Celebrate Pride Month with a Film Talk

Join us on Wed., June 5 at 6:30 p.m. for "Out of the Shadows: Hollywood's History with the LGBTQ Community," a talk with film expert Frank Mandosa, in honor of Pride Month.

We'll take a look at the ongoing evolution of LGBTQ representation both onscreen and off.

Frank will show slides with film clips, some with interactive trivia questions.

There'll also be a photo display, and raffle for a chance to win a movie-themed door prize.

No registration is required.

Thank you to the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library for sponsoring this program.

Next Up in Our Virtual Author Talk Series

Register for one of our upcoming 60-minute virtual author talks here and submit your questions for the author, or you can watch here, at any time, any of the previous programs archived back to July 2022.

For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet with Smithsonian Curator Matt Shindell, Mon., June 3, 2:00 p.m.

Mars and its secrets have fascinated and mystified humans since ancient times. Due to its vivid color and visibility, geologic kinship with Earth, and potential as our best hope for settlement, Mars embodies everything that inspires us about space and exploration. For the Love of Mars surveys the red planet's place in the human imagination, beginning with ancient astrologers and skywatchers and ending in our present moment of exploration and virtual engagement.

You’re invited to log on and come learn alongside Matthew Shindell, National Air and Space Museum curator, as he introduces viewers to historical figures across eras and around the world who have made sense of this mysterious planet. Shindell will highlight historical figures such as: 

• Mayan astrologer priests who incorporated Mars into seasonal calendars and religious ceremonies; 
• Victorian astronomers who sought signs of intelligent life; and
• 20th- and 21st-century scientists who have established a technological presence on its surface.

Shindell is a historian of science, and is Curator of Earth and Planetary Science at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, responsible for the Museum’s collection of spacecraft, instruments, and other artifacts related to the exploration and study of our Earth and solar system.

Register here.

Teen Felted Rainbow Patches Workshop

Join us on Sat., June 15 from 12:30-2:00 p.m. for our Teen Felted Rainbow Patches Workshop. Make a colorful fuzzy felted patch with wool. Pick from four rainbow designs. Use the finished piece as a patch on a jacket or frame it for a unique piece of art. Pop up Art School will show you how to use a barbed needle and wool roving to make this cool accessory. Needle felting is fun and relaxing.

Registration is required and you can now register yourself directly on our new calendar.

This program is brought to you by the generous support of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Teddy Bear Picnic

We're throwing a party for you and your stuffies, so plan on attending our Teddy Bear Picnic from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wed., June 5 on the Town Hall Lawn.

Bring a blanket, picnic lunch, and your favorite teddy bear or other stuffed animal. Listen to stories with Ms. Amanda, play outdoor games, enjoy balloon animals with Silly Faces with Sarah, join in music with Ms. Kathy, and go home with a book.

No registration is required. This program is best for preschoolers and their families, and is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child. Drop-offs will not be permitted.

This program is brought to you by the generous support of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Family Movie Night: Under the Boardwalk

Drop in for a Family Movie Night featuring "Under the Boardwalk," rated PG, on Tues., May 28 at 6:00 p.m. 

Families can bring their own picnic dinner and/or snacks for the show.  

This program is brought to you by the generous support of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

TODAY: Bookworm Babies and Tiny Tots Meet in May

Both Bookworm Babies (BB) and Tiny Tots (TT) will meet at the library today, Wed., May 22. BB meets first, from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m., followed by TT from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.

BB is geared towards lapsit babies and their caregiver(s), while TT is geared toward babies and up to kids three years old and their caregiver(s).  Join in a story, songs and rhymes that build early literacy skills. Siblings are always welcome.

To sign up for program updates, please call the Library at 508/946-2470.

This program is supported by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Sharebrary Item of the Week: Orienteering Set

Sharebrary: Borrow. Try. Experience.

Spring really is here, we promise, and outside temps will soon be warm enough to test out our orienteering set.

It includes the book, How to Use a Compass for Kids (and Adults, Too!), a mirror sighting compass, a paracord survival lanyard with an attached whistle), and an adjustment tool, all in a carrying bag.

The orienteering set is one of 40 different items we have in our Sharebrary collection. Check them all out!

Marvelous Museum Passes

Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich is now open and they're celebrating rhododendron season through May 29. The "rhodies" are in peak bloom right now so it's a great time to visit.

Our pass admits up to six people (children ages two and under are free) for half the regular admission price. Please note: admission applies to the museums, grounds, and gardens, but not the aerial adventure or other ticketed programs.

There's nothing to pick up at the library.  When you're booking tickets on the Heritage website, enter the promo code you'll get when reserving this pass in your shopping cart to get the 50% off discount.

Reserve your pass today.

This pass is made possible thanks to the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Vacancies on the Library Board of Trustees

The Trustees of the Middleborough Public Library are seeking applicants for a vacated seat on the Library’s Board. The desired candidate will enthusiastically assist with policy development, financial management, local partnerships, and advocacy efforts. The Board will recommend candidates to the Board of Selectmen to serve either until June 30, 2025 (a one-year term with the possibility to be reappointed) or June 30, 2027 (a three-year term with the possibility to be reappointed).

To serve as a trustee, you will be required to:

• Meet on the second Monday of each month, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. (ending time varies).
• Participate on two to three assigned committees. (Meetings are infrequent but important.)
• Review meeting materials before each meeting.
• Be a Middleborough resident.

For information about the role of a library trustee, click here.

Click here for a copy of the Massachusetts Public Library Trustees handbook.

Interested candidates are encouraged to review these documents and submit an application. They'll be accepted until Fri., June 7, at 10:00 a.m.

The Trustees will review potential candidates at their upcoming meetings, and will then nominate a candidate for appointment to the Select Board.

To apply, please email a letter of introduction with your current resume to Library Director Randy Gagne, or send by mail to: Middleborough Public Library, 102 North Main Street, Middleborough, MA 02346

Please direct questions or inquiries to Director Gagné at his email address above, or call him at the Library at 508/946-2470 ext. 7.

Promoting Community Involvement

As the Town of Middleborough marks its second year honoring those who have protected our freedom, the Friends are pleased to be able to continue our support of the Veterans Service Agent by providing the Hometown Heroes’ Commemorative Map. A large version of the map can be found in the window of the Town Hall Annex. Individual copies are available at the Veterans Service Office, the Town Manager’s Office, and the Middleborough Public Library. Please join us in honoring those who have served.