Join us in person on Thursday, August 22 at 7pm to learn about Vedic Astrology, known as Jyotish, which originated in ancient India and is based on the Vedas, the oldest sacred text of Hinduism.

This practice focuses on the influence of celestial bodies on human lives. Vedic astrology tracks planets using stars or constellations, while Western astrology uses the position of the Sun.

We have several Zoom programs for adults coming in August. You can register for these programs via the links below, and you will be emailed the Zoom link ahead of the program.

First up, Wednesday, August 14 at 10:30am, learn about Bald Eagles with Mass Audubon. Learn the natural history and life cycle of bald eagle as well as the historic restoration project in Massachusetts resulting in a healthy population and removal of endangered species status.

Then, Thursday, August 15 at 11am, learn about Art Colonies in New England. Explore eight late-19th and early-20th century summer art colonies across New England. From Provincetown and Cape Ann in Massachusetts to Monhegan Island in Maine, and more! Discover the incredible, creative energy that still exists in these art colonies in New England.

Next up, on Tuesday, August 20 at 7pm, hear about Maine Destinations for Stephen King Fans! Author Sharon Kitchens will discuss her new book, "Stephen King's Maine: A History & Guide." Learn about the places that would become the settings for Carrie, Salem’s Lot, The Dead Zone, Cujo, IT, and 11/22/63.

And finally, Wednesday, August 28 at 10:30am, learn about Wildflowers & Insects with Mass Audubon. From fields and field edges filled with milkweed, asters, and goldenrods to wetlands with carnivorous pitcher plants and cardinal flowers, learn over zoom how these organisms interact and their importance in the ecosystems we live in.

The Friends of the Library has provided a new museum pass for our patrons!

Reserve the Seacoast Science Center Pass today, and get your discount of 50% off admission for two adults and up to four children. You can reserve this pass by clicking below. You simply need a Nevins Library Card.

Also, we’d like to share the news that the JFK Presidential Library & Museum will now give every Massachusetts Library Card holder 50% off admission, just for showing their library card! Visitors age 12 and younger receive free admission. No need to reserve a pass. How great is that?

Summer has returned to the Merrimack Valley, and so has the Farmers Market. The Nevins Library is proud to host the Methuen Farmers Market every Friday on the front lawn from 10am to 4pm.

Come and shop fresh produce from local farmers!  All the farmers accept SNAP/EBT/food stamps as well as debit, credit, and cash; GroundWorks Lawrence market coupons, WIC, and senior farmers market coupons are also welcome.

Also, this summer, the MPS Summer Eats food truck is here from 11am-12pm every day providing a free lunch to those 18 and younger.

And this year, thanks to a grant from the Mass Cultural Council, everyone is invited to enjoy Music at the Market as well. All performances are 11am-1pm, unless otherwise noted.

The musical lineup for August is:

• Aug 9 - Allspice - Swing, be-bop, Latin tunes with sax, vocals, guitar, and bass.
• Aug 16 - Jonathan Fagan Duo - Adventurous jazz duo with colorful interpretations of jazz and popular tunes.
• Aug 23 - Obscure Notation - Jazz/blues fusion featuring original music and covers of iconic jazz composers.
• Aug 30 - Colorado Bob Kramer - Seasoned performer, multi-instrumentalist and host of acoustic music open mics.

July was a busy month, packed full of fantastic programs – and we have more in store for August, including an “Arthropod Petting Zoo with Professor Bugman”! At this exciting show-and-tell-and-touch program kids will learn all about arthropods, the most diverse group of animal life on the planet; Professor Bugman’s enthusiasm and humor make for an engaging program where kids see, hear, touch, and even smell the incredible adaptations these creatures have that help them survive in the wild world.

Other special programs cover quite a range of topics, including origami and anime, the Trojan War, bookbinding, rockets, and collage art – not to mention two more Summer Storytimes.

We’re also bringing back our bilingual storytime in partnership with the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, and of course Murphy the Dog will be visiting, as well. And for parents of our youngest patrons, we’re pleased to welcome back Mary Beilman of Baby Connections to present her “Healthy Sleep for Infants (& Parents!)” virtual program, where new parents can learn how to support their baby’s (and their own sleep).

As the summer winds down and we wrap up our series of special summer programs, we’d like to celebrate with our young patrons – so be sure to bring your kids to our “End-of-Summer Carnival” featuring games, contests, treats, and loads of fun. And if you have a child entering kindergarten in September, you won’t want to miss our “Kickoff to Kindergarten” community fair, which helps children and their families prepare for starting off in the Methuen Public Schools: hear a story, meet the superintendent, learn about local agencies and organizations, climb on a school bus, and more! (But if you can’t make that event, maybe you’ll be able to come to our “Ready for School!” storytime instead.)

Last but not least, don’t miss our final “Little Bookworms” programs at the Nevins Farm MSPCA on August 2 and 9 – a wonderful collaboration where kids listen to stories and meet friendly animals who live at the farm. Also, throughout August kids can still bring in their passports for us to stamp – a fun way to track their summer reading, and for every book they read they’ll also be entered into a raffle we’ll hold at the end of the summer. Of course, we’ll be presenting lots of our usual programs and storytimes for babies and school-age children, as well; just keep an eye on the Youth Services calendar and Facebook page to learn the latest about upcoming events – we’d love to have you join us!

Happy August, and Happy Reading!