April 2025 News

Special Events & Adult Programs

Seed Library Restocked!

Sturgis Library's Seed Library is restocked!


Swing by and help yourself to a maximum of 4 seed packets per household.


Do you have leftover seeds from last year's harvest? The Seed Library happily accepts seed donations, too.


Happy gardening!

Kitchen Alchemy:

Natural Dyeing & Eco Printing with Food Waste

Saturday, April 5th, 2025 from 10:30am-12:30am


Join natural dyer and eco-printer Rebecca Zaremba of Northeast Dyeworks for a hands-on workshop exploring the hidden colors in your kitchen!


Learn how to transform everyday food scraps into lasting, natural color on textiles.


Each participant will create and take home a custom bandana, along with the skills to continue experimenting with natural dyes on their own!


Space is limited. Registration is required. To register, visit www.sturgislibrary.org/events or click here.

Author Talk with Corey Farrenkopf

Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 from 5:30pm-6:30pm


Join former Sturgis librarian Corey Farrenkopf for this talk about his new short story collection, Haunted Ecologies.


Library Journal calls it a “startlingly bright collection of sparse and spooky ecological horror stories.”


The talk will be followed by a book signing. Books provided by Titcomb’s Bookshop.


To register, visit sturgislibrary.org/events or click here.

Mindful Meditation & Sound Bath Healing

Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 from 5:30pm-6:30pm


Alicia will guide participants with mindful breathing mantra practice and deep relaxation.


Participants are encouraged (but not required) to bring their own yoga mat, blanket, or cushion.


No experience necessary.


Space is limited. Registration is required. To register, visit www.sturgislibrary.org/events or click here.

Spoon Carving Workshop

Monday, April 28th, 2025 from 6:00pm-8:00pm


This program will take place at the West Barnstable Community Building, 2377 Meetinghouse Way, West Barnstable, MA


Using simple tools: a fixed blade knife, hook knife, saw, and sandpaper, participants will be instructed on the techniques of selecting wood, and safe carving techniques.

Participants will go home with at least one wooden spoon and a whole new skill set!


Space is limited. Registration is required. To register, visit www.sturgislibrary.org/events or click here.

The Art of Picture Books

Friday, April 11th, 2025 at 12:30pm


Adults are invited to join Children's Librarian Christy Munier for a monthly gathering honoring the brilliance of picture books and picture book art.


Each month, a different children's book author and/or artist will be discussed.


This gathering will focus on the work of Oge Mora.


To register, email Christy at youth.adult@sturgislibrary.org

Dungeons & Dragons Gathering

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 from 5:30pm-6:30pm


Are you an adult or young adult who is interested in learning more about Dungeons & Dragons? Stop by Sturgis Library and connect with Cape Cod Community College's Dungeons & Dragons Club!


This club will gather at Sturgis Library and be available to answer general D&D questions, help you design characters and campaigns, promote creativity, and can even help you create your OWN game! 


Drop in-- no registration required.

Book Club Pop-Up

Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 at 5:30pm


Historical fiction fans will enjoy this opportunity to read a compelling story and connect with other readers.


Author Janis Robinson Daly will host a book chat for her novel, The Unlocked Path, about a young woman who defies societal norms in her personal life and career set in 1897 Philadelphia. Kirkus Reviews calls it "an often-riveting fictional testament of a doctor’s life at the turn of the 20th century." Click on the image toview the official book trailer.


Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk today.


To learn more and to register, visit sturgislibrary.org/events or click here.

Neurodiversity Reading Group

Meets one Thursday a month at 11:00am throughout the spring


Next meetings:

Thursday, April 17th, 2025 at 11:00am


Adult readers of all reading levels are welcome to join this neurodiverse reading group. At each meeting the group will read and discuss an engaging picture book.


Registration is not required. To learn more, email reference@sturgislibrary.org.

Short Story Group

Meets one Thursday a month at 11:00am


Next meeting: Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 at 11:00am


Meet monthly with friends to sip coffee, nibble treats, and discuss great short fiction! Copies of the selected stories are now available at the circulation desk.


To register, email Gabrielle at reference@sturgislibrary.org

Barnstable Council on Aging: Decisions, Decisions

Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 from 10:00am-11:00am


Caregiving can bring a multitude of challenges, especially when it comes to making informed decisions about health, living arrangements, finances, and other aspects of daily life. Join Stacey Cullen from the Barnstable Council on Aging for this program that aims to support caregivers in navigating the often complex and overwhelming decisions they face while caring for a loved one.


Questions? Contact Stacey Cullen at stacey.cullen@town.barnstable.ma.us

or call 508-862-4765

Kids' Programming

Multicultural Bookmark Making Workshop

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 from 12:00pm-1:30pm


Join Sara-Ann P. Semedo and create vibrant multicultural bookmarks using African, Caribbean, and Native American inspired fabrics and Pan African colors!


Kiddos ages 8-12 will journey to a place where STEM meets the Arts, creating dynamic bookmarks while exploring different textures, shapes, and colors and their cultural meaning.


