Wayland Free Public Library
Events at the Library
> Calendar
Training classes for new ESOL tutors are scheduled for five Monday mornings, 9:15am to 12:15pm. Dates; 2/26, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18 and 3/25
Please note that only the last session will be held in-person in the Raytheon Room at the Library. The rest of the sessions will be held on Zoom.
Pre-registration is required. If you are interested in participating or have questions, please contact Ginny Steel, ESOL Program Director, at 508-358-7517 or email to esol@waylandlibrary.org
The Game Group gathers to play tabletop roleplaying games and board games together. Curious newcomers and experienced gamers are all welcome. Ages 16+.
Email Julian Butcher to ask questions, learn what RPGs we're playing next, or suggest your favorite games: jbutcher@minlib.net.
With the influx of Irish immigrants to America came a treasure trove of great music, the best of it featured in this program.
Early in the century John McCormack was the most famous Irish tenor and Broadway star Chauncey Olcott’s scored several big hits, including When Irish Eyes are Smiling. In fact, his life and songs inspired the 1947 film, My Wild Irish Rose. Danny Boy & Tura Lura Lura also originated the 1910s. Popular crooner Bing Crosby recorded two albums of Irish songs in the 1940s and scored big with hits like Galway Bay and McNamara’s Band.
Some of the songs you’ll hear in this program are either traditional Irish ballads (Molly Malone and The Water is Wide) or Irish folk songs that tell dramatic and sometimes even violent tales. You’ll hear the stories behind songs like The Black Velvet Band, The Irish Rover and Whiskey in the Jar.
This festive program concludes with a silly sixties Shel Silverstein hit that tells the “real story” of the origins of The Unicorn. Other Irish folk artists featured here are the Dubliners, the Chieftains and the Clancy Brothers. Bring out the shamrocks and shillelaghs, pour me a Guinness and don’t be forgettin’ the wearin’ of the green!
John Clark grew up in a small town in Ohio, attended college in Illinois and graduate school north of Boston. In Atlanta he taught adult education for twenty years for Emory University and Mercer University, creating classes on Bob Dylan, Fifties and Sixties music and a series called Lyrics as Literature. From 2008-2014 he was a high school history and English teacher. Since moving to Boston ten years ago, he has taught adult education for Brandeis, Tufts, Cambridge, Newton and Brookline. In 2023 he presented over 300 American Music history lectures for senior living communities and Councils on Aging. His is also an occasional guest disc jockey on MIT’s radio station, WMBR (88.1)
This storytime encourages early literacy and caregiver-child interactions with lively songs and rhymes, bounces, books, and body-awareness.
Best for babies & toddlers, with a caregiver.
We will meet in the Children's Room.
(Baby & Toddler Storytime will be held every Tuesday in February at 10:30 am.)
Have you ever wondered about the person who invented the mobile?
Have you ever wanted to make one yourself? Join Miss Wendy to do just that!
We will start by learning a bit about the work of sculptor Alexander Calder and then design and make a mobile using a variety of craft materials.
For children ages 5 and up.
King Philip's War--one of America's first and costliest wars--began in 1675 as an Indian raid on several farms in Plymouth Colony, but quickly escalated into a full-scale war engulfing all of southern New England.
At once an in-depth history of this pivotal war and a guide to the historical sites where the ambushes, raids, and battles took place, King Philip's War expands our understanding of American history and provides insight into the nature of colonial and ethnic wars in general. Through a careful reconstruction of events, first-person accounts, period illustrations, and maps, and by providing information on the exact locations of more than fifty battles, King Philip's War is useful as well as informative. Students of history, colonial war buffs, those interested in Native American history, and anyone who is curious about how this war affected a particular New England town, will find important insights into one of the most seminal events to shape the American mind and continent.
Eric B. Schultz is the author of four books, including the Amazon bestsellers Innovation on Tap and King Philip's War. He is the former CEO of Sensitech and a former CEO-partner of Ascent Ventures. His not-for-profit positions include Director of Old Colony Historical Society and Director Emeritus and former Chairman of both the Gettysburg Foundation and the New England Historic Genealogical Society/American Ancestors.
Join Ms. Janet for a musical storytime.She'll bring her ukulele, rainbow bells, and puppets!
We will meet in the Children's Room.
For ages birth through age 4, with caregivers.
(Music, Story, Fun! will also be held on on Feb. 15, Feb.22 and Feb 29, at 10:30 am)
This group gathers two Thursdays a month to work on writing poetry. Beginners and advanced are equally welcome.
Virtual: This meeting is held via ZOOM - email Joan Kimball for the info: jawkimball@gmail.com
Cook as you are, by Ruby Tandoh
Ruby Tandoh
Thursday, March 21, 2024
5:30-7:00
Raytheon room
We look forward to using Cook as you are, by Ruby Tandoh next time! This is a lightly illustrated cookbook for all types of home cooks, with 100+ approachable, accessible recipes. Dishes feature spices, lots of vegetables, grains, some meat, and lots of creativity.
No registration required, but please tell us about yourself! Send your email and claim a recipe by Sunday March 17 dwinn@minlib.net
- What’s next?
Cookbook club is a gathering with community spirit in mind. Typically people bring their own plates, utensils, and serving implements, and cooks declare ingredients with a form here at the library to ensure a safe eating environment for all.
See you Thursday March 21!
You’re invited to a fascinating exploratory conversation with Madeline Miller, bestselling author of The Song of Achilles and Circe, as she chats with us about her body of work and her process in retelling Greek classics into modern epics in fiction.
Virtual: Register
In The Song of Achilles, Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.
When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.
In Circe, to Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--neither powerful like her father nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power: the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.
Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts, and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from or with the mortals she has come to love.
Madeline Miller is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two novels: The Song of Achilles, which won the Orange Women’s Prize for Fiction 2012, and Circe, which was short-listed for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019. Her books have been translated into over thirty two languages. Miller holds an MA in Classics from Brown University, studied in the Dramaturgy department at Yale School of Drama, where she focused on the adaptation of classical texts to modern forms, and taught Latin, Greek, and Shakespeare to high school students for over a decade.
Practice your English skills! We will read a short story or article and discuss it. No preparation is needed. This group is best for intermediate or advanced speakers.
January 5 and 19
February 2 and 16
March 1 and 22
April 5 and 26
May 10 and 31
June 14 and 28
9-10 a.m. in the Wayland Library Raytheon Room
Registration is required. Limited to 10 people. We will keep a waitlist in case there are cancellations.
Contact Amy Conway at aconway@minlib.net or ask for her at 508-358-2311.
Teens! Play Magic the Gathering with your friends!
Bring your own Magic Cards or use ours.
Experienced players and newbies welcome.
For teens in grades 6 and up. Please register here.
Children will listen to stories and rhymes, and sing songs in Mandarin and in English. We will also make a craft! This immersion storytime is best for ages 2 - 5 years. Led by Isabelle Ren, director of Wonderwhiz Academy early learning center.
"孩子们将听普通话和英语故事,一起跟着唱中英文儿歌。我们还会一起做手工。中英双语故事会最适合 2 - 5 岁儿童。由Wonderwhiz Academy奇迹奇才早教中心主任Isabelle Ren主持"
Come dance with us! Wayland High School student Elyssa Grillo will teach beginning ballet.
