June 2023 Franklin Library News & Events
Library Hours
The Franklin Public Library will be closed Monday, June 19th for Juneteenth. The Library’s summer hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday hours will resume after Labor Day.
Featured Database
Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union, 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. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.
Check out the latest additions to the library’s collection!
Book Sale
Franklin Library Book Sale
Friday, June 16th, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 17th, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.
All books are just one dollar!
Bag Sale - $5 A Bag—Saturday, June 17th, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can!
Franklin Library ESL & Adult Literacy Program
The Franklin Public Library has started an English as a Second Language and Adult Literacy Program to serve Franklin and its surrounding communities. Volunteers and students do not need to be Franklin residents. If interested, please fill out the registration form on the library’s website or call 508-520-4941.
Massachusetts Center for the Book 2023 Reading Challenge
June: A book set in a country you’ve never visited
Do you have a cozy reading corner you’ve been wanting to spend more time in? Do you have a group of friends who like to select books together? Maybe a little constraint helps you choose what to read next.
If you are looking for a fun, unique reading challenge to take on in 2023, Massachusetts Center for the Book has you covered.
Check it out today! https://www.massbook.org/readingchallenge
Programs for Children and Teens
Weekly Events for Families!
Move Along! Mondays @ 10:30AM
This thirty-minute program features music, movement, stories, and other interactive activities to encourage social skills and promote early literacy!
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 fun age of exploring is very different from their first few months, so join us for a special playgroup just for this exciting time!
Get Ready for Kindergarten! Tuesdays @10:30AM (3–5)
This 45-minute program featuring stories, songs, activities, and crafts will help prepare your children for preschool and kindergarten. Parents and caregivers can attend with their child if they wish. No registration required!
Toe-Tapping Tots! Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 4:00PM (2-4)
Let’s play some music and get those little toes moving! We will have fun learning to move to the music while building coordination and confidence.
Terrific Toddlers! Wednesdays @10:30AM (18 mos–3yrs)
Enjoy thirty minutes of interactive stories, songs, and activities for families and children from birth to age 3. No registration required!
Un-Bored! Wednesdays @10:30AM (starting 6/21)
A pop-up playtime that's fun for the whole family! We've got jumbo Legos, Lincoln logs, trucks, puzzles, board games and more! Let's escape the summer heat and play!
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!
After School Anime! Wednesdays, 4:00-5:00PM (10+)
Your weekly dose of anime goodness at The Franklin Public Library! Come watch the latest releases and popular anime shows, ideal for ages 10+!
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!
Story and Craft, Thursdays @10:30AM (3+)
Join us for 30 minutes of themed stories, songs, and movement followed by a craft! For children ages 3 and up that can attend on their own. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to watch from the adjoining room. No registration required!
Toe-Tapping Tots! Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 4:00PM (2-4)
Let’s play some music and get those little toes moving! We will have fun learning to move to the music while building coordination and confidence.
Happy Feet! Alternating Fridays @10:30AM (2-4)
Let’s play some music and get those little toes moving! Join us for an introductory class into creative movement using very basic ballet moves. We will have fun learning to move to the music while building coordination and confidence. Laughter and giggles are definitely expected!
Move Along! Alternating Fridays @10:30AM (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 (2-5)
A weekend storytime for littles and their grown-ups! Let’s play some music and get those little toes moving! We will have fun learning to move to the music while building coordination and confidence. Laughter and giggles are definitely expected! Ideal for children ages 2-5!
Special Events for Kids & Families
Kids Take & Makes: Airplanes
Starting Thursday, June 1st stop by the library to pick up your very own Airplane Craft Kit! Kits include supplies and instructions for making your very own mini airplanes! The perfect craft for soaring into summer! SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED! Airplane Craft Kits will be distributed on a first come first serve basis!
Summer Reading Kickoff Carnival! Saturday June 17th @10:30
No registration required
Join us for an epic morning of summer fun! Sign up for our FREE summer reading program and enjoy a musical performance by Jamie Barrett, Game Stations, Crafts, Snacks, AND MORE!
Flying High Dogs! Wednesday June 21st @4:00PM
Join us for extreme tail wagging fun for the whole family! Mike Piazza and his team of Border Collies are set to impress with their frisbee tricks and more!
Mr. Vinny Bubble Show! Monday June 26th @4:00PM
Mr. Vinny, using giant bubble wands designed and constructed by the Bubble Guy himself, will gather kids for an hour long game of watch, chase, and pop the bubbles!
Kid’s Paint Party! Thursday, June 29th @ 5:00PM
FOR KIDS AGES 5-11! REGISTRATION REQUIRED!! Join local instructor Denise Palmieri for this step-by-step paint party specifically for kids! All materials will be provided and you'll get to take home your very own sleepy sloth masterpiece! The same painting will be taught at the June, July, and August event - please only register for 1 date. Register through the events calendar our website to reserve your spot.
