Tuesday, June 15, 9:00 - 9:45 a.m.

Curious about meditation and mindful wellBeing? Join us on the Library Lawn for conversation about the benefits of mindful living, and simple ways to cultivate your own practice. Be Well Be Here founder, Lara Wilson will share guidance from a variety of wisdom teachers, such at Thich Nhat Hanh, Tara Brach and Sharon Salzberg. Bring your questions and a favorite morning brew to sip mindfully. Registrations are not required. Please join us!

Wednesday, June 16, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Love a good mystery? All are welcome to join our mystery book discussion via Zoom. June's title is The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett. Print copies of the title are available at the Fowler Branch for pickup. An eBook and an audiobook of the title are available to check out via Hoopla. Please email Pat for the Zoom link.

Join Be Well Be Here for a 30-minute morning meditation practice with the Concord Free Public Library, and start your day with a moment of ease. Discover mindful tools that center the body, settle the mind, and open the door to well-being. [Register for June 17 Zoom Link]

Wednesday, June 23, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Learn to use Concord’s MapsOnline, a web-based resource providing access to a wealth of data about Concord! This 2-hour hands-on Zoom-based workshop will enable you to comfortably use all aspects of MapsOnline, including: 50+ data layers and base maps you can turn on/off at will, Aerial imagery from the 1940s to present, Address look-up with zoom-to-parcel, Assessor data for each parcel, Abutters list creation, saving and printing, Links for viewing over 50,000 documents including deeds and much more, 3D “bird’s eye” imagery you can rotate, with multiple years’ imagery available for viewing, and custom PDF map creation, saving and printing. The workshop will be led by Jill Moonheron, Concord’s Geographic Information Systems Analyst. Since this is a hands-on workshop, space is limited, and these are the technical requirements: Desktop or laptop computer – a tablet will not be sufficient, Internet access, and experience using Zoom. [Please register to receive advance materials and the Zoom link]

Films at Fowler will continue in the summer months with six more movies and discussion dates, from June 10 to August 18. The new theme for the summer is Summer Art House, and the six movies are provocative, surprising, fun, and independent in spirit. Please watch—on your own time schedule—the selected movies on Kanopy, a free streaming service available to Library patrons. The group will then gather on Zoom on scheduled evenings (shown below) for a lively movie discussion.

The Assistant (2019)

Wednesday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m. (Discussion date on Zoom)

A young staffer (Julia Garner) at a successful New York movie production company must endure the demeaning demands of a fast-moving company culture. Also starring Matthew Macfadyen. [View the Film on Kanopy]

To register for Films at Fowler discussions, please send an email to randall.warniers@gmail.com.

For a complete list of all summer films and discussions, please click here.

The Concord Free Public Library welcomes EVERYONE to register for the 2021 Summer Reading Program - children, teens, and adults! This year’s program is titled “Tails & Tales” and will feature animal-themed programs and events from June 14 - August 6. Readers of all ages, from pre-readers to adult readers, can sign up online or by visiting the Main Library or Fowler Branch Library to sign up with a staff member.

The Summer Reading Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library and the Concord Free Public Library Corporation.

[Read More About the Kids Summer Reading Program & Reading List] [Teen Summer Reading Program & Reading List] [Register][Check Out Tails & Tales eBooks and Audiobooks on Hoopla]

The Concord Free Public Library is celebrating June Journey’s with Concord’s Communities Organizing Against Racism (COAR) by featuring a StoryWalk on the Main Library lawn. The StoryWalk features Voice of Freedom, Fannie Lou Hamer Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford. Featuring stunning mixed-media art and stirring poems, Voice of Freedom celebrates Fannie Lou Hamer's life with a message of hope, determination, and strength. Despite fierce prejudice and abuse, even being beaten to within an inch of her life, Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of civil rights from the 1950s until her death in 1977. The book won the 2016 Caldecott Honor award as well as the 2016 Robert F. Sibert Honor.

Mondays, 10:00 a.m. on the Library's Facebook Page

Every Monday, thirteen year-old Concordian Jacob reads a special story from our staff-curated list of 101 Picture Books Concord Free Public Library Loves! Can't make the Facebook video premiere at 10? No problem! "Jacob Reads" storytimes will be archived in a playlist, linked above.

Monday, June 14, 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Join us in the side garden near our Sudbury Road entrance. Hear stories, songs, and rhymes in this gentle half hour story time for our very youngest patrons. No registration needed!

