News, Information, and Fun Things to Do

from the

Middleborough Public Library

Library Lines

November 6, 2024

Donations Needed for Our New

Holiday Decoration Swap

Mark your calendar for our new holiday decoration swap scheduled for Sat., Nov. 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Clean out your holiday decoration storage bins, boxes, and cabinets, and bring unwanted items to this swap event and get something new-to-you! Decorations, ornaments, candles, outdoor lighting, inflatables, linens, etc. are all great options to trade, but please use your judgment as to whether or not your treasures are in good enough shape to swap. (For instance, candles must be new, and never used.)

Donations will be accepted any time the Library is open, or you can bring them the day of the event. Items will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the swap.

Keep your no-longer-wanted decorations out of the landfill, and refresh your holiday decor without another trip to the store.

If you have questions about donating, you can email Reference/Adult Services Librarian Libby Fox or call the Library at 508/946-2470.

REMINDER: Create an Ikebana Floral Centerpiece for Your Holiday Table

This program is fully registered so please remember to attend this Saturday, Nov. 9 at 10:00 a.m.

There are people on the waiting list; if you're registered but find you cannot attend please go to the events calendar and cancel your registration so that others waiting can take your place on Saturday.

This program is funded by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Next Up in Our Virtual Author Talk Series

Register for one of our upcoming 60-minute virtual author talks here and submit your questions for the author, or you can watch here, at any time, any of the previous programs archived back to July 2022.

On Childhood Migration from Central America--A VIRTUAL Conversation with Javier Zamora, Thurs., Nov. 14, 4:00 p.m.

Tune in for a special VIRTUAL conversation with New York Times bestselling author Javier Zamora as he chats with us about his riveting tale of survival and perseverance in his award-winning memoir Solito.

Zamora’s odyssey was a 3,000-mile journey from his small town in El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, and across the U.S. border. He will leave behind his beloved aunt and grandparents to reunite with a mother who left four years ago and a father he barely remembers. Traveling alone amid a group of strangers and a “coyote” hired to lead them to safety, Javier expects his trip to last two short weeks. He cannot foresee the perilous boat trips, relentless desert treks, pointed guns, arrests and deceptions that await him; nor can he know that those two weeks will expand into two life-altering months alongside fellow migrants who will come to encircle him like an unexpected family.

About the Author: Zamora was born in El Salvador in 1990. His father fled the country when he was one, and his mother, when he was about to turn five. Both parents’ migrations were caused by the U.S.-funded Salvadoran Civil War. His debut poetry collection, Unaccompanied, explores the impact of the war and immigration on his family. Zamora has been a Stegner Fellow at Stanford and a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard and holds fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

Native Rights and Culture in Fiction–A VIRTUAL Conversation with Mona Susan Power, Wed., Nov. 20, 7:00 p.m.

You’re invited to join us online as Mona Susan Power chats about her newest novel A Council of Dolls. This conversation highlights how her work explores Native Rights and Native American culture, in particular using an important symbol that anchors comfort and companionship in Native life: dolls. From mid-century Chicago to the ancestral lands of the Dakota people, to the brutal Indian boarding schools, A Council of Dolls is the story of three women, told in part through the stories of the dolls they carried:

Sissy, born 1961: Her relationship with her beautiful and volatile mother is difficult, even dangerous, but her life is also filled with beautiful things, including a doll called Ethel. Ethel whispers advice and kindness in Sissy’s ear, and in one especially terrifying moment, maybe even saves Sissy’s life.

Lillian, born 1925: Born in her ancestral lands in a time of terrible change, Lillian clings to her sister, Blanche, and her doll, Mae. When the sisters are forced to attend an “Indian school” far from home, Blanche refuses to be cowed by the school’s abusive nuns. But when tragedy strikes the sisters, the doll finds her way to defend the girls.

Cora, born 1888: Though she was born into the brutal legacy of the “Indian Wars,” Cora isn’t afraid of the white men who remove her to a school across the country to be “civilized.” When teachers burn her beloved buckskin and beaded doll Winona, Cora discovers that the spirit of Winona may not be entirely lost.

About the Author: Power is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. A Council of Dolls was longlisted for the National Book Award and the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction. Power also is the author of three previously published works of fiction, The Grass Dancer, which won the Pen/Hemingway Prize, Sacred Wilderness, and Roofwalker. Her short stories have been published by The Atlantic Monthly, The Paris Review, The Best American Short Stories, and more.

Warm Up Your Winter: Candle Making Workshop for Teens

Get ready to dive into the enchanting world of candle making on Sat., Nov. 16 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. We'll guide teens ages 11-17 through the basics including the different types of candles and the best waxes for each kind. Discover the importance of choosing the right wick size, heat-resistant containers, and the difference between essential and fragrance oils.

