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Virtual Story Time and Book Club Online Registration:. Online registration for these programs is now available. We are using virtual meeting software for live story times and book club meetings – links to these events will be sent to registered users. Please see the website for descriptions of our selection of story times. Book clubs are open to Westford residents and non-resident Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library. Book clubs are for grades Kindergarten, 1, 2 , 3, and 4 and 5 (combined) and meet once a month from 4 to 4:45 p.m. The Non-Fiction Book Club is for kids in grades 3 and 4 and meets once a month on Monday afternoon.
Drop-In Storytimes: Mother Goose will be an in-person, weekly, drop-in story time for babies and pre-schoolers. This means that if the weather permits (no snow, no rain, no gale force winds), we will be OUTDOORS and SOCIALLY-DISTANCED on the grass between the library and the church. We will set out markers to socially distance families – since the ground may be damp from dew, please bring a blanket or portable chairs.
Youth Services staff will be masked and performing for you live on the lawn. Masks are required for all who attend except for children age two and under. Please help your children maintain social distance from other families.
- September:Tuesdays 9/22 and 9/29 at 10:30 a.m.
- October:Thursdays 10/1, 10/8, 10/15,10/22, and 10/29 at 10:30 a.m.
- November: Tuesdays 11/3 and 11/10 at 10:30 a.m.
Beautiful Dollhouse Donation: Be sure to look closely when coming down our driveway and passing the Meeting Room. Gail Flannery (with some electrical assistance from her husband Danny) built and donated the stunning and detailed doll house that now adorns one of our windows. Gail says it was a “labor of love” and she spent “100’s of hours on it, making as much as I could like punch needle rugs, the bedding and all the paintings, perfume bottles, hat boxes, food for the table, a million little books for the library, the wedding gown in the sewing room, some furniture and cabinets and much-much more. Every room was carefully curated for furniture, wallpaper and trims. I had a list for every room to keep everything in line. My husband Danny was the electrician and installed and reinstalled all the pesky lights.” We are grateful for this beautiful donation and we know that it will be treasured by children and adults for years to come!
Virtual Monday Mystery Book Club: Monday, Sept. 28 at 2:30 p.m. (note new time) Wake up your week with a stimulating book discussion. We meet on the fourth Monday of the month at 2:30 p.m. On Sept. 28 we’ll discuss A Dark-Adapted Eye by Ruth Rendell, writing as Barbara Vine. Email Sarah Regan at sregan@westfordma.gov for the Zoom link!
ADHD in the Family: Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. A one-hour virtual presentation that helps people understand more about ADHD, including its effects on both children and adults. Certified ADHD coach Linda King, PCC, ACCG, presents current research, effective treatments, and concrete suggestions for family members who either have or are affected by ADHD. Email sregan@westfordma.gov to get the Zoom link.
Virtual Adult Nonfiction Book Club: Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. Is truth stranger than fiction? Is it more entertaining? Find out in the Adult Nonfiction Book Club. We meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m., on Zoom for the time being. On Oct. 6 we’ll discuss A World Lit Only By Fire by William Manchester. Copies are available on Hoopla and Overdrive. We are currently meeting online. Email Charles Schweppe at cschweppe@westfordma.gov for details.
Virtual Adult Book Club: Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Interested in joining a lively book discussion group? Consider the J.V. Fletcher Library’s Adult Book Club. Our selections alternate from Fiction to Nonfiction each month. New members are always welcome! At our October 8 Zoom meeting, we’ll discuss Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. Email Kristina Leedberg at kleedberg@westfordma.gov for details!
Virtual Fake News with Kyle Moody: Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. Feeling overwhelmed with the surplus of conflicting information from multiple news outlets? Meet Kyle Moody, Fitchburg State University Assistant Professor in Communications Media. His program will show you how to determine what is trustworthy news and how knowing the difference can make you a more educated consumer. Email Sarah Regan at sregan@westfordma.gov for the Zoom link.
New Career Database: Thanks to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, our patrons now have access to the Gale Presents: Peterson’s Career Prep. Utilize this database to learn about different careers, receive personalized career recommendations, create resumes and cover letters, search for jobs, explore schools and training programs, and get advice to help find a job or advance your career. Log on through our website at www.westfordlibrary.org and follow the link for databases under the research heading. If you have any questions, please contact the Information Desk at 978-399-2304.
Limited Reopening: The J. V. Fletcher Library is open to the public on a limited basis. The soft opening is for limited browsing, per the Governor’s Re-Opening guidelines under Phase 3. In addition to CURBSIDE PICKUP, BOOK THE BROWSE TENT, LAPTOP ON THE LAWN, and reference phone assistance, a portion of the Library is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The 11 a.m. hour is reserved for seniors and our high risk population. Each reservation is for one person. Only the middle floor of the Library is open, with displays throughout for browsing – please “JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!” as items handled but not checked out must be placed in quarantine. At this time, patrons under the age of 18 will be referred to the Browsing Tent for an outside appointment. Only 10 patrons at a time will be in the library, with patrons exiting and new appointments entering on the hour; make an appointment via our Events Calendar. For more details and a list of available services, please visit our website or call us at 978-399-2300.
Curbside During Covid: Please place your selections on hold through the online catalog. You will be notified when your order is ready and you may come any time during our pick up hours. Inter-library delivery is now available, please expect longer delays than usual. Items received from other libraries will be quarantined for one week. Curbside Pickup is available Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Monday – Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m. Please do not come until you receive a notification that your order is ready. When you arrive, please call 978-399-2300 (due to heavy call usage, we have updated the number to one that rings at multiple desks) and a masked staff member will place your order under the rear portico. Please wear a mask to pick up your items. If you have questions or need assistance placing your holds, please call us at 978-399-2300 or send us an email at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov.
“Book the Browsing Tent”: Are you looking for new titles for you and/or your family? Do you miss browsing the stacks of the Library? Look for the form on our website and submit it to schedule a time to come and browse the selections personally picked for you by our staff. The form will inquire about your reading tastes or you can simply have us “surprise you” with some staff recommendations. We will also offer “Book Bundles” for children and adults. Choose a category and we will supply with a “bundle” of books. One of our Library staff will meet you in the tent with personally curated titles just for you! Check the website for the form, submit it, and then a staff member will reach out to schedule your appointed time. Fifteen minute appointments will be available for individuals and thirty minute appointments for families. To comply with Covid-19 safety re-opening guidelines, only one individual or one family will be scheduled at a time in the tent. This service is available Monday – Friday from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. We can’t wait to see you under the tent. Per Gov.Charlie Baker, masks are required.
“Laptop Loan on the Lawn”: Need to check your email or do some research? Perhaps you just want to spend some time catching up with friends and family on social media. You are now able to book up to thirty minutes on a laptop under a tent on our back lawn. Simply fill out the form on our website and a member of our Information Services staff will contact you to schedule a time. This service is available Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. We can’t wait to see you under the tent. Per Governor Baker, masks are required.
CLICK! CALL! CHAT! CONNECT!
- CLICK on ebooks, audiobooks, music, streaming video, and more at westfordlibrary.org
- CALL us at 978-399-2300
- CHAT with Reference at 978-399-2304
- CONNECT with us on FACEBOOK, TWITTER and INSTAGRAM
- CONNECT & sign up for the Friends eNewsletter to receive updates!
- EMAIL us at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov
The J.V. Fletcher Library is located at 50 Main St., Westford. For more information, visit http://www.westfordlibrary.org or email us at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov.