Baby Wearing Dance Party! Friday June 30 @9:00AM
No registration required
Strap your little one in and join us for music and movement together! Bond with your baby in a fun, active way for this half-hour program!!
Weekly / monthly Events for Teens
Tinker Tuesdays! Tuesdays @4:00PM
Join us for a weekly Computer Science project! Together we'll explore foundational skills for: 3D design, electronics, and coding! Best for grade 3+
Animation Nation Anime Club! Wednesdays, 4:00-5:00PM (10+)
Your weekly dose of anime goodness at The Franklin Public Library! Come watch the latest releases and popular anime shows, ideal for ages 10+! No registration required!
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 Weekly on Thursdays 4:00PM
Bring a snack and talk shop about the latest and greatest in Video Games! New Releases, Events, Streamers, Speed Running, AND PLEASE bring your own devices to play! No registration required!
Chess Club! Two Sunday, June 11 & 25 2:00-4:30PM (All Ages)
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 & tactic abilities, improve endgame skills. Remember: Chess makes you smarter; Smart people play chess. Sets will be available. No registration is required, and there is no fee.
Special Events for Teens
Pride Month Musical BINGO! Wednesday June 7 @6:30PM
It's Pride Month, it's almost summer, and we're ready to celebrate! Join us for a special edition of musical bingo featuring LGBTQIA+ musical icons!
Community Conversations! Tuesday June 13 @6:00PM
Folks of all ages are welcome to join us each month as we unpack, discuss, and engage with topics relevant both within our community and beyond. Come with an open mind, leave with plenty of food for thought!
Bystander First Aid Saturday June 17 2:00 PM
Are you ready for an emergency? Let's review first aid best practices with Laurie A. Kaye, Lieutenant/Paramedic, from the Franklin Fire Department! (A great start for new babysitters!)
We’ll cover:
- Discuss when and how to call 911
- Safely assess emergency situations
- Demonstrate how to stop bleeding
- Determine the need for CPR and AED
- Position the injured party and provide comfort
- Review more advanced first aid education and certification
Inside Earth's Neighborhood: Exploring the Sun, Moon and Mars, Wednesday, June 21 7:30 PM
Join astronomer and educator Alex Trunnell to explore the exciting world of Earth's neighborhood! Celebrate the summer solstice by learning about this stellar annual event, and compare the solstice we experience here on Earth to the solstice on Mars. Learn more about how astronomers study objects in the night sky, and examine real pieces of the Moon and Mars. After the talk, see them for yourself through 4" and 9.5" telescopes!
Monday Movie, June 26, 6:00 PM
Enjoy a movie at the Library! Bring your own candy. Popcorn Provided!
Events for Adults
Adult Take & Makes: Air Plant Terrariums!
Starting Thursday, June 1st stop by the library to pick up your very own Air Plant Terrarium kit!
Kits include supplies and instructions for making your very own hanging terrarium! The perfect plant-lovers craft! SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED! Kits will be distributed on a first come first serve basis! *LIMIT 1 PER PERSON*
Knitting Group, Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
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 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Beer Hiking in New England with Carey Kish, Monday, June 5 7:00 PM
This is a virtual event.
Author Carey Kish traveled over 300 miles on foot and tasted more than 230 different beers to bring readers this great selection of hikes and brews. Join him for a talk about his new guidebook, Beer Hiking in New England, which showcases a wide variety of fun beer hikes in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, from easy walks to moderate ramble and strenuous climbs. Carey will talk about the stunning scenery that awaits you and the breweries and brewpubs nearby that’ll quench your thirst at the end of your hike. He also has a few interesting tales to tell about the beer hiking journey.
Carey Kish is a seasoned hiker, outdoors writer, beer enthusiast and longtime New England denizen. Kish has hiked the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine (twice), the 1,100-mile Florida Trail and the 2,654-mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. Beer Hiking New England is a product of Kish’s lifelong passion for hiking and his love for tasty craft-brewed beer. He is also editor of the AMC Maine Mountain Guide and author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes Along the Maine Coast. You can find him on Facebook and on Instagram @careykish.
Please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4416808146855/WN_-okkI7ulRe-bnA...
In collaboration with Belmont Public Library, Franklin Public Library, Lincoln Public Library, Lucius BeeBee Memorial Library, Needham Public Library, Peabody Institute Library of Danvers, Rockport Public Library, Tewksbury Public Library, Thomas Crane Public Library, Wayland Public Library, and Wellesley Free Library.
This program is made possible by the generous donors to the Cary Library Foundation.
Friends of the Franklin Library Book Club, Tuesday, June 6, 6:30PM
Join the Friends for an evening book club! Enjoy discussion and fun with some of the best advocates a Library could ask for!
Reading: “The Pull of the Stars” by Emma Donoghue
Friends of Franklin Library Meeting, Wednesday, June 7, 7:00 PM
Love the Library? Then how about we be friends! Join us at the Friends of Franklin Library meeting!
