"Hedy Lamarr: Stolen Legacy" Film Talk with Frank Mandosa 

Stop in at 6:30 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 24 for a film talk by expert Frank Mandosa on Hedy Lamarr. He'll present a look at the life and career of Lamarr, who declined roles in "Casablanca," "Laura," and "Gaslight." At one point, her studio bosses restricted her to selling kisses for war bonds during WWII.

Instead, she invented a covert communication system to help defeat the Nazis; it's the very technology we use today for secure Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.

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.

Thanks to the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library for sponsoring this film talk.

Let's Make History: Marbled Paper Notecards

Sign up to create totally one-of-a-kind notecards with this fun hands-on activity as you learn the fascinating history of paper marbling. On Sat., Feb. 3 at 10:30 a.m., you’ll discover the materials, techniques, and applications for paper marbling used throughout the world since the 10^th century.

This program is part of the Old Colony History Museum's "Let's Make History" series.

Caution!

Please be aware that we're currently having work done to convert to an LED lighting system throughout the building. We're open our regular hours but you may experience some disruptions into early February.

Next Up in Our Virtual Author Talk Series

Our virtual author talk series features bestselling, award-winning authors, covering a range of fiction and nonfiction genres in one-hour-long programs.

Register for upcoming events here and submit your questions for the author, or you can watch here, at any time, any of the previous programs archived up to a year back.

Your Retirement: Dream or Disaster? How to Avoid the Hidden Traps in Retirement Planning Advice, Tues., Jan. 23, 2:00 p.m. (VIRTUAL)

Start your New Year off right by logging on and learning how to avoid the hidden traps in retirement planning advice.

Did you know that a large financial portfolio, an estate plan, and long-term care insurance won’t be enough to prevent your dream retirement from becoming a disaster? Maybe you know someone who was forced into institutional care after a health crisis and lost assets due to unplanned medical and long-term care costs, or became a burden to loved ones.

According to Elder Law Attorney and bestselling author Rajiv Nagaich, these results are called “retirement plan failure.” Over his 20-plus years of experience in US elder law, Rajiv has developed a step-by-step guide to retirement planning by connecting the various dots of the retirement planning process.

Nagaich, author of Your Retirement: Dream or Disaster, is an elder law attorney, speaker, and retirement planning visionary. He hosts two popular public television specials (Master Your Future and The Path to Happily Ever After) and the AgingOptions Radio Show, dispensing retirement planning advice to people in the Pacific Northwest.

Register here.

New Online Resources Available

If you have a library card issued by the Middleborough Public Library, you now have access to two new online resources.

1) Morningstar Investment Center Morningstar has spent more than three decades helping everyday investors make better decisions by democratizing investment information. Their analysts are independent from other Morningstar businesses and examine the fundamentals of every investment they cover to get an idea of its long-term potential and the role it can play in a portfolio.

2) PressReader has more than 12 million unique site visitors every month, and gives you unlimited access to the stories you want in newspapers and magazines from around the globe.

Both Morningstar and Pressreader are avaiable via your computer browser or on any mobile device with the appropriate apps downloaded from your app store.

For a brief video tutorial on how to use either of these services, please check out our NicheAcademy page.

Tech Time Returns

Are you struggling to get Overdrive working or figuring out how your phone works?

Sign up for a 25-minute independent learning session with our tech guru John Walsh on Wednesdays between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. Call (508) 946-2470 to arrange your session.

If Wednesdays just don't work for you, please email John directly and he'll schedule an appointment for you on another day.

Early College Planning Webinar

Join us virtually on Tues., Jan. 30 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. for a free webinar for parents with children in middle school and high school on early planning for college. 

Julie Shields-Rutyna, the Director of College Planning from the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA), will describe information and resources that families can use to put a college savings plan in place, as well as what tools students and parents should consider when beginning the college search.

She'll address questions of how best to save for college, how college savings impact financial aid, where and how to begin the college search, and what role cost plays in the college decision.  Live transcription will be available.

Register here. 

This event is co-sponsored by the Middleborough Public Library, East Bridgewater Public Library, Hanson Public Library, Bridgewater Public Library, and Pembroke Public Library.

