Bellingham Public Library News & Events for January

 For updates to library programs and services, please see www.bellinghamlibrary.org. 

Winter Hours

Monday - Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday & Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The library is closed January 1-January 2 for the New Year’s Holiday. Happy New Year!

The library is closed on Monday, January 16 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

 Special Programs 

Virtual 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group - January Topics: 

• Self Assessment & Networking Skills, Wednesday, January 4th, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or Wednesday, January 11th from 6-8 p.m.

• Create Your Career Story Pitch – Wednesday, January 18th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am or Wednesday, January 25th from 6-8 p.m. 

This program will continue through June with two new topics each month.

The Massachusetts Library Collaborative 50+ Job Seekers Group meets on the above days/times, via Zoom. If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career director, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your “Encore Career”, this networking group program is perfect for you! Remember, 85% of jobs are found through networking!

Join us in a professional forum for networking with peers in a safe and comfortable environment conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help in your career transition. 

Meetings are facilitated by Deborah Hope, MBA, PCIC, an experienced executive career coach, former Fortune 500 executive, investment banker and entrepreneur.

To register for each workshop, go to the library calendar, select the workshop date and click on the link to register directly via Zoom.  This group is sponsored by more than 60 Massachusetts public libraries.

Bellingham History Discussion Group

Saturday, January 14th at 10 am at the Bellingham Historical Museum

Join the authors (Cecily Christensen, Marjorie Turner Hollman, Pam Johnson, and Bernadette Rivard) of Bellingham Now & Then:  Celebrating the 300th Anniversary of Bellingham, MA for the first of what the Historical Commission hopes will be quarterly discussions of Bellingham History. This event will be held at the Bellingham Historical Museum, 3 Common Street.  The authors will lead a group-led discussion.  Stop by for coffee, donuts and a great discussion!

If you would like to read the book in advance, you can either purchase a copy at the museum or on Amazon.com, or borrow it from the library.  Copies will be for sale at the museum on the discussion day for $20.  Snow date: January 28th.

Open for Business Grant Kick-Off Event

Turning Your Passion into Your Profession with Jeff Belanger

Monday, January 23rd at 6:30 p.m.

The Bellingham Library has been awarded a grant to assist Bellingham area businesses with meeting the challenges of the 21st century by offering resources, courses, and business counseling from experts on the topics the business community identifies as important to their success.  This Kick-Off Event will feature Jeff Belanger speaking about how to turn your passion into your business.

Jeff Belanger is an author, podcaster, storyteller, adventurer, and explorer of the unexplained.  He’s turned his passion for chasing legends into his career.  He’s the award winning, Emmy-nominated host, writer and producer of the New England Legends television series on PBS and Amazon Prime and is the author of over a dozen books (published in six languages).  

Registration preferred so we can plan refreshments!  Snow date January 30th

This program is made possible by a federal Institute of Museum and Library Services grant through the Library Services & Technology Act.  The grant is administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Ongoing Children’s Program Schedule

We hope to have a new Children’s Librarian on staff by the end of January. In the meantime, the library will offer the following programs for children ages 0-12.

Sensory Story Time with Miss Melissa – Mondays & Wednesdays at 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

Join us for stories, songs, crafts and open play!  Similar to a traditional story time, with movement breaks and supports built in.  For children ages 2-5 of all abilities. Registration is limited, so please register early!

Magic:  The Gathering Club – Mondays at 2:30 p.m.

For grades 4-8. The Magic: The Gathering Club at the Bellingham Library welcomes all 4th to 8th graders to join each Monday after school from 2:30-4:30 p.m.  Magic is the ultimate tabletop game, combining the skills of strategy, probability, reading, math, bluffing and more for a fun and engaging experience like no other. Please sign up for each meeting you plan on attending!

Ring a Ding – Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m.

For ages 0-5.  Songs, a story, music, instruments, and beach balls = a lot of noisy fun!  Join us! No registration required.  PLEASE NOTE:  For the foreseeable future there will only be one session of Ring a Ding on each day. 

All Things STEAM – Thursdays at 4 p.m.

Join Miss Melissa for the STEAM Project of the Week.  For Grades 1-3.  Please register for each week you plan to attend.

Baby Time – Fridays at 11:15 a.m.

For children under 2, older siblings welcome.  Songs, stories, and play/discussion time for you and your baby/toddler.  Drop in!

After School Programs

We have two programs for kids in grades 4 and up. Both programs are Monday through Friday. Even though the library closes at 3 p.m. on Fridays, the Community Room will be open on Fridays after school for Fun Fridays!!  Miss Amanda and Miss Diane will stay until 5 p.m. at the latest.  They will be planning activities for this time so check the library calendar for details.

• After School Kids (ASK) – for grades 4-6.  When school is in session, ASK meets Monday-Thursday from 2:30-4:45 p.m.  Questions? Contact Diane Nelson,[email protected].  Parents/caregivers of all registrants are signed up for our Constant Contact Newsletter.

• Teen Room Activities – for grades 7-12.  When school is in session, Teen Room Activities are available Monday-Thursday from 2 -4:45 p.m. There is no registration needed to attend this program. Questions? Contact Amanda Maclure, [email protected].

 Other Adult Programs

Additional details of these programs are available on the library calendar (https://bit.ly/3xMECCt)

• Book Club generally meets on the first Monday of the month, email Reference Librarian Cecily Christensen [email protected] for details.

• Friends of the Library generally meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.  Email [email protected] for details.

• The Library Board of Trustees generally meets on the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.  Email [email protected] for details.

• Adult Writing Group will now meet at the Bellingham Historical Museum on the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. [email protected] for details.