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May 2014 Events at the Bellingham Public Library

Apr 27, 2014 05:21PM ● By Pamela Johnson

Bellingham Public Library

The Bellingham Public Library will be closed on Monday, May 26, to observe Memorial Day. Library hours, details of library events, and registration instructions are posted at www.bellinghamlibrary.org, and updates are posted on its Facebook page.

Free Comic Book Day—On Saturday, May 3, the library will celebrate Free Comic Book Day.  Thanks to Ernie Pelletier, owner of Friendly Neighborhood Comics, for his annual sponsorship of this day at the library.  Stop by and pick up a free comic book while supplies last.

May Booksale, Donations Wanted—The Friends of the Library will host a book sale the weekend of May 16 and 17 (details will be announced), but  the group is accepting book, DVD and VHS donations now. Spring cleaning?  Please consider donating gently used books (fiction, nonfiction, hardcover and paperback for adults, teens and children) to the Friends of the Library.  We also accept all DVDs.  Since the demand for and sale of VHS have declined, this is the last time the Friends will accept  VHS donations. So, if you have a VHS collection you have wanted to get rid of, now’s the time to do it.  Book Sale Hours:  Friday, May 16, 4–7 pm, for members of the Friends of the Library only. Join at the door for only $10 and be among the first to see the great selection of used books and more at great prices. The public sale on Saturday, May 17, runs from 9 am to 3pm.  We are looking for volunteers to assist with setting up, working the sale, and breakdown afterwards.  If you can help, please sign up at the library or at http://vols.pt/9DniSZ.

Memorial Parade—Library staff and trustees will march in the Memorial Day Parade, which will start at 2 pm on Sunday, May 18. After the parade, stop by the library’s book cart at the Town Common for a free book, while supplies last.

Shaking Up STEM! Programs­—These science, technology, engineering and math programs are funded by an IMLS federal LSTA Grant, administered by the MA Board of Library Commissioners.  Thank you to the program sponsors (see April Bulletin for list) for providing supplemental funding to make this program a success.
Seismograph Programming will return at the library over the summer. This month programming will be for 8th-grade Earth Science students.

STEM Programs for Adults

3D Printer Training Workshop—Learn about the operation of the 3D printer and new Sense 3D Scanner on Saturday, May 10, 10:30 am–12 pm, or Thursday, May 22, 6:30-8 pm. Classes are limited to 6 people, high-school age and above; please register.

STEM Programs for Children

Tech Time—Thursday, May 15, 4:15–5 pm, for students in grades 3–6 only. Sign up to learn about and experiment with Little Bits (kind of like 21st Century Legos),  Makey-Makey (invention kit), and the 3Doodler (a 3D Drawing Pen), three pieces of technology purchased through the library’s STEM grant. Learn more about them at http://www.makeymakey.com, http://littlebits.cc, and http://the3doodler.com. There may also be other technology available for experimentation, including a demonstration of the 3D printer. Please register.

