Holidays, Closures And Notices
Closed: Presidents' Day - Monday - 2/20/23

 For those patrons who wish to continue pickup outside, go to 'Curbside' under Services on our website or contact the Circulation Desk at 781.275.9440 for details.

February Is__

National Library Lover’s Month
a month-long celebration of school, public, and private libraries of all types. Check us out at www.bedfordlibrary.net/ 

African American History Month
an annual celebration of the achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. 2023 marks the 200th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Heart Health Month
an annual spotlight on heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans. For more information go to https://theheartfoundation.org/heart-health-month/

Monday, February 6
7:00pm

Drop-in and chat with other crafters and bring your current craft project or use our supplies to make something fun.

Open to all ages and craft skill levels.

Winter Lecture Series - 

Antarctica

Sundays 2:00-4:00 pm

Program will be offered both in person and online via Zoom.

Space limited to 40 seats.

To Attend Virtually, Use Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85088255427?pwd=aytpSXFudVBnNUF0RklmRm94V3hVdz09
Meeting ID: 850 8825 5427
Passcode: 763944

February 5: To Attend this lecture in Person, Register HERE.
With Shackleton On The Nimrod
In what was called 'the Great Southern Journey,' Shackleton and a small group of companions nearly reach the Pole in 1908 becoming the first humans to travel on the Polar Plateau.

February 12: to Attend this lecture in Person, Register HERE.
The Race To The Pole (Part One)
In 1910, Captain R. F. Scott sets off again on an attempt to reach the South Pole. To everyone's surprise, however, Scott would have a competitor in the formidable form of Roald Amundsen, already famous as the first person to navigate the Northwest Passage.

February 26: to Attend this lecture in Person, Register HERE.
The Race To The Pole (Part Two)
While Scott's attempt at the Pole ended with the most storied tragedy in the history of polar exploration, Amundsen would triumph magnificently, only to find his achievement widely vilified on his return to Europe.

Start the new year by connecting. Need some assistance getting started, updating apps or creating social media accounts on any device? Patrons can book a half-hour appointment with our Head of Reference Services by contacting the Reference Desk at 781-275-9440 option 3.

Just be sure to bring any needed passwords.

Slots are available at: 7-7:30 pm / 7:30-8 pm / 8-8:30 pm

Thursday, February 23
10:00 - 11:30 am

ethnicity and migration by eric migdal
Eric will present on family name changes, name sequences, and how DNA ethnicity can change across generations. He'll also cover a brief history of some migration.

Eric has been doing family history research for over 28 years, assisting clients with family tree building, DNA test analysis, and contacting unknown family members.
As an adoptee, Eric spent many years searching for his biological family-- with few results. DNA testing ultimately assisted Eric in finding the truth about his family!

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85159609486?pwd=dW1wbWNuUWJQN3FMWXlEeE9CSWJMdz09

Meeting ID: 851 5960 9486
Passcode: 505180

Tax-Aide 2023

For low-to-moderate income individuals and/or families -  tax preparation assistance provided by IRS trained specialists.

Appointments are set for Fridays and Saturdays in February, March and April with a limited number of appointments on each day. Appointments will mostly start at 9:15 am. Appointments will begin on Friday, Feb. 3 in the afternoon.

To book an appointment, clients can

- request an appointment directly online at bit.ly/bedfordtaxaide or

- call 978-245-6798 and leave a message-someone will return your call

Artists Call For Entries
2023-2024 Biennial Juried Art Exhibit

The Biennial is a juried exhibit of art by people who live or work in the Bedford area. Art and crft in all media is eligible. Work must be original, created in the last 5 years and not shown before in the Library. 2-D work must be framed and ready for hanging with wire. NO sawtooth hangers. Limited to two (2) entries per person.

All art work must be dropped off on either Fri. 3/3 from 9-8 pm or Sat. 3/4 from 10-12 noon. Judging will occur on Sun. 3/5 and accepted entries will be posted on the Library website after 5 pm Sun. 3/5. All art work not accepted into the show must be picked up on Mon. 3/6 from 12-1 or 7-8pm. Guidelines, entry form and important dates available on our website or at the Library.

Juror for the exhibit is Concord MA resident, JANE DEERING. Jane earned a BA from Regis College and a Post-Baccalaureate from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London UK. Jane serves on the Arts & Exhibitions Committee at Concord Art and is a Trustee of the Concord Museum. 

Mass Library Collaborative's 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group

If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, 
re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your "Encore Career", this program is perfect for you! 

Register for one meeting at a time or multiple meetings at once. All meetings are Zoom meetings.

Workshop 3:
Create A Marketing Plan & Marketing Brief
Feb 1 @ 9:30-11:30 am REGISTER HERE to attend the morning session. 
Feb 8 @ 6:00-8:00 pm REGISTER HERE to attend the evening session. 

Workshop 4:
Applications, Cover Letters & Negotiation
Feb 15 @ 9:30-11:30 am REGISTER HERE to attend the morning session. 
Feb 22 @ 6:00-8:00 pm REGISTER HERE to attend the evening session..