Registration is required. For children ages 4 and up, with caregiver.
Training classes for new ESOL tutors are scheduled for five Monday mornings, 9:15am to 12:15pm. Dates; 2/26, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18 and 3/25
Please note that only the last session will be held in-person in the Raytheon Room at the Library. The rest of the sessions will be held on Zoom.
Pre-registration is required. If you are interested in participating or have questions, please contact Ginny Steel, ESOL Program Director, at 508-358-7517 or email to esol@waylandlibrary.org
The Game Group gathers to play tabletop roleplaying games and board games together. Curious newcomers and experienced gamers are all welcome. Ages 16+.
Email Julian Butcher to ask questions, learn what RPGs we're playing next, or suggest your favorite games: jbutcher@minlib.net.
This storytime encourages early literacy and caregiver-child interactions with lively songs and rhymes, bounces, books, and body-awareness.
Best for babies & toddlers, with a caregiver.
We will meet in the Children's Room.
(Baby & Toddler Storytime will be held every Tuesday in February at 10:30 am.)
Haley Kulow from Family ACCESS Community Connections will lead children in songs and movement, and will share a story!
We will meet in the Children's Room. For ages 0 - 3.
Please register HERE.
Come join real scientists as we learn about the upcoming total solar eclipse happening in our part of the world on April 8, 2024. Curious learners will see what causes an eclipse and perform hands-on activities about the Sun and the Moon as we prepare for this rare event.
Dr Liz Bless and Dr. Sandra Pearl from SEED will lead this workshop.
For ages 6 and up. Registration required. (Registration opens on March 1)
This book discussion group is for 4th and 5th graders.
We will be discussing Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston.
We will meet in the Teen Loft.
Questions or to get a copy of the book contact Pam McCuen at pmccuen@minlib.net
Join Ms. Janet for a musical storytime.She'll bring her ukulele, rainbow bells, and puppets!
We will meet in the Children's Room.
For ages birth through age 4, with caregivers.
(Music, Story, Fun! will also be held on on Feb. 15, Feb.22 and Feb 29, at 10:30 am)
Teens! Sculpt a Dragon Eye that's fierce or friendly using a glass eye, air dry clay and metallic paint.
If time allows we'll also make a Dragon Egg.
For teens ages 12 and up. Registration required. We will meet in the Teen Loft
Kids are invited to a Pokémon card trading day at the library.
Come with cards you are willing to trade!
For ages 7 to 11. Please register.
Will the United States and China, with other powerful countries following suit, approach current and future climate initiatives with an increased commitment to trade protectionism and nationalism, by various measures including trade restrictions? Or could a growing spirit of international accord develop to confront the “common enemy” of climate change?
We will meet in the Raytheon Room. To attend via Zoom, contact Steve Engler.
About Great Decisions:
Prepare to discuss the world! Join our current events discussion group. Preparation involves reading an 8-page article from the Great Decisions Briefing Book. Our meetings consist of a 20 minute documentary film screening and lively, peer-facilitated discussion on the most critical global issues facing America today.
Art Club is for kids in Grades 2 - 5 who love to draw and paint!
This club, led by Wayland parent Emily Kristofek, will meet the first Monday of each month.
In this session, each child will draw an optical illusion.
Registration required.
Meeting in person and on Zoom. Email Brittany at btuttle@minlib.net for the Zoom link.
Pick up a copy of the book at the Circulation Desk.
The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson
On a cool June evening in 2009, after performing a concert at London's Royal Academy of Music, twenty-year-old American flautist Edwin Rist boarded a train for a suburban outpost of the British Museum of Natural History. Home to one of the largest ornithological collections in the world, the Tring museum was full of rare bird specimens whose gorgeous feathers were worth staggering amounts of money to the men who shared Edwin's obsession: the Victorian art of salmon fly-tying. Once inside the museum, the champion fly-tier grabbed hundreds of bird skins—some collected 150 years earlier by a contemporary of Darwin's, Alfred Russel Wallace, who'd risked everything to gather them—and escaped into the darkness.
Two years later, Kirk Wallace Johnson was waist high in a river in northern New Mexico when his fly-fishing guide told him about the heist. He was soon consumed by the strange case of the feather thief. What would possess a person to steal dead birds? Had Edwin paid the price for his crime? What became of the missing skins? In his search for answers, Johnson was catapulted into a years-long, worldwide investigation. The gripping story of a bizarre and shocking crime, and one man's relentless pursuit of justice, The Feather Thief is also a fascinating exploration of obsession, and man's destructive instinct to harvest the beauty of nature.
This storytime encourages early literacy and caregiver-child interactions with lively songs and rhymes, bounces, books, and body-awareness.
Best for babies & toddlers, with a caregiver.
We will meet in the Children's Room.
(Baby & Toddler Storytime will be held every Tuesday in February at 10:30 am.)
- How immigration and migration has shaped (and continues to shape) American tables,
- How food companies have influenced home cooks through advertising, from Jell-O salads to Crock-pots.
- How individuals from Brownie Wise to James Beard and Julia Child inspired generations of cooks and eaters across the United States.
- And show viewers how uniting in the kitchen can change the shape of our collective futures, specifically highlighting growers and chefs who are reclaiming and reinventing regional and cultural traditions, including Indigenous ingredients and cooking techniques.
"Building Comfort with Uncomfortable Conversations: A Conversation for Parents"
We often face situations in life where we have to have uncomfortable conversations with our children, family, friends and beyond.
Discussing sensitive topics, setting clear boundaries, addressing expectations; these are all things that can come with stress and discomfort.
Building capacity and developing tools and tactics to address these conversations head on, with goals, grace and compassion is what we aim for.
Join Jason Verhoosky | Director of Youth & Family Services, for an evening of conversation, interactive experiences and community.
Jason will lead the group in interactive communication exercises, answer questions and provide you with new tools and perspectives to help find comfort in these challenging times.
Jason Verhoosky is the Director of Youth & Family Services for the Town of Wayland. Jason started their career working for the Department of Social Services as a counselor in a short-term adolescent residential treatment program. While working with youth they developed a passion for providing substance abuse education and implementing harm reduction methods in response to youth drug use. Jason has worked in the field of youth development since 2001 and has focused on substance abuse prevention since 2008. Jason has worked as a regional and national trainer for The Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, The Office of National Drug Control Policy and The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. In addition to substance prevention work, Jason is passionate about communication strategies, healthy relationships and reducing stigma.
When Jason is not working with youth and communities, you can normally find them playing music somewhere in New England, spending all the time with their children, growing food or hiking with their dog Stella Blue and wonder cats Simon & Garfunkel.
Children will make fabulous creations out of legos.
This month's theme is Playgrounds.
We will meet in the Raytheon Room.. For ages 5 years and up, with caregivers.
Join Ms. Janet for a musical storytime.She'll bring her ukulele, rainbow bells, and puppets!
We will meet in the Children's Room.
For ages birth through age 4, with caregivers.
(Music, Story, Fun! will also be held on on Feb. 15, Feb.22 and Feb 29, at 10:30 am)
This group gathers two Thursdays a month to work on writing poetry. Beginners and advanced are equally welcome.
Virtual: This meeting is held via ZOOM - email Joan Kimball for the info: jawkimball@gmail.com
Practice your English skills! We will read a short story or article and discuss it. No preparation is needed. This group is best for intermediate or advanced speakers.
