Library News

Jacob Edwards Library

January 2025

Library Hours

Monday & Thursday 9 am - 8 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9 am - 5 pm

Saturday 9am - 1 pm

Curbside pickup is available during library hours!

Please note: the Library will be closed on Wednesday, January 1st in observance of New Year's Day and Monday, January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Mass Center for the Book 2025 Reading Challenge

The Jacob Edwards Library is thrilled to be partnering with Mass Center for the Book to promote their 2025 Reading Challenge. Pick up cards and bookmarks at the Circulation Desk and participate by following the steps below.

Library staff will happily help you find a book that fits the monthly theme - also, see the display on the main floor for monthly suggestions. NovelList Plus is a great resource to utilize, as well (library card required). Happy reading!

How it works:

• Choose a book that fits the monthly challenge.
• After you read, fill out this form to tell them about the book. 
• Using the submission manager, you will be able to log in and access the entries you’ve logged throughout the year.
• Dedicated readers will be invited to a year-end celebration hosted by Mass Center for the Book.
• If you read a book in each of the 12 months, you will be entered in a drawing to win 1 of 2 totes filled with books. Additionally, they will be drawing two names on the last day of each month to win a free book!

hoopla Spotlight

Chess Club

Saturdays

9:30 - 11:00 am

Main Floor

Join instructor Ben Marinelli for this drop-in club. All skill levels welcome!

Mindfulness Meditation with Iris

Fridays, January 3rd, 17th, & 24th

2:00 - 3:00 pm

The Jacob Edwards Library is pleased to host Iris Vega, certified Mindfulness Meditation teacher and mentor, to present a series of sessions.

Inviting Mindfulness Meditation into your daily routine is an opportunity to cultivate awareness and presence.

You may bring your Yoga mat if you prefer doing the practice lying down.

Sponsored by Friends of Jacob Edwards Library.

The Art of Clay Tull

Artist Meet & Greet

Thursday, January 2nd

6:30 - 7:30 pm

The Jacob Edwards Library is pleased to welcome Clay Tull as our January artist!

Artist Bio:

"I am an abstract artist that lives in Southbridge Massachusetts, my work is a vibrant exploration of color, form, and emotion. My paintings are born from the power of my mind’s eye and spontaneous thought, allowing each piece to evoke organically. this intuitive approach lets me capture the essence of movement and the fleeting moments of inspiration that drive my creative process.

With my background in abstract painting, my work is characterized by bold use of color and fluid forms. I strive to create pieces that engage the imagination and invite viewers to find their own meaning within the abstract compositions. For me, art is not just a visual experience but conversation, sparking dialogue and personal reflection.

I showcase my work on my Facebook business page, “Tulls Dancing Colors,” where I share new creations, and engage with a growing community of art enthusiasts. Through this platform, I aim to connect with viewers on a deeper level, encouraging them to explore the emotional and imaginative landscapes of abstract art.

My dedication to spontaneity and intuition in art-making has earned a place in the hearts of many who appreciate the beauty of the unexpected and the power of color to evoke emotion. As I continue to create and share new works, I remain committed to inspiring others and fostering a sense of wonder and connection through my art."

Artist Statement:

"Creating art is an immersive journey where I harness the power of my mind’s eye and embrace spontaneous thought. My abstract paintings are born from a place of intuition and freedom, allowing each piece to evolve organically. This process is not just about the final image, but the vibrant dance of colors and forms that emerge along the way.

In my work, I strive to capture the essence of the movement and emotion, translating the unseen into a visual symphony. Each piece is a reflection of a moment in time, a fleeting thought, or a burst of inspiration. By letting go of preconceived notions and allowing spontaneity to guide me, I create art that is as unique and dynamic as the thoughts that inspire them.

My art invites the viewers to embark on their own journey of interpretation, to find personal meaning in the abstract forms. It is my hope that through this exploration, my paintings can evoke a sense of wonder and connection, resonating with each individual in a deeply personal way. I aim to engage the imagination and spark conversations, encouraging viewers to share their own perspectives and stories."

Sponsored by Friends of Jacob Edwards Library.

In January, the group will discuss The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins.

"When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she's not only North Carolina's richest woman, she's also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family's estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains. In the aftermath of her death, that estate - along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish - pass to her adopted son, Camden. But to everyone's surprise, Cam wants little to do with the house or the money - and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.

Ten years later, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle's death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place. Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam's estranged family - and the twisted secrets they keep - the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have. But Ruby's plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light.

Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? Soon, Jules and Cam realize that an inheritance can entail far more than what's written in a will - and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave" - provided by publisher.

