**LIBRARY NEWS**
Library Hours
The Library’s hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00am to 8:00pm, Friday and Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm, and Sundays 1:30 to 5:00pm. The Library will be closed Wednesday, January 1 for New Year’s Day and Monday, January 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Franklin Public Library’s 2025 Reading Challenge
January: Get Inspired!
For complete details and to sign-up, visit our website. Grand prizes made possible by the Friends of the Franklin Library.
Consumer Reports
Did you know January is Financial Wellness Month? The library gives you free access to Consumer Reports - an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization. Since 1936, CU's mission has been to test products, inform the public and protect consumers. It is a comprehensive source for unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health and nutrition, and other consumer concerns.
Accessible for Franklin residents! Find it on our alphabetical list of free library databases.
Now is a great time to reserve passes to the area’s most popular museums, aquariums, and more! Passes are available to be reserved up to thirty days in advance on our website.
Franklin Library Book Sale
Friday, January 17: 1:00-5:00PM; Saturday, January 18: 9:00AM to 12:00PM
All books are just one dollar!
Bag Sale - $5 A Bag
Saturday, January 18: 1:00-4:00PM
Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can!
Franklin Library ESOL & Adult Literacy Program
Volunteer tutors needed! To volunteer, please be at least 18 years old, have a High School diploma, & speak English clearly. No prior teaching experience needed! Volunteer tutors and students do not need to be Franklin residents. If interested, please fill out the registration form on the library’s website.
Franklin Public Library VITA: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Site Opening: Saturday, February 1
Volunteers are always needed for the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs, better known as VITA and TCE.
Many volunteer roles are available. You can help as a greeter, an interpreter, and many other roles, but most of all, we need tax preparers. Training for certification is provided! Learn more at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-tax-volunteers or email site coordinator Mitzi Gousie at mgousie@minlib.net
**LIBRARY EVENTS**
Weekly/Monthly for Children
Move Along! Mondays @ 10:30AM (Ages 0-5)
This thirty-minute program features music, movement, stories, and other interactive activities to encourage social skills and promote early literacy! No registration required.
Dungeons and Dragons Club for Kids & Teens! Mondays, 4:00PM (Ages 7+)
Kids are invited to join us for a weekly Dungeons and Dragons Club! The library will supply dice, rule books, and blank character sheets. (Dungeon Masters must be ages 12 and up.) Email mgousie@minlib.net for registration and more information.
Cool Cruisers! Tuesdays @ 9:30AM
Babies who have graduated from tummy time and are scooting all over the place are welcome to this playgroup just for them! We recognize that this fun age of exploring is very different from their first few months, so join us for a special playgroup just for this exciting time. No registration required.
Pre-K Pals! Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 10:30AM (Ages 3-5)
This 30-minute program for kids ages 3-5 is a perfect jumpstart for kiddos that are approaching school-age! Stories, music, movement, and engaging activities designed to prepare kids for a school environment. No registration required.
Toe-Tapping Tots! Tuesdays @ 4:00PM (Ages 2-5)
Let’s play some music and get those toes tapping! Join us for a 30-minute energetic, interactive, and creative movement based storytime. From tip toeing, twirling and skipping to jumping and tapping, we will have fun learning to move to the music while building coordination and confidence. No registration required.
Story Tots! Wednesdays @ 10:30AM (Ages 18 mos. – 3yrs)
Enjoy thirty minutes of interactive stories, songs, and fun! No registration required.
Bookworm Bounce! Wednesdays @ 4:00PM
Join us for an afternoon story time full of music, movement, stories, and other interactive activities to encourage social skills and promote early literacy! Ideal for ages 0-5. No registration required.
Tummy Time! Thursdays @ 9:30AM
Babies and caregivers: join us each Thursday morning for Tummy Time! Nurture your baby’s development with gentle music, movement, and sensory play at the library. Please bring a small blanket or towel for your baby’s comfort. No registration required.