January 5 and 19
February 2 and 16
March 1 and 22
April 5 and 26
May 10 and 31
June 14 and 28
9-10 a.m. in the Wayland Library Raytheon Room
Registration is required. Limited to 10 people. We will keep a waitlist in case there are cancellations.
Contact Amy Conway at aconway@minlib.net or ask for her at 508-358-2311.
The Game Group gathers to play tabletop roleplaying games and board games together. Curious newcomers and experienced gamers are all welcome. Ages 16+.
Email Julian Butcher to ask questions, learn what RPGs we're playing next, or suggest your favorite games: jbutcher@minlib.net.
This storytime encourages early literacy and caregiver-child interactions with lively songs and rhymes, bounces, books, and body-awareness.
Best for babies & toddlers, with a caregiver.
We will meet in the Children's Room.
(Baby & Toddler Storytime will be held every Tuesday in February at 10:30 am.)
Join us for a one-of-a-kind conversation with National Book Award-winner Colum McCann as he is joined by Diane Foley, the inspiration behind the heartrending book American Mother.
Virtual. Register here.
American Mother is the story of a mother who, in the course of confronting her son’s killer, gets to the elemental heart of violence and forgiveness. Diane Foley is the mother of Jim, a freelance journalist captured and beheaded by ISIS in 2014, an image that became one of the most iconic of the 21st century. Seven years later, Diane gets the chance to spend three days with the murderer of her son in a Virginia courthouse, inspiring her to tell her life story. What unfolds is one of the most compelling narratives in recent literary history, channeled into searing reality by New York Times bestselling author Colum McCann, who brings us on a journey of strength, resilience, and radical empathy. You are sure to be moved by McCann's writing and Foley’s uncompromising love, register now!
Colum McCann is the author of seven novels, three collections of stories and two works of non-fiction. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he has been the recipient of many international honors, including the U.S National Book Award, the International Dublin Literary Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, election to the Irish Arts Academy, several European awards, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China, and an Oscar nomination. In 2017 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts. His work has been published in over 40 languages. He is the President and co-founder of the non-profit global story exchange organization, Narrative 4. He is the Thomas Hunter Writer in Residence in Hunter College, in New York, where he lives with his wife Allison and their family. His most recent novel, Apeirogon, became an immediate New York Times best-seller and won several major international awards. His first major non-fiction book, American Mother, will be published in March 2024.
Diane M. Foley is the mother of five children, including American freelance conflict journalist James W. Foley. She founded the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation in September 2014, less than a month after his public execution. Diane is currently serving as the President and Executive Director of JWFLF. Since 2014, she has led JWFLF efforts to fund the start of Hostage US and the International Alliance for a Culture of Safety, ACOS. In 2015, she actively participated in the National Counterterrorism Center hostage review which culminated in the Presidential Policy Directive-30. This directive re-organized US efforts on behalf of Americans taken hostage abroad into an interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs and a Hostage Recovery Group at the White House. Previously, Diane worked first as a community health nurse and then as a family nurse practitioner for 18 years. She received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH.
The Raytheon Room will be made available for anyone who is looking for a quiet place to work or study on the evenings when the Music eXchange Listening Room is happening on the Main Floor.
Arts Wayland and the Wayland Free Public Library are excited to announce the return of the Music Exchange Listening Room open mic, hosted by Steve Robb, on Tuesday, April 9 from 7:30 till 9:30pm. Attendees will settle in to the comfortable seating of the library’s Round Room to perform and enjoy lightly amplified music in a true listening environment. Refreshments will be available. The library will be open all day and we encourage coming early to check out what the library has to offer, get a good seat, and to sign up for a 2-3 song performance slot.
The Wayland Free Public Library is located at 5 Concord Road, right near town center, with ample parking.
The Music Exchange Listening Room will repeat on the second Tuesday of each month.
Join Ms. Janet for a musical storytime.She'll bring her ukulele, rainbow bells, and puppets!
We will meet in the Children's Room.
For ages birth through age 4, with caregivers.
(Music, Story, Fun! will also be held on on Feb. 15, Feb.22 and Feb 29, at 10:30 am)
Do you enjoy creating things with your hands? Bring your project to the library for some crafting camaraderie! We'll work on our pieces and share advice, projects and social time during this casual get-together.
Every 2nd Thursday, Sept-May, 2:00-3:30 PM.
Register to be reminded via email, or just show up!
And they said Elvis couldn't be played on the ukulele... they were WRONG! Come see for yourself.
Bring your ukes and stands, we’ll bring Elvis! Props and costumes welcomed too.
Join Marisa and Jerry of the A&W Ukulele Players for a fun, instructional jam session.
We'll share 8-10 songs and plenty of uku-cameraderie.
Players should have basic skills, know how to tune, and be able to play 6-8 chords.
BYOU (Bring Your Own Uke) | Registration requested but not required
Practice your English skills! We will read a short story or article and discuss it. No preparation is needed. This group is best for intermediate or advanced speakers.
January 5 and 19
February 2 and 16
March 1 and 22
April 5 and 26
May 10 and 31
June 14 and 28
9-10 a.m. in the Wayland Library Raytheon Room
Registration is required. Limited to 10 people. We will keep a waitlist in case there are cancellations.
Contact Amy Conway at aconway@minlib.net or ask for her at 508-358-2311.
With the threat of Mussolini’s army looming, recently orphaned Hirut struggles to adapt to her new life as a maid to Kidane and his wife Aster. As the war begins in earnest, the Emperor goes into exile and Ethiopia quickly loses hope. Hirut helps disguise a gentle peasant as the emperor and soon becomes his guard, inspiring other women to take up arms against the Italians.
More information about this book.
This storytime encourages early literacy and caregiver-child interactions with lively songs and rhymes, bounces, books, and body-awareness.
Best for babies & toddlers, with a caregiver.
We will meet in the Children's Room.
(Baby & Toddler Storytime will be held every Tuesday in February at 10:30 am.)
Professor Bugman brings his Arthropod Petting Zoo to Wayland!
Kids learn all about Arthropods, the most diverse group of animal life on the planet,
during this exciting show-and-tell-and-touch program! For ages 3 and up.
with students from the Cambridge School of Weston
We cannot wait for you to join us as we chat with award-winning and bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez about her newest novel Anita de Monte Laughs Last.
Virtual. Register here.
Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite. In 1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name had been all but forgotten―certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student was preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret. But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.
Moving back and forth through time and told from the perspectives of both Anita and Raquel, this is sure a novel (and a conversation) that you don’t want to miss. Register now!
Xochitl Gonzalez is the New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming. Named Best of 2022 by The New York Times, TIME, Kirkus, Washington Post, and NPR, Olga Dies Dreaming was the winner of the Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize in Fiction and the New York City Book Award. Gonzalez is a 2021 MFA graduate from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her nonfiction work has been published in Elle Decor, Allure, Vogue, Real Simple, and The Cut. Her commentary writing for The Atlantic was recognized as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. A native Brooklynite and proud public school graduate, Gonzalez holds a BA from Brown University and lives in her hometown of Brooklyn with her dog, Hectah Lavoe.
Join Ms. Janet for a musical storytime.She'll bring her ukulele, rainbow bells, and puppets!
