April 2024 at the Ashland Library

The Library will be closed on Monday, April 15th for Patriot’s Day

Special Events:

Eclipse Viewing Party 

*For All Ages

Monday, April 8, 2024

It’s a once in a century opportunity to see a potentially 95% totality eclipse! Join us on this special day as we celebrate this special occasion. We will have eclipse watching glasses (while supplies last) for the day so come by, set yourself up, and watch this once (twice) in a lifetime event with friends, family, and community. Please remember to NOT watch the eclipse without some sort of NASA approved glasses.

This program will have to be cancelled if it rains or is super cloudy. Check out social media outlets and website for on the day updates. 

No registration but please remember that we have a limited number of eclipse glasses and may ask families to share - we will be giving them out starting at 2:30pm on April 8th and it will be first come first serve. 

We will NOT be giving glasses out at the library prior to the event. 

Please feel free to bring your own eclipse glasses, a blanket, lawn chairs, snacks, etc. It’s an Eclipse Viewing Party! (no alcohol, though, as this is a library program).

This event is in collaboration with the Town of Ashland’s Department of Economic Development.

Adult:

In Person - Front Street Readers Book Club

Tuesday, April 2 @ 6:30pm

Read “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel García Márquez

Virtual - Celebrating a Book Birthday with Author Megumi Inouye: “The Soul of Gift Wrapping”

Tuesday, April 2 @ 7pm

As we approach holidays such as Mother’s and Father’s Day, learn how to both wrap beautifully and show gratitude for those you are gifting to - who knew that the act of giving a thoughtfully wrapped gift can be a creative, caring act for both the giver and the receiver?

Essential Oils with Hannah Stein: Jasmine and Ylang Ylang

Wednesday, April 3 @ 6:30pm

 Both have many utilitarian and other uses - you will be surprised at all the benefits potentially available from the use of these oils.

Virtual - Environmental Book Club

Wednesday, April 3 @ 6:30pm

Read “The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires That Run the World” by Oliver Milman.

HYBRID - Romance Book Club

Thursday, April 4 @ 6:30pm

Read Portugal Romances

Card Making with Jan Poppendieck

Monday, April 8 @ 6:30pm

Jan will teach embossing, die cutting, proper stamping, and use of equipment individually and group techniques of creating unique cards.

Virtual - Celebrating a Book Birthday with Romance Author Dana Hawkins: “In Walked Trouble”

Monday, April 8 @ 7pm

Today, we’re celebrating with romance author, Dana Hawkins, on her recent release “In Walked Trouble”, the follow up to her sapphic and funny, “Not in the Plan”. If you love RomComs, coffee, Seattle, HEA’s, and/or fantastic queer enemies-to-lovers romance

Virtual - Book Recs with Bookstagrammer Jody Blanchette aka @redreadreviews

Tuesday, April 9 @ 7pm

Not sure what to read next? Join Jody for 30 minutes of pure book recommendations - with a bent towards horror and thrillers and a few other genres thrown in! We’re sure you’ll find something to like from Jody’s many enthusiastic reviews.

VIRTUAL: Ashland Adult Book Club

Wednesday, April 10 @ 6:30pm

Read “The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between” by Hisham Matar.

Virtual - The Ponzi Scheme with Author and Historian David Kruh

Thursday, April 11 @ 1pm

Long before Bernie Madoff made off with about $64.8 billion in other people’s money, there was a guy named Ponzi. Charles Ponzi. Carlo Pietro Giovanni Guglielmo Tebaldo Ponzi (1882-1949) was born and raised in Italy. He arrived in Boston aboard the S.S. Vancouver in 1903 with a few dollars and change in his pocket. Years later, he told the New York Times, “I landed in this country with $2.50 in cash and $1 million in hopes, and those hopes never left me.”

Virtual - Minimizing (or Eliminating!) Food Wastage For Families with Sarah Robertson-Barnes

Thursday, April 11 @ 7pm

We’ll be discussing how to minimize or eliminate food wastage in your family, especially with kids. Sarah will have all kinds of ideas to take baby steps to save, use, or compost food scraps so none (or little) goes into landfills! 

Mystery Book Club

Friday, April 12 @ 12pm

Read “The Lost Man” by Jane Harper.

Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion

Friday, April 12 @ 7pm

Watch “Cairo Conspiracy” (Kanopy)

Cookbook Club

Saturday, April 13 @ 12pm

A Taste of Pakistan

Virtual: Asian Art Series: Art Across Asia - Persia: Crossroads for Art and Culture

Sunday, April 14 @ 2:30pm

Uncover the unique artistic elements of ancient Middle Eastern art, and its influence on art across Asia and Europe.

Virtual: A Brief History of the Coast Guard with Captain Greg Ketchen (Retired)

Tuesday, April 16 @ 1pm

Massachusetts is the birthplace of the Coast Guard. America’s oldest seagoing service has an exceptionally rich history and those who have served in the Coast Guard here in Massachusetts have made significant contributions to that history.

