All are welcome to join us for a discussion of Brian McKeown's Hannah's Left Hook in the Reading Room. New participants are always welcome (no commitment!). The book club will take a break in July, and return in August with a discussion of Tobias Wolf's memoir This Boy's Life. Copies will be available at the Information Desk for checkout in July.

"Through countless scrubbings of St. Lawrence's Church floor, a poor washerwoman develops a devastating left hook. During the Great War she persuades the Birkenhead Shipyard to hire her as its first female laborer, beginning her transformation into a working-class legend.

Set in northwest England, Hannah's Left Hook is a story of survival, feisty determination, and the occasional black eye. Hannah Corcoran and her family battle their way through the tumultuous events of the first half of the twentieth century. Whether it's a butcher who thumbs his scales, a foreman who exploits female shipyard workers while their husbands and brothers fight the Great War, an agent provocateur who escalates the food riots of 1932, or a sergeant who drafts under-age boys during WW II-Hannah's left hook strikes to defend the rights of the unemployed and the oppressed. "

The Friends of Jacob Edwards Library will hold its 10th annual Artful Friends Raffle in June. This will be the monthly art exhibit in the main reading room of the library. The Artful Friends Raffle consists of donated art - paintings, photos, collage, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, cards, fabric art and other handmade items, along with gift certificates from local restaurants. People can buy $5 raffle cards, with 25 chances to win, and deposit the attached numbers in boxes of the items they hope to win. 

The Artful Friends Raffle will have an opening reception on Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 pm. Brooks Milgate will perform jazz selections on keyboard in the Reading Room, as people peruse the donated artand gift certificates and purchase raffle cards. This event is free and open to the public. The only charge is for the $5 raffle tickets, should you wish to purchase one. The Artful Friends Raffle helps to support the library programs funded by the Friends group.

Ten years ago Gregory Maguire, author of "Wicked" came to speak at Jacob Edwards Library for the first Pride in Southbridge event. The first raffle was held at the same time. Since then a variety of programs have featured authors, musicians and speakers as part of the Pride in Southbridge events. The Raffle drawing will coincide with this year's event on Thursday, June 25. The program, yet to be determined, will take place at 6:30 pm, the Raffle drawing at 7:30 pm.
 

The Friends of Jacob Edwards Library would like to acknowledge and thank all the supporters who have helped to make this Raffle a success for the past 10 years! For more information, or to make a donation, please contact the library.

All teens and tweens (ages 12-18) are welcome to join us for Teen Tuesdays! Stop by the Pioppi Room every Tuesday for video gaming, crafts, movies, Anime, and more - we'll have something different every week.

This month's schedule:

June 2: Wii Gaming - Drop in to play some Wii games!

June 9: Movie - The Spiderwick Chronicles - Rated PG. See it on the big screen in the Pioppi Room!

June 23: Craft Day - Origami - Try your hand at origami! We'll have origami paper and some instructions, drop in and get crafty

Sorry, no Teen Tuesdays on 

June 16 and June 30

The Annual Pride in Southbridge 2015 will feature two speakers 

from SpeakOUT Boston. Their motto being "Ask Us Anything," the speakers will be open to discussion on any GLBT topic. SpeakOUT "works to create a world free of homo-bi-trans-phobia and other forms of prejudice by telling the truths of people's lives."

The drawing for the Artful Friends Raffle prizes will take place immediately following the discussion, at 7:30 pm. Winners need not be present to win - we will call you and let you know if you name is picked! - but all are welcome. We hope to see you there!

Stay tuned for more information about our Summer Reading Program! We have some great activities planned. Registration starts July 1, 2015!

Camp Jacob Edwards Library

with Julie Hurley

Monday, June 29 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

 

School is out! Come join Julie Hurley as we turn the Children's Room into Camp JEL! We will sing silly camp songs (Repeat-o style), play crazy camp games, and hear funny fireside stories! This is an inclusive program.

Julie Hurley has been a Creative Arts Therapist for more than twenty years. She works as a therapist for You Inc. Southbridge and is on the faculty of Springfield College in the Art Therapy Department. Ms. Hurley has lived in Southbridge for the last ten years. 

 

The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation Grant is made possible by the Holtz-Tetreault family. 

 

Sensational Movement 

with Gina Iadarola

and Vickie Ludden 

Tuesday, June 30  

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.   

Join us to listen to some stories, sing some songs, and do a craft. This program is geared towards children ages 4-8, but all ages are welcome! Pajamas are optional. 

Lego Club

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

 

We'll bring the Legos, you bring the ideas! Each week there is a different theme, recent ones have included robots and spaceships.  This is a drop-in program, no need to sign up! If you are in the library, stop by the Children's Room to see different Lego projects on display.  

Toddler Time 

Fridays from 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. 

This program is designed for children under three and their caregivers, and includes songs, movement, and short stories for toddlers. The story time will be at 10:45, with playtime and music before and after. Join us for Toddler Time, and stay to check out our great collection of board books! *There will be no Toddler Time on Friday, June 5th*