Pre-K Pals! Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 10:30AM (Ages 3-5)
This 30-minute program for kids ages 3-5 is a perfect jumpstart for kiddos that are approaching school-age! Stories, music, movement, and engaging activities designed to prepare kids for a school environment. No registration required.
Artsy Afternoons Thursdays @ 4:00 PM (Ages 5-11)
Registration Required for Each Program
Join local instructor Sharon Carloni for this step-by-step craft specifically for kids! All materials will be provided as we study art history through the creation of unique and beautiful artwork.
This month’s projects are:
Jan 2: Mobile Mobiles
Jan 9: Dreaming Dot Painting
Jan 16: Cityscape Silhouettes
Jan 23: Self Portrait of Kings and Queens
Jan 30: Keith Harding Figure Painting
Rockin’ Rhythms! Thursdays @ 4:00PM (Ages 0-5)
Put on your dancing shoes and join Miss Bree for 30 minutes of dancing fun for the whole family! This upbeat, high-energy and interactive program will help kids develop coordination, rhythm and flexibility in a fun and engaging way. No registration required.
Barefoot Ballet! Thursdays @ 5:00PM (Ages 6-8)
Registration Required (Registration is for all 6 dates)
Calling all aspiring ballet dancers! Join Miss Bree for this special 6-week introductory Ballet class. Ballet shoes and attire are not required, but please wear comfortable clothes. Dates for this session are: January 9, 16, 23, 30 and February 6, 13.
Happy Feet! Alternating Fridays @ 10:30AM (Ages 0-5)
Let’s play some music and dance! Join us for a 30-minute energetic, interactive, and creative movement based storytime. Laughter and giggles are definitely expected! No registration required.
Move Along! Alternating Fridays @ 10:30AM (Ages 0-5)
This thirty-minute program features music, movement, stories, and other interactive activities for littles! Parents and caregivers are welcome and encouraged to participate. No registration required.
Weekend Wiggles! Alternating Saturdays @ 10:30AM (Ages 0-5)
A weekend storytime for littles and their grown-ups. Let’s play some music and dance during this energetic, interactive and creative movement based class! No registration required.
Special Events for Kids & Families
Petite Picassos! Monday, January 6 @ 4:00PM
Registration Required
Celebrate Ben Franklin’s birthday with Miss Lily by creating a painting of his famous Kite Experiment! This paint party is a great fit for children ages 6 through 12. All materials will be provided. The same painting will be taught on January 6 and January 13 - please only sign up for ONE of these dates!
Doggie Tales! Monday, January 6 @ 4:00PM
Registration Required
For kids in grade 1 and up. Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a trained therapy dog! Bring your favorite book or pick out one of ours to read. Spots are limited - please register for only one time slot per month (siblings should share a time slot)!
Baby Sensory! Saturday, January 11 @ 9:30AM
Join us for a 45-minute baby sensory program. Watch your little one interact and engage with a variety of sensory items. Sensory play is a fantastic way to help babies explore their worlds, stimulate the senses, and create little inquisitive explorers! Babies under 2 are welcome and encouraged. (Got older siblings? They can bring along a stuffed toy or baby and play along!) No registration required.
Saturday Bookworm Bounce! Saturday, January 11 @ 10:30AM
Kids ages 0-5 are welcome to join us for a fun storytime full of music, movement, stories, and other interactive activities to encourage social skills and promote early literacy! Parents and caregivers are welcome and encouraged to participate. No registration required.
Petite Picassos! Monday, January 13 @ 4:00PM
Registration Required
Celebrate Ben Franklin’s birthday with Miss Lily by creating a painting of his famous Kite Experiment! This paint party is a great fit for children ages 6 through 12. All materials will be provided. The same painting will be taught on January 6th and January 13th - please only sign up for ONE of these dates!
Doggie Tales! Monday, January 13 @ 4:00PM
Registration Required
For kids in grade 1 and up. Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a trained therapy dog! Bring your favorite book or pick out one of ours to read. Spots are limited - please register for only one time slot per month (siblings should share a time slot)!
