January 2025 News

Special Events & Adult Programs

Multigenerational Miniature Clay Doughnut Workshop

Tuesday, January 7th, 2025 at 4:30pm


Join us at Sturgis Library to make mini doughnuts out of polymer clay!

All materials and real doughnuts for snackin’ will be provided by the library.


This is a multigenerational program meant for adults and for kids ages 10 and up!


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


Writers Game Night

Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 at 5:30pm


Adult writers are encouraged to join us for this fun-filled night of writing inspiration!


Professional writer Susan Moeller will guide participants through fun, hands-on activities that will be sure to induce laughter and spark creativity!


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

Short Story Group

Meets one Thursday a month at 11:00am


Next meeting: Thursday, January 9th, 2025 at 11:00am


Meet monthly with friends to sip hot coffee, nibble treats, and discuss great short fiction!


The group is currently reading stories from

The Best Short Stories 2024: The O. Henry Prize Winners. This collection contains twenty prizewinning stories chosen from thousands published in magazines over the previous year.


Copies of the selected stories are now available at the circulation desk.


To register email Gabrielle at reference@sturgislibrary.org

Fireside Bookclub

Meets one Tuesday a month

from November–March at 5:30pm


Next meeting: Tuesday, January 21st, 2025 at 5:30pm


Beat the winter blues with good literature and great company!


This winter, meet monthly by the fire at Sturgis Library to enjoy light snacks and discuss literary fiction novels.


Get your copy of the current book, Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks at the circulation desk today!


To register, email Gabrielle at reference@sturgislibrary.org

The Art of Picture Books

Friday, January 24th , 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 feature Rebecca Green.


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

Barnstable Council on Aging: Communication Tools

Tuesday, January 21st, 2025 at 10:00am


There is a saying, “it’s not so much what we say, it's how we say it." This discussion will review positive and successful approaches to communicating with the person we are caring for, medical personal, and families.


No registration required--drop in.


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

or call 508-862-4765

Kids' Programming

Paper Village Workshop

Friday, December 27th, 2024 at 12:00pm-1:00pm


Budding artists ages 8 and up are invited to create their own cozy, paper village!


All materials provided by the library.


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

Weekly Storytime

Wednesdays at 10:30am


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, December 28th, 2024, from 1:00pm-2:00pm

Saturday, January 11th, 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, January 28th, 2025 from 4:30pm-5:00pm


Young readers ages 10ish-13ish are invited to join The Bookish Society’s monthly book club!


This month's gathering will feature My Side of the Mountain by Jean George


Snacks and book journals are provided. 


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

Special News

Archaeological Finds Date Back to Lothrop Era

Sturgis Library has a collection of historic artifacts that were found in and around the building and on the property, most dating back to well before the building became a library. The items were found during archaeological studies of our building and grounds, as well as during several metal detecting sessions.


The latest finds were discovered by Barnstable native Erik Thompson during a dig this summer. They are three spoons dating from the mid to late 1600s or early 1700s when the Lothrop family resided in the house. As you may know, the building was constructed in 1644 as a home and meetinghouse for Reverend John Lothrop, considered the founder of Barnstable. His descendants lived in the house through the early 1800s when descendant William Sturgis went off to sea and became a successful merchant, and the home was sold. Before Sturgis died, he bought the building back and left it to the town as a public Library. It opened as a library in 1867, and has been going strong every since.


Many thanks to Erik and his team for their work. The spoons will join the other items in our artifact collection, which includes pottery sherds, coins, shoes buckles, hardware, historic glass, hoop skirt forms, a woman's blouse, 19th century shotgun shells, and even a Frozen Charlotte!


We like to imagine Rev. Lothrop or his family sitting at table, eating a hearty stew or pudding using these spoons. Since forks did not come into common usage in the New World until the late 1700s, spoons were the main utensil for eating and serving prior to the Revolution.


Our artifacts are kept in our archives, but they are available to view by request. Contact Library Director Lucy Loomis at 508-362-6636 or director@sturgislibrary.org to view them.

New Additions To Our "Library of Things"

You may be familiar with our "Library of Things" -- it is a collection of nontraditional items that are available to borrow.


We currently offer:

  • Wireless hotspots
  • Ghost hunting kit
  • Rechargeable cordless leaf blower
  • A large collection of regular and special wooden jigsaw puzzles
  • Discount museum passes
  • A light board for use by artists, photographers, educators, and parents


We will be adding:

  • A collection of unusual and beautiful games
  • A metal detector
  • A lightweight sewing machine
  • A ukulele
  • And more to come!


If you have an idea for a nontraditional item you'd like to borrow from the Library, please let us know. Contact Christy Munier, Youth & Adult Services at youth.adult@sturgislibrary.org or 508-362-6636.

Kanopy Streaming Service Now Available -- And It's Free!

Sturgis Library patrons now have access to Kanopy for free!


Kanopy is a wonderful streaming service for quality, thoughtful entertainment. Find feature films, series, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films, and educational videos that inspire, enrich, and entertain. You even get access to The Great Courses!


Patrons will also have access to Kanopy Kids which offers a well-curated, educational collection of movies and shows for children.


All you need is a Sturgis Library card number and your password/pin.


Click here to get started (on December 1st), or visit www.kanopy.com/en/sturgislibraryba


Need some help? Click here for Kanopy resources. Need even more help? Give us a call at 508-362-6636.

Recommended Titles: Beyond the Bestsellers

Adult Fiction

Isola

by Allegra Goodman


A 16th-century noblewoman is stranded on a desert island. How will she survive—and thrive?

Mothers and Sons

by Adam Haslett


A mother and son, estranged for years, must grapple with the shared secret that drove their lives apart.

Knife Skills for Beginners

by Orlando Murrin


This debut locked-room culinary mystery set in a London cooking school is a cut above the rest.

Adult Nonfiction

about the wonders of planet Earth

Sing Like Fish: How Sound Rules Life Under Water

by Amorina Kingdon

It's a Gas: the Sublime & Elusive Elements the Expand our World

by Mark Miodownik

Into the Unknown: the Quest to Understand the Mysteries

of the Cosmos

by Kelsey Johnson

Kids' Books

Milo the Knight by Gregoire Laforce

Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz

Uprooted Ruth Chan

Sturgis Library is a private, independent public library, one of seven village libraries in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts. We receive only 46% of our funding through the Town; we must raise the rest of our funds through private donations, grants, bequests, and other gifts.


By clicking on the PLEASE 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.

Please Donate


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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