Starting New Chapters

After 12 years at Beaman Library, seven years as Director, I will be saying farewell to our Library on August 25. It has been a privilege to be your Librarian and is my hope that the relationships and partnerships I have built for the Library will continue to enrich the West Boylston community for years to come. While the Library Trustees search for a permanent director, our capable Assistant Director, Lauren Espe will be leading the department. Lauren has worked at our Library for the past 19 years and has served as Assistant Director for the past seven. The Library is in very good hands amidst all of this change.

Anna Shaw
Library Director
 
Save the Date

Saturday, September 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

You are invited to join us for a farewell party to say good-bye to Anna.
Bagels, juice, and coffee will be served.

FUN  FOR  ADULTS

Our annual Summer Reading Program for Adults will continue through August 31! Visit Beaman Library's Beanstack page to sign up for the Summer 2023: Find Your Voice! for Adults Challenge and log the reading you have completed this summer. Thank you to the Friends of the Beaman Library for funding our Summer Reading Program!

Mindfulness Meditation & Hatha Yoga for Stress Reduction & Relaxation with Carol McGuiggan
Wednesday, August 9, 16, and 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Learn hatha yoga and mindfulness skills to turn off ‘auto-pilot’ and open to life more fully.

Italian Conversation Circle
Saturday, August 12 and 26 at 10:00 a.m.

Join us for an opportunity to speak Italian exclusively for two hours!
 
Book Discussion Group
Thursday, August 17 at 12:30 p.m.

Join us to discuss Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Copies of the book will be available at the circulation desk one month prior to the discussion.

Technology Office Hours
Thursday, August 17 at 2:15 p.m.

During this 45-minute appointment, get help with your device or technology-related questions! Please call the Library to reserve your time slot.

A History of Massachusetts Forests The DCR of Massachusetts logo.
Thursday, August 17 at 6:30 p.m.

Join DCR Forester Chris Capone to discuss the history of forests and land use in Massachusetts. Learn how today's forests can tell us about the past.

Nonfiction Book Discussion Group
Friday, August 25 at 1:00 p.m.

Join us to discuss Alex & Me by Irene M. Pepperberg. Copies of the books will be available one month prior to the meeting.

Passport Night for Teens and Adults
Wednesday, August 2 at 6:00 p.m.

Join MobileQuest for a Passport Night! Participants will attempt different S.T.E.M.-based Amazing Race-themed activities or missions, earning a stamp in their passport for each successful mission completion. Missions may be attempted individually or as a team!An illustration of a person holding a telescope while navigating a boat.

FUN  FOR  TEENS

Button Making
Ongoing Throughout the Summer

Express your ideas with a button as unique as you! Stop by the Teen Space and use the supplies provided to create your one-of-a-kind button to adorn your backpack or jacket!

An Evening of Book Tasting
Tuesday, August 8 at 6:00 p.m.

Join Jessica for an evening of book tasting! During this 60-minute tasting event, participants will have an opportunity to sample books from a variety of genres and collect notes in their menus related to each title sampled. At the end of the session, all items will be available for borrowing. *Light refreshments and passed ‘hors d'oeuvres’ will be offered.

Summer Reading Program for Teens Ends
Friday, August 18

The Summer Reading Program for Teens will end on August 18. Visit Beanstack and log the reading you have completed this summer before the challenge closes and the drawing for the grand prize occurs!

Open Play After Hours Gaming Event
Friday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m.

One Up Games is back with another video game free play event! Explore virtual worlds with the Oculus Quest, or play the latest titles on Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch! Bring a friend! For ages 10 to 17.

Chapters and Chipper Chatter
Tuesday, August 22 at 5:30 p.m.

A book discussion group for those readers transitioning be(TWEEN) the children’s collection and young adult collection. Join Miss Sue and Jessica to read and discuss the first chapter of a young adult book. Copies of the book will be available to borrow.

FUN  FOR  CHILDREN

Kindness Club
Daily through August 8

A self-guided craft station in the Children's Room featuring something to be shared with another person to make their day.

Take It, Make It Crafts
Tuesdays through August 8

Available first-come, first-served (30 each week). Sponsored by the Webster First Federal Credit Union.