Bio/Memoir Book Club

Wednesday, April 17 @ 11am

Read ‘Vanderbilt’ by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe

Half-Past Crafts: Felted Piglets 

Wednesday, April 17 @ 6:30pm

This month we are making adorable needle-felted piglets!

Virtual - “Cooking with Scraps” Baking Demonstration and Discussion

Wednesday, April 17 @ 7pm

Do you feel bad about throwing away (or even composting) food scraps that could be used? Well, feel guilty no more! Lindsay-Jean Hard, cookbook author and sustainability warrior, and Amy Emberling, Managing Partner of Zingerman’s Bakehouse, are here to help us learn how we can make use of those scraps, keep them out of landfills, and still have enough left-over for our compost pile!

Virtual - AI Unleashed: Elevating Creativity Across Mediums

Thursday, April 18 @ 1pm

Join us for an inspiring presentation on the convergence of AI and creativity, showcasing the latest AI infused tools designed to ignite artistic expression across a spectrum of mediums.

Great Decisions 

Thursday, April 18 @ 6:30pm

Discuss Climate Technology and Competition

Virtual - Haunted Happenings with Jeff DePaoli: FearTown and Factory of Terror with Owner Mike Quill

Thursday, April 18 @ 6:30pm

Fear Town Haunted House in Seekonk, MA is an outdoor haunted trail through the woods. Factory of Terror in Fall River, MA is a well loved and known local attraction. Join owner Mike Quill and Jeff DePaoli, host of “That Halloween Podcast”, as they talk all about these fantastic haunted experiences right in our backyard!

Virtual - LGBTQ+ Book Club

 *For 15-100

Monday, April 22 @ 7pm

Read “Crema” by Johnnie Christmas (he/him)

Virtual - Cary Library Science Café: AI in Medicine and Biomedical Research

Tuesday, April 23 @ 7pm

Join us as we continue our exploration of AI with two local experts, Professors Wei Ding and John Quackenbush. They will be discussing the revolutionary role of AI in the field of Medicine and Biomedical Research with the use of unsupervised machine learning.

Virtual: Q&A with C.S. Harris: Author of the “Sebastian St. Cyr” Historical Mystery Series

Tuesday, April 23 @ 7pm

We are so excited to be chatting with Historical Mystery author, C.S. Harris! As you may know, C.S. (aka Candice Proctor) is the prolific writer of the Sebastian St. Cyr series. We’re also celebrating the book birthday of the 18th in this series, “Who Cries for the Lost?” - with a title like that, don’t you just want to run out and read every book, starting with “What Angels Fear”? :)

Virtual - Author Heather Wolf Discusses “Find More Birds: 111 Surprising Ways to Spot Birds Wherever You Are” Again

Wednesday, April 24 @ 7pm

Join us for another fascinating conversation about being in the moment and noticing the wonderful and varied birds around us. And, this time, we’ll focus more on Q&A, although we hope that Heather will share more amazing pics of her neighborhood birds with us!

Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion

Friday, April 26 @ 7pm

Watch  “The Music of Silence” (Kanopy)

Make Your Own Flower Crown

Monday, April 29 @ 6:30pm

Have you heard that we are hosting a Mini Ren(aissance) Faire at the Ashland Library on Saturday, May 4th? Well, no self respecting Medieval-ite can attend a Ren Faire without a Flower Crown! We invite you to join us making your very own to wear to the Ren Faire or just around the house. Either way, you’ll be stylin’! 

Virtual - iPhone Photography: Use Your iPhone Camera to its Full Potential

Tuesday, April 30 @ 6-8pm

Take better photos and get the best results from your iPhone by knowing camera features and components to improve the quality of your photos, including hidden settings and tools. Pro photography tips will be shared so you know what the features and settings are, what they do, and when to use them. Take control and improve your photography skills to create stunning photos. For all skill levels. Note: This class is more suitable for iPhones XS/XR and later, with the latest iOS software (17).

Adult Weekly:

Knit and Crochet Club

Mondays @ 6pm

Walk-In

ESL Conversation Group

Mondays @ 6:30pm 

Walk-In

Gentle Yoga

Tuesdays at 6pm

Registration Required

Children: 

Let’s Go on a Bug Hunt!

Wednesday, April 10 @ 1pm

Discover some of our fascinating local bugs - such as beetles, worms, slugs, ladybugs and caterpillars!  Gain a greater appreciation for their importance in our lives and their role in our ecosystem.  Observe live bugs with magnifiers, and see the world through the eyes of an insect with our “bug glasses”!   Learn more about the world of insects, as we explore together on a fun LIVE BUG HUNT on the grounds of the library!

Ashland Moms - Little Crafters

Monday, April 22 @ 10:15am

The Mom’s Club of Ashland and the Friends of the Ashland Public Library are offering a story & craft program for infants thru age 5. 

