New and expanded hours including Saturdays have started. Click here to view the new hours.
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Annual Book Sale Is Tomorrow! |
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This year the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library Annual Book Sale will take place on Saturday, September 11 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The proceeds from the Book Sales fund the Library's Children's programming, large print and audio-visual collections, eBooks, museum passes, author talk, film, poetry and music series and so forth.
Covid-19 Safety Note: While the Book Sale is an outdoor event, if you are not fully vaccinated we ask that you please wear a face mask at the Book Sale. Please remember to give each other space.
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Virtual Poetry at the Library |
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Join us on Tuesday, September 14 at 7:00 pm as Kiki Petrosino reads from and discusses her work.
In her fourth full-length book White Blood: A Lyric of Virginia, Rilke-Prize-winning poet Kiki Petrosino turns her gaze to Virginia, where she digs into her genealogical and intellectual roots, while contemplating the knotty legacies of slavery and discrimination in the Upper South. The poems in this collection touch upon such subjects as DNA test results and the complex history of Monticello.
Speaking to history, loss, and injustice with wisdom, masterful crafting, and a scientific determination to find the poetic truth, White Blood plants Petrosino’s name ever more firmly in the contemporary canon.
Petrosino holds graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. Her poems and essays appear widely in prominent journals. She teaches at the University of Virginia as a Professor of Poetry.
Co-Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library and the Friends of the Maynard Public Library. [ Register for Zoom Link] |
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Faces at Fowler: An Art for All Show and Reception
Monday, September 13, 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
Fowler Backyard, Fowler Branch
Do you, like us, miss seeing everyone's faces? Thanks to the Village Art Room and their community outreach with Art for All, we will be hosting an art opening for a series of portraits created over the summer. These will then be on display at Fowler through the fall. Join us in the backyard to see loving and creative depictions of friends, family, pets, and imaginary creatures by local artists of all ages. Light refreshments will be supplied. No registration required.
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Tuesday Book Discussion Group
Tuesday, September 14, 9:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Zoom
Each month, join other readers to discuss a range of books, from classics to contemporary. A limited number of copies of each month's book will be available at the Main Library. For September, Concord resident, Dennis Taylor, a retired English Professor will lead the group in a discussion of Macbeth by Shakespeare. Copies of the play are available at the Main Library Circulation Desk. [ Register for Zoom Link] |
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Stitch Circle at Fowler
Tuesday, September 14, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Large Meeting Room, Fowler Branch
Join fellow knitting, crocheting, needlework, etc. enthusiasts for an hour of social crafting. Help each other out of tough spots, share patterns and tips, and enjoy crafting together. We will meet in the backyard if weather permits, and in the large meeting room if it doesn't. We will follow current safety guidelines and respect participants' comfort levels as we gather. No registration required.
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Dine and Learn: The Wisdom of Mindful Eating
Tuesday, September 14, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Zoom
Join Mindful Eating Specialist Monika Ostroff, MEDA Executive Director, to debunk diet myths and open to nourishing possibilities. Discover mindful ways to create awareness of the body's natural language and open to the nuances of nourishment for wellbeing. WellBeing kindly invite anyone interested in mindful eating, diets and diet culture, those struggling with disordered eating and their family members, and/or medical professionals seeking mindful alternatives to traditional treatment programs. Feel free to tune in during your dinner hour for this nourishing conversation. [ Register for Zoom Link] |
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Book-A-Mystery at Fowler
Wednesday, September 16, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Fowler Backyard, Fowler Branch
Join Madeline at Fowler on the 3rd Wednesday of each month to discuss a range of mysteries, from thrillers to whodunnits. Weather allowing, we will meet in person in our backyard. Copies of the book are available at Fowler. Please register so that we can contact you with updates and provide the Zoom link if we need to make the meeting virtual in case of inclement weather. [ Register] |
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Free Online Group Meditation with Be Well Be Here
Thursday, September 16, 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Zoom
Join Be Well Be Here with the Library for a 30-minute morning meditation practice and start your day with a moment of ease. Discover mindful tools that center the body, settle the mind, and open the door to wellbeing. [ Register for Zoom Link] |
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Concord’s Maps Online
Wednesday, September 22, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Zoom
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 materials in advance and the Zoom link] |
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Virtual Films at Fowler Fall Series |
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The Films at Fowler Series continues in the fall with five more movies and discussion dates. The new theme for the fall is Fearless Features, and the five movies are all admired and recognized for their fierce originality and cinematic innovations in form, style, or content. They are each so unique you will wonder how they ever got funded in the first place. Please watch—on your own time schedule—the selected movies on Kanopy, a free streaming service available to Concord patrons. We will then gather on Zoom on scheduled evenings (shown below) for a lively movie discussion.