Multiple Voices, Identities, and Homes:

A Conversation About Latino Poetry by Dr. Naida Saavedra

Thursday, January 16th

6:00 - 7:30 pm

This program is presented as part of Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home, a major public humanities initiative taking place across the nation in 2024 and 2025, directed by Library of America and funded with generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Emerson Collective.

The Jacob Edwards Library is pleased to host a presentation by Dr Naida Saavedra who will introduce the collection and highlight some of the major poets and their poems that have contributed to the canon.

Naida Saavedra is a writer, scholar, and professor. Her books of fiction include Vestier y otras miserias (Verbum, 2015) and Desordenadas (SEd, 2019). She has co-edited Ecos urbanos: Literatura contemporánea en español en Estados Unidos, Hostos Review Issue 15 (2019) and the anthology #NiLocasNiSolas: narrativa escrita por mujeres en Estados Unidos (El BeiSmAn PrESs, 2023). Saavedra holds a PhD in Latin American and Latinx Literature from Florida State University and her research focuses on issues of identity, migration, and social media in contemporary Latinx literature. She is documenting the current USA literary movement in Spanish for which she published the essay book #NewLatinoBoom: cartografía de la narrativa en español de EE UU (El BeiSmAn PrESs, 2020). Saavedra lives in Massachusetts, where she is a professor of Latin American and Latinx Literature at Worcester State University.

For nearly five centuries, the rich tapestry of Latino poetry has been woven from a wealth of languages and cultures. With distinctive rhythms, lyricism, and candor, and nuanced understandings of place, history, and origin, Latino poets have brought dazzling insight to what it means to make a home in America.

Recognition of the beauty and power of this tradition has grown in recent years, with Latino poets receiving two national and twelve state Poet Laureateships, two Pulitzer Prizes, and three National Book Awards. At the same time, the perennial questions confronted by Latino poets—of exile and belonging, language and identity, struggle and solidarity, and labor and landscape—have become ever more urgent.

What does Latino poetry reveal about America? How might it help us imagine a more just, joyful, and capacious future? Places We Call Home seeks to foster nationwide conversation on this vital literature through a groundbreaking new anthology edited by Rigoberto González, events around the country, an online media archive, and a wealth of library resources meant to spur in-depth reflection and discussion on key figures and themes.

Funded with generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Emerson Collective, Places We Call Home is directed by Library of America and presented in partnership with the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures; the Academy of American Poets; Cave Canem; Poetry Society of America; and the National Book Foundation, among others.

Library of America is a nonprofit organization that champions our nation’s cultural heritage by publishing America’s greatest writing in authoritative new editions and providing resources for readers to explore this rich, living legacy.

_______________________________________________________________________

Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home (Lugares que llamamos hogar) es una gran iniciativa pública en el campo de las humanidades, que se proyecta para el 2024 – 2025. Es dirigida por Library of América con el generoso apoyo del Fondo Nacional para las Humanidades y Emerson Collective.

La Biblioteca Jacob Edwards se complace en presentar una presentación de la Dra. Naida Saavedra, quien presentará la colección y destacará algunos de los poetas más importantes y sus poemas que han contribuido al canon.

Naida Saavedra es escritora, académica y profesora. Entre sus libros de ficción se encuentran Vestier y otras miserias (Verbum, 2015) y Desordenadas (SEd, 2019). Ha coeditado Ecos urbanos: Literatura contemporánea en español en Estados Unidos, Hostos Review Número 15 (2019) y la antología #NiLocasNiSolas: narrativa escrita por mujeres en Estados Unidos (El BeiSmAn PrESs, 2023). Saavedra tiene un doctorado en literatura latinoamericana y latina de la Universidad Estatal de Florida y su investigación se centra en cuestiones de identidad, migración y redes sociales en la literatura latina contemporánea. Está documentando el actual movimiento literario estadounidense en español para el cual publicó el libro de ensayos #NewLatinoBoom: cartografía de la narrativa en español de EE UU (El BeiSmAn PrESs, 2020). Saavedra vive en Massachusetts, donde es profesora de literatura latinoamericana y latina en la Universidad Estatal de Worcester.

Desde hace cinco siglos, una gran variedad de lenguas y culturas se vienen entretejiendo para formar ese colorido tapiz que es la poesía latina en Estados Unidos. Los poetas latinos nos han permitido ver a Estados Unidos como un hogar a través de originales ritmos, gran lirismo y candor; nos han brindado sugerentes visiones de lo que llamamos “lugar,” “historia” y “origen.”