Sending Sunshine: Community Letter Writing *For All Ages

Wednesday, April 10 @ 5pm

Do you love letter writing or want to spend some family time doing this time honored tradition in service of senior citizens? Join us!

April Vacation:

Disney Week!

April 16 – 20

It’s a Disney Vacation in Ashland! We’ll celebrate all things Disney all week, with a scavenger hunt, character bracket, stickers and other fun events.

Meet Mirabel!

Tuesday, April 16 @ 10:30

Kick off Disney Week at the library with a meet and greet with Mirabel of Encanto fame! Families will hear a story or two, sing and dance along with Mirabel to favorite songs, and of course have plenty of time for photos. Registration is required. Name That Tune! Disney Edition

Wednesday, April 17 @ 1:00

Think you know Disney music? Test your knowledge with a family-friendly edition of Name That Tune! Register your family/group or individually. Small prizes for the winners!

Disney Dress-up Day

Thursday, April 18

Dress up as your favorite Disney character and visit the library! We’ll post pics on our social media (with permission from grownups), and costumed patrons get a small prize.

Stem Thursdays:

Lego Club 

*Ages 5-9

Thursday, April 4 @ 4pm

Thursday, April 11 @ 4pm

Thursday, April 18 @ 4pm

Thursday, April 25 @ 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.  

Saturday Story Time 

*For Ages 3 and up

Saturday, April 6 @ 10:30am

Saturday, April 13 @ 10:30am

Saturday, April 20 @ 10:30am

Saturday, April 27 @ 10:30am

Come listen to Ryan read some of his favorite stories aloud!

Read to a Dog with Knives and Machete (yes, those really are the dogs’ names!)

*For kids who are reading on their own

Saturday, April 13 @ 1:30pm

Saturday, April 27 @ 1:30pm

Children with some reading ability will have the chance to read to one of our registered therapy dogs for 10 minutes.

Weekly Storytimes:

PJ Story Time with Ryan (and his stuffed animals!) 

*For Ages 3 and up

Tuesdays @ 5:30 pm

Storytime Sprouts 

* For ages 0-3 with a caregiver

Wednesdays @ 10:30am

Join us for a fun and interactive story time filled with singing, reading, bounces, fingerplays, puppets, instruments, and more! This engaging program is designed to introduce young children to the joys of literature and music while promoting early literacy skills.

Alphabits 

*For kids ages 4 & 5

Thursdays @ 10:30am

Alphabits is a story time program where each week kids focus on a different letter of the alphabet. Stories, songs, rhymes and a fun art project complement this early literacy-focused 45-minute session.

Clocktown Rockers! 

*For ages 2-5 with a caregiver

Fridays at 10:30-11am

Join Miss Katrina for this new music and movement program! We’ll dance to favorite kids’ tunes, have fun with instruments and other props, and read a story, all while building your child’s early literacy and executive function skills. 

Weekly Crafting:

Friday Afternoon Story And Craft

*For Ages 4-7

Fridays @ 4:15pm

Weekly Project ABC:

Project ABC Play, Learn, and Grow Group *Ages 0 to 5

Tuesdays at 11am

A structured program to help prepare children for socialization and a school experience.

Registration *IS* required for each session of  this program

Project ABC Tinker Playgroup 

*for Ages 3 to 6

Thursdays @ 4pm

Register for a 6-week long session run by the MetroWest YMCA and Project ABC with Boston Children’s Museum. Each week each family will receive one tinker kit to play with and take home. Space is limited to 10 families for the entire session. Please only register if you can make it to all 6 weeks.

Registration *IS* required for this program; you can register at this Google Form.

Teen:

Taylor Swift Day

Saturday, April 6, 11-3 p.m.

Celebrate the pop superstar before her new album drops! We will have three main events and other drop in activities throughout the day.

Taylor Swift has taken the world by storm, and now she’s taking over the library! Come in on Saturday April 6th for a whole day of Swiftie-themed activities. The schedule of events is as follows:

12 p.m. Warm-up Act: Taylor Trivia

1p.m. Opener: Swifties Sing Karaoke

2PM Headliner: Name-that-Taylor-Tune

All day: Friendship Bracelet Making and Design Your Own Heart-Shaped Sunglasses

Teen Trivia Night

Wednesday, April 24 @ 5:00

Topic TBA

Friends of the Ashland Public Library Donation Day & Mini Book Sale!

Saturday, April 6 @ 10-1pm

Mini Book Sales and Donation Days are held the 1st Saturday of every month from 10am-1pm. Exceptions are the Big Sale weekends in March, December, and June. To keep the shelves stocked with fresh selections, the Friends accept donations in the library parking lot of gently used books, audio books and DVDs. Friends volunteers will be available to assist donors during this time. There is also a cart in the mezzanine lobby for donations at any time during library hours.

Proceeds from these monthly book sales and all fundraising efforts made by the Friends fund 100% of children, teen, and adult programs, our wonderful Museum Passes, and so much more!