Bookwise News From the Library

May 23, 2023

The Library is CLOSED on Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day

The Library is CLOSED on Sundays until October

Featured Events

Off the Beaten Path New England with Bruce Magnuson

Tuesday, May 28 at 7:00pm on Zoom

Watch It Wednesday: Driveways

Wednesday, May 29, at 6:30 pm at the Library

Presented by the Chelmsford Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Coming Soon

New Yorker Cartoonist Bob Eckstein

Wednesday, May 29 at 7:00 pm on Zoom

Let's Talk Books!

Wednesday, May 29 at 6:30 pm at the Library and on Zoom

Art on Thursday: Maxwell Parrish - Myth and Whimsy

Thursday, May 30 at 7:00 pm on Zoom

Partner Programs


Author Talk: Ann Claire - A Cyclist's Guide to Crime and Croissants

Monday, June 3 at 7:00 pm on Zoom


Virtual Cooking: The Art of the Taco

Tuesday, June 4 at 7:00 pm on Zoom


The Story of Matthew Shepard

Wednesday, June 5 at 7:00 pm on Zoom


Mindfulness and Meditation

Fridays in June at 12:00 pm on Zoom

Get Ready for Summer Reading

Some people wait all year for summer because of the warm weather, the trips to the beach, and the outdoor barbeques. Me? I wait all year for summer READING. It’s the best reading of the year. Prior to joining the team here at the Chelmsford Library, I was really into allllll the summer reading lists. Now, I’m pretty much out of control....find out more in our latest blog post!

Bibliobites: The Kind Worth Baking

In April our Bibliobites group veered into less-familiar territory with a fiction title that serendipitously dovetailed with Chelmsford’s One Book selection, The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson. Our equally murderous title, The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell, appropriately has cooking (in this case, a baking contest) at its heart - but with a deadly twist!

Library Book Groups

The Chelmsford Library hosts nine book groups, most of which meet from September through June every year. Whether you like fiction, nonfiction, classics, cookbooks, or mysteries; whether you prefer to meet at night, midday or morning, we have a book group for you. Book groups meet in person or via a hybrid format (using Zoom) and are actively welcoming new members. Check out the line-up below, and take part in the conversation!

Evening Book Group

The Mothers

by Britt Bennett

Monday, June 3

7:00 pm

Novel Conversations

Endless Summer

by Elin Hilderbrand

Friday, June 7

12:30 pm

New Romance Book Group

Between the Sheets

Sex, Lies and Sensibility

by Nikki Payne

Tuesday, June 11

6:30 pm

Knit Lit

The Lions of Fifth Avenue

by Fiona Davis

Friday, June 14

10:30 am

Morning Book Group


Selection Meeting

Wednesday, June 26

10:00 am

Mystery Book Group

Searching for Sylvie Lee

by Jean Kwok

Wednesday, June 26

2:00 pm

History Book Group

Pathogenesis

by Jonathan Kennedy

Thursday, June 27

7:00 pm

Bibliobites

Boards and Spreads

by Jasmin Fahr

Friday, June 28

Zoom Book Group for

Grades 3-5

The Chocolate Touch

by Patrick Skene Catling

Tuesdays at 5:15pm

Kids Corner!

Come on, Tooth Fairy!

Saturday, May 25 at 11 am

Teddy Bear Picnic Concert

Tuesday, June 4 at 10 am

Raid Date: June 11

Storytimes end on May 24 and will resume July 1!

Preschool STEM

Tuesdays at 10am

Continues through June 11, but will NOT meet on June 4


New Outdoor Storytime at MacKay

Fridays, May 31 through June 28 at 10 am (for Ages 5 and under) Weather permitting!

Construction Zone

Saturday, June 1 at 10 am


Dads & DUCKS & Donuts

Saturday, June 8 at 10 am

For Teens and Tweens!

Dungeons & Dragons

Saturday, June 1 at 1:30 pm


Teen Volunteer Training (Grades 7-12)

For Shelf Readers - Thursday, June 6 at 3:30 pm

For Program Volunteers - Thursday, June 13 at 3:30 pm


Drop-in Chess

Saturday, June 15 at 10:00 am to noon

All Ages and Abilities Welcome


Teen Paint and Sip

Saturday, June 15 at 2:00 pm


Tween Movie Night

Tuesday, June 25, 6:00 pm

The Bookwise Newsletter highlights book groups and literary and author events, and offers reading recommendations. You can always look for more Bookwise updates on our website!

Check here for updates on available library services!

  • Monday-Thursday: 9:30 am to 8:30 pm
  • Friday-Saturday: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
  • Sunday: Closed until October 20

MacKay is fully open:

  • Monday, 1-5pm
  • Wednesday, 3-6pm
  • Friday, 9:30am-1:30pm