January 2026 News

Special Events & Adult Programs

Winter Clothing Drive

Now Through January 16th

Sturgis Library is a drop-off location for Clothing The Cape, an AmeriCorps Cape Cod Initiative benefitting the Family Pantry of Cape Cod.

Accepting:

new/gently used coats
new/gently used winter garments

The Letter Writing Club

First Gathering:

Tuesday, January 13th, 2025 at 5:30pm

Practice the art of meaningful, thoughtful correspondence.

Join The Letter Writing Club and pledge to write one letter each month for the entire year.

Club members are encouraged to gather at Sturgis Library on the second Tuesday of the month where stationary, art supplies, a letter prompt, and a sense of connection will be provided.

Club members needn't gather in person; if gathering in person is not possible, letter prompts can be emailed to club members.

To become a member of The Letter Writing Club, email Christy at youth.adult@sturgislibrary.org

To register to attend the in-person gathering, visit www.sturgislibrary.org/events/ or click here.

Tea & Watercolor

Saturday, January 10th, 2026 at 10:30am

January is National Hot Tea Month! Let's honor the peacefulness of tea by having a cup by the library's fireplace while we mindfully create art using watercolor.

This watercolor practice is for all skill levels! All supplies are provided by the library.

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

The Art of Picture Books

Friday, January 9th, 2026 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.

This gathering will focus on the artwork of Matthew Forsythe.

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

NEW DATE: Tales of the Sea with Cynthia Elder

Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 5:30pm

Join author Cynthia Elder for a look at her historical novels, Tales of the Sea, based on unpublished 1800s ship logs, letters, and journals from West Barnstable’s Jenkins and Fish families. Discover the true story of a seafaring family during the final days of the Great Age of Sail and the Civil War.

Elder’s research at Sturgis Library brings local history to life, featuring references to Captain William Sturgis and The Barnstable Patriot.

Copies of The Journey Begins and The Drumbeats of War will be available for sale, signing, and checkout.

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

Barnstable Council on Aging

Tuesday, January 13th, 2026 at 10:00am

Join Stacey Cullen as she discusses Five Wishes, a program created by Aging with Dignity designed to help individuals express their wishes for end-of-life care. It goes beyond typical medical directives by addressing personal, emotional, and spiritual needs as well as medical preferences. It's a living will that helps people communicate their desires to family, friends, and healthcare providers if they become seriously ill.

No registration required. Questions? Email Stacey Cullen at stacey.cullen@town.barnstable.ma.us

Fireside is Back!

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 5:30pm

The Fireside Novella Club is a reading group that meets monthly by the fire at Sturgis Library to sip tea and discuss literary fiction novellas.

January’s novella is Claire Keegan’s Foster. Copies of the book will be available at the circulation desk beginning December 15th.

To register, email Gabrielle at reference@sturgislibrary.org.

Multigenerational & Kids' Programming

Button Books

Monday, December 29th, 2025 at 10:30am

Make tiny books using two buttons as book covers! Paper is used to make accordion style pages that can be filled with whatever the creator desires. Gentle illustration guidance will be provided.

This program is a multigenerational program for adults, young adults, & kids 7+

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

Half-Day Doughnut Still-Life Painting

Friday, January 16th, 2026 at 1:00pm

It's a half day for Barnstable Public Schools! Let's fill our afternoon with art... and doughnuts!

Young artists ages 6+ are invited to Sturgis Library to learn the basics of still-life painting by creating a still life painting of a doughnut. And, of course, the doughnut can be eaten once the painting is done!

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

Busy Bees at Sturgis Library

Mondays from 10:30am-11:30am on:

January 26th

February 2nd

February 9th

February 23rd

March 2nd

Join Julie Campbell from Cape Cod Children's Place for lots of fun, wiggling, laughing, exploring, and learning with new friends at Sturgis Library!

Cape Cod Children’s Place supports families and community partners to increase their resilience, strengths, and skills so that children can thrive.

This program is for kids ages 1-3 years old.

Space is limited. Registration is required.

To register, call Cape Cod Children’s Place at 508-240-3310

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, January 31st, 2026 at 1:00pm

Master Builders of all ages are invited to 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.

Registration is not required.

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

The Bookish Society of Young Readers

Tuesday, January 27th, 2025 at 5:00pm

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

This gathering will focus on The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk.

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

Special News

Our Newest little free Library

You've seen the Sturgis *little free* Libraries around the Village -- one near Barnstable Market, one at Millway Beach, and one at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in Cummaquid. Now we will have one located right here at the Library!

This *little free* library is unique -- it is made from an antique corner cupboard donated during our "Everything But the Kitchen Sink" sale. We couldn't part with it, and after unearthing its beautiful wood from under many layers of paint, we knew it would be the perfect addition to the Library grounds. You will find it in our "Culinary Corner" garden to the left of the entryway. That gives visitors easy access to a free book or two when they stop by to return books in the book return slot.

We do ask that you not put donations of books in this *little free* library -- book donations should be made inside the Library during open hours. Visit our book shop web page for guidelines on what kinds of books we accept for donation at www.sturgislibrary.org/services/book-gift-shop

Many thanks to Beth Crane for donating it. According to Beth, it was the medicine cabinet at the family home, Packet Mail, the big yellow house across from Lothrop Hill Cemetery. Thanks also to Tim Hamel, our maintenance person, for refinishing and installing it!

New Board Games to Check Out

We've added a dozen new board games to our game collection for you to enjoy this winter! Choose from the following great titles (new titles are in green):

Art dice -- Azul -- Backgammon -- Bonding with Books -- Carcassone -- Chess -- Chicken Foot Dominoes -- Chroma Cube -- Crossword Solitaire -- Dinosaur Tea Party -- Drawing from Memory -- Ecologies -- Five Crowns -- The Game -- Gravity Maze -- Haikubes -- Harmonies -- Hues and Cues -- Jewel Box -- Kurt Vonnegut GHQ -- Mahjong -- Mancala -- Ouisi -- Ouisi Getty Museum -- Ouisi Nature -- Parks -- Paint Chip Poetry -- Photosynthesis -- Piggy Piggy -- Rummikub -- Sagrada -- Skyjo -- Ticket to Ride New York City -- Trellis -- Uzzle -- Where Should We Begin -- Writing Dice -- Yamma.

If you want to reserve a specific title, call us at 508-362-6636.

Recommended Titles: Beyond the Bestsellers

Adult Fiction

Listen

by Sacha Bronwasser

A twisty, slow-burn mystery set in Paris and the Netherlands that has become a Dutch sensation

Amity

By Nathan Harris

A gripping story about a brother and sister, emancipated from slavery but still searching for true freedom, and their odyssey across the deserts of Mexico.

The Tortoise’s Tale

by Kendra Coulter

A century of American history unfolds through the eyes of a giant tortoise with a heightened awareness for live music, the location of edible flowers, and the nuances of human behavior.