Space is limited. Registration is required. To register, visit www.sturgislibrary.org/events or click here.

Earth Month Celebration Storytime

Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 from 10:30am-11:00am


Sturgis Library is teaming up with the Barnstable Land Trust for a fun-filled, special edition Storytime in celebration of Earth Month!


Join us for a story, bubbles, songs, crafts, and merriment!


Drop in. No registration required.

Make Your Own Comic

Friday, April 25th, 2025 from 12:00pm-1:00pm


Drawing inspiration from select graphic novels, participants of all skill levels will create their own unique comics using colored pencils and ink. 


For kids ages 7+ and adults who want to join in, too!


Space is limited. Registration is required. To register, visit sturgislibrary.org/events or click here.

Kindness Rock Painting

Saturday, April 26th, 2025 from 10:30am-11:30am


Kindness rocks are painted rocks that are placed in public spaces for others to find to help spread positivity! All ages are invited to join students from Cape Cod Community College to paint happy rocks and spread the joy!


Registration is requested. To register, please visit sturgislibrary.org/events or click here.

Weekly Storytime

Wednesdays at 10:30am-11:00am


Kiddos and their grownups are invited to join Children's Librarian Christy to share a story, illustrate a picture, talk with friends, and learn about nature at Sturgis Library's weekly Storytime!


Geared to ages 1-3 but all are welcome to attend.


Registration is not required.

Questions? Email Christy at youth.adult@sturgislibrary.org

Lego Club

Saturday, April 26th, 2025 from 1:00pm-2:00pm


Swing by Sturgis Library to create a Lego masterpiece!


Lego creations will be put on display for one week in the children’s room for all to admire.


No registration required.


Questions? Email Christy at youth.adult@sturgislibrary.org

The Bookish Society of Young Readers

Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 from 4:30pm-5:00pm


Readers ages 10ish-13ish are invited to join The Bookish Society’s monthly book club! Group members take turns choosing the featured book each month, and then we gather to chat about what we’ve read!


Copies of the selected book are available at the circulation desk.


For more information and to register, please email Christy at youth.adult@sturgislibrary.org

Special News

Read Our FY2024 Annual Report

The FY2024 Sturgis Library Annual Report is now up on the website. The report gives an overview of activities that took place between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. It also lists donors to our Annual Appeal and those who donated to the Library in other ways. We thank you for your support throughout the year. You can read the Report here:

https://www.sturgislibrary.org/blog/annual-reports/fy2024-annual-report-to-donors/

As many of you know, Sturgis Library is a private, independent public library, one of seven village libraries in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts. We receive approximately 45% of our funding from the Town; we must raise the rest of our funds through private donations, grants, bequests, and other nonmunicipal sources.


By clicking on the DONATE button below, you can make a one-time or recurring donation to our Annual Fund. The Annual Fund supports operations — including purchases of library materials, funding for programs and events, building maintenance, salaries, supplies, utilities, and more. You may also donate by writing a check, payable to the Sturgis Library, and sending it to: Sturgis Library, Attention Lucy Loomis, Library Director, PO Box 606, Barnstable, MA 02630.

DONATE 

Get Ready for Our Plant and Garden Sale

Gardening season is almost here! When you're out in the yard dividing plants, or starting seedlings indoors, please consider putting some aside to donate to our annual Plant and Garden Sale, which will be held on Saturday, May 24th, 2025 from 9am to 12pm.


The week before the sale we will be accepting donations of plants (perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, shrubs, and seedlings), as well as gently used or new garden tools, décor, non-plastic plant pots, birdhouses, gardening books, and more.


For more information contact Lucy at director@sturgislibrary.org or 508-362-6636.

Recommended Titles: Beyond the Bestsellers

Adult Fiction

Big Chief

by Jon Hickey


There, There meets The Night Watchman in this gripping literary debut about power and corruption, family, and facing the ghosts of the past.

Perspective(s)

by Laurent Binet


An epistolary novel of art, intrigue, and homicide in Renaissance Italy.

Mỹ Documents

by Kevin Nguyen


The paths of four family members diverge drastically when the U.S. government begins detaining Vietnamese Americans.

Adult Nonfiction

The Art of Embroidery: a Workshop for Developing Your Own Original Stitching

by Christi Johnson

Taking Manhattan: the Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America by Russell Shorto

At Wit's End: Cartoonists of the New Yorker by Michael Maslin and Alen MacWeeney

Kids' Books

The Ship in the Window by Travis Jonker

Casey's Cases by Kay Healy

Dream a Dress, Dream a Poem by Nancy Johnson James


Sturgis Library

3090 Main Street P.O. Box 606

Barnstable, MA 02630


www.sturgislibrary.org

director@sturgislibrary.org

508-362-6636


Our hours are:

Monday 10-5

Tuesday 10-7

Wednesday 10-5

Thursday 10-5

Friday 10-5

Saturday 10-4

Sundays and holidays CLOSED


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