| | |
In Person - Office Hours with Ashland Town Manager, Michael Herbert
Saturday, April 25 @ 11:00 AM—1:00 PM
We're thrilled to welcome Ashland Town Manager, Michael Herbert, to the Library! He will be here to answer your burning questions about the town, it's finances, the upcoming town meeting and election, or anything that you are curious about. We hope you'll join us for this special, dedicated time to "AMA" (ask me anything) with Michael.
| | |
In Person - Mini Renaissance Faire @ the Ashland Library!
Saturday, May 2 @ 10:00 AM—3:00 PM
We are beyond excited to bring our 3rd Annual Mini Ren Faire to Ashland! If you love things Medieval, Pirates, Puffy Shirts, and so much more, this is for you. We'll have jousts, crafts, vendors, and something for every age. This is not just a turkey leg extravaganza, it is also an opportunity to learn how people lived (and survived) back in the day with demonstrations and hands-on activities. We hope that you'll bring the whole family (in costume, of course :).
| | |
Adult Programs
We have in person, hybrid or virtual programs! Please click on the link to receive the zoom information if it's online. Also, make sure the email address you submit when registering is correct otherwise you will not receive the zoom link! Check your spam folder if you don't see the confirmation in your inbox.
| | |
This Week:
Cards for Veterans - Card Drop Off
Wednesday, April 1—Thursday, April 30
In honor of Memorial Day, the Ashland Public Library will be collecting cards for Veterans throughout the month of April. Please drop cards off at the upstairs circulation desk. Librarians must be able to proofread cards before they are sent out. Blank cards will be available in the Teen Room.
In Person - Cook Book Club
Tuesday, April 21 @ 5pm
Cook from Zabar's : A Family Story, With Recipes by Lori Zabar
| | |
Coming Up:
In Person - Make Your Own Flower Crown
Thursday, April 30 @ 6:30pm
Have you heard that we are hosting a Mini Ren(aissance) Faire at the Ashland Library on Saturday, May 2nd? Well, no self respecting Medieval-ite can attend a Ren Faire without a Flower Crown! We invite you to join us making your very own to wear to the Ren Faire or just around the house. Either way, you'll be stylin'! This event is for adults only, but we'll have a similar program for kids and teens - keep a lookout for them. If you attended last year, feel free to join us again to add to your growing collection!
| | |
This Week:
Virtual - Armchair Travel To Patagonia -- Sweeping Vistas, Remote Glaciers & Captivating Wildlife
Tuesday, April 21 @ 2:00—3:15 PM
Traveling through both Chilean and Argentine Patagonia, this illustrated journey ventures into the rugged Andes, where jagged peaks rise above glacial rivers and windswept plains. Through vivid storytelling and award-winning photography, you will be transported to a land of aquamarine lagoons, guanacos and condors, and breathtaking mountain vistas. As we traverse one of the most extraordinary landscapes on Earth, explore the region’s rich history, scientific significance and vibrant culture.
Virtual - Iconic Entertainers: Julie Andrews on Broadway with Clint Edwards
Tuesday, April 21 @ 7:00—8:15 PM
Exploring the life and music of one of the theater's most beloved performers and her work in Broadway (My Fair Lady, Camelot, Victor/Victoria etc.)
Virtual - Job Search Help -- Be The CEO Of Your Career
Wednesday, April 22 @ 9:30am
Are you ready to get clear on what you really want and determine what’s next in your career? Your career isn’t about following someone else’s map. It’s about trusting your own compass and being the C.E.O. of your career. C = Curiosity E = Be Engaged O = Take Ownership. Learn how to engage the CEO framework, a succession of 5 practices, designed to help you navigate a path to direct your career with confidence and purpose.
Virtual - Habits That Stick -- Building A Healthier You
Wednesday, April 22 @ 7pm
Join mindfulness and meditation instructor Lauren Masse, founder of Bright Heart Coaching, to create positive habits that last with proven strategies for success. This session explores the science of habit formation and how to make sustainable changes. Learn to overcome obstacles and build routines that support your well-being. Perfect for anyone looking to achieve personal growth and wellness goals.
Virtual - When a Loved One Is Dying: Care, Connection and Coping
Thursday, April 23 @ 7:00—8:30 PM
When you’re caring for a loved one with a serious or end-of-life disease, there are often more questions than answers. In her book: When a Loved One Is Dying, Groden shares true stories of families navigating these experiences and offers expert guidance and practical advice.
