Hello American!
 
Hot off the Presses!

Download our October Adult & Teen Program Brochure

Download our October Children's Program Brochure

Still so much happening!

Download our September Adult & Teen Program Brochure

Download our September 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:

Climate Week: Water is Life, Life is Water - Bharatanatyam Dance and Discussion
Tuesday, September 26 @ 6pm

NATyA Dance Collective presents an original suite of Indian classical and folk dances that explore and interpret how water pervades our bodies, our everyday lives and our environment. The dances invite the audience to embody water with gesture and movement, and to reflect on traditions of the past and present that have protected our water supply and healed our collective sorrows. All ages welcome.

Virtual - At the Sports Stadium with NBC Sports Boston/NBC 10's Sports Journalist, Trenni Casey
Thursday, September 28 @ 10am

Meet Trenni (Kusnierek) Casey, on-air sports journalist for NBC Sports Boston/NBC 10! We'll be discussing how Trenni got to where she is, what it takes to be a sportscaster in New England, esp as a woman, and the current state of Boston sports! Bring your questions, this is sure to be a fascinating and enlightening conversation!

This Week and Next

Virtual: An Evening with A Raisin in the Sun and DIASPORA! Creative Teams
Tuesday, September 26 @ 7pm

Join us for a compelling conversation with the creative teams behind the New Repertory Theatre's fall shows: A Raisin in the Sun and DIASPORA! The first is a Tony award-winning classic by groundbreaking playwright Lorraine Hansberry, and the second is a world premiere by Phaedra Michelle Scott. Both grapple with history and legacy, families - biological and chosen, and race and identity (in Chicago and Boston, respectively).

Virtual - Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors with Tory Stephens Climate Fiction Creative Manager for Grist
Wednesday, September 27 @ 6:30pm

Join Tory Stephens of Grist Magazine, an independent non-profit media organization focused on the climate crisis, and learn how he created Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors. Imagine is a storytelling initiative that calls for fiction writers to envision the next 180 years of equitable climate progress, imagining intersectional worlds of abundance, adaptation, reform, and hope.

Virtual: How NASA Is Combating Climate Change
Friday, September 29 @ 2pm

Learn about the efforts of teams of NASA researchers who are currently examining Earth to understand climate change, storms, fires, and where people fit in to all of it, including an active mission studying climate change in northern regions of the world (e.g., Alaska and Canada).

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?

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.

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.

More Next Week

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.

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.

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.

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:

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!

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.

STEM Thursdays

10-Minute Creation Stations
For Ages 5-9
Thursday, September 28 @ 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, 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.

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, September 30 @ 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

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!

Magic in the Medium: Image-Making in Mesopotamia
Available until October 4

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

Upstairs Display Case
“Pianista Cabinet of Curosities”
by Michael Frassinelli
August 28 to November 3, 2023

Holliston resident and artist Michael Frassinelli 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. All the objects in the case are made from piano parts. A most unique and delightful ‘cabinet of curious objects’.

In October, the Downstairs Gallery will be filled with many other artifacts from the Pianista series. 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.