ANNOUNCING - We will have a new calendar in January! Stay tuned for new links!! 

The Library will be closing at 1pm on Tuesday, December 24th and is closed on Wednesday, December 25th for Christmas. 

The Library will be closing at 1pm on Tuesday, December 31st.

Adult:

Visit our Website Calendar for Additional Info & Registration links: 

VIRTUAL: JOB SEARCH HELP - How To Create A Standout Resume

Monday, December 2 @ 2pm

This session will cover current resume best practices, including tips about what information to include, what to leave off, as well as formatting and content guidelines to give your experience more impact.

Virtual - More Holiday Romance Book Recommendations with Booklist Reviewer, John Charles

Monday, December 2 @ 7pm

With the holidays right around the corner, take a minute (or an hour) to relax and find some good holiday romance reads! John Charles will give us his “best of” list of 2024 that will have your TBR pile tipping over and your holidays spent cozying up to a good book (bring your own hot toddy!).

VIRTUAL Front Street Readers Book Club

Tuesday, December 3 @ 7pm

Read “A Job You Mostly Won’t Know How to Do” by Pete Fromm

Virtual- Seventy-Five Minutes with Mark Twain with Bill Thierfelder

Tuesday, December 3 @ 7pm

A gifted raconteur and irascible moralist, Twain transcended the apparent limitations of his humble Missouri origins to become one of America’s best and most beloved writers.

Paint Night with Ashwini Chitnavis

Wednesday, December 4 @ 5:30pm

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 - Environmental Book Club

Wednesday, December 4 @ 6:30pm

Read “Tales of Two Planets: stories of climate change and inequality in a divided world” edited by John Freeman.

VIRTUAL: Ashland Adult Book Club

Wednesday, December 4 @ 6:30pm

Read “Small Mercies” by Dennis Lehane.

Virtual- Robin Williams - The Man of a Thousand Laughs & Tears

Wednesday, December 4 @ 7pm

Anyone who has seen just five minutes of footage of Robin Williams performing can attest to his frenetic, warm-hearted zaniness. For every minute of laughter, he successfully delivered one of tears. Enjoy a look at the life and a career of this beloved Academy Award-winning actor and comedian.

Virtual- The Art of Storytelling - What Does The Art On Your Walls Say About You?

Thursday, December 5 @ 10:30am

During this workshop, you’ll learn a 5-step storytelling framework and use it to create a short story for fun or work. Have a piece of art on hand to use as the inspiration for your story.

Virtual - Romance Book Club

Thursday, December 5 @ 6:30pm

Read Icelandic Romances

Virtual- Declutter series with Jamie Novak: What to Tidy When Company is On the Way

Thursday, December 5 @ 7pm

Learn what company notices first about your home. And see how to make the most of your efforts. Plus, during the program, you’ll be guided through a tiny task.

Virtual- Eisenhower & The Media with the Eisenhower Presidential Library

Friday, December 6 @ 2pm

Learn about how the Eisenhower presidency changed the relationship between the media and the White House and gave the public far more access to the president than ever before.

Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion

Friday, December 6 @ 7pm

Watch “Le Samourai” (Kanopy/French)

Virtual: African Art Series: Learning to Look: Forms and Materials

Sunday, December 8 @ 2:30pm

The African art that is most familiar in the west are carvings, 2-D design was equally important. It took the form of wall-painting, textiles, and body decoration.

Card Making with Jan Poppendieck

Monday, December 9 @ 6:30pm

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

Virtual - Q&A with Author Nicole Tersigni: “Cat People To Judge In Art And Life”

Monday, December 9 @ 7pm

Against the backdrop of fine art, Nicole delves into the minds of our feline companions and the people who serve them. As cat AND art lovers ourselves, we’re just completely tickled by this :)

Virtual- Explore Presidential Landmarks In New England

Tuesday, December 10 @ 2pm

Take a trip through 200 years of the U.S. Presidency, focusing on the native New Englanders who called the White House home. Visit most of the sites in New England dedicated to our Presidents, including birthplaces, homes, libraries, and even bars.

Virtual - Thriller/Horror Book Recs with Bookstagrammer Jody Blanchette aka @redreadreviews

Tuesday, December 10 @ 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! 

Virtual- Garden Layout and Design

Tuesday, December 10 @ 7pm

Paul Split presents low tech garden layout and design. He will present options for developing a garden space from the foundation up. He will also cover the principles of mixed garden designs including the layout, site evaluation, light, soil profiles, irrigation, plant selection, maintenance and budget.

Bio/Memoir Book Club

Wednesday, December 11 @ 11am

Read “The ride of her life: the true story of a woman, her horse, and their last chance journey across America” by Elizabeth Letts.