Virtual - Friday Night Film Discussion
Friday, April 24 @ 7pm
Watch My Happy Family
Virtual - Ren Faires: What's the Charm with Jonathan Crocker
Monday, April 27 @ 7pm
As we head into our 3rd Annual Ren Faire on Saturday May 2nd, we wanted to learn more about them - and we're excited to host Jonathan Crocker who will chat with us about why Ren Faires have become more popular, how they are so inclusive, and how they bring out the knight/damsel/jester in so many of us. We'll learn a bit about the history but more how Ren Faires have evolved and become places of play, friendship, learning, and joy.
| | |
Coming Up:
Virtual - Ren Faire Romance with Authors Jen DeLuca, Jamie Pacton, and Sam Parks
Tuesday, April 28 @ 2pm
As we head into our 3rd Annual Ren Faire on Saturday May 2nd, we wanted to celebrate with romance authors who write about Ren Faires! And, we're so thrilled that Jen DeLuca, Jamie Pacton, and Sam Parks will be joining us. If you know of their books, you know that their Ren Faire settings for luscious romance stories are to die for (not on by the sword, just metaphorically :). We hope you can join us for this virtual discussion about Jen, Jamie, and Sam's characters, the ideal place at a Ren Faire to fall in love, and the vagaries of choosing between grog and mead.
Virtual - Tyranny Takes Root: Vladimir Putin's Russia, 1994-2025 with Brandon Gauthier
Tuesday, April 28 @ 7pm
This talk highlights how Putin's ideological vision of a newly restored Russian empire--as well as the dictator's deep resentment of U.S. foreign policy--have shaped Russia's actions in the world, including its invasion of Ukraine since 2022.
Virtual - Writing Advice From Author Tim Horvath
Tuesday, April 28 @ 7:00—8:15 PM
We're thrilled to welcome author Tim Horvath, to give us the best writing advice! Horvath is the author of Understories, which won the New Hampshire Literary Award for Outstanding Work of Fiction, and Circulation, and in collaboration with composer/cellist Rafaele Andrade, Un-bow.
Virtual - Job Search Help -- Job Hunting Do's and Dont’s
Wednesday, April 29 @ 9:30am
Join the Boston Globe’s “Job Doc” Patricia Hunt Sinacole for her presentation, “Job Hunting Do's and Don'ts.” This interactive session will be packed with information to help you become more productive, including: the use/misuse of social media in a search; networking tips; a job hunter’s elevator speech, resumes and references, cover letters; and job search statistics.
Virtual - Hollywood & The Courtroom -- The Anatomy Of A Trial
Wednesday, April 29 @ 7:00—8:15 PM
Retired Massachusetts Superior Court Justice Dennis Curran will explore the power of story-telling and the impact of film to embody and inhabit the law and its relationship to ideas about injustice, liberty, citizenry, race, justice, crime, punishment, and social order. Watch a dozen courtroom scenes from famous films and discover why they are so powerful, and what they teach us about the trial process.
Virtual - Art on Thursday: From Tiffany to Chihuly: Masters of Glass Art
Thursday, April 30 @ 7:00—8:15 PM
Discover the luminous world of glass art, where molten sand transforms into breathtaking works that capture and refract light in ways that seem to defy the very nature of solid matter. From Louis Comfort Tiffany's jewel-toned stained glass windows that turned churches into cathedrals of color, to Dale Chihuly's explosive blown glass sculptures that bring the ocean's mysteries to museum galleries, to Dan Dailey's whimsical figurative pieces that blend fine art with storytelling magic.
| | Weekly Adult In Person Programs | |
Yoga
Registration is Required, Space is Limited. Please plan on showing early as those coming in more than 5 minutes after the start of instruction will not be admitted. Registration begins 2 weeks before each session.
Also, Sadly, we will be starting to ban people from this program who sign up and don't show (or continually cancel within 12 hours of the event - banning will happen after 2 consecutive incidents). We've been having some issues with that and find it unfair to those who do show up or add their names to the wait list. So, please, so you can remain in good standing, either only register if you know you can make it (barring illness) or cancel at least 24 hours (preferably 48 hours) prior to the program.
| | |
Monday Knit & Crochet Club
Mondays at 6pm
| | | |
Starting 5/13/25, registration for children's events with limited space opens two weeks before the event date. If you can’t attend after registering, please cancel or contact the library at least 48 hours in advance. No-shows will lose registration privileges for one month. Please also arrive on time—those more than 10 minutes late may not be able to join due to missed introductions.
