October 3 @ 5:30pm

We're excited to meet artist Michael Frassinelli to discuss his art, so wonderfully displayed both in our gallery and display case! We hope you can join us to enjoy the art, ask your questions, and chat with other art enthusiasts.

Virtual - Haunted Experiences with Jeff DePaoli:
Spooky World with creator David Bertolino
Saturday, October 7 @ 1pm

In 1991, Spooky World opened in Berlin, Massachusetts as the first Halloween scream park. The attraction became so popular that it expanded well beyond its original haunted hayride and shaped a generation of New England Halloween lovers. Join David Bertolino, the man who started it all, and Jeff DePaoli, Host of "That Halloween Podcast", to hear how an idea became a Halloween institution in Massachusetts.

This Week and Next

Virtual - Q&A with Gail Sahar, Author of "Blame and Political Attitudes: The Psychology of America’s Culture War"
Monday, October 2 @ 7pm
We just didn't have enough time with Gail last time so she's agreed to an encore discussion! This time, we'll be focusing on the culture wars and how they have contributed to the current divide in America. Also, how can we bring our family and friends back to the dinner table for meaningful discussions? 

Essential Oils with Hannah Stein: Cinnamon and Clove
Tuesday, October 3 @ 6:30pm
Join fellow Ashlanders and Hannah Stein, Owner of Ashland REIKI & Wellness Center, in this new series as we explore the benefits of using essential oils in your daily life. In this session we discuss cinnamon and clove oil.

Front Street Readers Book Club
Tuesday, October 3 @ 6:30pm
Read "Run" by Ann Patchett.

Virtual - A Conversation with Romance Author Kit Rocha, aka the Writing Duo Donna Herren and Bree Bridges
Tuesday, October 3 @ 7pm
We're so excited to virtually welcome Donna Herren and Bree Bridges, the writing duo behind mega fantasy romance author Kit Rocha to the Ashland Library! It's always interesting to learn about a writer's history, process, and books. We think it will be doubly interesting to learn what it takes to write fantastic books as a team.  

Virtual - Environmental Book Club 
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 @ 6:30 pm
Read "A Wing and a Prayer" by Anders & Beverly Gyllenhaal.

Virtual - An Evening with Author Marie Benedict
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Join New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict as she talks about her book "The Mitford Affair", an explosive novel of history's most notorious sisters, one of whom will have to choose: her country or her family?

HYBRID - Romance Book Club
Thursday, October 5 @ 6:30pm
Read Physical/Mental Health Challenge Romances

The Garden of Words: A Writing Workshop
Friday, October 6 @ 10:30am
Join us for a morning of writing and creativity.

Virtual - The History of Scollay Square with Author David Kruh 
Friday, October 6, 2023 at 1 pm
Sneak backstage and settle into the cushioned seats of Scollay Square’s famous—and infamous—theater, The Old Howard. Author and historian David Kruh will regale attendees with tales of Boston’s legendary Square and reveal largely unknown stories of famous inventors, Civil Rights activists, and future presidents who had a role in the Old Howard’s history.

More Next Week

Virtual: Asian Art Series: Art Across Asia - Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art with Linda Lei
Sunday, October 8 @ 2:30pm
Bats, gourds, peaches, ribbons, and monkeys on horses. These images, and many others, are frequently – and artistically – depicted in Chinese art, but what do they mean? Using selected objects from the fabulous collections at the Asian Art Museum discover some of the fascinating and fun meanings and messages hidden in Chinese art.

Virtual - Q&A with Historical Fiction Author Denny S. Bryce
Tuesday, October 10 @ 7pm
We are celebrating a book birthday! Denny's new book, "The Other Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria’s Goddaughter" is coming out on October 3rd and we cannot wait to chat about it! Bring your own cake and ice cream (candles optional :) for what is going to be a fascinating Q&A with one of our very favorite authors!

Mystery Book Club
Wednesday, October 11 @ 6:30pm
Read "The Thursday Murder Club" by Richard Osman.

Romance Swag Bag Auction
October 11th at 8:00pm ET – October 18th at 8:00pm ET on eBay
The Friends of the Ashland Library are having another awesome online auction! It's a Swag Bag Auction with contributions from over 50 of the best romance authors out there! In keeping with our values of literacy and diversity, we have romance authors from many sub-genres including historical, paranormal. romantic suspense, inspirational, young adult, LGBTQ and contemporary. Something for every romance reader.

Virtual - Q&A with Mystery Writer Andrea Penrose, Author of "Murder at Merton Library"
Thursday, October 12 @ 7pm
We are so excited to be in conversation with Andrea Penrose! Her newest book, "Murder at Merton Library" is right up our alley. A Regency-era mystery set in a library - Yes, Please! Join us for what is going to be a fun and fascinating discussion.

Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion
Friday, October 13 @ 7pm
Watch "American Friends"

A Meditative Outdoors Fall Walk with Hannah Stein
Saturday, October 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 Ashlands. It's a FALL walk which will be very different from our most recent summer walk - what will you see?

