News, Information, and Fun Things to Do

from the

Middleborough Public Library

Library Lines

May 3, 2023

The Pied Potter Presents Ceramics Workshops for Both Adults and Teens On Sat., May 13

Time to Spout Off: Teapots from Around the World & Pottery Wheel Demonstration

10:00-11:30 a.m.: This fun, educational workshop for adults 18+ is a celebration of the similarities and differences experienced with many cultures by way of a pot of tea.

The history of teapots will take place on the potter's wheel as potter Rick Hamelin introduces us to teapots from the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Brown Betty teapots, ring teapots, teapots filled from the bottom, and a surprise animal teapot will all be made on Rick's wheel.

We'll be passing from person to person a freshly made pot from the potter's wheel and the chance to feel a dry and wet pot as it rotates on the wheel.

Each person also will make his/her own pinch pot (cup made from a ball of clay by pinching the clay with the thumb and finger) and the unfired piece will go home with you!

Space is limited so registration is required. Call 508/946-2470 or email Reference/Adult Services Librarian Libby Fox.

Fantasy Clay Figures Workshop with Pottery Wheel Demonstration

12:30-2:00 p.m. This Fantasy Clay Figures Workshop with Pied Potter Rick Hamelin is for tweens and teens ages 11-18. They'll watch a short pottery wheel demonstration and learn how to make a pinch pot (cup made from a ball of clay by pinching the clay with the thumb and finger) and alter it with coils, pads and slabs into a dragon.

Registration is required. Please call 508/946-2470 or email Teen Librarian Christine Dargelis.

These programs are sponsored in part by a grant from the Middleborough Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Support also was provided by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

New England Desserts with Award-Winning Author Tammy Donroe Inman

Join us on Wed., May 24 at 6:30 p.m. when Tammy Donroe Inman, award-winning author of New England Desserts: Classic and Creative Recipes for All Seasons, will discuss her favorite desserts that originated in Massachusetts, the stories behind them, and the pleasures of seasonal baking. Samples will be provided.

Inman is the author of three books, including Wintersweet: Seasonal Desserts to Warm the Home, which was praised by USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, and The Boston Globe. A former editor of Boston Magazine, she sharpened her knives in the test kitchen of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and behind the scenes of the hit television show "America’s Test Kitchen." Her work also has been featured in Fine Cooking, Parents, Yankee Magazine, and Cape Cod Life.

Her books will be available for sale for $30.

Space is limited so registration will be required. Call 508/946-2470 or email Reference/Adult Sevices Librarian Libby Fox .

Thank you to the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library for funding this program.

Big Library Read: Join the first Global eBook Club

Starting today, Wed., May 3 and until Wed., May 17, Tastes Like War: A Memoir by Grace M. Cho is available with no wait times or holds in the Libby app. Be part of a global ereading club that connects readers around the world with the same ebook at the same time.

Part food memoir, part sociological investigation, Tastes Like War is a hybrid text about a daughter's search through intimate and global history for the roots of her mother's schizophrenia. It won the 2022 Asian/Pacific American Award in Literature and was a finalist for the 2021 National Book Award for Nonfiction.

Use #biglibraryread on social media for a chance to win a selection of book-ish prizes any reader is sure to love and Libby swag.

Download the Libby App from Google Play or the iPhone App Store and start reading.

Sharebrary Item of the Week

Sharebrary: Borrow. Try. Experience.

Time to get out and play with our Kan Jam game.

The game come in its own carry case and includes: scoring containers, a disc, stakes, and instructions.

We now have 40 different items to lend out from our Sharebrary collection. Check them all out!

Spring into Reading Challenge

Put some spring in your step and get reading! Log your reading and activities from May 1 through June 10 to earn colorful badges and virtual tickets to put toward four grand prize drawings: a garden kit, octopus kite, solar-powered robot kit, and a library surprise pack!

For an added bonus: log eight hours of reading during this challenge and you'll get a jumpstart on summer by automatically earning 10 virtual tickets towards the Summer Reading Challenge prize drawings with even bigger prizes.

Ready, set, bloom!

Lote4Kids

We've added a fantastic new online resource for kids who want to learn another language and connect with books through the magic of storytelling. They can choose from thousands of audio-picture books in 50+ languages, together with English translations. The link for this resource can be found on the Children's webpage under Links for Kids, but if you want to check it out right now click on the "Try it out!" button below.

Try it out!

Homeschool Program: Monster Detective Collective with Truck

Calling all kid detectives -- the Middleborough Gas & Electric Department returns for a new mission on Wed., May 10, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. and this time, they're bringing one of their bucket trucks!

Elementary-aged kids can join the curious and colorful Monster Detectives as they learn together what energy is, where energy comes from, and how energy heroes power their work and play. Through this presentation, kids will be introduced to Public Power Heroes who work daily to keep the power on in our community.

Come learn more about how energy gets to your home, how Public Power Heroes work hard when electricity is disrupted, and the importance of safe and reliable energy. There will be take home materials as well.

Space is limited so please register by calling 508/946-2470 or emailing Miss Amanda .

Little Explorers

Let's be animals for a day on Thurs., May 11 at 1:30 p.m. with presenter Judy Macioci. This animal-themed Little Explorers program, best for kids age 3-6, will show that animals are everywhere, especially in our forests.

Learn about the wild animals we see all the time such as deer, raccoons, squirrels, possums and more. We will pretend to be these animals by imitating the noises they make and shuffling, shaking and waddling like they do!

Call the library at 508/946-2470 to register.

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