WESTFORD — Assistant Library Director Kristina Leedberg has shared the most recent edition of “What’s Happening at the Library?” with WestfordCAT.
Unless otherwise noted, programs are generously funded by the Friends of the Library, Inc.
Director’s Corner: BY THE NUMBERS! The Westford Library roared back to pre-pandemic usage in FY22, with almost 422,000 items circulated OR 1,439 items going out per day for our 293 days open:
- HIGHEST USE: Children’s Books [So thin! You can take out SO many!]
- STILL DESIRED: 283 Curbside Pickups
- GROWING: Downloadable collections comprise 16% of circulation
- WE GET IT AND SHARE IT: Over 83,000 inter-library loans
- COME ON IN:
- OPEN 293 DAYS
- OPEN 2,677 HOURS
- AVAILABLE 24/7:
- Website
- Databases
- Catalog
- Museum Pass Reservations
- Hoopla
- KANOPY
- OVERDRIVE
- FREEGAL
- TUMBLEBOOKS
- PACK IT & TAKE IT WITH YOU: Hotspots, DVD’s, Books on CD
Virtual Monday Mystery Book Club: Mon., July 25 at 2:00 p.m. We’ll meet on Zoom this month. If you are new to the Club, please email Ellen Rainville at erainville@westfordma.gov and we will add you to the mailing list to receive the Zoom meeting link. We’ll be discussing Personal: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child. Print copies are available at Main Desk, and the ebook and digital audiobook are on Overdrive.
Let’s Go on a Bug Hunt: Wed, July 27 at 3:30 p.m. Hands on Nature comes to the library to help us discover some of our fascinating local bugs – such as beetles, worms, slugs, ladybugs and caterpillars. You will learn about their importance in our lives and their role in our ecosystem as we explore together on a fun LIVE BUG HUNT on the grounds of the library. We will make other plans if it rains. Register here.
Middle Grade Book Club and Author Q&A with Dr. Rajani LaRocca: Wed, July 27 at 2:00 p.m. For kids entering grades 5-8. Join us for a discussion of Rajani LaRocca’s novel-in-verse Red, White, and Whole. The author will be joining us for the end half of our meeting to answer any questions you may have! Copies of the book are available at the Main Desk. Register here.
Virtual Armchair Travel to Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon: Thu., July 28 at 7:00 p.m. The small, predominantly Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan is between China and India, tucked within the Himalayas and mostly covered with forest. Crimson-robed monks perform centuries-old rituals. No traffic lights, smoking is illegal, and employees must wear traditional clothing while working. Bhutan once called Gross National Happiness more important than Gross National Product. World traveler and photojournalist Barry Pell will discuss his recent travels through Bhutan, examining a fascinating way of life that has only just begun to change after centuries of isolation. Register here. Questions? Email cshweppe@westfordma.gov.
Diagon Alley Apprentice Workshops: Friday, July 29 at 2 p.m. It’s finally back on site! We will be celebrating Harry’s birthday OUTSIDE at the library with a Diagon Alley theme. We are working out the details but be sure to brush up on mandrake care, Quidditch plays, and magical creatures. We also may have to do some de-gnoming of the library grounds; we will have to wait and see how much of an infestation we get. Remember to dress up as your favorite witch or wizard. If it rains, we will let you know if we are moving inside or rescheduling. Register here.
Adult Nonfiction Book Club: Tue., Aug. 2 at 7:00 p.m. We’ll meet in the downstairs Meeting Room. We’ll discuss Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. Copies are available at Main Desk, and the ebook and audiobook are on Overdrive. Email Charles Schweppe at cschweppe@westfordma.gov for details!
Pirates: Lost at Sea with Talewise! (formerly Sciencetellers): Wed, Aug. 3 at 1:00 p.m. Set sail on a thrilling action-packed adventure about a crew of quirky pirates marooned on a desert island. With mutiny and high-tide looming, they must rescue their salty captain and find a way to repair their ship before all hope is lost. Throughout the story, Talewise will explore the incredible science behind clouds, physical and chemical changes, air pressure, and more! If it rains, this program will take place in the Meeting room. This program is for ages 5 and up. Register here.
Mother Goose Story Time: Every Thursday in July from 10:30 -11:15 a.m. We are OUTSIDE for the summer! This is a great early literacy program for you and your littlest ones. Get them started with reading fundamentals like rhymes, finger plays, and stories. No registration required!
Did You Know? You can access online practice tests for everything from AP High School tests, SAT, ACT, Vocational Tests, and research programs at colleges and universities throughout the U.S., and explore the skills needed for various career paths. How? Through the Gale Presents Peterson’s Test Prep database. Check it out from our Databases page.
Staff Recommends: Jeanne Millet and Joe Burke both recommend the new novel, Horse, by Geraldine Brooks. “A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history Kentucky, 1850. Jarrett, an enslaved groom, and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. As the nation erupts in civil war, an itinerant young artist who has made his name painting the racehorse takes up arms for the Union. On a perilous night, he reunites with the stallion and his groom, very far from the glamor of any racetrack. New York City, 1954. Martha Jackson, a gallery owner celebrated for taking risks on edgy contemporary painters, becomes obsessed with a 19th equestrian oil painting of mysterious provenance. Washington, DC, 2019. Jess, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia, and Theo, a Nigerian-American art historian, find themselves unexpectedly drawn to one another through their shared interest in the horse – one studying the stallion’s bones for clues to his power and endurance, the other uncovering the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to his racing success.”
If you have questions or need assistance, please call us at 978-399-2300 or send us an email at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov.
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