Library Programs

Spanish Conversation Club
Tuesdays, September 5, 12, 19, & 26
6:00–7:00 p.m.
At the library

Are you looking for a casual space in which you can practice your Spanish and learn more about the multiple cultures of those who speak that language? Join the Spanish Conversation Club most Tuesdays at the Shrewsbury Public Library (6:00 p.m. in the second floor Learning Lab).

Visit our events calendar to confirm dates. No registration required.

Spanish Culture Club
Wednesdays, September 6th & 20th
6:00–7:00 p.m.
At the library

The Spanish Culture Club provides an open and casual learning environment outside of the classroom for adults to learn and practice 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. Visit our events calendar to confirm dates; no registration required.

50+ Job Seekers Virtual Networking Group
First and third Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. (September 6 & 20)
Second and fourth Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. (September 13 & 27)
Virtual

If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your "Encore Career," this networking group program is perfect for you! Remember, 85% of jobs are found through networking!

Join us in a professional forum for networking with peers in a safe and comfortable environment conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help in your career transition. Each meeting features a new topic. Meetings include a presentation and interactive workshop on topics relevant to career transition, guest speakers, access to hiring managers, small group breakout rooms to network, and 1-on-1 coaching guidance. Participating on a regular basis will give job seekers the many tools and strategies needed for a successful job search.

The group meets on Zoom from 9:30–11:30 a.m. on first and third Wednesday mornings, with repeat sessions on the same topics offered in the evenings from 6:00–8:00 p.m. on second and fourth Wednesday evenings. Attend either session to fit your schedule, however, registration is required.

This month's topics will be:

 - Using AI in your job search (September 6th at 9:30 a.m. & September 13th at 6:00 p.m.)

 - LinkedIn (September 20th at 9:30 a.m. & September 27th at 6:00 p.m.)

This program takes place virtually on Zoom; please register to attend separately for each session:

 - Register here for morning sessions (and to view the full list of topics).
 - Register here for evening sessions (and to view the full list of topics).

This group is sponsored by more than 60 Massachusetts public libraries.

NOTE: The meetings are not recorded.

Tech Tuesday: Digital Privacy and Security
Tuesday, September 5th
6:00–7:30 p.m.
At the library

Join the Shrewsbury Public Library at 6:00 p.m. in the Learning Lab for Tech Tuesdays! The Tuesday, September 5th class will cover Digital Privacy and Security. Attendees will learn how to assess potential risks in their digital privacy, some specific tools and strategies you can implement as part of a security plan, and how to take action when your data has been breached.

This program is intended for proficient computer users aged 13+ who are familiar with navigating the internet.

Laptops will be provided. Space is limited, so registration is required

The Sacco and Vanzetti Case: An Enduring Lesson
Wednesday, September 13th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Join attorney Thomas J. Carey, Jr. for a talk on the trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, one of the most widely publicized cases in Massachusetts history. The two were convicted of the murder of two men during a robbery and executed in 1927, despite widespread concerns that the trial had been unfair. The Sacco and Vanzetti case has long been considered a blot on the reputation of the judicial system. What lessons can be learned from looking back at the Sacco-Vanzetti case nearly a century later? Was it unique to its own era, or could something similar happen again today?

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

Guide to Downsizing: Presented by RightSized Living
Thursday, September 14th
3:30–4:30 p.m.
At the library

Learn from an expert on all aspects of downsizing: Find out why to downsize and tips to make downsizing simpler; learn techniques to make it easier when moving or simply just minimizing. Stress less, live more!

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

Learn a Simple Technique to Find Peace in a Chaotic World
Thursday, September 14th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
Virtual

Join long-time meditator Dave Buck for this engaging workshop and short meditation sitting. Come learn a simple yet profound meditation technique which is the key to inner peace and tranquility. Whether we are students, still in the work-a-day world, or living an active retirement, stresses and strains are a common feature of everyday living. Meditation can help us relax and rise above the stress of life. Our problems do not disappear, but meditation helps to smooth out the rough patches. We begin to see with a new perspective that is positive and life affirming.