Monday, June 14, 5:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Get a jumpstart on bedtime with stories, songs, and rhymes! Register to receive the zoom link. [Register]

Tuesday, June 15, 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Join Fowler Branch librarian Dorrie Karlin at the labyrinth garden at the West Concord Union Church (1317 Main St), across the street from Fowler, for an in-person storytime! We will share stories, songs, and rhymes. We have limited space (10 families), so please register. Your registration is for all attending family members. [Register for 9:30 a.m. Storytime] [Register for 10:30 a.m. Storytime]

Tuesday, June 15, 7:00 p.m.

This program is designed for juniors and their parents to help them with their college applications and college essays. Learn more about the college application process including current admissions trends, strategies for applying, writing the personal statement essay and supplemental essays, teacher recommendations, suggestions for how juniors can use their time productively this summer and how students can position themselves to increase their chances for admission. This is not an essay writing “boot camp” but rather a detailed and strategic overview of what students should focus on to make their college applications compelling. The presentation will be led by Ron Feuchs and Jackie Tepper, partners at Stand Out For College, LLC. [Register for Zoom Link]

Wednesday, June 16, 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. & 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Join us on the lawn of the Main Library for an in-person storytime. We will enjoy stories, songs, & rhymes! We will gather near the Sudbury Road entrance in the enclosed garden. No registration needed!

Wednesday, June 16, 1:30 - 2:00 p.m.

Hear stories, songs, and rhymes in this gentle half hour story time for our very youngest readers. [Register for Zoom Link]

Wednesday, June 16, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Join friends, impostors, and the like over Zoom, and play the very popular, freely downloadable game Among Us. Ages 10-14.

[Register to receive the Zoom link]

Join Branch Librarian Dorrie for stories, songs, and rhymes. Please register to receive the Zoom link. For ages 5 and under. The same link will work weekly. [Register for Zoom Link]

Have you ever met a Scottish Highland Bull? Or a fluffy llama? Those are just two members of the herd here at Unity Farm Sanctuary in Sherborn MA. Join us on Zoom for a Sanctuary Tour through the beautiful sanctuary grounds of Unity Farm. You will have the chance to meet some of our 60 mammals and 200+ feathered friends. Everyone here is a rescued farm animal! Learn more about their stories, reflecting the diverse plights of farm animals worldwide. Get to know their unique personalities and see the power of love, care, and kindness! Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library. [Register for Zoom Link]

Join us in person for a Juneteenth read along with the Crossroads group - a project created by Concord-Carlisle High School students to discuss important cultural, social, and diverse topics! Celebrate Juneteenth or Emancipation day by listening to books readings and having a discussion with high-school students. [Register]

Join us for an interactive sing-along with Ed Morgan, “The Music Man.” Learn fun ways to connect with your family through music. This family-friendly performance will have everyone up moving, dancing and singing. Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library. [Register for Zoom Link]

Caregivers and their babies and young children 2-months or older and pre-verbal are invited to join us for this 4-week workshop with well known instructor, Sheryl White. Sheryl will show you how to teach your baby sign language as well as explore benefits and research for caregivers. Each week participants will "bring" props the class so that Sheryl can help you bring the virtual program to life by signing directly to the babies. That way they will know that it is interactive and hands-on. Participants are encouraged to sign up for all 4 workshop sessions which will take place every Friday in June. [Register for Zoom Link]

Hey Kids - Feeling crafty? Join us in our side garden at the Main Library near the Sudbury Road entrance for a fun craft and a short story! [Register]

First 3 Saturdays of every month 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Join Cary Stough, Senior Library Assistant and resident Master of Poetry, for boundary-pushing weekend writing! No experience required. Age limits are mainly arbitrary: if you wanna join, just ask! Register for Zoom link. The same Zoom link works for every session. [Register for June 19 Session]

The Concord Free Public Library’s William Munroe Special Collection holds the largest and most important collection of primary Henry David Thoreau material in New England, and the major archive of materials documenting Concord as Thoreau knew it.

We are pleased to co-sponsor and invite you to the 80th Annual Gathering of the Thoreau Society, live virtual conference, “Thoreau and Diversity: People, Principles, and Politics,” to be held July 7, 2021 - July 11, 2021.

The Thoreau Society has planned 35 hours of inspiring and educational sessions recorded and available to registered attendees through December 2021. A virtual conference has at least one benefit over a live event: if you cannot attend one of two concurrent sessions, you can still watch the one you missed! You can view any session at your leisure through the end of the year.

The conference host-site will also offer you the opportunity to gather with friends and colleagues through our built-in video-networking feature. [Register Online]