Contact us at: fofl02038@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter: @FriendsFranklin
LiveArts Quartet Concert, Saturday, June 10, 2:00 PM
This concert will include Three Rags for String Quartet by William Bolcom, Crisantemi by Giacometti Puccini, and the String Quartet in F Major by Maurice Ravel. The performance is free and open to the public!
The LiveARTS String Quartet -- Gregory Vitale, violin, Omar Chen-Guey, violin, Donald Krishnaswami, viola, and Jennifer Lucht, cello, have performed together for over a decade while maintaining active careers playing and teaching throughout New England and beyond.
This performance is made possible through a grant from the Franklin Cultural District, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Table Top Tuesday, June 13 & 27, 6:00 PM
Registration Requested!
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 Table Top Role Playing Games for Adults!
Email mgousie@minlib.net to sign up or get more info!
Community Conversations! Thursday June 13, 6:00PM
Folks of all ages are welcome to join us each month as we unpack, discuss, and engage with topics relevant both within our community and beyond. Come with an open mind, leave with plenty of food for thought!
Micro-Adventures in Massachusetts Wednesday, June 14, 7:00 PM
Massachusetts is full of history, spectacular scenery, wildlife, and wonderful opportunities for adventure. The best part is most of these places are hidden in plain sight: in our state parks and accessible nature preserves. Get inspiration for all of your summer day trips and adventures in one program! (GREAT for families with kids!)
Bystander First Aid Saturday June 17 2:00 PM
Are you ready for an emergency? Let's review first aid best practices with Laurie A. Kaye, Lieutenant/Paramedic, from the Franklin Fire Department!
We’ll cover:
- Discuss when and how to call 911
- Safely assess emergency situations
- Demonstrate how to stop bleeding
- Determine the need for CPR and AED
- Position the injured party and provide comfort
- Review more advanced first aid education and certification
Board Game Group, Tuesday, June 20, 6:00 PM
No registration required
Try and 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!
High Flying Dogs, Wednesday, June 21, 4:00 PM
Join us on the Town Common! for extreme tail wagging fun for the whole family! Mike Piazza and his team of Border Collies are set to impress with their frisbee tricks and more!
Inside Earth's Neighborhood: Exploring the Sun, Moon and Mars, Wednesday, June 21 7:30 PM
Join astronomer and educator Alex Trunnell to explore the exciting world of Earth's neighborhood! Celebrate the summer solstice by learning about this stellar annual event, and compare the solstice we experience here on Earth to the solstice on Mars. Learn more about how astronomers study objects in the night sky, and examine real pieces of the Moon and Mars. After the talk, see them for yourself through 4" and 9.5" telescopes!
Monday Movie, Monday, June 26, 6:00 PM
Enjoy a movie at the Library! Bring your own candy. Popcorn Provided!
Franklin Public Library Book Club, Tuesday, June 27, 7:00 PM
The book for discussion is The Lioness of Boston, by Emily Franklin.
A deeply evocative portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner, a daring visionary who created an inimitable legacy in American art and transformed the city of Boston itself. By the time Isabella Stewart Gardner opened her Italian palazzo-style home as a museum in 1903 to showcase her collection of old masters, antiques, and objects d'art, she was already well-known for scandalizing Boston's polite society. But when Isabella first arrives in Boston in 1861, she is twenty years old, newly married to a wealthy trader, and unsure of herself. Puzzled by the frosty reception she receives from stuffy bluebloods, she strives to fit in. After two devastating tragedies and rejection from upper-society, Isabella discovers her spirit and casts off expectations. Freed by travel, Isabella explores the world of art, ideas, and letters, meeting such kindred spirits as Henry James and Oscar Wilde. From London and Paris to Egypt and Asia, she develops a keen eye for paintings and objects, and meets feminists ready to transform nineteenth century thinking in the twentieth century. Isabella becomes an eccentric trailblazer, painted by John Singer Sargent in a portrait of daring décolletage, and fond of such stunts as walking a pair of lions in the Boston Public Garden. The Lioness of Boston is a portrait of what society expected a woman's life to be, shattered by a courageous soul who rebelled and determined to live on her own terms. -- Provided by publisher.
For more information, please call the library at 508-520-4941.
Genealogy Club, Thursday, June 29, 6:30 p.m. Is that one person or two? How do identify and separate people of the same name with Marian Pierre-Louis
Common names or people of the same name in one family can cause a lot of confusion in genealogy. Is that the father getting married for the second time or his son getting married for the first? Has somebody given your ancestor different parents? Can there be two Joseph Johnsons born the same year in the same town? We will look at different ways to determine how to separate unique individuals. This program is free and open to all who are interested. No registration required.
Fun with Drones! Friday, June 30, 1:00 PM
Join licensed drone pilot Brian Kourtz of Boston 25 News as he shows us the different types of drones, uses for drone footage, how to get your pilot's license, and of course, how to fly a drone!