Mbts Public Library News & Events

It's back! The ever-popular Manchester Friends of the Library Book Sale returns this August 5th during Festival by the Sea. Come to the Manchester Library between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m and take advantage of deals and steals in hardcover fiction, nonfiction, children's books, DVDs, puzzles and more! Both cash and checks are accepted. All proceeds benefit the Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library. Come and bring a friend!

Don't miss this chance to get amazing books and more while supporting the Friends of the Library who have sponsored the permanent StoryWalk, beautiful landscaping, library lawn furniture, new Reference Room furniture, museum passes and countless library programs through decades of support. Our Library could not do any of these amazing things without them!

Can't wait for the Barbie movie to open? Share your excitement with the library! Stop by this Friday, July 21, and check out our special selection of Barbie-themed reads! Help us design our own Librarian Barbie! And if you wear pink to the library, you'll even get a little prize!

Weekly Events

New Storytime with Miss Audrey
MONDAYS AT 10:30AM

This summer join Youth Librarian, Audrey Carman every Monday for stories, songs, and games for ages 0-5. 

 

Digital Advice with Expanded Hours
MONDAYS: APPOINTMENTS AT 11, 11:30AM, 12PM & 12:30PM & DROP-IN FROM 1-2PM

SELECT FRIDAY DROP IN AT 3-4PM       

Registration is required for the 4 appointments on Monday. Click Here to register. 

Mindfulness Meditation
TUESDAYS AT THE MBTS COMMUNITY CENTER, 11AM-12PM

No program on July 18. Registration is required if you haven't attended the program before. Click Here to register or for more info. 

Dungeons and Dragons
TUESDAYS AT 3:45-5PM

For Ages 11-18. Most Tuesdays and registration is required. Click Here for more details and to register. 

Tai Chi Class
WEDNESDAYS AT 9:45-10:45AM

Safety Registration Form must be completed before 1st session. Fill out the form here. 

Shut Up and Write!
WEDNESDAYS AT 10:30 AM-12PM

Virtual over Zoom and registration is required. Email [email protected] for the zoom link.

NEW Summer Art and Sensory
WEDNESDAYS BEGINNING July 5 - AUGUST 23 FROM 3:00-4:00PM

Art and Sensory encourages students to explore their creativity through the fun of using many different art materials. The project is always step by step, hands on and guided to help create individual masterpieces! This program starts 6/28 and runs every Wednesday in the summer. Kids entering pre-k - leaving 2nd grade can register at manchesterpl.org/events. Space is limited and you must register for every week you would like to attend.

IN-PERSON & HYBRID EVENTS FOR ALL AGES

Cold Brew/Hot Books on the Lawn
THURSDAY, JULY 20 AT 11:00—11:30AM

Summer is hot and good books are even hotter! We’ll provide the cold brew coffee for you and we can all chat about the books we have been reading or hearing about. Thursday, July 20, 11 AM on the lawn with Lori, Sara and Maddy as we dish and ditch the good, bad, and ugly books that caught our attention in July. Whether you love gripping thrillers, historical fiction, laugh out loud comedies or romances that never go the way you want, we'll have something to share. It's 30 minutes and a free cold brew coffee, relax and chat about books, what could be better? See you here and bring a friend! Come back on August 10 for another cold brew and more book recommendations.

Author Reading and Chat with Karin Gertsch
THURSDAY, JULY 20 AT 6:00—7:00 PM

Karin Gertsch's first fiction novel was just published in June, 2023 and she will be visiting the MBTS Public Library to read a selection from the book and answer your questions about her journey from guidebook writer to children's book author to publishing Five Wishes. Karin will sign copies of her book brought to the event but will not be selling copies. You can get copies from The Bookshop of Beverly Farms or order a copy from your favorite book seller. There will be coffee and tea available so consider bringing your favorite covered travel mug. 

About Five Wishes: The setting is Hamlet, a New England town. Delbert MacInnes is content to live where he was born and raised. “I’ll look out another window if I want a different view,” he says. Matilda MacInnes isn’t the complaining type; she wants her family to believe she’s happy with her life, but for decades she’s hidden a big secret, and it wants out! When an unexpected event happens, Matilda discovers—though she is no longer young—that wishes can still come true.

Registration is encouraged but not required. Please register here as space is limited.

Rubik's Cube-o-Rama!
MONDAY, JULY 24 AT 1:00—2:30PM

Obsessed with Rubik's Cubes? Join local resident and longtime speedcubing competitor Will Russo for an informal session covering all the ins and outs of cubing culture. Get solving tips, find out about participating in competitions, get the scoop on where to shop for the fastest and craziest cubes, and more. Check out Will's solving skills in this Youtbe video.

No registration required -- just come on by. And be sure to bring along your own cube and let us check out your solving skills!

