The Library will be closed Saturday - Monday, May 25-27 for Memorial Day Weekend

Special Events:

In-Person - Mini Renaissance Faire @ the Ashland Library!

Saturday, May 4 @ 10-4pm

This is a new one for us, but we are beyond excited to bring a Mini Ren Faire to Ashland! If you love things Medieval, Pirates, Puffy Shirts, and so much more, this is for you. We’ll have jousts, crafts, vendors, and something for every age. This is not just a turkey leg extravaganza, it is also an opportunity to learn how people lived (and survived) back in the day with demonstrations and hands-on activities. We hope that you’ll bring the whole family (in costume, of course :).

We’re working on a schedule of events, but we can already tell you that on our “stage”, we’ll have Ashland High School Drama Club members and students jousting and stage fighting, pirates being all “aaarrgghhh”-y, a Medieval dance instructor, and so much more. 

We’ll have demonstrations and hands-on activities with:

A Blacksmith (bringing a real life forge!)

Jugglers and Jesters

A Typesetter, with a model of the Gutenberg Press

Roaming Musicians

Kids Crafts and Games (catapult anyone?)

An Apothecary (learn about herbs!)

The Friends of the Ashland Library Mini Donation and Booksale (what a great time to buy books!)

And creative Medieval-ish foods by Doragon and Dulce de Leche

This is a FREE event that is open to all. The Trustees of the Ashland Library, though, have given permission for our vendors to sell their wares so bring your wallets in case something (like a dragon’s egg) catches your eye. 

This event is joyfully sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library

This is also a rain or shine event. In case of rain, some of the activities will move into the library but some will remain outside under tents. Be prepared.....

Romancing New England RomCon 2024 - Romance Authors Festival at the Ashland Public Library

Saturday, May 18 @ 10-4pm

It’s our 3rd Annual RomCon - Romance Authors Festival - LIVE and IN PERSON! Meet some of your favorite romance authors, get signed books, listen in on panels, have a small group discussion, and mingle with other romance lovers. It’s going to be a fabulous day!

Come hang out with some of your favorite authors (or meet some new faves!):

Kate Canterbary, Loretta Chase, Kosoko Jackson, Carla Kelly, Kathryn Ann Kingsley, Caroline Linden, Jessica Martin, Tori Anne Martin, Cecilia Tan, and Maria Vale! 

We’re looking forward to a day of a booksale/signing, panels, and small group discussions. So, grab your fancy hats and comfy shoes and come on out! 

And, new this year, is the Author’s Lounge - pop by to visit with the authors in small groups. There is no schedule, the authors will be roaming in and out if they are not on a panel or signing books. You can also use this space to chat with other readers or unpeople for a while. We hope you love it! 

Books for sale and signing will be provided by Aesop’s Fable (Holliston). You can also PREORDER books from our authors and Aesop’s will bring them to the Fest for you to have signed. And, finally, if you have books by our authors at home, please feel free to bring them and have them signed.

This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Library, Caroline Linden’s Romancing New England, and Berkley Publishing.

Adult:

Adult Spring Reading Challenge

Wednesday, May 1 - May 31, 2024

We had so much fun with Adult Winter Reading earlier this year that we had to do it again to celebrate Spring! Once again, read whatever you want during the month and count up the minutes. You can submit up to 1800 minutes (30 hours) worth of reading time. Each hour that you read gives you a raffle ticket to win fabulous prizes! We are back to using Beanstack so it will be easier for you to keep track of your reading

Virtual - Environmental Book Club

Wednesday, May 1 @ 6:30pm

Read “The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon” by Bill McKibben

HYBRID - Romance Book Club

Thursday, May 2 @ 6:30pm

Read Canadian Romances

Virtual: Asian Art Series: Art Across Asia - Glorious Civilizations: An Exploration of Southeast Asia

Sunday, May 5 @ 2:30pm

Ten countries, numerous cultures, thousands of years. Explore the varied and intriguing art of Southeast Asia as reflected in the religious and secular art of this fascinating region

In-Person: Front Street Readers Book Club

Tuesday, May 7 @ 7pm

Read “The Island of Sea Women” by Lisa See

Virtual - Book Recs with Bookstagrammer Jody Blanchette aka @redreadreviews

Tuesday, May 7 @ 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 - Romance Book Recs and Conversation with Lorelei of Lorelei’s Lit Lair

Wednesday, May 8 @ 7pm

Affectionately referred to as a passionate Romance Ambassador, Lorelei has been offering book recommendations, author spotlights, giveaways and connecting authors with readers through social media since 2010, providing a safe and friendly environment for book lovers around the globe. We are so pleased to be in conversation with Lorelei about how (and why) she got started, her most memorable author-meet moments, and books she’s reading and recommending

Virtual - Introduction to Ornithology with Bill Gette: Breeding Behavior

Thursday, May 9 @ 1pm

Join us for this 5 part series all about Ornithology! During this PowerPoint lecture, Bill will teach you about why birds establish territories, ways birds develop and maintain pair bonds, mating systems, nest types, egg production and incubation, and care of young. As one of our favorite speakers on the natural world, Bill will wow us with his knowledge and fantastic photographs!