For programs requiring registration, signs up will begin 2 weeks prior to the event.
| | |
Clocktown Rockers!
*For ages 2-5 with a caregiver
Tuesdays at 10:30-11am
Join Miss Katrina for this new music and movement program! We'll dance to favorite kids' tunes, have fun with instruments and other props, and read a story, all while building your child's early literacy and executive function skills.
| |  | |
Baby Time
*For ages 0-3 with a caregiver
Wednesdays @ 10:30—11:00 AM
Join Miss Lindsay for Baby Time, our weekly storytime especially designed for babies and toddlers ages 0-3! This interactive storytime includes sweet stories, fun rhymes and fingerplays, bounces, and so much more.
| | | |
ABC Adventures
*For ages 3-6 with a caregiver
Fridays at 10:30-11am
Join Miss Kayla for this new literacy-focused storytime! Each week, we’ll focus on different letters of the alphabet and letter sounds as a cornerstone of building early reading skills. We’ll also read thematic stories, do fun rhymes and fingerplays, and even work on hands-on crafts!
| | | |
Saturday Stories
*for ages 2-5 with a caregiver
Most Saturdays at 10:30am
Check our calendar for dates
Join Miss Kayla for a new Saturday morning storytime! We’ll read lively stories, do fun rhymes and movement activities, and work on simple crafts. For families with children ages 2-5. No registration required.
| | | |
Off the Page Movie Club: Paddington
*for families
Saturday, April 18 @ 1:00—3:00 PM
All families are welcome to join us for our new Off the Page Movie Club, where we’ll be checking out different book-to-screen adaptations of favorite children’s books! You’ll have the opportunity to read the source material as a family before joining us for a fun Saturday movie showing in our large meeting room. This month, we’ll be highlighting A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond and the 2024 film Paddington in Peru.
Parody Playhouse: Family Concert
*for ages 0-6 with a caregiver
Tuesday, April 21 @ 10:30am
Put on your dancing shoes, because we’re welcoming Parody Playhouse BACK to the library for another morning of musical fun! A music and movement experience for children ages 0–6 and their caregivers, Parody Playhouse’s performance includes kid-friendly versions of popular songs that help teach important social-emotional skills. If you and your kiddos love to sing and dance, this is the program for you! Drop in, no registration required.
Craft It!: DIY Tic-Tac-Toe Boards
*for grades K-6
Tuesday, April 21 @ 2:00—2:45 PM
Tuesday, April 21 @ 3:15—4:00 PM
We love crafts and we love games—what better way is there to combine both than by making your own tic-tac-toe game? By painting your own board and crafting unique game pieces out of air-dry clay, you’ll have your own special tic-tac-toe set you can take home and play with again and again. All supplies are provided, just bring your creativity! Please only sign up for one session.
Earth Day Cupcake Decorating
*for grades K-6
Wednesday, April 22 @ 2:00—2:45 PM
Wednesday, April 22 @ 3:15—4:00 PM
Join us for a tasty Earth Day celebration where we’ll be decorating earth-inspired cupcakes! You’ll get to make two different cupcakes to enjoy. All supplies will be provided!. **Please keep in mind that cupcakes contain allergens such as gluten, eggs, dairy, etc.** Space is limited and registration is required! Please only sign up for one session.
| | |
Buildwave ® | A Hands-On Building Game!
*for ages 5+
Thursday, April 23 @ 11:30am
Boost your child's STEAM interest with Buildwave® — a building event that feels like a gameshow! During the event, participants build with waves of diverse materials like Lego®, Plus-Plus®, and more. Each building wave is enhanced by a dynamic audiovisual experience unlike any other. As participants complete wave after wave of building, they gain creative confidence, enhance teamwork, and experience design fundamentals in a unique and memorable context. Registration required.
Gaming & Mini-Golf w/ One Up Games
*for families, kids, and teens
Friday, April 24 @ 1:00—4:00 PM
Have you ever wanted to play mini golf in the library? Thanks to our friends from One Up Games, you can! Stop on by to play through several holes of their LED mini golf course with your family and friends. Families, kids, and teens will also enjoy hours of video games galore, from MarioKart to Smash Brothers! No registration required, just come check it out!