Featured Events

  • Morning Yoga for Adults—6 consecutive Tuesdays, starting May 13, 8:30–10 am. Class instructor is  Bellingham resident Patricia Spencer, who teaches at Time for You Yoga, Cumberland, RI. Pat is a fully insured certified Svaroopa® Yoga Basics Teacher with more than 400 hours of training, and is a RYT at the 200-hour level. She is also a Certified Embodyment® Yoga Therapist. Svaroopa® Yoga is a unique and transformational style of Hatha yoga that specializes in alleviating pain (especially back pain) and cultivating a quiet mind and peaceful spirit. Each 90-minute class begins and ends with deep relaxation and body awareness. Each pose is carefully aligned and supported with props—blankets, blocks, chairs—and can be modified to address each individual student’s needs. Class size is small (no more than eight) so each student receives individual attention and is monitored in every pose. By transforming your body, Svaroopa® yoga changes the quality of your mind and emotions.  You must be 18 or older and in generally good health to attend this beginning class. Please wear loose comfortable clothing; you do not need to bring a yoga mat. Attendees will be required to sign a liability release form prior to the class. Please register the name of each person who will be attending. Pat has requested that attendees be encouraged to make a donation to the Friends of the Bellingham Library. There will be a donation jar in the back of the room at this class for those who wish to do so.
  • Adult Show & Tell Bellingham—Monday, May 12, 6 pm. Join us for the second installment of “Show & Tell: Bellingham.”  Bring an object, a photo or just yourself. While not an opportunity to self-promote your business, these events lend themselves to great conversations between participants. It’s Show & Tell for Grownups (like in elementary school, but without the gerbils—we hope!) Sponsored by the Bellingham Public Library and the Association of Personal Historians, and hosted by Marjorie Turner Hollman. The library was the first venue in the Boston area to host this type of event, and part of a series taking place all over the country and even internationally. Remember that old letter you read time and again because it makes you feel so good, or the one that your parents wrote to each another during the war? Bring an article of clothing, a painting, jewelry, book or any other sentimental object that has a story. You don’t have to show and tell; you can just look and listen. Check out the video of the first event on You Tube®.  Just search Show & Tell Bellingham, and the video, filmed by Bellingham Bulletin Videographer Maud Dillingham, is available for viewing!
  • Estate Planning, Avoiding Probate and More—Thursday, May 22, at 6:30 pm. Learn about estate planning strategies and the distribution of estates, wills, and trusts. Presented by the Metrowest Chapter of the Society for Financial Awareness. Registration preferred but not required.
  • Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training—Monday, May 5, 6 pm. The Bellingham Library working in collaboration with the Hockomock Area YMCA will again offer sexual abuse prevention training. The Stewards of Children program is a two-hour workshop designed to educate adults on how to recognize, prevent and react responsibly to the reality of child sexual abuse; it emphasizes child safety as an adult’s responsibility. The training facilitates discussion about the incidence and consequence of abuse and provides information about child protection policies and mandates. It is designed for organizations that serve youth and for individuals concerned about the safety of children. It is the only nationally distributed, evidence-based program proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and change child protective behaviors. The training was developed by Darkness to Light (www.D2L.org), a national nonprofit organization whose singular mission is to empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse. Their goal is to raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse by educating adults about the steps they can take to prevent, recognize and react responsibly. Today’s headlines underscore the need for prevention programs to stop future abuses. Studies have shown that 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. It is vital that parents, teachers, coaches and all citizens reinforce the message that sexual abuse of children is a preventable crime that we can all take part in stopping. Children are our future; we must protect their childhood.  Please register for this important program. The cost is $7 per adult/$10 per couple. For more information, contact Tony Calcia, 508-643-5226 or [email protected].
  • Preschool Luau—Thursday, May 1, at 10:15 am. For ages 0–5. Please register for this Hawaiian party. Dressing up, including leis and Hawaiian shirts, encouraged.
  • Mother’s Day Tea—Saturday, May 10, at 3:30 pm.  For children ages 4 and up. Bring your mothers, aunts and grandmothers to the library for a special afternoon tea party to celebrate Mother’s Day! Dressy attire encouraged but not necessary. Please register.
  • Teddy Bear Picnic—Wednesday, May 21, and Thursday, May 22, 10:15 am, for ages 2–5. Join in a teddy bear picnic outside behind the library.Bring a blanket and your teddy bears. (In inclement weather, the community room will be used.) Please register for either Wednesday or Thursday.
  • Picnic Stories are Back—Wednesdays, 12–12:45 pm (no class on May 7), for all ages. When it’s not raining, bring a blanket and lunch and meet behind the gazebo at the Town Common for picnic stories, activities and Vitamin D! Please register. Register once, attend all Picnic Stories.

 

Schedule of Ongoing Events

FOR PRESCHOOLERS
  • Got Mail Story Time--Mondays, through May 12th at 1 pm.  For ages 3-5. Each week, we will open up a letter from somebody special who will tell us what this week’s theme will be! Please register. You only need to register once to attend all GOT Mail Story Times.
  • Ring-A-Ding--Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:15 am and Saturday, May 10th at 10:15 am.  For ages 0-5. A musical and play story time. Drop in!  No class on Friday, May 16th due to Book Sale.
  • Lego Build--Wednesdays at 4 pm.  Drop in!
  • Book Babies--Tuesdays at 11:30 am and Wednesdays at 9:30, through May 14th.  For ages 0-23 months.  No class May 7th.

FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS
  • The Write Stuff--Monday, May 5th at 6:30 pm.  For grades 3-6. This is a monthly meeting for kids who love creative writing! It is a place to share writings and get ideas for new ones. Please register. You only need to register once to be able to attend all classes.
  • Lego Build--Wednesdays at 4 pm.  Drop in!
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  • Family Book Club--Monday, May 12th  at 6:30 pm.  For families with children in grades 1-3. For this new monthly book club, each family will read at home the book of the month then we will discuss it at our meeting. This month’s book is The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl. Copies of the book are available at the library. Please register your family.
  • Mother Daughter Book Club--date and title to be announced, check the library website.
  • Afternoon Grab Bag--Tuesdays, May 6th and 20th  at 4:15 pm.  For children ages 4-6. Afternoon stories and activities. You never know what you’re going to get. Fun times for all! Please register for each Afternoon  Grab Bag so we know who to expect.
  • Magic School Bus--Tuesdays, May 13th and 27th at 4:15 pm.  For ages 4-7. Watch a Magic School Bus video and do a related activity afterwards! Please register.
FOR MIDDLE- & HIGH-SCHOOLERS
  • After School Cafe  - Each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after school from 2:30 ‚Äì 3:30 pm, join us for fun, friends and learning in the library community room.  Please note the new program ending time.  For grades 5-12, every Wednesday will be craft day. No program on May 6th, 7th, 14th, 15th, and 29th.
  • Mother Daughter Book Club--date and title to be announced, check the library website.
  • The Write Stuff--for grades 3-6, see details under for elementary schoolers.
 
FOR ADULTS
  • Library Trustees Monthly Meeting--Thursday, May 8th at 7 pm
  • Friends of the Library Monthly Meeting--Monday, May 12th at 7 pm.  Join us to help plan for the Library Booksale.
  • Book Discussion Group--Monday, April 7th at 6:30 pm, The Ninth Wife by Amy Stolls will be discussed. New members always welcomed!
  • Bellingham Skein Artists--Our adult knitting group, meets on Thursdays at 6:30, new members welcomed!
 


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