Paint Night with Ashwini Chitnavis

Thursday, May 9 @ 5:30pm

We’re excited to bring Paint Night to Ashland! We welcome Ashwini Chitnavis to host this session where you learn to paint on canvas. No art experience necessary, just an open mind and a can-do attitude

Virtual: Coexisting with Coyotes in Suburban Communities

Thursday, May 9 @ 7pm

Eastern coyotes are found in nearly every town and city in Massachusetts, and they can thrive close to humans in a variety of habitats

Mystery Book Club

Friday, May 10 @ 1pm

Read “Case Histories” by Kate Atkinson

Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion

Friday, May 10 @ 7pm

Watch “Madame Rosa” (Kanopy)

Cookbook Club

Saturday, May 11 @ 12pm

Cook from “Japanese Home Cooking: Simple Meals, Authentic Flavors” by Sonoko Sakai

Card Making with Jan Poppendieck

Monday, May 13 @ 6:30pm

Come join us for an evening of card making with Jan. We will learn stamping and card making techniques using our huge stash of supplies. Jan will teach embossing, die cutting, proper stamping, and use of equipment individually and group techniques of creating unique cards.

Bio/Memoir Book Club

Wednesday, May 15 @ 11am

Read “Reading Lolita in Tehran” by Azar Nafisi.

Half-Past Crafts

Wednesday, May 15 @ 6:30pm

This month we’re making rolled candles and flowery candle rings!

Virtual - Extra Romance Book Club: Read “Romancing Mister Bridgerton” by Julia Quinn

Wednesday, May 15 @ 7pm

For those of you in the know, you are aware that this is the 4th book in the series and Shondaland has made a creative decision to skip Book 3 (Benedict and Sophia’s story) for now. It’ll be fascinating to see how they make this palatable to long time Julia readers while also appealing to new ones. Let’s talk about the book because we need to discuss the source material - and it’ll be fun!

Virtual: Photography on the Fly with Margie Patlak

Wednesday, May 15 @ 7pm

In a Zoom slide show, award-winning science writer, memoirist, and photographer Margie Patlak will talk about what inspired her to take the Maine nature photos that comprise her newly published photobook Wild and Wondrous: Nature’s Artistry on the Coast of Maine, and her photography-on-the-fly process using an iPhone.

Great Decisions 

Thursday, May 16 @ 6:30pm

Discuss Science Across Borders

Crochet Class: Introduction to Granny Squares 

*For Adults with some crochet skills

Monday, May 20 @ 6pm

A granny square is like a plain sheet of paper. Sure, it comes in different colors, textures, sizes, and weights however in and of itself, it’s not very exciting until you use it as an integral part of your creative process. During our two-hour class, we will explore the basic structure of a granny square as we make one traditional-style square using basic worsted-weight wool. You will leave the class with a new respect for the humble Granny square, a hook, and yarn to begin your creative journey.

Virtual - Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with Romance Author Camilla Evergreen: “How to Find Love When You’re Weird”

Monday, May 20 @ 7pm

We are thrilled to be chatting with romance author Camilla Evergreen whose book “How to Find Love When You’re Weird” makes it clear that people on the spectrum, (in fact, ALL people) are worthy of love and an HEA (happily ever after). In fact, we would posit that it’s the very neurodiverse characteristics that make someone even more attractive to the right person. We can’t wait for this conversation and hope you can join us!

Virtual - LGBTQ+ Book Club

*For 15-100

Monday, May 20 @ 7pm

Read “All My Mother’s Lovers” by Ilana Masad (she/her)

Virtual: Democracy Talks: Access to Books in the Context of Mass Incarceration

Tuesday, May 21 @ 7pm

Kelly Brotzman, Executive Director of the Prison Book Program in Quincy, MA, will discuss mass incarceration in the US, the role of education in reducing recidivism, the critical role books play for people in prison, and Prison Book Program’s role in getting reading material to folks behind bars.

Virtual: Addison Gallery Artist-in-Residence Jennifer Cecere

Wednesday, May 22 @ 3pm

Join Jennifer Cecere, the Addison Gallery’s Edward E. Elson Artist-in-Residence, for a virtual tour and discussion of her body of work and her site-specific installations at the Addison this spring.