Wednesday, September 22, 7:00 p.m. (Discussion date on Zoom)
Billed as “The first Iranian Vampire Western,” Ana Lily Amirpour’s debut feature is a joyful mash-up of genre and iconography. Its prolific influences span spaghetti westerns, graphic novels, horror films, and the Iranian New Wave. [ Watch Film on Kanopy]
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Children's, Tween & Teen Events |
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Outdoor Storytime at the Main, Ages 5 and Under
Monday, September 13, 10:30 - 11:00 a.m
Sudbury Road Garden, Main Library
Join us in the Sudbury Street garden of the Main Library for an in-person storytime. We willl enjoy stories, songs, & rhymes. In the case of poor weather, outdoor programs may be canceled. No registration required.
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Baby Time by Fowler, Ages 0 - 12 Months
Monday, September 13, 11:00- 11:45 a.m.
Labyrinth Garden, West Concord Union Church
Join Fowler Branch librarian Dorrie at the labyrinth garden at the West Concord Union Church (1317 Main St), across the street from Fowler, for an in person Baby Time. We will share stories, songs, and bouncing rhymes. Bring a blanket or something comfortable to sit on. No registration required. If anyone in your group is experiencing Covid-like symptoms, please do not attend. In the case of poor weather, Baby Time may be canceled. Please look at the calendar or social media for updates, or you may call Fowler at 978-318-3350.
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Outdoor Storytime by Fowler
Tuesday, September 14
10:00- 10:45 a.m. &
11:00- 11:45 a.m.
Labyrinth Garden. West Concord Union Church
Join Fowler Branch librarian Dorrie 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 and do a simple craft. If anyone in your group is experiencing Covid-like symptoms, please do not attend. In the case of poor weather, storytime may be canceled. No registration required.
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Baby Massage
Tuesday, September 14, 10:30- 11:30 a.m.
Sudbury Road Garden, Main Library
Learn to communicate, soothe, connect with your baby through massage. Join Sheryl White of Baby Kneads for a free of charge and 4-part workshop to learn how to massage your newborns or pre-crawling baby. Bring a blanket for your baby. [ Register] |
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Alphabet Storytime
Wednesday, September 15, 10:30- 11:00 a.m.
Sudbury Road Garden, Main Library
Join in the fun learning the alphabet with stories, songs and crafts. Each week we will focus on a different letter of the alphabet. Recommended for ages 5 years and below. No registration required.
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Read to Luna at the Main, ages 5 and up
Wednesday, September 15, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Front Lawn, Main Library
Did you know that reading to dogs boosts reading skills & emotional & social skills for children? Read to a good listener who loves stories! Register for your own 15-minute session with Luna, and she will meet you outside on the Main Library lawn. She will even do a few tricks just for you! [ Register] |
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Girls Who Code, Information Session (Grades 5-8)
Wednesday, September 15, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Zoom
We invite girls and their families to join Girls Who Code facilitators to learn about our program, which meets weekly on Wednesdays from 4:00 -6:00 p.m. throughout the school year. Participants learn a variety of coding skills, which they use to create a project together. We do expect a commitment to weekly attendance. This year, we plan to meet in-person, outdoors at Fowler once a month (see calendar for dates). All other meetings will be over Zoom. We do not meet during school vacation weeks. [ Register for Zoom Link] |
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College Essay Bootcamp
Wednesday, September 15, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Teen Room, Main Library
Need help getting started your CommonApp essay? Join two-time successful college graduate, published writer, and library staff member Cary Stough for a four-week College Essay Bootcamp. Brainstorm topics, learn shortcuts, and upgrade your sentence skills to level 100. Feel free to register after the starting date. This is the first session. The second session, in October, will focus on editing/revision/rewriting. [ Register] |
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Storytime on Zoom, Ages 5 and under
Thursday, September 16, 10:00- 10:30 a.m.
Zoom
Join storytime from the comfort of your own home. Share stories, songs, and rhymes in this weekly virtual program. [ Register for Zoom Link] |
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Story Time - Picture Books 101
Thursday, September 16, 10:30- 11:00 a.m.
Sudbury Road Garden, Main Library
Come enjoy our favorite new picture books. And learn how you can participate in our early literacy campaign called 101 Picture Books Concord Free Public Library Loves. These storytimes will feature our favorite new picture books and promote early literacy skills to newborns, infants, toddlers and preschoolers. No registration required.
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Messy Fun at Fowler, Ages 5 and under
Thursday, September 16, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Fowler Backyard, Fowler Branch
What's more fun than getting messy? Drop by the Fowler backyard weekly for a range of activities from play dough to blocks. Stay for 15 minutes or for the full hour. We will have different stations, allowing for child-guided play and social distancing. Weather permitting. Look to our social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for updates, or call Fowler at 978-318-3350 in case of bad weather. No registration required.