We will meet in the Children's Room.
For ages birth through age 4, with caregivers.
(Music, Story, Fun! will also be held on on Feb. 15, Feb.22 and Feb 29, at 10:30 am)
This group gathers two Thursdays a month to work on writing poetry. Beginners and advanced are equally welcome.
Virtual: This meeting is held via ZOOM - email Joan Kimball for the info: jawkimball@gmail.com
In this workshop, cartoonists Dave London and Pete Chianca will use the methods they've developed producing their nationally-distributed comic strip Pet Peeves to guide young would-be cartoonists through every step of the creation process. Topics include inventing characters, drawing expressions, devising gags and jokes, and coming up with a completed comic strip to take home at the end of the workshop.
For ages 9 and up.
Meike Peters
Noon
Creations perfect for midday (or anytime!)
Who doesn’t like an aromatic kitchen? Read with us the cookbook Noon, recently published by Meike Peters, for April 18. Move over brown paper lunch bag! We’ve got something good here.
- build a polenta as an open-face pizza… liberally top it with coriander and gorgeous sweet peppers… Or,
- relish a rӧsti brimming with potatoes, pistachios, and feta
- sneak a hearty schnitzel onto your lunch-time plate
- enjoy meatballs infused with fennel directly from a skillet
Hot and cold selections abound here in the form of salads, apps, veggie- or meat-based mains, and modern sweets. Noon will be good for your weekends, or on regular days when you find the lunch box empty.
April Meeting Dystopian/Sci-FI Book Group
Thursday, April 18th, 2024 7-8:30
Join us for a lively discussion of Fractal Noise by Christoipher Paolini
The crew of the Adamura discovers the anomaly. On the seemingly uninhabited planet Talos VII: a circular pit, 50 kilometers wide. Its curve not of nature, but design. Now, a small team must land and journey on foot across the surface to learn who built the hole and why. But they all carry the burdens of lives carved out on disparate colonies in the cruel cold of space. For some the mission is the dream of the lifetime, for others a risk not worth taking, and for one it is a desperate attempt to find meaning in an uncaring universe. Each step they take toward the mysterious abyss is more punishing than the last. And the ghosts of their past follow.
Library Journal Review:
This pulse-pounding science-fiction novel pits human curiosity and technology against alien tech deep in the cosmos. The story follows Alex Crichton, a xenobiologist whose ship, the Adamura, comes in contact with evidence of sophisticated alien intelligence when they discover a massive cylindrical hole cut into the surface of a faraway planet which is transmitting a message into space. The sonic force that the hole exerts on the plant is so massive that the ship can't land safely. The crew decides to send a small away party to discover what they can, crossing the planet on foot. The majority of the novel describes this grueling trek, which, with its tents and sleds, reads as a story ripped from the pages of Antarctic exploration. The away mission does not go as planned, with equipment failures, unexpected encounters, and the growing threat that the ever-present "thud" from the alien machine will make them lose their grip on reality. VERDICT Those daunted by the 800+ pages of the first in this series, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, will find this a comparably brief read, and it works well as an excellent starting point for the series as a whole.--Jeremiah Rood
Copies of the book are available at our Circulation Desk.
Please email ekatz@minlib.net for Zoom Link.
Scientific advances benefit from collaboration between researchers, but what happens when material, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) is controversial and important to a nation’s national security? Is there a middle ground between sharing information and denying access? How can we regulate cooperation?
We will meet in the Raytheon Room. To attend via Zoom, contact Steve Engler.
About Great Decisions:
Prepare to discuss the world! Join our current events discussion group. Preparation involves reading an 8-page article from the Great Decisions Briefing Book. Our meetings consist of a 20 minute documentary film screening and lively, peer-facilitated discussion on the most critical global issues facing America today.
The Game Group gathers to play tabletop roleplaying games and board games together. Curious newcomers and experienced gamers are all welcome. Ages 16+.
Email Julian Butcher to ask questions, learn what RPGs we're playing next, or suggest your favorite games: jbutcher@minlib.net.
This storytime encourages early literacy and caregiver-child interactions with lively songs and rhymes, bounces, books, and body-awareness.
Best for babies & toddlers, with a caregiver.
We will meet in the Children's Room.
(Baby & Toddler Storytime will be held every Tuesday in February at 10:30 am.)
Professors Wei Ding and John Quackenbush will be discussing the revolutionary role of AI in the field of Medicine and Biomedical Research with the use of unsupervised machine learning. This technique uses algorithms to analyze and cluster data in order to discover hidden patterns without the need for human intervention. Dr. Quackenbush and Dr. Ding have brought their exceedingly diverse backgrounds and experience to bear on this topic in a successful collaboration for years. During the event, they will not only share their insights into AI's transformative power in the field of medicine and biomedical research but also offer valuable career path advice – come and learn about where this may take us in the future.
Hosted by the Cary Library, Lexiongton, in partnership with several MA Libraries.
Register here for the Zoom link. (This is a hybrid program - you can attend in person in Lexington or join via Zoom.)
John Quackenbush (https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/john-quackenbush/) is Henry Pickering Walcott Professor of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics and Chair of the Department of Biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Professor in the Channing Division of Network Medicine, and Professor at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. John’s PhD was in Theoretical Physics, but in 1992 he received a fellowship to work on the Human Genome Project. This led him through the Salk Institute, Stanford, The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), and to Harvard in 2005. John uses massive data to probe how many small effects combine to influence human health and disease. He has more than 300 scientific papers and over 73,000 citations. Among his honors is recognition in 2013 as a White House Open Science Champion of Change. Dr. Quackenbush has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) in 2023.
Wei Ding (https://www.cs.umb.edu/~ding/)is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She served as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation's Division of Information Intelligent Systems from 2019 to 2023. Her responsibilities included overseeing Information Integration and Informatics, Smart Health and Biomedical Research, Formal Methods in the Field, Mathematical and Scientific Foundations of Deep Learning, and Principles and Practice of Scalable Systems. Wei's research interests encompass data mining, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational semantics, with applications in health sciences, astronomy, geosciences, and environmental sciences. Her contributions consist of over 140 referenced research papers, a published book, and three patents. She received the NSF Director’s Award in 2022, the Best Paper Award at the 2011 IEEE International Conference on Tools with Artificial Intelligence (ICTAI), the Best Paper Award at the 2010 IEEE International Conference on Cognitive Informatics (ICCI), and the Best Poster Presentation award at the 2008 ACM SIGSPATIAL International Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems (SIGSPAITAL GIS). Wei was honored with the 2019 WISAY Distinguished Woman in Science Award from Yale University, the 2018 Outstanding Alumni Award, and the Best PhD Work Award between 2007 and 2010 from the University of Houston. Her research projects have been funded by NSF, NIH, NASA, and DOE. She is an IEEE Fellow, AAIA Fellow, and an ACM Senior Member.
Haley from Family ACCESS Community Connections will lead children in songs and movement, and will share a story!
We will meet in the Children's Room. For ages 0 - 3.
Please register HERE..
In this 3D design program, participants will design their own working sliding lid box. Using Tinkercad.com, participants will assign specific dimensions to create a functional object. Some experience with Tinkercad is recommended, but not required. Objects will be printed after the workshop, and will be free. Ages 8 and up, adults and parents also welcome. Children younger than 8 are welcome, but parents are encouraged to stay and design with their children. Space is limited so sign up online, in person, or over the phone.