**Please note that the Children’s Room will be closed for circulation purposes between 12:30 and 4:00 p.m. for this event. We apologize for the inconvenience!**
Music at the Blissful: Family Concert
*for families
Saturday, April 25 @ 10:30am
We can’t wait to sing and dance along with award-winning children’s musician Evan Haller, AKA Music at the Blissful! Evan’s show is high-energy, interactive, a little silly, and perfect for kids of all ages. All families are welcome to join for a toe-tapping good time! Drop in, no registration required.
Family Trivia Party
*for families
Saturday, April 25 @ 2pm
Join us for our first-ever family trivia extravaganza! Register your family as a team to participate in a game of general knowledge trivia covering a variety of topics. Put your collective skills to the test to see if you’re the most trivia-savvy family! The winning team will receive a small prize. Registration required.
| | Special Programs in April | | |
Juntos en la Biblioteca: Actividades en Español en Familia
*for families
para familias
Monday, April 27 @ 6:30pm
Los invitamos a disfrutar en familia de una sesión de actividades en español en la biblioteca. En “Juntos en la Biblioteca,” ofreceremos la oportunidad de creer lazos fuertes en comunidad, ¡todo en español! | Join us for family activities in Spanish at the library! Through "Juntos en la Biblioteca" (Together at the Library), we're creating a space to strengthen community ties and connect, entirely in Spanish!
| | |
Little Picassos Club
*for grades K-2
Tuesday, April 28 @ 4:30—5:15 PM
Join Miss Kayla for Little Picassos—revamped! Perfect for kids in grades K-2 who love to get their hands messy, Little Picassos is a unique art club that introduces younger elementary students to different artists, art styles, and mediums. We’ll paint, sculpt, and everything in between—just bring your creativity! Registration required.
Little Crafters
Thursday, April 30 @ 10:30am
Come join the Ashland Moms Club for this storytime, where little hands get to explore big ideas! We'll start with a sweet and lively storytime, followed by a simple craft that’s perfect for curious minds. Bring your imagination, and let’s make some colorful memories together! For families with children ages 0-5. No registration required.
| | |
Project ABC: Play, Learn & Grow
*for ages 0-5
Mondays @ 11:00 AM—12:00 PM
Join the Metrowest YMCA in partnership with the Early Childhood Alliance of Ashland & Framingham for a fun and interactive experience designed just for little ones aged 5 and under! Their Play, Learn & Grow program is the perfect way to get your child ready for school and socializing with new friends. Packed with creative activities, playful learning, and joyful moments, this structured program will help your child build confidence and get excited about their educational journey. Registration is required. Register HERE
Tinker Together
*for ages 2-5 with a caregiver
Thursdays @ 3:00—4:00 PM
Our Tinker Playgroup is a hands-on, curiosity-driven space designed for children ages 2–5, where little learners explore through play, creativity, and discovery. Using simple STEAM-inspired activities, children build early skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration—all while having fun. Younger and older siblings are always welcome to join the tinkering adventure!
Our Tinker Group is brought to you by the Metrowest YMCA, the same people behind our fan-favorite Project ABC!
| | |
Teen - In Person Creative Writing Club
Thursday, April 2nd 5:00-6:00 PM and Thursday, April 16th 5:00-6:00 PM
Stop by the Teen Room at the Ashland Public Library to do some creative writing. You can continue working on a project or start a new one! There will be optional prompts for inspiration and you can share your work at the end of the meeting. You do not have to share any writing to join the group.
Teen Advisory Board Meeting In Person
Monday, April 13th 4:00-5:00 PM
Share your ideas and help plan teen events! This event can be used for community service hours.
Teen - In Person Make Your Own Slime
Tuesday, April 21st 3:00-4:00 PM:
Make some slime (and a little bit of a mess) at the library.
Teen - In Person Write to a Veteran
Thursday, April 23rd 2:30-3:30 PM
Write a letter to be delivered to a Veteran for Memorial Day. Students can use this event for community service hours. Teens are welcome to write letters all month long and drop them off at the upstairs circulation desk. Librarians must be able to proof read cards before they are sent out.