Knitting

Saturday Knit & Crochet Club

Saturdays at 2pm

Monday Knit & Crochet Club

Mondays at 6pm

ESL

ESL Conversation Group with Theresa Cerullo

Mondays @ 7pm

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:

Author Visit with Kelly Carey 
*Ages 3-8
Saturday, October 7 @ 10:30am

Kelly Carey will read her book “How Long Is Forever” and talk about the making of a book. Then kids will make a blueberry pie craft project.

Sending Sunshine: Community Letter Writing
Wednesday, October 11 @ 5pm

Sending Sunshine is a nonprofit organization in which people of all ages make thoughtful cards directed to senior citizens all over the United States and Canada. This is a perfect opportunity to make cards with a meaning so join your community every 2nd Wed of the month and spread sunshine to senior citizens!

STEM Thursdays

Lego Club 
*Ages 5-9
Thursday, October 5 @ 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.

Engineering Exploration 
*For Ages 5-9
Thursday, October 12 @ 4pm
Build a Bridge - Participants will work together to build a suspension bridge between two chairs.

Read to a Dog with Knives and Machete
(yes, those really are the dogs’ names!)
*For kids who are reading on their own

Saturday, October21 @ 1:30pm
Children with some reading ability will have the chance to read to one of our registered therapy dogs for 10 minutes.

Recurring Programs

Lapsit
*Infants, Toddlers &  Caregivers
Wednesdays @ 10:30am
Join Miss Lois for a story time full of songs and fingerplays. Check out the songs performed by Miss Lois here!

Wednesday Afternoon Story and Craft
*For Ages 4-7
Wednesdays @ 4:15pm
Stop into the children's room as we read a story and do a related craft project.

Friday Afternoon Story and Craft
*For Ages 4-7
Fridays @ 4:15pm
Stop into the children's room as we read a story and do a related craft project.

More Recurring Programs

Saturday Story Time
*For Ages 3 and up
Saturday, October 14 @ 10:30am
Saturday, October 28 @ 10:30am
Come listen to Ryan read some of his favorite stories aloud!

Crafty Saturdays! 
Saturdays 10am-3pm
Drop in on Saturdays in the Children's Room and find a different craft to do every week! 

Visit our website calendar for all of the details!

Teen Programs

Heads Up!

After-Hours Halloween Party
*Ages 13-18
Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Come spend time at the library-after hours for fun Halloween festivities!
Watch horror movies, solve a murder mystery, and hangout with your friends at the library during our spooky after-hours Halloween party! Snacks will be provided and costumes are encouraged!

Registration is recommended, but not required.

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.

Q&A with Historical Fiction & Romance Author Piper Huguley

At the Sports Stadium with NBC Sports Boston/NBC 10's Sports Journalist, Trenni Casey

Friends of the Ashland Library

Friends of the Ashland Public Library Donation Day & Mini Book Sale!
Saturday, October 7 @ 10-1pm

Customers for all our sales will find thousands of titles on the permanent sales shelves including hard and soft cover fiction (all alphabetized by author for ease of shopping), a wide selection of history and politics titles, health and family living books, plus memoirs, biographies, and loads of additional titles, all arranged by genre. An entire section of the Book Sale Room is arranged for children to browse and select from a huge collection of board books, picture books, easy readers, and chapter books. 

And, you can donate your gently used books for future sales! It's a win/win/win. 

Your donations to the Friends fund 100% of the library's programs, museum passes, and summer reading initiatives. Thank you!!

Art in the Library

Downstairs Gallery & Upstairs Display Case
“Pianista Cabinets of Curiosities:
Paintings & Objects from the Veneto Collection”
by Michael Frassinelli
October 3 to November 3, 2023

Holliston resident and artist Michael Frassinelli is a painter and sculptor, as well as an art educator. He is Chairman of the Dept of Visual Arts at the Dana Hall School in Wellesley. Michael has created a mythological society/culture: “The Pianistas”.  He has exhibited work from the Pianista ‘culture’ several times since his first exhibit at the APL in 2007, most recently in 2019. He has also exhibited art work & Pianista work in a variety of museums and art galleries over the past 30 years, most recently at the Bromfield Gallery in
Boston.

This current exhibition features paintings of Pianista Cabinets of Curious objects and objects from the Veneto collection (the upstairs display case & the downstairs Gallery). All the objects are made from piano parts. A most unique and delightful exhibit and “historical” document of the Pianista culture, and the hoax, through paintings, text, and a ‘display cabinet of curious objects’. 

There will be an Artist ‘s Reception in the Gallery on Tuesday, October 3rd. 5:30 -7:30PM.  All are invited to meet the Artist, Michael Frassinelli, and explore the ‘world’ of the Pianistas. 

Click Here to view the Ashland Public Library Weekly News - October 2, 2023