Learn about the great work done by the Prison Book Program! Kelly Brotzman, Managing Director , will talk about the issue of access to books and information for people in prison, the role books play in incarcerated people’s lives, and the work the Prison Book Program does to support incarcerated people’s right to read.
The mission of the Prison Book Program is to support people in prison by sending them free books and print resources that meet their specific needs and interests. They also provide a highly engaging volunteer experience that connects people inside and outside of the American prison system. They believe that everyone has a right to read, and that books are tremendous sources of enlightenment, enjoyment, and transformation. They also strive to lessen the dehumanization and isolation of incarceration by providing readers with a connection to a community of caring people.
Kelly Brotzman’s passion for supporting people in prison comes from her experiences teaching college classes in prisons and volunteering with incarcerated students. Prior to joining PBP, Kelly spent 20 years in higher education, teaching classes about social justice, poverty, and inequality. Kelly has a PhD in ethics from the University of Chicago.
Join Ms. Janet for a musical storytime.She'll bring her ukulele, rainbow bells, and puppets!
We will meet in the Children's Room.
For ages birth through age 4, with caregivers.
(Music, Story, Fun! will also be held on on Feb. 15, Feb.22 and Feb 29, at 10:30 am)
Kids are invited to a Pokémon card trading day at the library.
Come with cards you are willing to trade!
For ages 7 to 11. Please register.
Practice your English skills! We will read a short story or article and discuss it. No preparation is needed. This group is best for intermediate or advanced speakers.
January 5 and 19
February 2 and 16
March 1 and 22
April 5 and 26
May 10 and 31
June 14 and 28
9-10 a.m. in the Wayland Library Raytheon Room
Registration is required. Limited to 10 people. We will keep a waitlist in case there are cancellations.
Contact Amy Conway at aconway@minlib.net or ask for her at 508-358-2311.
The Game Group gathers to play tabletop roleplaying games and board games together. Curious newcomers and experienced gamers are all welcome. Ages 16+.
Email Julian Butcher to ask questions, learn what RPGs we're playing next, or suggest your favorite games: jbutcher@minlib.net.
This storytime encourages early literacy and caregiver-child interactions with lively songs and rhymes, bounces, books, and body-awareness.
Best for babies & toddlers, with a caregiver.
We will meet in the Children's Room.
(Baby & Toddler Storytime will be held every Tuesday in February at 10:30 am.)
One of the articles to be voted on at the May 13th Wayland Town Meeting, is a resolution in support of changing the state flag & seal of Massachusetts. Indigenous leaders have been calling for this change for more than 50 years. Join Faries Gray and David Detmold to learn about the violent history and impact of our state symbols, and about the movement to create symbols that better express the ideals of the Commonwealth.
Faries Gray is the Sagamore (War Chief) of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, as well as one of the Massachusett tribal historians. For the last 20 years, Faries has worked with multiple cities, towns, schools, colleges, and universities to educate them about the Massachusett Tribe during the early years of colonization.Presently Faries is working with all the historic tribes within the Commonwealth to lobby for schools and our representatives to ban the use of Indigenous mascots in all public schools in the Commonwealth. Faries works part time for the NITHPO office of the MedicineMan for the Narragansett Tribe. This work includes identifying ceremonial landscapes in the effort to prevent these landscapes from being developed.
David Detmold is the coordinator of changethemassflag.com. He has worked with volunteers in 90 cities and towns to bring resolutions of support for changing the flag and seal of Massachusetts to town meetings and city councils, from the Berkshires to Cape Cod. As of March, 2024, 79 Massachusetts cities and towns have taken formal votes in support of that change. David is the founding editor of the independent weekly newspaper, the Montague Reporter, and served for 20 years as an elected town meeting member in Montague.
Join us as we chat with New York Times bestselling author, Douglas Brunt, about instant bestselling debut non-fiction work The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I. This book reveals the hidden history of Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, and his mysterious disappearance on the eve of World War I.
Virtual. Register here.
September 29, 1913: the steamship Dresden is halfway between Belgium and England. On board is one of the most famous men in the world, Rudolf Diesel, whose new internal combustion engine is on the verge of revolutionizing global industry forever. But Diesel never arrives at his destination. He vanishes during the night and headlines around the world wonder if it was an accident, suicide, or murder.
After rising from an impoverished European childhood, Diesel had become a multi-millionaire with his powerful engine that does not require expensive petroleum-based fuel. In doing so, he became not only an international celebrity but also the enemy of two extremely powerful men -– Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil and the richest man in the world. The Kaiser wanted the engine to power a fleet of submarines that would finally allow him to challenge Great Britain’s Royal Navy. But Diesel had intended for his engine to be used for the betterment of the world.
Brunt reopens the case and provides a compelling new conclusion about Diesel’s fate. Register now to see how the mystery unfolds!
Douglas Brunt is the New York Times bestselling author of The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel and host of the top-rated SiriusXM author podcast Dedicated with Doug Brunt. A Philadelphia native, he lives in Connecticut with his wife and three children. Visit DouglasBrunt.com for more information.
This group gathers two Thursdays a month to work on writing poetry. Beginners and advanced are equally welcome.
Virtual: This meeting is held via ZOOM - email Joan Kimball for the info: jawkimball@gmail.com
Meeting in person and on Zoom. Email Brittany at btuttle@minlib.net for the Zoom link. Pick up a copy of the book at the Circulation Desk.
Featuring a visit with the author, Jean Duffy!
Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World by Jean Duffy
In rural South Africa, beloved humanitarian "Mama Beka" defied social convention and started a soccer team for the women in her community. The Soccer Grannies, as they came to be known, won over their families and villages who at first rejected the idea of older women playing soccer, and that single team quickly grew into dozens. Soon, the strength, tenacity, and pure joy of the Soccer Grannies had captured the attention of the world.
In Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World, Jean Duffy, a soccer-playing mom herself, recounts how she and her team set to work to bring the Soccer Grannies to the U.S. after hearing their incredible story. Despite many obstacles that stand in their way, the Soccer Grannies finally arrive, and Jean describes the wonderful friendships and cultural exchanges that follow. But Soccer Grannies tells more than just the physical journey of the South African women; it also details the Grannies' personal journeys, sharing poignant insights into the realities of women living in South Africa.
Life beyond the pitch has not been easy for the Grannies. They have persevered through apartheid, rampant poverty and unemployment, the loss of children to AIDS, domestic abuse, and more. But with the friendship and support of their fellow Soccer Grannies, these women face life's challenges with dignity, humor, and hope. Their stories show to the world the power of sport and its unique ability to bring people and cultures together.
About the Author
Jean Duffy is a nonfiction writer who has published with the Boston Globe, the Concord Monitor, the Packingtown Review, the Somerville Journal, the Stamford Advocate, and WBUR Cognoscenti. Jean worked as an engineer and manager before retiring, and now can be found playing socceer and consulting with nonprofits. Follow Jean at jeanduffy.com.
Art Club is for kids in Grades 2 - 5 who love to draw and paint! This club, led by Wayland parent Emily Kristofek, will
meet the first Monday of each month.
Registration required.
