Library News

Jacob Edwards Library

February 2024

Library Hours

Monday & Thursday 9 am - 8 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9 am - 5 pm

Saturday 9 am - 1 pm

Curbside pickup is available during library hours!

Library of Things

Did you know that the Jacob Edwards Library lends non-traditional items, as well? Check out our Library of Things, available for checkout with your library card! We now have 20 cup hot beverage dispenser, for example!

Boston Public Library eCard

Thanks to the generosity of the Boston Public Library, anyone who lives, resides part-time to attend school, owns property, or works in Massachusetts is eligible to apply for a BPL eCard!

BPL eCards are virtual library cards that grant users immediate access to Boston Public Library's extensive electronic resources - from archaeology and genealogy to history and science, homework help, historical newspapers, downloadable audio, video, music, magazines and more!

For more information about eCards, please visit BPL's eCard FAQ.

To sign up for a card - use this link: https://www.bpl.org/ecard/

Winter Sow Method with Lady Fern Farm

Wednesday, February 7th

2:00 - 4:00 pm

Lady Fern Farm will be at the Jacob Edwards Library to provide an opportunity to learn about winter seed sowing and the benefits of adding native plants to our yards. Participants will plant two milk jugs with native seeds to take home. Participants are asked to bring a clean milk jug.

The Winter Sow Method involves sowing seeds in modified milk jugs or other containers and setting them outside for the winter. As temperatures fluctuate, the seeds go through a natural stratification process of several freeze/thaw cycles which encourages germination. The milk jug acts as a mini-greenhouse, protects the seeds/seedlings and facilitates a robust root system.

Sponsored by the Southbridge Cultural Council. The Southbridge Cultural Council is a local agency funded by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

February Art Exhibit

The Photography of William Bullard, 1897-1917:

Worcester's People of Color Community

Presentation by Frank Morrill

Thursday, February 8th

6:30 - 7:30 pm

The Jacob Edwards Library is pleased to host the fourth part of the exhibition "The Photography of William Bullard, 1897-1917: Worcester's People of Color Community" in honor of Black History Month.

As part of this project, Mr. Morrill is going to present a talk on the journey from discovery and identification of this integral part of the African American experience in our region, to making the collection accessible to the wider community.

Through some good luck, retired teacher Frank Morrill had the opportunity to buy this significant historical collection of a uniquely rare treasure trove of glass plate negatives of African Americans/Native Americans in Worcester. Over the past few years, other selections from the collection were displayed. This year's exhibit will display many portraits that have never been exhibited in public before.

The negatives are those of the late itinerant photographer William S. Bullard, of Worcester and later North Brookfield, who, between 1894 and 1917, took a vast amount of images of the city's streetscapes, businesses and local residents. Morrill, who has published several books about Worcester and other local communities, purchased the Bullard collection, approximately 5400 glass plates, in 2003 to use in further research focused on Worcester streets and architecture. In 2013 his granddaughter, Hannah, accidently discovered a negative of a person of color that was incorrectly filed and research began that led to this rare historical treasure.

There are approximately 240 images of people of color, mostly living in the Beaver Brook area along Park Avenue within the first four decades of having obtained their freedom. Approximately 80 percent of the portraits were identified by Bullard in his logbook, which is the key to the collection. Morrill and Professor Janette Greenwood of Clark University have researched the identified Bullard sitters since 2014 and have discovered a large number of descendants, many of whom had never seen a photo of, or knew the history of, their ancestors.

Sponsored by the Southbridge Cultural Council. The Southbridge Cultural Council is a local agency funded by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Bike Safety with CMRPC

Thursday, February 15th

6:30 - 7:30 pm

Join us for an exciting journey into the world of cycling at the MassBike Basic Bike Education Workshop! Explore the essentials of biking, from mastering bike safety rules to choosing the right lights, understanding pre-ride ABCs, selecting the perfect gear, and diving into basic maintenance tips. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to enhance your biking skills, this workshop has something for everyone. Let’s pedal together towards a safer, more enjoyable biking experience!

Sponsored by Friends of Jacob Edwards Library.

In February, we will be discussing "The Complete Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi.

From the publisher:

"Here, in one volume: Marjane Satrapi's bestselling, internationally acclaimed memoir-in-comic-strips. 'Persepolis' is the story of Satrapi's unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution; of the contradictions between private and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval; of her high school years in Vienna facing the trials of adolescence far from her family; of her homecoming - both sweet and terrible; and, finally, of her self-imposed exile from her beloved homeland. It is the chronicle of a girlhood and adolescence at once outrageous and familiar, a young life entwined with the history of her country yet filled with the universal trials and joys of growing up. Edgy, searingly observant, and candid, often heartbreaking but threaded throughout with raw humor and hard-earned wisdom - 'Persepolis' is a stunning work from one of the most highly regarded, singularly talented graphic artists at work today."

