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. If it is 55 degrees or warmer, this program will be held outside on the library lawn, so bring a blanket or chair. Look for us around back! If it is rainy or less than 55 degrees, the storytime will be moved indoors.

Colorful Storytime

Tuesdays at 10:00 am 

It’s fun to learn about the beautiful colors in the world!  Join us for stories, rhymes, and songs highlighting a different color each week. Kiddos (and their grownups!) are encouraged to bring or wear something that goes with the color of the week. This week's color is green.

Felting with Farmer Emma

Tuesday, April 11 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.

History Book Club

Thursday, April 13 at 11:00 am on Zoom

Join us for a virtual Zoom discussion of The Other Madisons by Bettye Kearse. Copies available at the library, or borrow digitally. Please email [email protected] to register and receive the Zoom link.

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. 

Read to a Dog

Saturday, April 15 at 10:00 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 register for each child attending. Visit our website to sign up for a time slot.

Morse Institute Library programs

Check out the following programs happening at the Morse Institute Library this week:

Wednesday, April 12: Art On An Easel Perler Beads

Thursday, April 13: Creativebug: Lettering with Brush Pens

Friday, April 14: Stacey Peasley Concert

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.

Professor Bugman’s Arthropod Petting Zoo

Tuesday, April 18 at 3:00 pm

Amazing creatures have amazing adaptations! And what better way to discover these concepts than through hands-on experiences with a whole zoo of exotic invertebrates? Professor Bugman will introduce you to some real arthropods, then you can create and draw your own creature with its own special adaptations. Recommended for ages 5-11. Please visit our website to register.

Drop in Craft: Paper Flower Wreaths

Wednesday, April 19 from 10:00 to 12:00

Stop by anytime between 10:00 and 12:00 to make a simple spring wreath with paper flowers! This craft program is geared toward children of all ages with their grown-ups.

Explore the Blackstone River Valley National Historic Park

Wednesday, April 19 at 12:00 pm on Zoom

Online in collaboration with the Tewksbury Public Library, join us on Zoom for this virtual program. Along the Blackstone River, a number of enterprising colonists and their descendants started businesses that would change the course of history. Discover how large corporations grew out of small mill villages in the 19th century. Learn about this National Historical Park with Park Ranger Allison Horrocks. Please register here to receive the Zoom link. This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 24 hours of the program.

In Concert at Morse Institute Library: Klezmer Trio

Sunday, April 23 at 3:00 pm at Morse Institute Library

In collaboration with the Morse Institute Library, we are co-sponsoring music group the Klezmer Trio. Join us for an afternoon of Klezmer music, featuring artists from the internationally-acclaimed Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band! The concert will be held in the Lebowitz Room at the Morse Institute Library. Please register here.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Natick Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, the Bacon Free Library and the Friends of the Morse Institute Library.

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.

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, April 18 at 7:00 pm
Beloved Beasts by Michelle Nijhuis

Nonfiction Book Club
Saturday, April 22 at 10:00 am
Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard

Tuesday Book Club
Tuesday, April 25 at 6:30 pm
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford

Mystery Book Club
Thursday, May 4 at 1:00 pm
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

Cinéphile Mondays

Monday, April 24 @ 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 Jia Zhang-ke's The World, available to request on DVD through the Minuteman Network. 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:

- Local artist Rob Dunlavey, who recently exhibited his art at BFL, will be at Wellesley Books on April 22 with Melissa Stewart to celebrate their new book Whale Fall

- It's time for King Charles impersonators to shine

- Why women are succeeding in the book world

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