"Lessons Learned in Global Child Health"
Dr. Wilson will share lessons learned, best practices, and stories from her work as a pediatrician with Partners in Health in East Africa and the Caribbean.
Kim Wilson, M.D. M.P.H. is a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School. In Boston, Dr. Wilson works in primary care for an underserved community. Globally, Dr. Wilson has worked in partnership with organizations in the Dominican Republic, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Dr. Wilson’s global work has focused on improving the quality of pediatric care, optimizing early childhood development, and training pediatricians and medical students in East Africa. Dr. Wilson is also the founding director of the Global Pediatric Fellowship Program at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Nothing brings a family together like a murder next door.
You’re invited to join Nina Simon online as she chats about her lighthearted whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio of amateur sleuths, Mother-Daughter Murder Night.
Virtual. Register here.
Mother-Daughter Murder Night follows high-powered business woman Lana Rubicon. She has a lot to be proud of with her keen intelligence, impeccable taste, and the L.A. real estate empire she’s built. But when she finds herself trapped 300 miles north of the city, convalescing in a sleepy coastal town with her adult daughter Beth and teenage granddaughter Jack, Lana is stuck counting otters instead of square footage—and hoping that boredom won’t kill her before the cancer does.
In a turn of events, when Jack happens upon a dead body while kayaking she quickly becomes a suspect in the homicide investigation, and the Rubicon women are thrown into chaos. Beth thinks Lana should focus on recovery, but Lana has a better idea. She’ll pull on her wig, find the true murderer, protect her family, and prove she still has power. With Jack and Beth’s help, Lana uncovers a web of lies, family vendettas, and land disputes lurking beneath the surface of a community populated by folksy conservationists and wealthy ranchers. But as their amateur snooping advances into ever-more dangerous territory, the headstrong Rubicon women must learn to do the one thing they’ve always resisted: depend on each other.
Harness your inner detective and sign up for the investigation. Register now!
Nina Simon writes crime fiction about strong women. She is the New York Times-bestselling debut author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night. This big-hearted whodunnit is a Reese's Book Club pick and a "best of 2023" selection for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CrimeReads, and LibraryJournal.
Before turning to fiction, Nina wore many hats: NASA engineer, slam poet, game designer, museum director, and nonprofit CEO. Her work on community participation in museums, libraries, parks, and theaters has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, NPR, and the TEDx stage.
Mother-Daughter Murder Night is Nina’s first novel. She wrote it as a love letter to her mother, as a way to entertain, comfort, and connect with her during a major health crisis. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nina now lives off-the-grid in the Santa Cruz Mountains with her family. More information can be found on her website, ninaksimon.com.
Do you enjoy creating things with your hands? Bring your project to the library for some crafting camaraderie! We'll work on our pieces and share advice, projects and social time during this casual get-together.
Every 2nd Thursday, Sept-May, 2:00-3:30 PM.
Register to be reminded via email, or just show up!
Practice your English skills! We will read a short story or article and discuss it. No preparation is needed. This group is best for intermediate or advanced speakers.
January 5 and 19
February 2 and 16
March 1 and 22
April 5 and 26
May 10 and 31
June 14 and 28
9-10 a.m. in the Wayland Library Raytheon Room
Registration is required. Limited to 10 people. We will keep a waitlist in case there are cancellations.
Contact Amy Conway at aconway@minlib.net or ask for her at 508-358-2311.
Join Little Beats for 30 minutes of yoga-inspired movement
For ages 1 to 5, with caregiver.
Location: Raytheon Room
In the dark waiting room of the ferry terminal in the sketchy Spanish port of Algeciras, two aging Irishmen–Maurice Hearne and Charlie Redmond, longtime partners in the lucrative and dangerous enterprise of smuggling drugs–sit at night, none too patiently. They are expecting Maurice’s estranged daughter, Dilly, to either arrive on a boat coming from Tangier or depart on one heading there. Their conversations cause them to excavate their shared history of violence, romance, mutual betrayals and serial exiles.
More information about this book.
The Game Group gathers to play tabletop roleplaying games and board games together. Curious newcomers and experienced gamers are all welcome. Ages 16+.
Email Julian Butcher to ask questions, learn what RPGs we're playing next, or suggest your favorite games: jbutcher@minlib.net.
The Raytheon Room will be made available for anyone who is looking for a quiet place to work or study on the evenings when the Music eXchange Listening Room is happening on the Main Floor.
at COA
This group gathers two Thursdays a month to work on writing poetry. Beginners and advanced are equally welcome.
Virtual: This meeting is held via ZOOM - email Joan Kimball for the info: jawkimball@gmail.com
China’s economic rise and its current policies of increasing the role of the state in the economy have led some U.S. policymakers to seek to deny China access to U.S. technology and investment. This is seen as a necessary corrective to decades of predatory Chinese economic policies. Is this a wise strategy, and how effective can it be?
We will meet in the Raytheon Room. To attend via Zoom, contact Steve Engler.
About Great Decisions:
Prepare to discuss the world! Join our current events discussion group. Preparation involves reading an 8-page article from the Great Decisions Briefing Book. Our meetings consist of a 20 minute documentary film screening and lively, peer-facilitated discussion on the most critical global issues facing America today.
The Game Group gathers to play tabletop roleplaying games and board games together. Curious newcomers and experienced gamers are all welcome. Ages 16+.
Email Julian Butcher to ask questions, learn what RPGs we're playing next, or suggest your favorite games: jbutcher@minlib.net.
We welcome you to register for a thrilling conversation with Rebecca F. Kuang (R.F. Kuang) as she chats with us about her New York Times bestselling novel, Yellowface. Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media.
Virtual: Register here.
In Yellowface, Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.
So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.
So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.
But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.
White lies, dark humor, and deadly consequences await within the pages of Yellowface. With its totally immersive first-person voice, Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable. Register to join the conversation!
Rebecca F. Kuang is the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Poppy War trilogy, Babel: An Arcane History, and Yellowface. A Marshall Scholar, she has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale, where she studies diaspora, contemporary Chinese literature, and Asian American literature.
Haley from Family ACCESS Community Connections will lead children in songs and movement, and will share a story!
We will meet in the Children's Room. For ages 0 - 3.
Please register HERE..
Over 500,000 Massachusetts residents answered the call to military duty in the Second World War, while the rest of the state's citizens fought the war on the home front. Everyone in the family, including pets, found creative and essential ways to contribute.
Thousands worked in factories, volunteered for Civil Defense, watched for enemy aircraft, and took part in salvage collections and bond drives, all while dealing with rationing, blackouts, rumors and a host of other wartime inconveniences. And while thousands of service members left to fight overseas, the Bay State also welcomed thousands more to serve on its military bases that were such an important part of our nation's defense.
Author James Parr reveals the stories of these brave and dedicated citizens--from the famous to the ordinary--as they faced wartime challenges.
James L. Parr taught elementary school for thirty-four years before retiring in June 2022. He is a longtime volunteer at several local historical organizations and community theater groups. This is Jim's fourth book for The History Press; other titles include Framingham Legends and Lore , Murder and Mayhem in Metrowest Boston (both with Kevin A. Swope) and Dedham: Historic and Heroic Tales of Shiretown .
Practice your English skills! We will read a short story or article and discuss it. No preparation is needed. This group is best for intermediate or advanced speakers.
