Hello American!

Make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this newsletter for some exciting news from our Friends! 

Download our March Teen & Adult Brochure
Download our March Children's Brochure

Second Annual Once Upon A Time BookFest!

Saturday, March 25th 10-5pm

The Second Annual Once Upon A BookFest... is a one of its kind book festival devoted to the kids, tweens, and their families. We'll be hosting authors and illustrators whose books you've loved or that you'll love discovering! The day will be spent in workshops, meeting the authors, and hanging out with fellow book lovers. It's going to be magical!

We are thrilled to welcome authors RW Alley & Zoe Alley, Janet Costa Bates, Diane deGroat, Jannie Ho, Renee Kurilla, Braden Lamb & Shelli Paroline, Rajani LaRocca, Nancy Tupper Ling, Gabriel Joy Reid, and Heidi EYStemple to Ashland for our Second Annual Once Upon A BookFest Children's Book Festival! 

 We'll have a day full of hands-on workshops, author presentations, book selling and signing and so much more! We hope you can join us for this very special day. Click here for a schedule for the day! 

We are so happy to be partnering with Aesop's Fable in Holliston, which will provide books for the book sales and signings. Some authors will be bringing their own and you are welcome to bring books from home to have them signed. 

Adult Programs

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

Virtual: An America Divided: Can We Live With One Another? with New Yorker Staff Writer, Emma Green
Tuesday, March 14 @ 7pm

Join Emma Green in this exploration of the ways that Americans are divided - politically, religiously, economically, communities, and even families. What has caused these ruptures and what are some ways for us to come back together?

Celebrate Women's History Month: Author Susan Eisenberg Discusses "We'll Call You If We Need You: Experiences of Women Working Construction"
Monday, March 20 @ 6:30pm

In this book, full of the raw drama and humor found on a construction site, Eisenberg gracefully weaves the voices of thirty women (including her own!) who worked as carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, painters, and plumbers to examine why their numbers remained small.

This Week

Virtual: A Trip To Bucharest, Romania With The Traveling Librarian
Tuesday, March 14 @ 10:30am
Journey to Romania, one of Eastern Europe's hidden gems, as capital with a wealth of architecture from many eras, and it's not far from many of southern Romania's rural sights.

Virtual: Inside FDR's Greater Domestic Achievement -- The Creation Of Social Security
Tuesday, March 14 @ 2pm
Explore the creation and passage of the Social Security Insurance Act, one of the most important pieces of social legislation in American history. 

Special Effects Makeup Class
*Ages 13+
Tuesday, March 14 @ 6pm
(postponed from 3 weeks ago)
Decimated Designs will be demonstrating the do's and don'ts of SFX makeup, and how to get started learning about horror movie visual effects!

Bio/Memoir Book Club
Wednesday, March 15 @ 11am
Read 'Finding Freedom' by Erin French

Virtual: Boston African American National Historic Site Presents 'Explore The Black Heritage Trail'
Wednesday, March 15 @ 12pm
The Black Heritage Trail showcases residences and community buildings associated with a Black community that thrived on, and near, the north slope of Beacon Hill before, during, and after the American Civil War.

Virtual: An Evening with Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, Author of "Big Girl"
Wednesday, March 15 @ 7pm
In her highly anticipated debut novel, Mecca Jamilah Sullivan explores the perils, and undeniable beauty, of insatiable longing.

Virtual: Birding By Ear With The Mass Audubon
Thursday, March 16 @ 2pm
If you’ve ever been confused by birdsong outside your window or in the field, don’t miss this chance to learn how, why, and most importantly, which birds are singing.

Great Decisions Discussion Group
Thursday, March 16 @ 6:30pm
Discuss Energy Geopolitics: as more countries move toward sustainable energy, and supply chain shortages affect the availability of oil and gas, how will this change the way in which the United States interacts with the outside world?

The Garden of Words: A Writing Workshop
Friday, March 17 @ 10:30am
Join us to put into writing your story or come to commune with other budding authors as we learn how to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard :).

Nature Photography with Steve McGrath
Saturday, March 18 @ 10am
Yup, we're trying it one more time :)

Next Week

Virtual - Cassatt & Company: The Women Impressionists
Monday, March 20 @ 7pm
This program explores the paintings of Marie Bracquemond, Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt and others and considers the unique challenges they faced as women artists in a male-dominated profession.

Virtual - LGBTQ+ Book Club:*For 15-100
Monday, March 20 @ 7pm
Read "Becoming Eve" by Abby Stein
 
Virtual - Beyond the Library presents: The Gilded World of Isabella Stewart Gardner
Tuesday, March 21 @ 7pm
We will explore the details of Isabella Stewart Gardner’s life, friends, travels and collections. She broke all kinds of rules while setting up her museum but perhaps we can understand this when we read her personal motto “It is my pleasure.” She arranged things the way she wanted with relationships between objects that may at first escape us. What is left for us is to marvel at the space she created and filled with beautiful things.
 
Virtual: New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Presents 'Stories From The Whaling Port'
Wednesday, March 22 @ 12pm
Discover the origins and historical significance of New Bedford's whaling port. Led by National Park Guide Rufai Shardow.
 
Virtual - Romance Authors Maya Rodale & Caroline Linden discuss "Dangerous Books For Girls"
Wednesday, March 22 @ 7pm
Join us for a conversation between friends and romance authors Maya Rodale and Caroline Linden! They'll be discussing Maya's re-released and expanded edition of "Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels Explained".
 
