Bellingham Public Library News & Events for April
For updates about library programs and services, please see the library website, www.bellinghamlibrary.org.
Closed Monday April 15th for the Patriots’ Day Holiday
Please note: The library will be open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30th. We will be closed in the morning for a staff development program.
Important: The library is scheduled to have our boilers replaced sometime soon and will close for a time while the work is being done. Updates about the project will be posted on our website and Facebook pages.
Your input to our Strategic Plan is needed! Please complete our survey!
Highlighted Programs
The Second Annual Bellingham Business Expo - April 6th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
The library is continuing its partnership with the Bellingham Business Association to sponsor a Business Expo where the community can come to the library to meet representatives of local businesses to learn more about their products and services in a non-sales environment. There will be food, fun and prizes. This is your chance to talk to a variety of local businesses, from financial services (banks, real estate agents, insurance agents and financial planners) to home services (waste management, cleaning services, property maintenance) and more! Check the library website for details!
Bellingham Library Community Solar Eclipse Watch Party - Monday, April 8th from 2:45-4:30 p.m. See library website for details.
Virtual Lotus Flower Lantern Craft - Monday, April 8th from 6:30-7:45 p.m.
The Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project (KSCPP) will teach participants step-by step through Zoom to make a lovely lotus flower lantern using colored paper and a pre-made wireframe via live stream. At the same time, participants will learn about Korea’s unique history and culture. There will be a PowerPoint presentation about the lotus and lantern festival in Korea, and a short documentary on Korea at the end of the class. For ages 10+. Watch the class from home or in the Community Room with others at the library. Once you register, you will be notified when your kit is ready to be picked up at the library. This program is supported by the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library.
Virtual Author Talks
The library will now host up to three virtual author talks each month! Register to attend the live talk, but if you miss it, you can still view the talk in the archive on our website. Go to: https://libraryc.org/bellinghamma to see the list of upcoming and archived talks, and to register to attend. The April events include:
• The Foods, People and Innovations That Feed Us – A Sweeping History of Food and Culture with Smithsonian Curator Paula J. Johnson – Tuesday, April 2nd at 2 p.m.
• From Murder to Atonement-Confronting My Son’s Killer with Diane Foley & Colum McCann – Tuesday, April 9th at 2 p.m.
• A Literary Examination of Power, Love and Art with Xochitl Gonzalez, Wednesday, April 17th at 8 p.m.
Saturday Family Fun, Earth Day Edition - Saturday, April 20th at 11a.m. to 12 noon
Monday 4/22 is Earth Day! Drop in to celebrate our planet with some Earth-themed crafts.
Parenting in the 21st Century: Balancing Work & Family Life – Tuesday, April 9th from 6-7 p.m., presented by Dr. Ankita Jain and Michelle Gaudet, both parents themselves. Ankita Jain, M.D. is Co-Founder of Sukoon Direct Primary Care in Franklin and is one of the Direct Primary Care Physicians. She is Board Certified in Family Medicine and also specializes in Addiction Medicine. Please register. This is a hybrid program, so you can attend virtually through Zoom or in person. The Zoom link will be sent out close to the event date.
Genealogy Workshops – Join us for two workshops in April on Genealogy Research
These workshops will be led by Catherine Perreault, Library Assistant, and former genealogical researcher.
• Introduction to Ancestry.com - Saturday, April 13th 10 a.m. to 12 noon
This workshop will focus on Ancestry.com Library Edition, however, it will also contain helpful information for Ancestry users at any membership level. This program will demonstrate what records are available through Library Edition, how to optimize your searches for best results, how to read records, and how to keep track of sources for your future use. Hybrid program. Register at library website.
• Genealogy Research Using Familysearch.org – Saturday, April 20th from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. This virtual two-hour workshop will demonstrate what records are available and how to get the most out of your searches in familysearch.org. This website, founded and run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, only requires an email to make an account. It allows users to create a family tree, save records, and communicate with other family historians. Please register.