January 5 and 19
February 2 and 16
March 1 and 22
April 5 and 26
May 10 and 31
June 14 and 28
9-10 a.m. in the Wayland Library Raytheon Room
Registration is required. Limited to 10 people. We will keep a waitlist in case there are cancellations.
Contact Amy Conway at aconway@minlib.net or ask for her at 508-358-2311.
Art Club is for kids in Grades 2 - 5 who love to draw and paint! This club, led by Wayland parent Emily Kristofek, will
meet the first Monday of each month.
Registration required.
Meeting in person and on Zoom. Email Brittany at btuttle@minlib.net for the Zoom link.
Pick up a copy of the book at the Circulation Desk.
Foster by Claire Keegan
It is a hot summer in rural Ireland. A child is taken by her father to live with relatives on a farm, not knowing when or if she will be brought home again. In the Kinsellas’ house, she finds an affection and warmth she has not known and slowly, in their care, begins to blossom. But there is something unspoken in this new household—where everything is so well tended to—and this summer must soon come to an end.
Winner of the prestigious Davy Byrnes Award and published in an abridged version in the New Yorker,this internationally bestselling contemporary classic is now available for the first time in the US in a full, standalone edition. A story of astonishing emotional depth, Foster showcases Claire Keegan’s great talent and secures her reputation as one of our most important storytellers.
"A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN - Revealing the ‘magic’ of theatre"
While attending a live performance have you ever thought to yourself, “how did they do that?” We address stage production challenges on a regular basis at the intimate Beatrice Herford’s Vokes Theatre. Stage director and Vokes Vice President Donnie Baillargeon will share behind-the-scenes tips, secrets (and a few anecdotes) used to create stage designs, set dressings, properties and special effects in many Vokes Players’ productions. Discovering some of these trade secrets will leave you with a whole new perspective and appreciation for some of the design elements of stage productions without eliminating the mystique.
Donnie Baillargeon: A graduate of Bridgewater University with a BA in Communications and Theater. Donnie spent many of his earlier decades as a performer on stages at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, The Century City Playhouse in Los Angeles, CA, The King Richard’s Faire in Carver, MA, the NETC National Theater competition on Spokane, WA, and multiple groups in the Boston and metro-West area. With two partners, he was co-author of a mystery comedy, “Murdering the Mob,” which ran in Boston’s Theater District for a year and a half in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
Having served as producer and production photographer for numerous productions at Beatrice Herford’s Vokes Theatre in Wayland, Donnie continues to satiate his passion in many aspects of theater production, by working as a stage director. In the past 20 years he has staged musical and non-musical productions for Hovey Players, Concord Players, Acme Theatre Productions, with the most productions tallied at his home base - Vokes Theatre in Wayland. A few years ago, Donnie heeded an inner calling as a set designer creating set designs for the stages of Hovey Players’ and Vokes Players’ productions.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Beatrice Herford’s Vokes Theatre as Vice President and serves as Membership Director for Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres (EMACT).
Donnie and his husband, David Berti, currently reside in Marlborough.
This group gathers two Thursdays a month to work on writing poetry. Beginners and advanced are equally welcome.
Virtual: This meeting is held via ZOOM - email Joan Kimball for the info: jawkimball@gmail.com
The Game Group gathers to play tabletop roleplaying games and board games together. Curious newcomers and experienced gamers are all welcome. Ages 16+.
Email Julian Butcher to ask questions, learn what RPGs we're playing next, or suggest your favorite games: jbutcher@minlib.net.
The Raytheon Room will be made available for anyone who is looking for a quiet place to work or study on the evenings when the Music eXchange Listening Room is happening on the Main Floor.
Do you enjoy creating things with your hands? Bring your project to the library for some crafting camaraderie! We'll work on our pieces and share advice, projects and social time during this casual get-together.
Every 2nd Thursday, Sept-May, 2:00-3:30 PM.
Register to be reminded via email, or just show up!
Practice your English skills! We will read a short story or article and discuss it. No preparation is needed. This group is best for intermediate or advanced speakers.
January 5 and 19
February 2 and 16
March 1 and 22
April 5 and 26
May 10 and 31
June 14 and 28
9-10 a.m. in the Wayland Library Raytheon Room
Registration is required. Limited to 10 people. We will keep a waitlist in case there are cancellations.
Contact Amy Conway at aconway@minlib.net or ask for her at 508-358-2311.
A charmingly eccentric hotel maid discovers a guest murdered in his bed, turning her once orderly world upside down–and inspiring a motley crew of unexpected allies to band together to solve the mystery.
More information about this book.
The Game Group gathers to play tabletop roleplaying games and board games together. Curious newcomers and experienced gamers are all welcome. Ages 16+.
Email Julian Butcher to ask questions, learn what RPGs we're playing next, or suggest your favorite games: jbutcher@minlib.net.
This group gathers two Thursdays a month to work on writing poetry. Beginners and advanced are equally welcome.
Virtual: This meeting is held via ZOOM - email Joan Kimball for the info: jawkimball@gmail.com
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has come under increased scrutiny, not because NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors. Will expanding membership in NATO protect countries, or will it further provoke Russia?
We will meet in the Raytheon Room. To attend via Zoom, contact Steve Engler.
About Great Decisions:
Prepare to discuss the world! Join our current events discussion group. Preparation involves reading an 8-page article from the Great Decisions Briefing Book. Our meetings consist of a 20 minute documentary film screening and lively, peer-facilitated discussion on the most critical global issues facing America today.
The Game Group gathers to play tabletop roleplaying games and board games together. Curious newcomers and experienced gamers are all welcome. Ages 16+.
Email Julian Butcher to ask questions, learn what RPGs we're playing next, or suggest your favorite games: jbutcher@minlib.net.
Practice your English skills! We will read a short story or article and discuss it. No preparation is needed. This group is best for intermediate or advanced speakers.
January 5 and 19
February 2 and 16
March 1 and 22
April 5 and 26
May 10 and 31
June 14 and 28
9-10 a.m. in the Wayland Library Raytheon Room
Registration is required. Limited to 10 people. We will keep a waitlist in case there are cancellations.
Contact Amy Conway at aconway@minlib.net or ask for her at 508-358-2311.
The Raytheon Room will be made available for anyone who is looking for a quiet place to work or study on the evenings when the Music eXchange Listening Room is happening on the Main Floor.
The Raytheon Room will be made available for anyone who is looking for a quiet place to work or study on the evenings when the Music eXchange Listening Room is happening on the Main Floor.
The Raytheon Room will be made available for anyone who is looking for a quiet place to work or study on the evenings when the Music eXchange Listening Room is happening on the Main Floor.
Robert Megerdichian
Despite its large size, Indonesia remains virtually invisible to most Americans. But as one of the world’s largest democracies, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and as an economic driver of ASEAN, why does it fly below the radar? What are current issues in U.S.-Indonesian relations, and what role can the country play in Asia?
We will meet in the Raytheon Room. To attend via Zoom, contact Steve Engler.
About Great Decisions:
Prepare to discuss the world! Join our current events discussion group. Preparation involves reading an 8-page article from the Great Decisions Briefing Book. Our meetings consist of a 20 minute documentary film screening and lively, peer-facilitated discussion on the most critical global issues facing America today.