Virtual - iPhone Photo Editing & Enhancements, Photo Organization and Storage

Wednesday, May 22 @ 6pm

Learn how to edit and enhance your photos with confidence using the Photos app on your iPhone. The built-in editing and enhancement tools are amazing and you can easily fine-tune your photos in minutes. Learn pro tips on photo editing from a professional photographer with 20+ years of editing digital images. Extra features as well as photo storage and organization tips will be discussed along with third-party photo editing apps to take your photos to the next level.

VIRTUAL: Ashland Adult Book Club

Wednesday, May 22 @ 6:30m

Read “The Many Daughters of Afong Moy” by Jamie Ford.

Virtual - Guardians of Truth: Combatting AI Deep Fakes

Thursday, May 23 @ 1pm

In this presentation, we will delve into the intricate world of combating AI deep fakes, exploring the challenges and solutions in preserving the integrity of digital content. From examining examples of deep fakes to ethical considerations, we will uncover the multifaceted strategies and innovations that are shaping the battle against malicious AI-generated misinformation. Join us as we navigate the evolving landscape of digital authenticity and learn how you can safeguard yourself in not being deceived by fake images and news.

Virtual: End-of-Life Doulas: What Do They Do & Why Would I Want One?

Thursday, May 23 @ 7pm

This virtual presentation will teach you about End-of-Life doulas – trained non-medical providers, who can be present from an initial diagnosis to ultimate death.

Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion

Friday, May 24 @ 7pm

Watch “Cold Souls” (Kanopy)

Virtual - New Yorker Cartoonist and Bestseller Bob Eckstein Shares His Favorite Museums and Cartoons

Wednesday, May 29 @ 7pm

Museum Enthusiasts, this one’s for you! Join author Bob Eckstein as he celebrates the book birthday of his most recent release, “Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums: Stories and Memorable Moments from People Who Love Museums”. This book is filled with lush and whimsical illustrations paired with stories and anecdotes from curators, museum workers, museum visitors, and more

Hot & Cold Tea Bar and Spring Reading Discussion 

Thursday, May 30 @ 6pm

Whether you’ve spent May participating in our Adult spring Reading Challenge or you just love books and tea in all its forms, join us for this special evening of relaxing, discussion, and tea! This program is for adults 18+ and does require registration (so we have plenty of tea to go around :).

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: 

Crafternoon: Flower Crowns

Thursday, May 2 @ 4pm

Prepare for the Mini Renaissance Faire this weekend by creating your own beautiful flower crown! All supplies provided.

Friday Afternoon Story and Craft: Ren Faire Edition!

*For Ages 4-8

Friday, May 3 @ 4:15pm

Join us for a medieval-themed story or two and make a craft in preparation for this weekend’s Mini Renaissance Faire.

Taylor Swift: The Library Day 

*for kids and teens

Saturday, May 11 @ 11-3pm

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

La Hora del Cuento *por familias | Spanish Storytime

*for families

Wednesday, May 15 @ 5:30pm

Los invitamos a disfrutar en familia de una sesión de cuentos en español en la biblioteca. Ofreceremos la oportunidad de sumergirse en historias cautivadoras, rimas divertidas y canciones alegres, ¡todo en español! Join us for a special story time, offering families the opportunity to immerse themselves in captivating stories, fun rhymes, and cheerful songs, all in Spanish. Lego Club with Kim the Lego Lady 

*Grades K-3

Thursday, May 16 @ 4:30pm

Calling all LEGO masters! Join Kim the Lego Lady for an interactive building adventure! Afterward, your awesome creations will be displayed in the library until the next LEGO club!

Homeschoolers’ Meetup 

*For Homeschooling Families

Wednesday, May 29 @ 1pm

Create an art project, learn about library resources, chat with the librarians and make connections with other homeschooling families. 

Saturday Story Time 

*For Ages 3 and up

Saturday, May 4 @ 10:30am

Saturday, May 11 @ 10:30am

Saturday, May 18 @ 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,May 11 @ 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. Caregivers wait outside the children’s program room for this independent storytime. 

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:

Friday Afternoon Story And Craft

*For Ages 4-7

Fridays @ 4:15pm

Stop into the children’s room for a program geared towards children Age 4-7 and their caregivers. We will read a story and do a related craft project.

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

Teen:

Make Your Own Flower Crown 

Wednesday, May 1 @ 5pm

Celebrate May Day and our upcoming Mini Renaissance Faire by making your own flower crown fit for royalty! The flowers may be fake, but the fun will be real!

Taylor Swift: The Library Day 

*for kids and teens

Saturday, May 11 @ 11-3pm

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

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

Saturday, May 4 @ 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!