Dear West Boylston Library Community,

I am delighted to extend my heartfelt greetings to each and every one of you as the newly appointed Library Director here in our vibrant town. Stepping into this role on December 11th has been an exciting journey, and I am already deeply impressed by the incredible sense of community that defines our library.

As the Library Director, I am committed to ensuring that your voices shape the direction of our library. Your feedback is crucial, and I welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas as we work together to enhance our community space. This library belongs to all of us, and your input is instrumental in making it a dynamic and responsive resource for everyone.

I'm genuinely excited about the future as we map out the journey for our library. For those who already frequent its shelves, our library is a cherished place, and I'm eager to explore new ways to enhance its appeal. Together, let's cultivate our library into a lively hub for knowledge, cultural discoveries, and community connections. I'm enthusiastic about working with community members to ensure our library remains an inviting space, welcoming patrons from West Boylston and beyond to join in the excitement.

As we enter the new year, I eagerly anticipate working closely with our dedicated staff and engaging with each of you. Let's build on the strong foundation we have and continue making our library an even more vibrant and welcoming space for everyone.

Thank you for being an integral part of our library family. Here's to a year filled with shared stories, exciting discoveries, and the continued growth of our beloved Beaman Library!

Warm regards,

Michael Long
Library Director
Beaman Memorial Public Library

FUN FOR ADULTS

Stress Reduction and Relaxation Yoga with Carol McGuiggan
Wednesday, January 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Experience the benefits of gentle yoga stretches, calming breath techniques, and the value of meditation. Dress for movement. Bring your yoga mat or a thick towel.

Italian Conversation Circle
Saturday, January 13 and 27 at 1:00 p.m.
Join us to speak Italian exclusively for two hours! Please note, the change in time for this meeting.

NASA’s New Mission to the Moon
Tuesday, January 16 at 6:00 p.m. An illustration of the moon.
Join NASA Ambassador MJ Johnson for a discussion of NASA’s Artemis program and its goal of establishing a long-term human presence on the moon. If it is a clear night, we will observe the moon through telescopes on the Library lawn. Bundle up!

Mindful Meditation with Carol McGuiggan
Wednesday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m.
This class is open to individuals wishing to develop inner awareness, health, and well-being. Bring a yoga mat or sitting cushion and a receptive attitude.

Book Discussion with Local Author Janet Raye Stevens
Thursday, April 18 at 12:30 p.m.

Join Janet Raye Stevens, author of the Beryl Blue, Time Cop series to discuss the first book in the series. Limited copies of Beryl Blue, Time Cop are available at the circulation desk. We recommend placing a hold on the item to ensure you get a copy before the meeting.

FUN FOR TEENS

The Snack Pack
Tuesday, January 2 at 4:00 p.m.
Join Jessica to chat about your current read while enjoying some snacks.

Settlers of Catan
Saturday, January 6 at 2:00 p.m.
Join other teens to play Catan, a board game that requires strategic resource management as you settle a new world and attempt to create the largest kingdom.

Unwind with Watercolors
Wednesday, January 17 at 5:00 p.m.
Take a few moments to allow yourself to relax and unwind with a simple, but satisfying, watercolor painting. All materials will be provided.

Dungeons and Dragons
Saturdays, January 20 & February 17 at 2:00 p.m.
Join us for a two-hour session of your favorite role-playing game! These sessions will feature a series of adventures related to a single campaign so plan to commit to both sessions, if possible. Space is very limited!

FUN FOR CHILDREN

Movement and Music with Ms. Meredith
January 6, February 3, and April 6 at 11:00 a.m.
Join Ms. Meredith as she shares her love of music and movement with you and your children. The class will have stretching exercises, dancing, and fun moves everyone can do (even the parents and caregivers). This is a drop in class, no registration needed.

National Bird Day
Friday, January 5 at 10:30 a.m.
On National Bird Day we’ll read about birds native to our area and then build bird feeders to hang at home. Who will stop by for a snack? For ages 3-5.

Arteca Karate
Friday, January 12 at 4:00 p.m.
Master A will be coming to the Library to teach another class filled with basic moves, inspirational mantras, and board breaking. Classes fill quickly so register soon!

MLK Service Project Week
Tuesday, January 16 through Saturday, January 20
Join us for a week-long service project in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We’ll be making fleece blankets for Annie’s Kindness Blankets, placemats for local senior citizens, and cards for service members. Our week culminates on Saturday, January 20 at 11:00 a.m. with a visit from Project 351 Ambassadors, stories, and snacks as we learn more about Dr. King.

Inspire Your Heart with Art Painting Class
Wednesday, January 31
10:15 a.m. for ages 2-5; 6:30 p.m. for ages 6 and older
You don’t have to be an artist to have fun painting. Join us while we paint along with a step-by-step tutorial on how to paint a beautiful picture.

Hedgehog Day
Friday, February 2 at 4:00 p.m.
Everyone always celebrates the groundhog but what about the hedgehog? February 2 is also Hedgehog Day. We will read some stories and make a fun craft to celebrate the hedgehog.

ONGOING PROGRAMMING

MONTHLY PROGRAMMING

Cookies ‘n Crochet Club

Fifth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m.
Want to get “hooked” on crocheting? Join Ms. Sue once a month to learn how to crochet while relaxing and enjoying cookies. For patrons in 4th grade-8th grade. Occurs on January 30

Book Eaters Book Club
Second Wednesday of every month at 4:00 p.m.
Join us to swap book suggestions, see what fun reads are in the Children’s Room, and enjoy crafts and activities to go along with our book themes. You do not need to read a specific book each month to attend. A snack will be provided. For patrons in grades 3-5. Begins January 10

Pokémon Club
Third Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
Join your friends to swap, trade, play, and talk about everything Pokémon.

WEEKLY LITERACY PROGRAMMING
Books and Blankies: Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Session 3: January 9, 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13
Mother Goose: Thursdays at 10:15 a.m. *Drop in, no registration required!*
Session 3: January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8, 15
Lunch Bunch (formerly known as Books and Blankies Seniors): Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.
Four and five-year-olds are invited to bring a lunch to enjoy with friends, listen to a story, and engage in crafts and activities to support school readiness skill development. Caregivers are not required to attend but must remain on the Children’s floor.
Session 3: January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8, 15

Friday First Chapters
Join Miss Jessie as we read the first chapter of four selections from the Children’s Room collection; two from our green reading level and two from our yellow reading level. Stop by our YouTube page for all of our Friday First Chapters videos, and find your new favorite book!

Libby is a free app where you can enjoy ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines from your public library. You can stream titles with Wi-Fi or mobile data, or download them for offline use and read anytime, anywhere. All you need to get started is your library card and smart device. You can find the Libby app in the Apple App Store, Google Play or the Amazon Appstore.

If you need assistance with Libby, Beaman Library staff members are happy to help! Or, if you prefer, you can watch any of the help videos provided by Libby.