Gaming & Golf w/ One Up Games
*for kids & teens
Friday, April 24 @ 1:00—4:00 PM
Have you ever wanted to play mini golf in the library? Thanks to our friends from One Up Games, you can! Stop on by to play through several holes of their LED mini golf course with your family and friends. No registration required, just come check it out!
| |
Program Videos
Check out the library's YouTube Channel! We are recording many of our programs so subscribe today so you don't miss out.
Please let us know what you think of our programs by filling out a quick Feedback Survey - Thanks!
| | Friends of the Ashland Public Library | | |
Friends of the Ashland Public Library Full Day Book Sale: Ren Faire Edition!
Saturday, May 2 @ 9:30 AM—3:00 PM
We're participating in the Ashland Library's Mini Ren Faire! Shop for gently used books or drop your gently used books from 10-3pm, wear your Medieval garb, and check out our vendors, merchants, and performers here for the Ren Faire! Can't wait to see you!
Find more information about the 2025 Mini Ren Faire!
For this special sale, you'll find "old" books that any collector will love to own. The Friends have been collecting all year long so we're sure you'll find something to love. And, they will have all of the books, DVDs, and puzzles you can find at their regular monthly book sales! Something for everyone.
If you can't make it to the sales, the Friends have a book sale corner on the 1st floor of the library (in the beautiful original part of the building). There, you can find great books for yourself and your family any time the library is open.
Proceeds from these monthly book sales and all fundraising efforts made by the Friends fund 100% of children, teen, and adult programs, our wonderful Museum Passes, and so much more!
| | |
Downstairs Gallery
Planned Spontaneity
Bruno Wernli
March 28-May 16
Learn more about Bruno on his website.
Artist Statement:
Ideas, Concepts and Experiences
The work investigates the coexistence of control and unpredictability. Each painting begins with a defined composition and palette, then evolves through spontaneous gestures and the organic movement of paint. This mirrors the uncertain flow of life, where structure often dissolves into the unexpected. Layered surfaces become visual metaphors for resilience, transformation, and emotional complexity.
At its core, the work seeks to create emotion—a pursuit I see as the holy grail of painting. I have long envied music and film for the way they can move audiences so directly. Abstraction, for me, is a way to reach toward that immediacy of feeling through pure color, rhythm, and texture. Ultimately, the questions beneath the work may remain unanswered: How did I get here? Who am I? Why? The paintings do not answer, but they open space for the viewer to reflect.
Inspirations and Traditions That Guide the Work
Rooted in abstract expressionism, the work is also shaped by architectural principles such as spatial balance, structural foundation, and proportion—an influence of my education and interest in architecture. Photography and my years living in the Caribbean, the United States, Europe, and Latin America also influenced my visual language, adding layers of atmosphere, rhythm, and cultural resonance.
Key inspirations include the bold chromatic experiments of Niki de Saint Phalle, the gestural urgency of K.R.H. Sonderborg, and the textural complexity of Jack Whitten, as well as Gerhard Richter’s exploration of abstraction and chance. These references converge in works that celebrate the interplay between deliberate intent and intuitive mark-making.
Methods and Techniques in This Body of Work
Each painting is developed through a multi-layered process, a private, intimate, and emotionally charged practice. Pigments and raw materials are mixed into custom paints, emphasizing a direct, hands-on engagement with color. Surfaces are built up through successive applications, creating luminous, almost three-dimensional effects that embody tension between presence and impermanence.
The use of raw, unblended, self-made pigments alongside standard, off the shelve materials, underscores the honesty and authenticity of the process—nothing hidden, only a direct dialogue between hand, surface, and color. Frames and supports are handcrafted as part of this philosophy of slow, intentional creation. The result is a body of work that does not dictate meaning but instead invites viewers to step into an open field of perception, memory, and emotion.
| | | | |
Upstairs Display Case
“Mini-Books"
by Ashland Library Staff
March 2 - April 28, 2026.
The Library staff know stories come in all shapes and sizes and are happy to share some of their tiniest books for this display!
They will be available to purchase at the Friends Booksale in May.
| | |
Questions?
Contact us at ashlandprograms@minlib.net or 508-881-0134
Sign up for the library's newsletters
(if you haven't already :)
| | | | |
Physical Address
66 Front Street
Ashland, MA 01721
Phone: 508-881-0134
| | | | |
