The library has started a spice program! Every month, pick up a packet of a new spice with fun recipes to try.

Be sure to visit the library in the first week of the month to grab your sample (first come, first served while supplies last); the spice for August is cardamom.

The library has started a podcast, Beyond Books! The hosts, Mike and Dana (SPL's Assistant Director and Technology Specialist, respectively), provide behind-the-scenes looks at the events, news, and people at the library.

The latest episode includes a chat with one of our fantastic regular patrons, Spiro Efstathiou. Listen on our website (bottom right of the page), Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Anchor. FM.

Now open to all CW MARS patrons!

One of the library’s great online resources is the Headspace meditation app, which includes exercises for meditation, focus, sleep, and movement that can help support your mental health. CW MARS patrons are eligible to request access to Headspace through the Shrewsbury Public Library on a first come, first served basis, typically between the 14th and 28th of the month for the month that follows (i.e., sign up between August 14th and August 28th to request an September license).

Find out more on our website.

Library Programs

7 Scientific Reasons to Meditate Now
Tuesday, August 1st
7:00–8:00 p.m.
Virtual

Join Manish Saggar, PhD and Assistant Professor in Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, for a virtual presentation of data from recent neuroscientific studies on how regular meditation practices improve our physical, mental, and emotional health. He will also discuss how, by focusing one's attention during meditation, we can gain happiness and harmony.

This program will take place virtually on Zoom; please register to attend.

SPL Movie Discussion Club
Tuesday, August 1st
7:00–8:00 p.m.
Virtual
 
Join the Shrewsbury Public Library Movie Discussion Club every first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. on Google Meet! Intended for film fans 18 and older.
 
The film for the August 1st discussion is Maleficent (2014; rated PG-13):

"Pure of heart, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) lives an idyllic life in the forest. When an invading army threatens the land, Maleficent becomes its fiercest protector. However, a terrible betrayal hardens her heart, twisting her into a creature bent on revenge. She battles the invading king's successor, then curses his newborn daughter -- realizing only later that the child holds the key to peace" (rottentomatoes.com).

Register here to receive an email the day before the discussion with the Google Meet link.

Get Started with Libby
Friday, August 4th
2:30–3:30 p.m.
At the library

Want access to ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more, anytime and anywhere? You can with Libby! Bring your device and join the Shrewsbury Public Library for a class in our Learning Lab to get set up and familiar with the Libby app! The next session will be Friday, August 4th at 2:30 p.m.

Registration is required; please visit our events calendar to sign up for your preferred date.

Movie Matinee: A Man Called Otto
Saturday, August 5th
2:00–4:15 p.m.
At the library

Join the Shrewsbury Public Library for our Movie Matinee! A different film will be screened monthly in person at the library on a Saturday at 2:00 p.m. No registration required.

On August 5th, come enjoy a screening of A Man Called Otto (2022 | Rated PG-13), based on the novel, A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman: "Otto [Tom Hanks] is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around."

Spanish Culture Club
Wednesdays, August 9th & 23rd
6:00–7:00 p.m.
At the library

The Spanish Culture Club exists to provide an open and casual learning environment outside of the classroom to promote learning and practicing the language as well as to celebrate the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries around the world. This club is not only about learning Spanish, but learning about Hispanic culture: cuisine, idioms, movies, food, and more.

The group will meet most second and fourth Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. at the Shrewsbury Public Library; no registration required.

Effective Alzheimer's Communication Strategies
Wednesday, August 9th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Learn about the ways that different stages of Alzheimer's and other dementias affect an individual's ability to communicate and to get tips on better communicating with people living with the disease.

Presented by the Alzheimer's Association.

This program will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.

The Ultimate Presentation for Red Sox Nation
Thursday, August 10th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Take a fun and enlightening journey through Boston Red Sox history with Martin Gitlin, author of The Ultimate Boston Red Sox Time Machine Book. This presentation features exciting and nostalgic videos of the greatest and most fascinating players, teams, events, and moments in franchise history. The program also includes trivia questions for patrons to ponder and covers Sox history from the Royal Rooters, who launched Red Sox Nation, to Babe Ruth, to Ted Williams, to The Impossible Dream Season of 1967, to Lynn, Rice, and '75, to the heartbreak of 1986, all the way to the four World Series championships and beyond. It will conclude with a question-and-answer period. Author Martin Gitlin will have autographed and personalized copies of his book available online following the program.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

This program will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.