Ben Franklin Birthday Bash! Friday, January 17 @ 1:00PM
Join us as we celebrate the birthday of Ben Franklin himself with music, games, costume contests, and more! No registration required
Winter Carnival! Saturday, January 18 @ 1:00PM
Join us for an epic afternoon of winter fun for the whole family! Enjoy a variety of carnival games, crafts, snacks, and more. No registration required.
Family Literacy Night! Wednesday, January 22 @ 5:30PM
Join us for an evening celebration of reading for the whole family! Presented in partnership with the Franklin Public schools. Browse our curated tables of family read-alouds, get tips, tricks, and free resources to make reading fun at home, and visit with Franklin’s favorite police dogs for some fun independent reading practice. No registration required.
Saturday Bookworm Bounce! Saturday, January 25th @ 10:30AM
Kids ages 0-5 are welcome to join us for a fun storytime full of music, movement, stories, and other interactive activities to encourage social skills and promote early literacy! Parents and caregivers are welcome and encouraged to participate. No registration required.
Weekly/Monthly Events for Teens
Dungeons and Dragons Club for Kids & Teens! Mondays, @ 4:00-6:00 PM (Ages 7+)
Kids are invited to join us for a weekly Dungeons and Dragons Club! The library will supply dice, rule books, and blank character sheets. (Dungeon Masters must be ages 12 and up) Email mgousie@minlib.net for registration and more information.
Code Club! Wednesdays @ 4:00 PM (Ages 8+)
This is an after school hour of code focusing on exploration of computer programming through play! This is not a classroom. This is a playground where Coders have access to: optional tutorials & walk throughs, monthly challenges, and mentoring in their coding journey. All levels of skill are welcome and personal projects are encouraged. This can be a great way to dip your toes in the pool and see what learning to code can do for you! Let us know if you need technology from the library and join the mailing list for news about this program by filling out the form on our website.
Teen Advisory Board! 2nd Wednesday of the Month @ 6:30PM
Join us each month for Teen Advisory Board! The Teen Advisory Board is a GREAT opportunity to get involved here at the library. You'll help plan events and programs, create displays and decorate the teen space, and help drive decisions around the kinds of materials we bring to the YA collection, from books and beyond, all while eating snacks and getting volunteer hours - it's a win-win-win!
Game Bytes! Thursdays @ 4:00PM
Bring a snack and let's play! Bring your own devices or try a retro game while we talk shop about the latest and greatest in Video Games. New Releases, Events, Streamers, Speed Running and more! No registration required.
Special Events for Teens
Teen Vision Boards! Wednesday, January 8 @ 5:30PM
Teens - set your intentions for 2025! Join us as we get crafty, creating vision boards and setting our reading resolutions. No registration required.
Teen Interactive Movie! Wednesday, January 15 @ 5:00PM
Join us for a cozy winter movie! We're hosting an interactive viewing of Little Women, complete with snacks and fun activities! No registration required.
Events for Adults
Knitting Group Fridays, @ 10:00AM
Love to knit or crochet? Join our group of local fiber artists who will be meeting in the Friends of the Franklin Library Community Room on Fridays 10:00am to 12:00pm. No registration required.
Table Top, Alternating Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 6:00PM
Registration Required
It's time to dust off your dice, grab a source book, and role play your way through hijinks and horrors! Table Top is a monthly game of Tabletop Role Playing Games for Adults! Email mgousie@minlib.net to sign up or get more info. No experience necessary.
Craftalong for Adults, Saturday, January 4 @ 2:00PM
Registration Required
Get crafty at the library! Adults of all ages and craft ability levels are welcome to join us for this new program. On the first Saturday of each month, we'll complete a new DIY creative craft. All supplies provided. Because adults deserve arts & crafts fun, too! This month: Faux-Ceramic Vases. We'll take plain, glass vases and turn them into dupes for fancy ceramics. (Please note: we'll be using acrylic paint which can stain clothing, so best to wear something you don't mind potentially getting dirty.)