En años recientes, la poesía latina viene adquiriendo el reconocimiento que se merece por su belleza y su añeja tradición. Evidencia de ello es el hecho de que varios poetas latinos han sido merecedores de dos galardones a nivel nacional y doce a nivel estatal, dos premios Pulitzer y tres Premios Nacionales del Libro. Asimismo, las preguntas existenciales y los retos sociales que enfrentan estos poetas— el exilio y la pertenencia, el lenguaje y la identidad, la lucha y la solidaridad, la labor y la tierra—se vuelven cada vez más urgentes.

¿Qué nos revela la poesía latina sobre los Estados Unidos ? ¿De qué manera nos ayuda a imaginar un futuro más justo, jubiloso, y esperanzador ? Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home (Lugares que llamamos hogar) busca fomentar una conversación de impacto nacional sobre la poesía latina a través de una nueva antología sin precedentes, eventos por todo el país, un archivo multimedia, y una gran cantidad de recursos bibliotecarios destinados a inspirar discusiones e interpretaciones de fondo sobre figuras y temas imprescindibles.

Places We Call Home es un proyecto financiado por el Fondo Nacional para las Humanidades y Emerson Collective, dirigido por Library of America. Es presentado en colaboración con the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures; the Academy of American Poets; Cave Canem; Poetry Society of America; y the National Book Foundation entre otras organizaciones.

Library of America es una organización no lucrativa que se dedica a enaltecer el legado cultural norteamericano a través de la publicación de obras imprescindibles en ediciones autorizadas. También procura apoyo y recursos al público lector con el fin de mantener y enriquecer la vida de esta gran herencia.

There Are Rivers in the Sky

Elif Shafak

"This is the story of one lost poem, two great rivers, and three remarkable lives - all connected by a single drop of water. In the ruins of Nineveh, that ancient city of Mesopotamia, there lies hidden in the sand fragments of a long-forgotten poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh.

A dazzling feat of storytelling from one of the greatest writers of our time, Elif Shafak's There are Rivers in the Sky is a rich, sweeping novel that spans centuries, continents and cultures, entwined by rivers, rains, and waterdrops." - From publisher



Teen Advisory Group

Wednesday, January 8th

3:00 - 4:00 pm

Open to Southbridge students/residents ages 12-18.

Join our Teen Advisory Group (TAG) and help us improve our library services for teens. At monthly TAG meetings, you will weigh in on library programs, services, and materials, earn volunteer hours, make new friends, and build your leadership skills.

Tuesday Morning Fun

9:30-10:00am for our littles from

birth to age 2.5 years

January 7, 14, 21, 28

February 4, 11, 18, & 25

Sponsored by the Olive I. and Anthony A. Borgatti Jr. Fund at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation

A 30 minute creative movement group for ages birth through 2.5 with a grown-up. Group is focused on adult and baby spending quality time together, fostering attachment, and baby interacting with others their age. Get groovy to upbeat music with props, instruments, and a story.

Katelyn graduated from Antioch University, New England, where she earned a Master of Arts degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling. She studied psychomotor development of children, along with focuses on the intellectual/developmental disability and autistic communities, and older adults. Katelyn has been providing dance experiences to Massachusetts and Northeastern Connecticut for 15 years as well as working in various day habilitation and residential programs. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a minor in Disability Studies from Springfield College where she focused her studies on choreography, modern dance and improvisation, and pedagogy. Katelyn teaches dance classes to all ages at several studios.

Wiggles and Giggles returns to JEL!

Thursday morning at 9:30am

January 9, 16, 23, & 30

February 6, & 13

Registration Required!

Biography 

Terilyn Hensel is a western Pennsylvania native who received a BS in English Writing and a BS in English education from Slippery Rock University. Following her graduation, she began working on her MA in Special Education. Currently, Terilyn and her family live in south central Massachusetts. Her zeal for writing spans decades and includes such genres as grants, editorials, television scripts, screenplays, and children's literature. In addition to her writing credits, she has over thirty years of teaching junior high English and high school AP Composition and Rhetoric. This experience provided the opportunity to work with diverse groups of students and has led to her passion for writing books promoting inclusion for children.

Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 10:30am

Join us for a book reading and signing with local Author Terilyn Hensel.



Board of Trustees Meeting

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is on January 28th at 12 pm.

Details will be available on the Town of Southbridge website, under Public Meetings Calendar, for all public meetings.

All meetings are open to the public.

The next meeting of the Friends is on January 6th at 2 pm.

The mission of the Friends of the Jacob Edwards Library is to be the advocacy and fundraising arm of the Library. We raise money for items such as library programs, books, subscriptions, museum pass memberships, and other materials, as needed. 

New members are always welcome! Our membership dues go directly toward supporting the Jacob Edwards Library.

Happy 2025!



See you at the library!

Jacob Edwards Library

508.764.5426

jelibrary@cwmars.org