Celebrate Taylor Swift 

*For Adults Only

Wednesday, December 11 @ 4-7pm

Taylor Swift is not just for kids and teens! Adults 18+! Let’s celebrate TayTay’s birthday with an evening of fun activities that will fill your Swiftie souls :)

Virtual- A Path Forward For Sub-Saharan Africa

Wednesday, December 11 @ 7pm

Author Masachs Boungou will discuss his new book, “Shared Prosperity: A Path Forward For Sub-Saharan Africa”.

In Person - Women’s Wisdom Circle: The Four Pillars of Wellness

Thursday, December 12 @ 6pm

For this session registered dietitian Janel Funk will give an overview of the four pillars of wellness - nutrition, sleep, movement and stress management - and their impact on health, mood, hormones and more. Participants will have a deeper understanding of how these four pillars interconnect and practical tools to enhance their wellness and wellbeing.

Virtual - Q&A with author Kristie Frederick Daugherty: “Invisible Strings 113 Poets Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift”

Thursday, December 12 @ 7pm

Swifties will experience the profundity and nuance of Swift’s lyrics through this anthology of brand-new poems inspired by Taylor Swift songs, while having fun matching the poems to songs from all of her eras—vault tracks included!

Virtual- Porcupines Don’t Shoot Their Quills

Thursday, December 12 @ 7pm

Come join Jane Newhouse as she discusses what wildlife rehab is all about, and shares fun facts about opossums, porcupines, beavers, raccoons and foxes. Learn the do’s and don’ts of helping injured and orphaned wild animals in an emergency.

Mystery Book Club

Friday, December 13 @ 12pm

Read “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides

Virtual: Armchair Travel To Greece (Corfu) With The Traveling Librarian

Friday, December 13 @ 2pm

Travel to Corfu, a jewel in the Ionian Sea which offers a blend of history, natural beauty, and vibrant culture. Explore the charming streets of Corfu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and marvel at its Venetian architecture.

Virtual- JOB SEARCH HELP -- Find Your Next Job With The BRIDGE Method

Monday, December 16 @ 2pm

To combat the increased competition for every job opening, Career-Life Coach Dawn Quesnel developed the B.R.I.D.G.E. methodology, a job search method featured on the news, and published by SelfGrowth.com “101 Great Ways to Enhance Your Career.”

Make Your Own Wrapping Paper with Jan Poppendieck

Monday, December 16 @ 6:30pm

Did you know that most wrapping paper is not recyclable? It’s true! So, come join us for an evening of learning how to make your own wrapping paper with Jan. We’ll use stamps, colored pencils, and other organic materials to make your wrapping paper beautiful and earth friendly!

Virtual- Lorelei of Lorelei’s Lit Lair discusses Looking Back at Favorites Romance Books in 2024 and What To Look Forward to in 2025

Monday, December 16 @ 7pm

Lorelei will be chatting about her “best of” 2024 - books she’s loved through the year and think would make great additions to our TBR piles. And, then, she’ll recommend some books that she is looking forward to in early 2025.

Virtual: Armchair Travel To Paris (A LIVE Walk Highlighting Christmas In Paris)

Tuesday, December 17 @ 11:30am

French tour guide Patrick Herpe returns to give viewers a live tour of Paris. He’ll be walking while ZOOMing with us to show live video of Paris decorated for Christmas. He will visit the Galeries Lafayette Department Store to show us their famous animated window displays. If weather permits, Patrick will take us up on their roof terrace to see Paris from above, where we’ll get a view of the dome of the galleries and the city’s big Christmas tree.

Cookbook Club & Kitchen Gadget Exchange

Tuesday, December 17 @ 5pm

We’re so excited about our Cookbook Club and our second Kitchen Gadget Exchange! Cook from “Sea Salt and Honey: Celebrating the Food of Kardamili in 100 Sun-Drenched Recipes: A New Greek Cookbook” by Chloe, Olivia and Nicholas Tsakiris. And, bring a wrapped kitchen item to exchange (must be less than $10)

Virtual- Masters of Song Nat King Cole with Clint Edwards

Tuesday, December 17 @ 7pm

Explore the career of one of the most popular and memorable musicians of the 20th century (Unforgettable, Mona Lisa, etc.)

Virtual- Great American Unsung Heroes Who Changed The Course Of History -- Elizabeth Freeman

Wednesday, December 18 @ 7pm

Learn about Elizabeth Freeman, a little-known national hero, and a symbol of courage and spirit to all who cherish freedom. She was among the first slaves in Massachusetts to sue for and win her freedom,helping end slavery in Massachusetts.