Mystery Book Group: "The Dime"
FRIDAY, JULY 28 AT 10:30—11:30AM

The Manchester Mystery Book Group meets on the last Friday of the month at 10:30AM. July's meeting will occur in the library's reading room or outside on the library's front lawn. Email [email protected] with any questions or to get connected with the group.

We will discuss "The Dime" by Kathleen Kent. Physical copies will be available at the circulation desk. 

August's pick will be "Right as Rain" by George Pelecanos. Physical copies will be available at the circulation desk in late July.

New members are always welcome. For the date, times, and book of the month during 2023 please Click Here. The Mystery Book Group is currently voting on what to read for the next year so if you want to vote Click Here

Hula Hooping Extravaganza: Two Sessions
FRIDAY, JULY 28 AT 10:30—11:30AM & 1:00-2:00PM

You are invited to the most awesome all ages hula hoop event of the year! It's time to put on your dancing shoes and grab those dazzling hoops for an unforgettable workshop of hula hoop magic! Hooping induces joy through movement explorations designed to promote healthy bodies and minds. We will learn basic hooping moves while increasing hand-eye coordination, strength, balance, and agility. We'll focus on empowering uniqueness through self-esteem building activities. Hooping promotes exercise, exploration, expression, movement, and dance while having fun! Get your heart rate up while working on stability and flexibility in a class packed with silly fun. We also focus on learning alignment with our bodies and exploring the hoop through laughter and joy!

Hula hoops provided - bring a friend or two! Registration is required incase we need to move inside due to the weather. Register for Session 1 at 10:30AM or Register for Session 2 at 1:00PM.

Virtual Events

A Look At The Life & Works of Agatha Christie (Virtual)
FRIDAY, JULY 21 AT 2:00—3:00PM

Agatha Christie is the most famous mystery writer in the world. In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records goes further and lists Christie as the best-selling novelist of all time. Her novels have sold roughly 2 billion copies, and her estate claims that her works come third in the rankings of the world's most-widely published books, behind only Shakespeare's works and the Bible. Who was this remarkable woman? How did she come to write her indelible works? Why is she still such a popular literary figure? These and other questions will be explored along with a real life mystery about Christie’s dramatic disappearance in 1926 that remains substantially unsolved to this day.

Led by Dr. Bill Thierfelder, a retired college professor who taught a variety of Arts and Humanities courses for 32 years at several New York universities and colleges, including St. John's University and Dowling College. He holds a Ph.D. in English, with minors in theater, art history and music history.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Tewksbury Library and made available through a partnership with the Tewksbury Public Library. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 24 hours of the program. Register Here.

Job Search Triage (Virtual)
MONDAY, JULY 24 AT 2:00—3:00PM

Is your job search hemorrhaging time, energy, and resources? Right now, given the current state of your job search where do you need to focus to have the biggest impact and benefit in terms of landing. Learn a simple process to make more effective use of your time, energy and resources during your job search? Zero in on: What’s working? What’s not? 

Led by Tom McDonough, director of programs and founding Board member for the Institute for Career Transitions (ICT). A career and life coach, Tom has been part of the ICT coaching team since its inception. Though his career story has allowed him to experience many roles, the underlying theme is helping people clarify and align personal and career goals with their core values—their Unique Organizing Principle (SM) through body/mind/spirit integration.

This program is made possible through a partnership with the Tewksbury Public Library and all registrants will receive the recording via email within 24 hours of the program. Register Here.

Advice From Literary Agent Doug Grad
MONDAY, JULY 31 AT 7:00—8:00PM

Are you a writer -- or an aspiring writer -- looking for some support? The Tewksbury Writing Group, which generally meets the fourth Monday evening of every month, is open to everyone who's interested in writing -- all genres, all skill levels. Each meeting -- which will take place via Zoom -- features a guest speaker (typically a published author or editor) offering some tips of the trade.

The July 2023 guest speaker is literary agent Doug Grad. Grad, a 37-year veteran of the publishing industry, is the President of Doug Grad Literary Agency. Prior to starting his own agency in 2008, Grad spent the previous 22 years as a Senior Editor at four major New York publishing houses, including Simon & Schuster (1987-1995), Random House (1995-1998), Penguin (1998-2004), and Harper Collins (2005-2008). Grad promises to give aspiring and new authors the cold, hard reality of the business of publishing—from landing a deal with a major publisher to self-publishing your manuscript. He’ll give you a general overview of publishing; how the publishing industry has changed in recent years; and the various steps to getting a book published, from the writer’s ideas to the bookstore (or library) shelves.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Tewksbury Library and made available through a partnership with the Tewksbury Public Library. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 24 hours of the program. Register Here.

Check Out Free Virtual Resources

We are always open online where you can check out our free to use digital collection! There you can find a great selection of eBooks, audiobooks, movies and TV shows to stream and enjoy along with many other databases and digital resources by using your Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library card