A Taste of Culture
Wednesdays through August 16
at 4:00 p.m.

Learn about different cultures through food tastings, crafts, stories, music, and games. We will give you a passport to be stamped weekly. Attend all seven to receive a world traveler pin! Upcoming cultures to be celebrated include:

 - August 2: Hungary
 - August 9: USA
 - August 16: Mexico

Open Mic Family Night
Thursday, August 3 at 6:00 p.m.

Come sing a special song, read poetry you have created, tell your favorite jokes or family story - express yourself!

Drop-In Story Time
Thursdays through August 24
at 11:00 a.m.

Stories, songs, and dancing on our front lawn!

Summer Reading Ends A marquis-style arrow.
Tuesday, August 8

Today is the last day to log your reading in Beanstack!

Family Frozen Ice Social
Thursday, August 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Bring your lawn chair or blanket, water bottle, library book, and your family for an evening of family time, music, and frozen ice on the Library lawn. Celebrate the many accomplishments of our participants, including prizes for the highest readers.

Chapters and Chipper Chatter
Tuesday, August 22 at 5:30 p.m.

A book discussion group for those readers transitioning be(TWEEN) the children’s collection and young adult collection. Join Miss Sue and Jessica to read and discuss the first chapter of a young adult book.

De-Stress to Be Your Best
Wednesday, August 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Is going back to school giving you a jittery feeling? Stations will be set up for you to create stress balls, a school survival kit, learn some yoga techniques, get a stress-reduction playlist with guided meditations, and other self-help ideas to get back into school mode. This program is for parents, teachers, and school-aged children.

Arteca's Karate
Friday, August 25 at 3:00 p.m.

Join Master A from Arteca's Karate in West Boylston to learn simple moves to help control your body and settle your mind. Please register and wear comfortable, loose clothes! For kids 4 and up.

ON GOING  PROGRAMMING
PROGRAMMING  FOR  KIDS

MONTHLY PROGRAMMING

Pokémon Club

Third Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the Library. Join your friends to swap, trade, play, and talk about everything Pokémon.
 
WEEKLY PROGRAMMING

A cartoon of a girl and her teddy bear reading a book.Friday First Chapters on Fridays at 4:00 p.m.

Hear the first chapters of two early reader chapter books and two advanced reader chapter books on Beaman Library's Children's Room YouTube channel. Then you can come into the Library to check them out if you wish!

Helping Hands at Beaman Library
 
Volunteerism is an act of service where a person gives their time, skills, and effort to help their community. This act of service is selfless and strengthens a person’s character, something that I learned in my Girl Scout journey.

My name is Shayla Nicholson and I recently graduated from West Boylston Middle High School. My experience as a Girl Scout led me to go for my Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting. The vision for my project is rooted in our collective experience of COVID. The pandemic took away essential social interactions for all people, but I believe our youth especially were hurt by this. Being in a school environment with other classmates is a huge foundation for children, where they learn about personal space, compromise, and problem solving among so many other skills. I was extremely fortunate to be given the space at the Beaman Library to bring to life my program designed to instill a spirit of volunteerism in children while providing them with an environment that would reinforce the social aspects of life together they missed while learning remotely during the pandemic.
 
I met weekly with five very driven and hardworking students from our local elementary school in town, Major Edwards Elementary School, for 9 weeks.

The program started on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 and concluded on June 7th. We met every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. We completed 9 hours of service in total. During our time together, we helped prep and put together many crafts that would later be used in the Library’s programs. We were a well-oiled machine, working well together to get what we needed to get done. We often started with a snack and an ice breaker to create a feeling of community. Not all of the students were in the same grade. The five students I worked with were wonderful kids and I am incredibly proud of them for sticking with the program. I know most kids their age would rather go home to watch TV, play, or use technology. They were a great group!  A huge thank you to their parents who made the time to drive them to and from the Library. I realize this was not a small commitment, as they juggled work, siblings' activities, and rigorous sports schedules. A heartfelt thank you to Sue and Sandie, the fantastic librarians at Beaman, who always set aside tasks for us to complete and made the time and space for my vision to come to life.

Summer Saturday Hours

Due to the continued generosity of the College of the Holy Cross, our Library will be open from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturdays for the month of August!