Classical Guitar Concert with Francesco Barone
Saturday, August 12th
2:00–3:30 p.m.
At the library

Join us for a concert with award-winning guitarist Francesco Barone. The first half of the program will feature music of the baroque and classical periods, including Mauro Guliani’s Grande Sonata Eroica, as well as Lute Suite no. 1 by Johann Sebastian Bach. The second half will include music written in the 20th century, including Frank Martin’s Quatre Pieces Breves (1933) and The Elves Suite (1984), a piece written by living Russian composer Nikita Koshkin.
 Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

This program will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.

Wellbeing Laughter
Tuesday, August 15th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Join us for a workshop on Wellbeing Laughter, a health and wellness practice that frees the body and mind of stress and anxiety in a light-hearted way. It uses science-based methods such as mindful breathing, gentle movement, and healing laughter as a fun way to optimize mental and physical wellbeing. This practice brings people together and unites them in a positive, shared experience of joyful laughter. Wellbeing Laughter lifts one’s mood in a matter of minutes and provides a lighter perspective on life.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

This program will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.

Meet the Author - Tom Ingrassia
Thursday, August 17th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Join Tom Ingrassia for a discussion of his "author journey," the fascinating story of how his book came to be, and how he is taking it from printed word to feature film.

First published in 2013, One Door Closes: Overcoming Adversity By Following Your Dreams (co-authored with Jared Chrudimsky) presents the inspiring stories of sixteen people from all walks of life who have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles in order to live their dreams. Through their powerful, first-person stories, these dreamers share a road map guiding the reader to discover how to live their life with vision, courage, determination, and passion. The book is currently being adapted into a documentary film, premiering in Worcester in September.

This program will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.

Writing Workshop
Saturday, August 19th
2:00–4:00 p.m.
At the library

The Shrewsbury Public Library extends a warm invitation to all writers for writing workshops! Come join fellow writers on third Saturdays this summer in a space dedicated to the craft of the written word, a space that encourages improvement.

During a writing workshop, writers share their work in the hopes of receiving positive, constructive feedback and suggestions. Workshops such as this are vital to a writer's growth, as getting different perspectives can help a writer see things they might have missed about their own work. It's also a great environment for fun, light-hearted conversations!

The workshops are hosted by InfinityEd and facilitated by published writer Ashton Hooley.

This program will take place in person at the library; please register separately for each session on the library’s events calendar.

Summer Scares Book Discussion
Tuesday, August 22nd
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Have you read at least one of our adult Summer Scares 2023 books? Join us for a fun, informal discussion and share your thoughts! No registration required.

The books:

 - Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
 - Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
 - The Merry Spinster by Daniel M. Lavery

Find more details about Summer Scares on our website.

Shrewsbury Genealogy Club
Tuesday, August 23rd
7:15–9:15 p.m.
Virtual

Anyone interested in genealogy (or family history) can now join the Shrewsbury Genealogy Club from the comfort of their home! The club meets on Zoom at 7:15 p.m. and has moved meetings to the fourth Tuesday of every month.

To register, email the Genealogy Club’s clubmaster, former SPL Assistant Director George Brown, at [email protected].

An Introduction to Saltwater Aquariums
Thursday, August 24th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Have you ever dreamed of having a vibrant, colorful aquarium in your home? Join local expert Jonathan Rainey as he discusses the basics of planning, setting up, and populating a beginner saltwater fish tank. Learn how to best balance water chemistry, implement underwater vegetation, and select the ideal tank residents, as well as how to successfully maintain the tank once it's running. This talk will cover saltwater tanks, as well as give some pointers for freshwater tanks.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

This program will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.

Reading Glasses
Thursday, August 24th
7:00–8:30 p.m.
Virtual

The August meeting of Reading Glasses, SPL’s book group for adults in their 20s and 30s, will be on Thursday, August 24th on Google Meet.
 
We’ll be discussing The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin: “Seventeen-year-old Lenni Pettersson lives on the Terminal Ward at the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Though the teenager has been told she’s dying, she still has plenty of living to do. Joining the hospital’s arts and crafts class, she meets the magnificent Margot, an 83-year-old, purple-pajama-wearing, fruitcake-eating rebel, who transforms Lenni in ways she never imagined” (harpercollins.com).
 
New attendees, please email [email protected] to be added to the notification list. All attendees will receive a Google Meet invite closer to the meeting date.

Don't see a program here? Registration may already be full!
Keep an eye on our events calendar for upcoming programs of interest.

Days and hours of service:

 - Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

 - Friday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

 - Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

 - Sunday: 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (October–May)