WCSO Webster Regional Resource Center

Monday, February 26th

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Case workers from the WCSO Webster Regional Resource Center will be at the Jacob Edwards Library to answer questions regarding the services they provide. Mental health referrals, exam preparation, assist with researching personal documentation and more.

Afternoon Author Talk

Margarita Barresi

Wednesday, February 28th

2:00 - 3:00 pm

The Jacob Edwards Library is pleased to host an afternoon author talk with Puerto Rican author Margarita Barresi. She will present a reading from her debut historical novel, "A Delicate Marriage", and talk about the book’s cover, which is inspired by Puerto Rico’s graphic poster tradition.

From glittering ballrooms to verdant mountains to poverty-stricken slums, "A Delicate Marriage" takes the reader on a vivid tour of Puerto Rico forty years after becoming a U.S. colony, a time of great change and political turmoil on the island. Isabela, a wealthy woman, sacrifices her artistic aspirations to marry Marco, a penniless man dedicated to improving conditions on the island. As the island's insular government enacts pro-U.S. policies, Marco builds a real estate empire while struggling to maintain his populist principles. Meanwhile, Isabela feels unfulfilled in her traditional role as a wife and mother and becomes disillusioned with Marco's shifting moral compass. She begins to identify with anti-U.S. factions, leading a dangerous double life that puts her family in peril. As political violence threatens their paradise, Isabela and Marco question whether their marriage, like the island's relationship with the U.S., should continue. Margarita Barresi's debut novel celebrates Puerto Rican culture while delving into themes of class, oppression, and the effects of colonialism through the lens of a marriage.

Raised in Puerto Rico by her grandparents, Margarita Barresi grew up hearing stories about the “good old days”—the genesis for "A Delicate Marriage" - her first novel. She studied public relations at Boston University, and after a successful career in marketing communications, now devotes her time to writing. Her essays have been published in several literary magazines and compilations. Margarita lives in the suburbs north of Boston with her husband and two Puerto Rican cats, Luna and Rico.

Learn more at www.margaritabarresi.com.

Sponsored by Friends of Jacob Edwards Library.

Hildaland in Concert

Thursday, February 29th

6:30 - 7:30 pm

The Jacob Edwards Library is pleased to host Hildaland for their first performance in Southbridge! 

Orkney (Scotland) born fiddler Louise Bichan and Indiana (USA) mandolinist Ethan Setiawan present a collaboration and meeting of their musical worlds in Hildaland. A path steeped in the fiddle traditions of their respective sides of the Atlantic, the journey taken wends through Scottish and American soil, celebrating their foundations while intertwining with contemporary composition. Bichan’s fiddle is a melodic foil to Setiawan’s counterpoint and harmonic depth, and the two weave in and out seamlessly.



Sponsored by Friends of Jacob Edwards Library.

Small Town Sins

by Ken Jaworowski

Edgar Award Finalist

From the publisher:

"A gripping Rust Belt thriller that captures the characters of a down-and-out Pennsylvania town, revealing their troubled pasts and the crimes that could cost them their lives.

Riveting, evocative, and unforgettable, Small Town Sins is a debut novel that marks the arrival of a major new talent."

Database Spotlight

The Jacob Edwards Library provides FREE access to hoopla with your library card! Hoopla is a streaming service that lets you instantly borrow eBooks, audiobooks, comics, music, movies & TV - 24/7 - and items are always available, so there's no waiting!

TAG Meeting

Tuesday, February 20th

3:00 - 4:00 pm

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

Open to Southbridge students/residents ages 12-18. 

Join us on February 3, 2024 at 10:30 am

for Storytime and craft.

On the first Saturday in February*, thousands of libraries across the world celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day by offering free, fun, fabulous activities for families. Your local library is an ideal place for children to play, discover, make friends, and have fun. And Take Your Child to the Library Day is the perfect time to discover some library magic.

Join us on

February 22, 2024

at 2.00 pm

Aerodynamic Airplane

STEM Program

with Ed the Wizard

Participants will learn about aerodynamics and the history flight as they assemble their own airplane. As these models are launched by using air pressure and arm strength, they may be launched either in-doors, or out, as weather permits; no chemicals or smoke inducing accelerates are used.  

This program is recommended for grades 2 and up, (ages 7 and older), as participants must have basic Art and Craft skills such as: pattern cutting, taping, and gluing. These skills are required for assembly.

Lego Club

Tuesdays

3:30pm - 4:30pm

Saturdays

10:30am-11:30am

Crafty Wednesday

All Day

 Every Week



See you at the library! Happy Valentine's Day!

Jacob Edwards Library

508.764.5426

jelibrary@cwmars.org