Snap Circuit Saturday

Drop in the Large Meeting Room on Sat., Jan. 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to try out the Library's collection of Snap Circuit kits that help kids learn basic circuitry, electronics and engineering. Kits are best for ages 5 and up.

Can't make it to this event? Stop by the Funbrary in the Children's room which has a few available kits to check out and use at home.



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

Preschool STEAM Storytime

Join Ms. Amanda for a story and hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities for preschoolers ages 3-6 and their families. Each program will begin with a read-aloud and group activity, followed by centers to explore. 

We meet once a month on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. and you can sign up for each one individually:

January 29 -- Winter

February 5 -- Valentine's Fun

March 18 -- Rainbows

April 22 -- Spring it on!

Please call the library at 508/946-2470 or email Miss Amanda to register. Registration will open a month prior to each program.

This series is generously supported by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Bookworm Babies and Tiny Tots: TODAY!

Both Bookworm Babies (BB) and Tiny Tots (TT) will meet at the library TODAY, and Wed., Jan. 24. 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. Please bring a blanket or seat when meeting outdoors, and siblings are always welcome.

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

Secrets in the Libby App and How to Find Them

In our last newsletter, we introduced you to one of the "Easter eggs" you could find when using the Libby app. (This kind of Easter egg is a hidden digital surprise that may not be obvious, but is always a delight to discover.) Here's another fun personalization tip to try out for yourself.

Change the Libby Icon Color

Want to customize Libby? Choose from five different skin tones by tapping the Libby icon at the top of the main menu. Your selection will be saved the next time you open the app.

Thanks to the 5.24.23 online issue of LibbyLife for this article.

Middleboro's Top 10 Reads for Adults in 2023

Curious about what we were all reading this past year? Take a look at the top 10 books checked out at the Middleboro Public Library in 2023. (This includes all print copies of each title: hard cover, paperback and large print.)

Surprising to absolutely no one, two of Colleen Hoover's books made the list, and Lessons in Chemistry earned the top slot, while four authors made a repeat appearance from the 2022 list, including David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, Elin Hilderbrand, and Jodi Picoult.

1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
2. Verity by Colleen Hoover
3. The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
4. Simply Lies by David Baldacci
5. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
6. Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
7. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
8. It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover
9. I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
10. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

We have copies of each of these titles in our print, audio and digital collections so stop by sometime or log on to take a look and check out a book. You can also place a copy on hold anytime by clicking on the book title above or by visiting the Libby app or OverDrive for an e-copy.

In Memoriam: Remembering the Authors We Lost in 2023

We're taking time to honor some of the great authors who passed away in 2023, leaving behind a legacy of literature that will live on.

Check out this article from LibbyLife Blog to read about these writers and their work. And be sure to look for their books here at the library or in the Libby app to remember their lives and the great stories they left us.

Sharebrary Item of the Week: White Noise Machine

Sharebrary: Borrow. Try. Experience.

Lose too much sleep celebrating all those December holidays? Check out our white noise machine to help you get a better night's rest. Choose from 10 varieties of soothing sounds, including the ocean, and 10 different fan sounds mimicking fans of all sizes for optimal sleep.

It comes with an AC adapter and owner's manual.

The white noise machine is one of 40 different items we have in our Sharebrary collection. Check them all out!

Fundraising Activities for the Friends in 2024

The Friends of the Middleborough Public Library (FMPL) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization devoted to supporting the Library. The group promotes community involvement and raises funds to assist in the Library’s success. 

Visit their website to learn more.

Next Up in Free Sunday Concert Series

Drop into the Library on Sun., Jan. 28 at 2:00 p.m., for a free concert featuring local musician Angelo, “Speedy” Lapanna. Part of the “Music that Moves” Sunday Concert series, this event is a great opportunity to sit back and enjoy the musical talents that exist in our town. 

Light refreshments will be available for purchase. Admission is free and no registration is required.

This concert series is offered by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library (FMPL). Partial funding is provided by a Festival and Program grant awarded to the FMPL who are designated as a "Card to Culture" organization due to their ability to offer quality cultural opportunities to all.