An update from Bacon Free Library

Monday Morning Stories and Songs

Mondays at 10:00 am 

Join us for a high-energy story time! We’ll mix things up with a combination of stories for listening and songs for dancing. This program will be held indoors during the winter, then move back outdoors when the weather gets warmer.

ABC Storytime

Tuesdays at 10:00 am 

Here’s a chance for the little ones to learn their A-B-C’s. We’ll start with stories and songs that feature our letter of the week. Then we’ll do some simple crafts with the special letter – tracing, stamping, cutting, gluing, and coloring. Each child can bring something with them that starts with the letter of the week – we’ll do a mini show & tell along with stories. This week's letter is Z.

Felting with Farmer Emma

Tuesday, March 14 at 5:00 pm

Join Farmer Emma from the Natick Community Organic Farm and learn about how to felt with wool from the farm. We will include all materials needed for this workshop, and it is recommended for learners aged 10 and up. Registration is required; this workshop is limited to 8 participants. Please visit our website to register. Sponsored by the Friends of the Bacon Free Library.

National Park Service - "Explore the Black Heritage Trail"

Wednesday, March 15 at 12:00 pm on Zoom

Online in collaboration with the Tewksbury Public Library, enjoy a virtual lunchtime lecture from the Boston African American National Historic Site, “Explore the Black Heritage Trail.” The Black Heritage Trail showcases residences and community buildings associated with a Black community that thrived on, and near, the north slope of Beacon Hill before, during, and after the American Civil War. Led by National Park Ranger Shawn Quigley. Please click here to register and receive the Zoom link. This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 24 hours of the program.

Baby Time

Fridays at 10:00 am

Join us for a cozy storytime filled with lap bounces, rhymes, songs, and simple stories. Geared toward infants and young toddlers with their grownups. This program will be held indoors during the winter, then move outdoors when the weather gets warmer.

Read to a Dog

Saturday, March 18, 10:00 to 11:15 am

Build confidence and practice your reading skills by reading out loud to a registered therapy dog! Children ages 5 and up can sign up for a 15 minute reading session with Sophie, a gentle golden retriever who loves belly rubs, stories, and cuddles. Registration is required. Please visit our website to register for a time slot.

Art Exhibit: Lisa Hayden

On display through May 2

Lisa Hayden will exhibit a collection of paintings through May 2 at the BFL. Lisa is a Massachusetts native who studied painting at the University of Miami where the vibrant world of South Florida has combined with a life in New England to form a lasting influence on her art for 30 years. She exhibits her work at art fairs and gallery shows throughout New England and is active with ArtsWorcester. With an abstract take on the natural world and a deep love of the ocean, Lisa brings the outdoors inside. Learn more at her website.

Seed Library Open for 2023 Growing Season

Come browse through our seeds and take whatever interests you! You may take an entire packet or just a few seeds. Now is the time to start "thinking spring" and sowing your seeds for this year's growing season.

Check Out Vox Books

New to our children's collection: Vox books! These picture books come with built-in audio for readers to listen and read along. Stop by the library to borrow one, and check the catalog to see which titles we have at the BFL.

Jammin With You

Wednesday, March 22 at 10:30 am

Be prepared to laugh, dance, sing, and jam your way through 30 minutes of non-stop family fun! This performance is geared for kids ages 1–7, but fun for the whole family. With modern takes on children’s classics and classic original tunes, you’ll be humming and bopping your way all the way home. Please visit our website to register.

St. Patrick's Day Trivia Challenge

Saturday, March 25 at 11:30 am

Join us for a trivia challenge that covers all things Irish — authors, musicians, culture, and more!  You can play on your own or with a team. Each person/team will record their own answers, so no need to race to buzz in before others. At the end of each round, we’ll review the answers and track scores. Prizes will be awarded to the first and second place teams. May the luck of the Irish be with you! Please visit our website to register in advance — and be sure to come with a team name.

Museum Passes

The BFL is happy to offer our patrons free or reduced-price passes for a selection of great local organizations! Visit our website to learn more.

Join One Of Our Book Clubs!

Visit our website or click below to learn more about our book clubs. Copies of book club titles are set aside at Bacon Free Library, and often also available to borrow digitally. Pick up a copy today so you're ready for the next meeting. New members always welcome!

Environmental Book Club
Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 pm
Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty

Nonfiction Book Club
Saturday, March 25 at 10:00 am
The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts

Tuesday Night Book Club
Tuesday, March 28 at 6:30 pm
The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin

Mystery Book Club
Thursday, April 6 at 1:00 pm
Anywhere You Run by Wanda M. Morris

History Book Club
Thursday, April 13 at 11:00 am
The Other Madisons by Bettye Kearse

Cinéphile Mondays

Monday, March 27 @ 4:00 pm on Zoom

Cinephiles, join us for our film series! Watch a movie at home and then join Film History & Media studies Professor MV for a virtual discussion on the last Monday of the month. Join us this month for a discussion of Abderrahmane Sissako's Bamako, available on Kanopy. Please visit our website to learn more and email [email protected] to register for the Zoom meeting.

Around the web...

Here are some online materials we've seen recently:

• Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Irish authors, green decorations, and BFL trivia!
• Remembering author and artist Ian Falconer
• Advice for "how to feel alive again"
• Solving a Boston journal mystery from 1891

Stay Connected With Us!

• Our website
• Join one of our clubs
• Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
• Library blog
• Librarian On Call
• Call us at 508-653-6730 
• Email us at [email protected]

Digital Resources

Check out some of these great online resources:

• Overdrive/Libby: ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, videos, and more
• Kanopy: stream thousands of movies for free
• Hoopla: ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, videos, and more, all available with no wait list
• Morse Institute Library databases (Bacon Free Library cardholders may access these)
• Minuteman Library Network databases
• Project Gutenberg: thousands of free e-books in the public domain -- now's the time to catch up on some classics!
• Don't have a library card? Sign up online to begin accessing digital resources
• Having trouble with your library card password? Reset it here

Click Here for more information.