"Sustainable Development Projects and Global Health Humanitarian Medical Missions in Morocco (A Collaboration between American and Moroccan Physicians)"
Founded in 2007, Volunteer Morocco (VM) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to supporting health, education and farming development projects in Morocco while offering volunteer opportunities to university students and others interested in exploring majestic Morocco as an international volunteer.
VM improves the self-sustainability of underprivileged communities and their members in Morocco through the improvement of health care access, education, farming technologies, assisting in the formation of micro-enterprises as well as creating an atmosphere for the intercultural exchange of ideas and understanding. Volunteer Morocco carries out its operations by facilitating the exchange of scholars, businessmen, intellectuals, and students between the United States and Morocco.
Aziz El Madi, since moving to Massachusetts, has been very active with numerous speaking engagements on topics ranging from interfaith dialogue to volunteerism in the Boston area.
In 2008, he founded VM and became its Executive Director. VM is located in Massachusetts and has been providing access to healthcare and education to the indigenous population of Southwest Morocco.In less than a decade, he has a completed a remarkable repertoire of accomplishments which include the establishment of and support for reading rooms, and after school programs as well as rural health clinics that have provided health consultations, surgeries, medical equipment and supplies to over 9,000 villagers.
Aziz’s leadership of Volunteer Morocco is innovative and serves as a catalyst for global collaboration.
- Proactively providing support to underrepresented minorities in Southwest Morocco through with sustainable development projects.
- Developing pathways to global implementation through the acquisition of knowledge and skills acquired in higher education.
- Developing responsive collaborations and community service.
Aziz has been concerned about the quality of water and the effect it has on the health of the people of Morocco and has actively been involved into research into the water quality of the area and is forming collaborations to conduct more in-depth studies on the quality of the water to ensure the health and well-being of those living in the villages of Southwest Morocco.
Meeting in person and on Zoom. Email Brittany at btuttle@minlib.net for the Zoom link.
Pick up a copy of the book at the Circulation Desk.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.
The Raytheon Room will be made available for anyone who is looking for a quiet place to work or study on the evenings when the Music eXchange Listening Room is happening on the Main Floor.
Areas of the seas beyond national jurisdiction comprise the high seas, which are facing a degradation of ecosystems due to climate change and the increase in human activities, such as shipping, overfishing, pollution, and deep-sea mining. The recently negotiated High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty, will attempt to address these issues. How difficult will it be to convince nations to participate?
We will meet in the Raytheon Room. To attend via Zoom, contact Steve Engler.
About Great Decisions:
Prepare to discuss the world! Join our current events discussion group. Preparation involves reading an 8-page article from the Great Decisions Briefing Book. Our meetings consist of a 20 minute documentary film screening and lively, peer-facilitated discussion on the most critical global issues facing America today.
Looking back at the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many lessons to take away in terms of domestic and international policies. Although this pandemic seems to have waned, how can we apply these lessons to future pandemics? Will countries cooperate, and will a consensus emerge on how to manage global health challenges?
We will meet in the Raytheon Room. To attend via Zoom, contact Steve Engler.
About Great Decisions:
Prepare to discuss the world! Join our current events discussion group. Preparation involves reading an 8-page article from the Great Decisions Briefing Book. Our meetings consist of a 20 minute documentary film screening and lively, peer-facilitated discussion on the most critical global issues facing America today.
"Everything You Wanted to Know About Depression"
Up to 17% of the population will experience an episode of depression at some point in their lives, and 50% will experience at least one more episode. Episodes of depression can range from mild to severe and can also be a phase of bipolar disorder. While everyone experiences depression as a unique experience, core symptoms and behaviors can help people recognize when depression becomes a problem. The good news is that many treatments for depression can bring people relief and decrease the probability of future episodes. These treatments range from evidence-based psychotherapy to medications and neurotherapeutics such as electroconvulsive therapy and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. This talk will cover the basics of depression and provide an overview of available and potential future treatments.
Andrew A. Nierenberg, MD, is the Director of the Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
In addition to directing the Dauten Center, Dr. Nierenberg is the co-director of Mass General’s Center for Clinical Research Education and associate director of the Depression Clinical and Research Program. He also holds the Thomas P. Hackett, MD, Endowed Chair in Psychiatry at Mass General.
Dr. Nierenberg graduated from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY. After completing his residency in psychiatry at New York University/Bellevue Hospital, he studied clinical epidemiology at Yale University as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. Dr. Nierenberg then joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School, first at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA and then at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also an Honorary Professor in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health at Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, and an Honorary Skou Professor at Aarhus University in Denmark.
Dr. Nierenberg focuses on clinical trials for bipolar disorder and depression with over 600 published papers. He has been listed among The Best Doctors or Top Doctors in America for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders yearly since 1994. He currently serves as the Vice President of Research for the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD). He has been honored with the ISBD Mogens Schou Award for Research and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation’s Colvin Prize.
"Behind the Scenes at the Danforth: Two Perspectives on Experiencing Art"
Have you ever wondered how museums choose exhibitions? Why hang certain artworks next to each other? Does wall color matter? Have you ever looked at an artwork and thought—I wish I could do that? How do you start? Is art accessible, or intimidating? Jessica Roscio and Noelle Fournier will talk about the unique aspects of working in the visual arts as we go behind the scenes at the Danforth Art Museum and Art School at Framingham State University. The Danforth has been an integral part of the cultural landscape of Greater Boston since 1975, and has undergone radical changes in the past seven years. Noelle and Jessica will share some of that history and talk about what makes the Danforth such a vibrant and welcoming space for artists, students, and museum-loving audiences. The Danforth Art Museum is dedicated to American Art and showcasing the work of contemporary regional artists, with a permanent collection of almost 3,700 works, including the Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller collection. The Danforth Art School offers classes and workshops for all ages, at all levels, year-round, and offers learning opportunities specific to museum exhibitions. The Danforth has often been described as a “hidden gem”—join Jessica and Noelle in conversation to find out why!
Jessica Roscio joined the Danforth Art Museum in 2011, was appointed Curator in 2015, and became the Director in 2020. She has overseen curatorial and administrative operations since the Museum became a part of Framingham State University. Prior to the Danforth, Roscio held positions at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She writes on both historical and contemporary photography and is a regular contributor to Aspect Initiative, an online gallery focusing on innovative photographic practices in New England. She has juried numerous exhibitions across media both regionally and nationally. Roscio has an MA in Art History from the University at Buffalo and a Ph.D. in American Studies, with a focus on the History of Photography, from Boston University.
Noelle Fournier received a B.A. in Fine Arts from St. Lawrence University and a M.Ed. from Lesley University. She is a lifelong artist, working in a variety of media and in scenic painting. Noelle began teaching at the Danforth in 2012 and also served on the faculty at the De Cordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the Fitchburg Art Museum, and the Umbrella Community Arts Center in Concord. She was selected as Artist-in-Residence for a yearlong study of sculpture, and has also designed and presented a series of professional development seminars on sculpture and art education. In 2014 Noelle became the Children’s Education Manager at the Danforth, and since 2016, she has served as Art School Director, overseeing the relocation of the school and the integration with Framingham State University.
The Raytheon Room will be made available for anyone who is looking for a quiet place to work or study on the evenings when the Music eXchange Listening Room is happening on the Main Floor.