You'll have the chance to make one container candle using luxurious soy wax. To add a touch of seasonal inspiration, choose from a variety of delightful fragrance oils. Once your creation is complete, allow the wax to cool undisturbed for approximately 24 hours and you can proudly take your handmade candle home.

Perfect for beginners, this candle making workshop is a must for anyone longing to explore the magical world of candle making. Approximate size is 2.5” in diameter and 2.5” in height, with the finished candle weighing a net of 2.5 oz. The wax is hot and fragrance oils can be strongly scented.

Registration is required. Please note: the registering of children under 18 years old for this program indicates that the parent/guardian acknowledges the possibility of safety concerns while handling hot wax.

Program starts promptly, no admission is allowed after instructions are given.
Participants are not allowed to handle the melting of the wax.
No children will be allowed in the room, only the registered participants.

This program is brought to you with the support of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Homeschool Board Game Days

Join us for several fun-filled afternoons at our Homeschool Board Game Days TODAY, Wed., Nov. 6 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Thurs, Nov. 14 in the downstairs meeting room, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Try a new board game or play an old favorite from among the library’s collection of games for kids and teens. Families are invited to bring their own games to share.

This event is geared towards ages 9+ but all ages are welcome, and no registration is necessary.

This program is brought to you by the generous support of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Homeschool Band Class 101

Local music teacher, Madeleine Landers, will run Homeschool Band Class 101 at 1:00 p.m. on both Thurs., Nov., 14 and Mon., Dec. 2. Mrs. Landers has many years of experience teaching both public and homeschool children from pre-K through 12th grade.

After an interactive demonstration, kids can enjoy an "instrument petting zoo," try out a variety of options, and get some tips from Mrs. Landers.

You can "try before you buy," and learn what works best before the holiday season sales.

This program is best for ages nine and up. No instrument is required to participate.

Younger siblings are welcome to join and caregivers must stay with their child at the event. Instruments are expensive and kids must be supervised.

Stuffed Animal Sleepover

Dress in your PJs and bring a stuffed animal for a storytime and craft at 6:00 p.m. on Tues., Nov. 19. At the end you'll leave your stuffy here at the Library for a very special sleepover. What could they possibly do all night? They won't be all alone. Our Library puppets will be on hand to show them around.

Stuffed animals can be picked up anytime the following two days, Nov. 20 or 21.

This program is brought to you by the generous support of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Preschool Playgroup with Self Help Inc. CFCE

Join Miss Michelle and Miss Julia from Self Help Inc. CFCE for a 5-week Preschool Playgroup here. This engaging program will feature stories, preschool learning activities, sensory play, and creative crafts, all centered around weekly themes.

The playgroup is tailored for children ages 3-5 and will take place Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 19 and 26 and Dec. 3, 10, and 17.

Registration is mandatory, so be sure to sign up to secure your child's spot in this exciting fall educational experience.

Build with LEGO @ the Library

Join other LEGO® lovers for an afternoon of cooperative projects, optional challenges, and access to the library's large LEGO® collection on Tues., Nov. 12 and 19 at 3:45 p.m.

This is a drop-in program with no registration necessary.

LEGO afternoons are supported by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Sign Up to Read with Miss Marilyn's Spaniels

Kids can sign up to read to a dog at the Library on Mon., Nov. 18 and 25. A great way to practice and improve reading skills in a non-judgmental environment. Ms. Marilyn will bring a credentialed therapy dog and kids can sign up for a 15-minute session between 4:00-6:00 p.m. that starts with a meet- and-greet. Kids can bring their own reading material from home or pick something out at the Library. Please call the Library at 508/946-2470, stop by, or email Ms. Amanda to sign up for a time slot.

This program is brought to you by the generous support of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Bookworm Babies and Tiny Tots -- Today

Both Bookworm Babies (BB) and Tiny Tots (TT) will meet at the Library or the park near Pierce Playground (weather dependent) Wed., Nov. 13 and 20. BB meets first, from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m., followed by TT from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. Check the Library's website for location updates.

BB is geared towards lapsit babies and their caregiver(s), while TT is geared toward babies and up to kids three years old and their caregiver(s). Join in a story, songs and rhymes that build early literacy skills. Siblings are always welcome.

To sign up for program location updates, please call the Library at 508/946-2470.

This program is supported by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Free Stuff for Fans of Audiobooks

If you're a fan of audiobooks, or know someone who is, please make sure to regularly stop by the lower level of the Library and look over the huge selection of audiobooks that we're giving away.

We place new selections on the cart at least several times a month and we'd love them to go to someone who could really use them.