March Topics: 'Develop Your Resume Part I' and 'Part II'
April Topics: 'Create a LinkedIn Profile' and 'LinkedIn and Personal Branding'
May Topics: 'Interview Preparation & Strategy' and 'Interview Practice'
June Topics: 'Meet Hiring Employers' and 'Networking 2.0'

February For Tweens & Teens

Tween/Teen Activity Group  [TAG]
Open to everyone in grades 6-12!

Join us in the 1st Floor Meeting Room after school

Wednesdays: February 1, 8 & 15
1:15-3:00 PM

Drop in for snacks, crafts and games, and a comfortable place to hang out with your friends!

February For Kids

Family Story Time
Wednesdays
February 1, 8 & 15
10:30-11 Am

Join our Children's librarians for stories, songs, rhymes, shakers, scarves, and fun for all. 

Best for ages 0-6, all welcome

Pajama Storytime

Monday, February 6

7-7:30 PM

Put your kids in their PJs (and you too if you like!) and join us at the library for a special evening storytime. We have calmer activities and stories towards the end in hopes that you children will be ready for bed.

Best for ages 3-6, but families with children of all ages are welcome.

Family Music with Sarah

Saturday, February 4
10:30-11 am

All ages
No registration needed

Join Sarah in the meeting room for singing, dancing, and lots of music-making with all the music and fun we love!

Friday, February 10
10:30-11 AM

 Suitable for ages 0-6 years.

Sing, dance, and make merry noise in this guided exploration of music and movement for young children and their caregivers.

Please dress comfortably!

Thursdays
February 2, 9 & 16

10:30-11 am
 Join us each week for a new activity for children ages 3-5 with a caregiver. 

No registration needed.

Card-Making

Monday, February 13
4:00—4:45 PM
Best for ages 4+ 

Join us for an afternoon of card marking with all supplies provided. Coloring materials, stencils, doilies, and glitter glue will all be provided. There will be plenty of red and pink if you wish to make Valentine's Day themed cards, but it is not a requirement. 

Register Here

Tuesday
February 14 & 28
11:30-1:00 PM

Play games, complete crafts and get to know other homeschooling families in the area in these relaxed meetups.

All ages welcome.
No Registration Necessary

Saturday, February 18
10:30-11:15 pm

Join Nicole for a very special Saturday morning storytime. Following storytime there will be donuts, juice and a simple craft/coloring to complete.

All ages welcome
No registration necessary. 

Construction Palooza
Tuesday, FEB 21
10-11:30 AM 

Drop into the meeting room to build with Legos, Keva planks, Magnatiles (regular & giant), cardboard blocks & more!

Best for ages 3+ with a caregiver.

Teddy Bear Picnic
Wednesday, FEB 22

11:30-12:30 PM

Join us for a Teddy Bear Picnic in the meeting room! Bring your favorite stuffed friend (teddy bears encouraged but not required) and a lunch to munch. Listen to a story or two, eat lunch and complete crafts and activities. 

Best for ages 4+

Dragon Party

Thursday, FEB 23
11-11:45 AM

Are you a fan of Wings of Fire? Dragon Masters? How to Train your Dragon?
Then you don't want to miss our Dragon party! Join us for crafts and activities with a dragon theme, based on some of your favorite books.

Best for ages 5+.

Friday, February 17
10:30-11:30 am

Home school students are invited to join us as we read, discuss and complete activities.

FEBRUARY's Book:
AVIVA vs the DYBBUK
by Mari Lowe

A long ago "accident." An isolated girl named Aviva. A community that wants to help, but doesn't know how. And a ghostly dybbuk, that no one but Aviva can see, causing mayhem and mischief that everyone blames on her.

Recommended for ages 8-11.
Space limited to 15.

Register Here

Monday, February 27
4-4:45 pm

Join us for a story and then explore the STEM related to it with a fun activity. 

Best for ages 5-7 with a caregiver.

Register Here

Unless otherwise noted, Library programs are made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Bedford Free Public Library.

To become a 'friend', visit their website.

Full Calendar Of Programs

 On Exhibit at the Library

On Exhibit In The Gallery

Now through March 9, 2023

Impermanence
Embracing the Beauty of the Impermanent Nature of Man

Works by Bonita LeFlore

From her statement:

Through my paintings I take to heart a quote from the photographer Henri Cartier Bresson “make visible what perhaps might never be seen.”  My work embraces the impermanence of manmade structures and the opalescence of nature using unexpected colors and technique.

On Exhibit On The Community Art Wall
Located on the wall opposite the Children’s Room entrance

5th Grade Legacy Project Lane Elementary School

This collaborative mural was created by the 2021-2022 5th graders of Lane Elementary School in Bedford. During the project, students practiced connecting as artists as they reflected on their experiences at Lane, created unique pen and ink designs to personalize their squares, and worked together to assemble this collaborative piece for display in their school and community.

The Community Art Wall

Are you an emerging artist and interested in exhibiting artwork on the Community Art Wall?  We encourage students and amateur artists to apply. Generally, each exhibit is up for two months, though there is some flexibility in dates. All work submitted must be original and not previously shown at the Bedford Free Public Library. If you are interested in showing your work, please contact Library Director Richard Callaghan at [email protected] or call 781-275-9440.