Musical Baseball Show- Tuesday, April 30th at 6:30 p.m.
It’s baseball season! Join local singer-songwriter (and former sportswriter) Howie Newman as he performs a unique, interactive and highly entertaining program of baseball songs, offers up baseball trivia, and tells stories about his days on the Red Sox beat. Howie covered baseball for the Patriot Ledger, Lowell Sun, Boston Globe, Lynn Item and others. The show includes a free raffle for a baseball CD and a display of his personal baseball memorabilia. For additional information visit: www.howienewman.com/baseball-show.
Please register. This program is supported by a grant from the Bellingham Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
After School Programs
Registration is mandatory for children in grades 4-6 to attend the ASK program.
• ASK Program hours 2:30-4:45 p.m.
• The Teen Room is open for grades 7-12 from 2-4:45 p.m.
• Check the library website for details on the programs. https://bit.ly/3QzITpI
Crazy 8s Math Club - Starts April 24th at 4:30 p.m.
Crazy 8s is an after-school math club unlike any other! Each week offers a different set of hands-on math activities that appeal to kids of all math abilities. This program will meet once-a-week for 8 weeks. Registration is required and registering signs you up for the whole 8-week program. This session is for elementary school-aged children (grades K-3) and will run from 4:30-5:15 p.m. each week.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Ring a Ding – Mondays & Thursdays, 10:15 a.m. Drop in! No sessions school vacation week.
Read to Freedom the Reading Dog – Mondays, 5:30-7 p.m. Sign up for 15-minute time slot!
Sensory Story Time – Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. Please register for each session. No sessions school vacation week or on Tuesday, April 30th.
Adult/Child Book Club –For kids in grades 4-6 or 6-9 and the adult in their life who loves to read. Meets monthly. If you are interested in joining, those in Grades 4-6 should contact Amanda Maclure,[email protected]; grades 6-9 contact Diane Nelson, [email protected] . Check the library calendar for details on April meeting times.
Adult Programs
Book Discussion Group – Generally meets the 1st Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Attend in person or on Zoom. Contact Cecily Christensen, [email protected] for more information.
Our upcoming titles are:
April: My Friend Anne Frank by Hannah Pick-Goslar
May: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
June: The Maid by Nita Prose
Library Board of Trustees Meeting – Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room.
Writing Group for Adults – Tuesday, April 9th at 6:30 p.m.
Writers, readers, listeners – come join us! Local area writers Amy Bartelloni and Marjorie Turner Hollman welcome the public to an evening of reading and listening. Works of fiction or non-fiction, all are welcome. Reading limit is 9 minutes per reader, with a brief opportunity for positive, personal comments only. To participate contact Marjorie Turner Hollman at [email protected].
Friends of the Library Monthly Meeting – Tuesday, April 16th at 7 pm.
Email [email protected] for the Zoom link
Virtual Ask-A-Lawyer Program with Attorney Brian T. Salisbury - Monday, April 22nd 5-7:30 p.m. Local attorney Brian T. Salisbury of the law firm Doherty, Dugan, Cannon, Raymond & Weil, PC will meet with you individually through Zoom to discuss any legal questions you may have. Appointments are 20 minutes long and are free. Register for an appointment and you will receive the Zoom link close to the appointment date. Note: Your registration with your email address will go to Attorney Salisbury so he can send you the Zoom link. Please note: The Bellingham Library Ask-A-Lawyer Program is a limited pro bono legal service provided by Attorney Brian T. Salisbury and is strictly limited to 20-minute consultations regarding legal questions that you may have. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Attorney Salisbury will not provide legal representation in any legal matter discussed.
Yoga for the Seasons
Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. Check the library calendar for details and to register.
Bellingham Skein Artists – Wednesdays at 6 p.m., All skill levels are welcome, including beginners. Please bring your own materials. No registration required.