Virtual- J.P. Morgan As An Art Collector

Thursday, December 19 @ 10:30am

Many of you know J.P. (John Pierpont) Morgan as a major American financier around the turn of the 20th century, but now explore Morgan as a collector of a variety of art objects including paintings, antiquities, and manuscripts. 

Virtual- Snowy Scapes & Celebrations: The Artist’s Holiday with Jane Oneail

Thursday, December 19 @ 7pm

Enjoy this special overview of the variety of ways artists have captured the magic of the season. This program includes works by Grandma Moses, Salvador Dali, and Andy Warhol.

Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion

Friday, December 20 @ 7pm

Watch  “The Monk and the Gun” (Kanopy/Bhutan)

Adult Weekly:

Knit and Crochet Club

Mondays @ 6pm

Walk-In

ESL Conversation Group

Mondays @ 6:30pm 

Walk-In

Gentle Yoga

Tuesdays @ 6pm

Registration is required

Children: 

Special Programs:

Cookie Decorating

Thursday, December 5 @ 4:30pm

Get in the holiday spirit with some festive cookie decorating! All supplies are provided, just come with your creativity. For kids ages 3 to 12. Registration required.

Taylor Swift Party for Kids

Saturday, December 7 @ 9am-12pm

We’re celebrating Tay’s bday all day with friendship bracelets, trivia, a special scavenger hunt and of course, a dance party! Register for trivia at 11am, prizes for the winners! 

A Firehouse’s Night Before Christmas author event

Saturday, December 7 @ 9:30am

Local author and Fire Captain Parr will share his new book, A Firehouse’s Night Before Christmas, and then lead an Interactive lesson on important fire safety tips for children. Enjoy live music and a book signing as part of the festivities. For families. Registration required.

Chinese Storytime

Tuesday, December 10 @ 6pm

Bring the whole family to the library for engaging stories, familiar songs, a fun art project and a special scavenger hunt, all in Chinese! Registration is requested and all are welcome.

Stories, Songs, and Stretches 

*for ages 4-7

Thursday, December 12 @ 6:30pm

Kids and their parents or caregivers are invited to play together through stories, songs and yoga shapes. No experience or equipment necessary! Registration is requested.

Clocktown Rockers! 

*For ages 2-5 with a caregiver

Friday, December 13 @ 10:30am

A special Friday edition of this popular story time! 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. For ages 2-5 with a caregiver.

Little Crafters 

*for 0-5 with a caregiver

Monday, December 16 @ 10:30am

Come join the Ashland Mom’s Club for this story time, where little hands get to explore big ideas! Start with a sweet and lively story time, followed by a simple craft that’s perfect for curious minds. Bring your imagination, and let’s make some colorful memories together!

Lego Club with Kim the Lego Lady 

*Grades K-3

Wednesday, December 18 @ 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! 

Registration is required and space is limited. 

La Hora del Cuento 

*para familias 

Spanish Storytime 

*for families

Wednesday, December 18 @ 6:30pm

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.

Celebrate Hanukkah! 

*for families

Saturday, December 21 @ 10:30am

Come join us to celebrate Hanukkah at the library! Together, we’ll read stories, hear about special Hanukkah traditions, and learn how to play dreidel. All families are welcome. Registration required.

Winter Reading Launch Party 

*for kids

Monday, December 23 @ 10am-8pm

Be a Reading Machine during our Winter Reading Challenge! Sign up for the challenge, make a coded bracelet or keychain, play some reading games, and use our special capsule machine to get your startup goodies and book suggestions. For all kids! No registration required.

Noon Year’s Eve 

*for families

Tuesday, December 31 @ 11:15am-12:15pm

A New Year’s Eve celebration for the littles! Enjoy stories and a craft before the countdown to noon and an awesome balloon drop! Registration required.

Little Picassos Club

*Grades 2-5

Tuesday, December 10 @ 4:30pm

Looking to create your next masterpiece? Join Miss Kayla for Little Picassos Club, ideal for kids in grades 2 through 5. Each week, we will learn about a different artist or art style and work on unique art projects, ranging from painting to sculpting and everything in between! Come ready to get your hands messy and let your creativity show! Registration required.

Coding Class For Kids

*for ages 5 and up

Saturday, December 14 @ 1pm

Saturday, December 28, @ 1pm

Gear up for a tech-tastic adventure with our Coding Class for Kids! Every other Saturday, kids from Kindergarten through grade 5 will dive into the thrilling world of coding, where imagination meets innovation. With hands-on projects and fun, interactive lessons, your child will master the basics of coding and create their own cool projects. Whether they’re building games or solving puzzles, this class promises excitement and discovery at every turn. Join us for a coding journey that’s out of this world! ???? Click here for more information.