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

Naomi Westwater concert
Monday, September 18th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Join us for a night of music, song, and ritual with Naomi Westwater. Naomi is a queer, Black-multiracial singer-songwriter from Massachusetts. Their work combines folk music, poetry, and spirituality. Their hope is that through ritual and storytelling, they can aid nature in the end of capitalism and the return of community, creativity, and collective joy.

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

Ukraine War and Vladimir Putin: Consequences Expected and Unintended
Tuesday, September 19th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Join us for a presentation on the causes of the Ukraine war that examines the consequences for Ukraine, Russia, and the rest of the world. Some of the potential consequences beyond death and destruction are millions of people slipping into poverty, a worldwide food shortage, and a worldwide recession. The corruption in both countries' leadership is discussed. Both governments and their lack of transparency prevent the true consequences of the war being known. The role of the United States is questioned – is it fighting a third-party war?

Presenter Henry Quinlan has over 36 years of experience dealing with the Soviet Union/Russia.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

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

She Can Do It: Real/'Reel' Women & Midcentury Mysteries
Thursday, September 21st
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Join local suspense authors Janet Raye Stevens and Sharon Healy-Yang for an engaging, multi-media event revealing some intriguing inspirations for creating a mystery set circa WWII. Using film clips, anecdotes, and excerpts from their books, Sharon and Janet will talk about 1940s women in real as well as ‘reel’ life and how these smart, stylish, and wise-cracking gals in books and film inspired their own 1940s-set mysteries. If you love mysteries, movies, and lots of banter, don’t miss it!
This program will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.

Reading Glasses
Thursday, September 21st
7:00–8:30 p.m.
Virtual

The September meeting of Reading Glasses, SPL’s book group for adults in their 20s and 30s, will be on Thursday, September 21st on Google Meet.
 
We'll be discussing The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn: "Based on a true story, The Diamond Eye is a haunting novel of heroism born of desperation, of a mother who became a soldier, of a woman who found her place in the world and changed the course of history forever" (www.katequinnauthor.com).

New attendees, please email [email protected]  to be added to the notification list. All members will receive a Google Meet invite closer to the meeting date.

Sourdough Starter Workshop with Sourdough Brandon
Saturday, September 23rd
2:00–3:00 p.m.
At the library

Learn how to make, maintain, and store a sourdough starter from an expert sourdough baker and food blogger. You’ll leave with many tips and tricks on how to keep your sourdough starter active, what to make with your starter, and even some free sourdough starter!

Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

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

Shrewsbury Genealogy Club
Tuesday, September 26th
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. on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

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

Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors with Tory Stephens
Wednesday, September 27th
6:30–7:30 p.m.
Virtual

Join the Blue Marble Librarians with Tory Stephens of Grist Magazine, an independent non-profit media organization focused on the climate crisis to 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. The initiative also seeks narratives that center solutions from the communities most impacted by the climate crisis, and stories that are rooted in cultural authenticity and rich subcultures that uplift traditions not often seen in mainstream literature. Writers and readers alike will enjoy this climate justice romp.

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

KM Harikrishnan author talk
Thursday, September 28th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Join author KM Harikrishnan for a talk about his 2022 book, The Three Muscat Years. Harikrishnan will discuss why he decided to write this book, the writing process, and describe some anecdotes from the book, then answer questions from the audience.

More about The Three Muscat Years: In this book of adventure, a greenhorn Army doctor chronicles his discovery of a foreign land, newfound love, and new peoples. A series of matchless experiences help him cope with personal loss, understanding of fellow human beings, and self-discovery along the way. How does a young man come face-to-face with deep-rooted traditions and overpowering emotions experienced never before? Read on to find out from this heartwarming, brutally honest account.

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

Movie Matinee: No Time to Die
Saturday, September 30th
2:00–4:45 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.