Virtual - Literary Café Celebrates Women's History Month
Thursday, March 23 @ 7pm
We're excited to partner with the Cary Library for its next Literary Cafe which will mark Women's History Month with a panel presentation, hosted by Marjan Kamal, featuring Award-winning authors Joy Castro, Ava Homa, and Katherine Sherbrooke.
 
Virtual - Law and Order: Boston with Author David Kruh
Friday, March 24 @ 1pm
In this slide show, David brings Law & Order to Boston by looking at three high-profile cases from three eras of the city's history: The Boston Massacre, The Parkman Murder, and the Boston Strangler. Together, we'll look at the crime (or crimes), follow the investigation, and wind up in court, where we will argue the case and hear the verdict.

Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion
Friday, March 24 @ 7pm
Watch  "Poetry"

Weekly ELL Classes with Hopkinton Library

These weekly classes alternates between in person and online. Contact the group leader for information on joining for the meetings. We are happy to be collaborating with the Hopkinton Public Library for this series! 

Beginner ELL Conversation Circle
Thursdays at 2pm

Advanced ELL Conversation Circle
Fridays at 11am

Contact Janet Fannon to join either session
[email protected]

Monday Knit & Crochet Club

Mondays at 6pm

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!

"You are the Hero of Your Own Story" Author Visit with Shawn Peters
*For Grades 4 - 7
Friday, March 17 @ 2pm

The interactive session will include an author talk, two separate readings from THE UNFORGETTABLE LOGAN FOSTER, as well as an improvised superhero story based on a volunteer’s own suggestions and the audience’s participation with sound effects along the way.

Parachute Party
*For Kids Ages 3 - 6
Saturday, March 18 @ 11am

Have fun working as a group to keep the parachute up in the air.

This Week

Monday Afternoon Story and Craft
*For Ages 4-7
Friday, March 13 @ 4pm
Stop into the children's room as we read a story and do a related craft project.

Project ABC Play, Learn, and Grow Group
*for Ages 0 to 5
Tuesday, March 14 @ 11am
Registration is Required
This program is limited to 20 people in the storytime room. 

PJ Story Time with Ryan (and his stuffed animals!)
Tuesday, March 14 @ 5:30pm
Come in your pajamas, and bring your favorite stuffed animals! We will read stories about a different stuffed animal every week. 

(Hybrid) - Lapsit
*Infants, Toddlers &  Caregivers
Wednesday, March 15 @ 10:30am
Please register to receive the zoom link if joining us online.

Read to a Dog with Knives and Machete
*For kids who are reading on their own
Thursday, March 16 @ 6pm
Read to one of our registered therapy dogs for 10 minutes. 

Friday Afternoon Story and Craft
*For Ages 4-7
Friday, March 17 @ 4pm
Stop into the children's room as we read a story and do a related craft project.

Next Week

Monday Afternoon Story and Craft
*For Ages 4-7
Friday, March 20 @ 4pm
Stop into the children's room as we read a story and do a related craft project.

Project ABC Play, Learn, and Grow Group
*for Ages 0 to 5
Tuesday, March 21 @ 11am
Registration is Required
This program is limited to 20 people in the storytime room. 

PJ Story Time with Ryan (and his stuffed animals!)
Tuesday, March 21 @ 5:30pm
Come in your pajamas, and bring your favorite stuffed animals! We will read stories about a different stuffed animal every week. 

(Hybrid) - Lapsit
*Infants, Toddlers &  Caregivers
Wednesday, March 22 @ 10:30am
Please register to receive the zoom link if joining us online.

Lego Club
*For Kids Age 5 & Up
Thursday, March 23 @ 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.

Friday Afternoon Story and Craft
*For Ages 4-7
Friday, March 24 @ 4pm
Stop into the children's room as we read a story and do a related craft project.

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

Special Effects Makeup Class
*Ages 13+
Tuesday, March 14 @ 6pm
(postponed from 3 weeks ago)

Decimated Designs will be demonstrating the do's and don'ts of SFX makeup, and how to get started learning about horror movie visual effects!

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.

Friends of the Ashland Library Mini-Golf Fundraiser!

Exciting News! The Friends are hosting a PUTTS4PAGES Mini Golf at the Library fundraiser on Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd! 

"MockTails and Mini-Golf" - Friends of the Ashland Library Fundraising Event *For Adults
Saturday, April 1 @ 6:30-8:30pm

Play Mini Golf in the Ashland Library - Friends of the Ashland Library Fundraising Event
Sunday, April 2 @ 11am-4pm

Contact the Friends with any questions, esp if you would like to help sponsor the event - we love our local organizations! 

Friends of the Ashland Library Mini-Book Sale and Donation Day

The Friends Mini Book Sale and Donation Day is on the 1st Saturday of the month from 10-1pm (next sale is Saturday, April 1st - no foolin'!) You can shop AND drop your books for donation off at the same time. Remember to bring in your postcard for a free book! 

If you cannot make it at this time you can drop off small donations in the drop box that is in the lobby of the library. 

Contact the Friends with any questions — they'd love to hear from you!

Art in the Library

The Art of Pamela DeJong
March 1-April 3, 2023
Art Gallery Reception on April 1 @ 1-3pm

Questions? 

Contact us at [email protected] or 508-881-0134.

Click Here for more information.