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Crushing Your College Essays
Thursday, September 16, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Periodicals Room, Main Library
Join author Richard Montauk for a presentation on crushing your college essays. Richard Montauk is the author of a series of best-selling guides, all published by Prentice Hall, including How to Get Into the Top Colleges and How to Get Into the Top MBA Programs. No registration required. Face masks are required.
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Concord Puppet Theatre: Live!
Friday, September 17, 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Sudbury Road Garden, Main Library
Each week we will feature different puppets, new songs to learn and sing along to, and occasional crafts, all under the blue tents. Feel free to bring your own puppet (sock or otherwise) or instruments from home to join in on the fun. No registration required.
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Coming Soon: 2021 Concord Festival of Authors |
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The Friends of the Concord Free Public Library are pleased to announce the 2021 Concord Festival of Authors (CFA), featuring over 30 town-wide events October 15 - 31.
New events are being posted on the CFA website each day. For more information and to learn about upcoming CFA events, please visit ConcordFestivalofAuthors.org.
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Special Collections Highlights: Ephraim Wales Bull and Concord’s “foxy” grape
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Commercial grape production dates back to 1000 B.C. When Leif Ericsson sailed to North America, he called it “Vinland” because of the wild grapes he saw growing. These vines were probably the fox grape, whose scientific name is vitis labrusca. The vines are native to eastern North America, and they were not identified until Carl Linnaeus and other scientists began cataloging American vines in the 18th century. Concord’s Ephraim Wales Bull developed the Concord grape, a varietal of the fox grape, in 1849.
Ephraim Wales Bull was born on March 4, 1806, in Boston, Massachusetts. Bull was an apprentice to Boston goldbeater Louis Lauriat a young age, learning to hammer gold into gold leaf, eventually working for another goldbeater in Dorchester. He met his wife, Mary Ellen Walker there, and they married on September 10, 1826. He moved to Concord, Massachusetts, in 1836, settling with his wife on a farm next door to Amos Bronson Alcott. They had three children: Mary Ellen, Ephraim, and John.
During the 1840s, Bull began cultivating grapes, working to create a grape that would thrive in New England’s climate. The grape needed to ripen early to avoid Concord’s early winters. By 1849, he had planted over 22,000 seedlings from wild Vitis labrusca to determine his ideal grape. The selected Concord vine was planted next to other cultivars including Catawba. Eventually, he created a large, sweet grape which he named “Concord.”
Concords have a deep, sweet flavor that finishes off with a tartness that keeps them from being overwhelmingly sweet. Concords are sweetest at the peak of their harvesting time. This flavor is what makes them so common in jam and jelly. They are the grape most often used in grape pies, and make kosher wine. Concords are a shade darker when they are ready to be harvested. The vine color also changes as the grapes mature, from green to brown, and finally to black when the harvesting season has passed. Ripe grapes need to be clipped off the vine and not pulled.
Among the characteristics of this vine species in contrast to the European wine grape Vitis vinifera are its "slip-skin" that allows the skin of the grape berries to easily slip off when squeezed, instead of crushing the pulp. While this makes them good for cooking and juicing, it does cause difficulty in shelving them in stores, which is why they are difficult to find.
Another contrast with European grapes is the characteristic "foxy" musk. Vitis labrusca varieties have the most pronounced aromas among wine grape varieties. The description of "foxy", not derived from the animal, serves as a catch-all term to describe the unique, earthy and sweet muskiness that can be perceived in fresh Concord grapes as well as grape juice made from Concord and other varieties. In the 1920s, scientists were able to isolate the aroma compound responsible for the “foxy” musk as methyl anthranilate.
In 1853, Bull's grape won first place at the Boston Horticultural Society Exhibition. The grape went on sale in 1853, and marketing by C.M. Hovey began the following year. He produced other grape varietals, including Esther, Rockwood, Iona, and August Rose.
Bull was deeply involved in the community of Concord. He was a member of the Concord Farmer’s Club and the Middlesex Agricultural Society. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1855, serving as the House chairperson on the Agriculture Committee. In 1856, he served in the Massachusetts Senate, serving on the Roads and Bridges committee as well as Agriculture. He was also appointed to the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, serving from 1856-1868. He served on the School Committee from 1857-1861. He also served a term on the Board of Selectmen from 1860 to 1861.
In 1893, after a fall, Bull went to live in the Concord Home for the Aged, and died on September 26, 1895. Bull was buried in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, with an epitaph reading, "He Sowed Others Reaped."
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