The Weekend Watercolor Sunday, January 5 & 19 @ 2:00PM
Registration Required
Relax with Sharon Carloni during a Sunday painting class for adults age 18 and over.
Project Details:
Jan 5: Silhouette of the City
Jan 19: Penguin Parade
JUNTO Non Fiction Book Club, Thursday, January 9 @ 6:30 PM
The JUNTO (from the Spanish junta or assembly) was a club for mutual improvement established in 1727 by Benjamin Franklin. Franklin Public Library’s JUNTO Book Club is a place to discuss a book of the month and share our insights from the book and beyond! The first meeting is Thursday, January 9 at 6:30PM. Our January Book is Think Again by Adam Grant. Get a physical or digital copy through the Library Catalog. No registration required.
Franklin Underground Concert! Saturday, January 11 @ 1:00PM
It’s Ben Franklin’s birthday week and the Library is kicking it off with a rocking good time with Franklin Underground in Concert! Listen and dance while getting the inside scoop on all the great events going on all around Franklin as we celebrate our namesake. No registration required.
Chess Group, Sundays, January 12 & 26 @ 2:30 PM
Chess - the Game of Kings has resumed play! All ages and ability levels are welcomed. If you would like to learn how to play chess, you are welcome as well! Learn an opening, develop strategic & tactical abilities, and improve endgame skills. Sets will be available. No registration required and there is no fee.
Community Game Night, Tuesday, January 14 @ 6:00 PM
Try a new game! Introduce your favorite! Most importantly... play games! This a monthly group dedicated to the great board games out there and a space to find some new people to play with. All ages welcome. No registration required.
Franklin's Historic Union Street Cemetery: Its Gravestone Carvers and Monuments, Wednesday, January 15 @ 6:30PM
Come learn about the Union Street Cemetery, one of Franklin’s historic cemeteries founded in 1752. We’ll discuss the families that are buried there, the gravestones, and the men who carved them. We’ll also look at the types of monuments and the symbols found on them.
Painting for Adults, Saturday, January 18 @ 1:00PM
Registration Required
Are you feeling creative? Join Miss Lily to create your very own step-by-step painting of a covered bridge! All materials will be provided.
The Golden Age of Silent Movies, Thursday, January 23 @ 6:30PM
Silent Movie pianist Richard Hughes creates a living history by way of fascinating silent movie clips of newsreels, educational films, melodramas, cartoons, comedies and more. Students will have an opportunity to synchronize sound effects like a train whistle, siren and wind machine to a popular melodrama of 1913. This is followed by a demonstration of ingenious animation devices that preceded the motion picture camera and then, a focus on silent movie ‘Mood Music’ that Richard will play with selected films. No registration required.
The Great African American Musicians, Saturday, January 25 @ 2:00PM
Join us in welcoming Rodney Mashia performing a concert of jazz, gospel, soul, folk, and pop celebrating great African American musicians! No registration required.
**From the Friends of the Franklin Library**
The Friends of the Franklin Library wish all community members a wonderful new year, including many moments spent enjoying Franklin Public Library’s amazing and extensive collections and programs!
Check out our new website: www.fofl02038.org. While we are currently “under construction”, we hope you’ll visit our site to learn more about our nonprofit volunteer group and how we support Franklin Public Library. If you’d like to join the Friends, please click on the “Become a Friend” tab.
2025 Valentine’s Day Fudge Fundraiser
Fudge + Friends = a VERY sweet deal and we hope you’ll participate! We are again partnering with The Fudge Lady of Uxbridge to offer many flavors of her delicious and decadent homemade specialty fudge for sale. Order as gifts for friends & family, treat yourself, or do a little bit of both. All fudge purchases help the Friends fund various library activities. Fudge order forms will be available soon, both on our website and at the library's Circulation Desk. Orders will be accepted through early February and will be available for pick up during the week of Valentine’s Day. For more information on this fundraiser or to request an order form, please email fofl02038@gmail.com.