Space is limited to 12 kids and registration is required.

NEW Book Clubs!

APL Kids 1&2 Book Club

Wednesday, December 11 @ 4:15pm

Calling all first and second graders for APL Kids book club! Each month we will introduce an exciting book series. The children will follow along with Ms. Katrina as she reads the first book of the series aloud, then we’ll discuss what we’ve read and do a fun craft or activity together! Copies of the first and second book in the series will be available for checkout after the meeting. Registration required.

Beginning Reader Book Club

Tuesday, December 17 @ 4:30pm

Calling all budding bookworms! Join us for the Beginning Readers Book Club, where stories come alive in the most magical way! Every month, kindergartners gather for a fun-filled, choral-style reading adventure. We’ll explore new worlds, create themed art, and make new friends—all while having a blast with books! 

Space is limited to 12 and registration is required.

Graphic Novel Book Club

Thursday, December 19 @ 6:30pm

*grades 3 thru 6

Dive into a world where stories jump off the page! Each month, you’ll read an exciting graphic novel before our meeting, where we’ll chat about the book, play awesome games, and unleash your creativity with fun art projects. Plus, you get to vote on what book we’ll read next—so your voice truly matters! With new friends, thrilling stories, and endless fun, it’s the ultimate way to bring reading to life. Don’t miss out on the excitement—come be a part of our graphic novel gang!

Space is limited to 16 and registration is required.

Ashland STEM Club

Saturday, December 14 @ 11am

Please Register

*for kids in K-5

Join this exciting workshop, run by high school students, that ignites curiosity with hands-on experiments, new innovations and take-home activities. 

Friday Free Play!

Build your child’s social and motor skills and connect with other parents during this low-key library play time. An assortment of special age appropriate toys and activities will be available for children ages birth through 5. Drop in any time, no registration required.

Friday Free Play

*for kids 0-5 with a caregiver

Friday, December 6 @ 10am

Friday Free Play 

*for kids 0-5 with a caregiver

Friday, December 20 @ 10am

Friday Free Play 

*for kids 0-5 with a caregiver

Friday, December 27 @ 10am

Weekly Storytimes:

Clocktown Rockers! 

*For ages 2-5 with a caregiver

Tuesdays 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. Storytime Sprouts 

* For ages 0-3 with a caregiver

Wednesdays @ 10:30am-11am

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.

Saturday Stories 

*for ages 2-5 with a caregiver

Join Miss Kayla for a new Saturday morning storytime! We’ll read lively stories, do fun rhymes and movement activities, and work on simple crafts. For families with children ages 2-5. No registration required.  

Saturday, December 14 @ 10:30am

Saturday, December 28 @ 10:30am

Project ABC Play, Learn, and Grow Group 

*for Ages 0 to 5

Tuesdays at 11am

A parent and child group offered by the Metrowest YMCA and the Early Childhood Alliance of Ashland & Framingham. A structured program to help prepare children for socialization and a school experience.

Registration *IS* required for this program

December 3, 2024

December 10, 2024

December 17, 2024

December 24, 2024

December 31, 2024

Teen:

Taylor Swift: The Library Day 

*for ages 12-18

Saturday, December 14 @ 11-3pm

Celebrate Taylor Swift’s birthday (a day late!) at the library! 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, December 14th for a whole day of Swiftie-themed activities. The schedule of events is as follows:

12PM Warm-up Act: Taylor Trivia

1PM Opener: Swifties Sing Karaoke

2PM Headliner: Name-that-Taylor-Tune

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

Teen Makers Club

Thursday, December 12 @ 6pm

Join us for our new monthly club of teen makers!

Stitch, knit, crochet, and generally hang out with other crafty teens the second Thursday of every month from 6:00PM-7:00PM. Bring, work on, and show off your latest projects, and maybe learn a few new tips while you’re here! Registration is requested, but walk-ins are welcome! 

Friends of the Ashland Public Library 2-Day Book Sale

Friday, December 6 @ 5:30-7:30pm (members only, join at the door!)

Saturday, December 7 @ 9:30am-4pm

The Friends of the Ashland Public Library invite you to their Big 2-Day Book Sale on Dec. 6th and 7th!

Customers for all our sales will find thousands of titles on the permanent sales shelves including hard and soft cover fiction (all alphabetized by author for ease of shopping), a wide selection of history and politics titles, health and family living books, plus memoirs, biographies, and loads of additional titles, all arranged by genre. An entire section of the Book Sale Room is arranged for children to browse and select from a huge collection of board books, picture books, easy readers, and chapter books.

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!