Volume 9 No. 12 | December 1, 2025

TUTORIAL:

Click on the image to the right for a PDF of the newsletter & calendar tutorial.

Greenfield Human Rights Award Ceremony

Monday, December 8, 2025 5:30 - 7:00 pm

Community Room

The Greenfield Human Rights Commission, in cooperation with the Greenfield Public Library, will host a ceremony honoring Larry Thomas. We will celebrate his extraordinary service to the community and honor him for his tireless efforts to support people who are living unsheltered in Greenfield and across Franklin County.

Drawing on his own 15 years of lived experience being unhoused, he brings compassion, understanding, and peer support to those facing homelessness. Larry is a trusted and consistent presence in the community—responding to people in crisis during severe weather, flooded campsites, or encampment evictions. His work often happens quietly and without public recognition, yet his impact is profound. Over the years, he has supported hundreds of individuals, preventing further harm and even saving lives.

The public is invited to join in celebrating his extraordinary service to the community.

In addition to Larry’s award, others nominated for the award will be given certificates recognizing their service. 

At the ceremony, the new logo of the Human Rights Commission will be unveiled. During the past two months, students in the Greenfield Public Schools had an opportunity to enter their artwork in a contest for a new HRC logo. The winner, Cecily Paterno, a student at Greenfield Middle School, will receive their prize; other students who submitted entries will receive certificates for doing so.

Didn't buy your raffle tickets yet?

Only ONE WEEK until the drawing.

Buy them NOW so you don't forget!

Where else can you win $675 in prizes for a $5 raffle ticket, AND support the hundreds of Library programs offered each year? This is a great opportunity to support both our local restaurants and our community library during these challenging times. There are two prize packages available. Each package includes nine gift certificates worth $75, a total package value of $675!

Just click on this LINK right now to buy tickets and donate to the Friends of the GPL at the same time. Throw your hat in the ring for your chance to win $1375 worth of gift certificates.

You can also text friendsraffle2025 to 33100 to get the link.

Tickets can also be purchased at the Greenfield Public Library and Federal Street Books. 

Raffle tickets are 1 for $5, 3 for $10 or 7 for $20.

For more information about the Taste of the Towns Restaurant Raffle, visit the Friends' Facebook page

Your generosity during this raffle is part of what allows the myriad programs in this newsletter to be offered. Funds collected by the Friends also provide passes to area museums; support the Homebound Delivery Program; and support our sponsorship of the annual Poet's Seat Poetry Contest.

The winners will be chosen at the Winter Farmers’ Market on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Please Buy Your Tickets Now

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS FOR LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

If you have volunteered in the past, or you think you might want to volunteer to help out the library or Friends in the future, log in to our new sign-up system today:

CLICK HERE

For detailed information about the many excellent programs presented at the library, listed below, click on the purple "Visit the Full Library Calendar" button,

which you'll find throughout the newsletter:

Teen Programs and Events

Teen programs are intended for youth ages 13 - 20 unless otherwise noted

Peer Tutors wanted in the Teen Room

Earn volunteer hours for school and gift cards!

Contact Francesca for details.

Wednesday Resources in the Teen Room

Wednesdays, 2:30-4:30pm

• Youth Career Counselors from MassHire 
• Homework Help
• After School Snacks
• Free healthcare and hygiene items
• Pizza!!!

Teen Room Café

Thursday, December 11, 2:30-4:30pm

Monday, December 15, 2:30-4:30pm

• Enjoy fancy drinks and pastries while you chill!

Oddly Satisfying Crafts

Friday afternoons in December, 2:30-4:30

• Dec 5 - Hand-Carved Stamps
• Dec 12 - Shrinky Dinks
• Dec 19 - Winter Watercolors

Winter Break in the Teen Room

Friday Dec 26, Monday Dec 29, Tues Dec 30, Friday, Jan 2, 10am to 4pm

• Stop by for a hot cocoa and read, work on a puzzle, create with perler beads, build with cardboard and more...

Getting to Know your Nervous System: a brief overview of neuro-diversity

Weds, Dec 10, 3:30pm, in the Makerspace

• Join mental health experts from the Community Health Center of Franklin County, participate in creative, interactive activities designed to help you to better understand your own range of emotions.

Kick-off to Winter Break!

Tuesday, Dec 23, 11:30am to 2:30pm

• Sign up for the vacation reading challenge and receive a reading kit
• Make a quick craft to gift
• Switch Tournament in the Conference Room

For more information on teen programs, contact teen librarian Francesca Passiglia at francesca.passiglia@greenfield-ma.gov

or call (413) 772-1544 x5120

Tween Programs and Events

Come enjoy the library's dedicated space for Tweens!

Kids’ Graphic Novel Book Club Meeting: Roller Girl

Thursday, December 18, 3:45 pm

Copies of the book are available for check out in the children’s room

Tween Advisory Board Meeting

Wednesday, Dec 10, 3:45 pm

Paper-snowflake making and cookie decorating

Nintendo Switch Tournament

Wednesday, Dec 23, 11:30am-2:30pm

Enjoy a slice of pizza at this tween/teen program!

Children's Programs and Events

An adult is required to be present with children under 8 participating in GPL programs

STORY TIMES

Book Babies

Intended for birth -18 months

Tuesdays at 10am

Toddler Time with Ellen Lavoie

Wednesdays at 10:00 am  

ACTIVITIES

JingleFest Holiday Storytime

Saturday, Dec 6, 10:30am

Make a Jingle Bracelet (drop-in)

Friday, Dec 5, 3-5pm, Sat, Dec 6, 11am-1pm

Nutcracker Storytime and Craft

Friday, December 19, 3:30pm

Family Board Game Night (drop-in)

Monday, December 29, 5:30-7:30pm

Super Lego Club: Monday, Dec 29

ONGOING PROGRAMS

Meet a Therapy Dog (drop-in)

Friday, Dec 5, 3:30-4:30pm

GPL Lego Club (drop-in)

Mondays, 3:30-5pm

Drop-in Playgroup

Fridays, 9:30-11:30am

Baby-Wearing Meetup

Monday, Dec 15, 10am

For more information on children’s programs, contact children’s librarian Ellen Lavoie at ellen.lavoie@greenfield-ma.gov

or call (413) 772-1544 x5104

Have a favorite holiday cookie recipe? Or maybe you’ve been wanting to try new ones?

Join us for our Annual Holiday Cookie Tasting & Recipe Exchange happening at the Greenfield Public Library on Tuesday, December 9, at 6:30 pm in the Community Meeting Room.

Sign up to bring 3-4 dozen of your favorite cookies to share, along with your recipe. You’ll go home with a plateful of assorted cookies and a whole bunch of new recipes that you can make for the holidays!

Space is limited, and pre registration is required. Registration ends on Friday, December 5.

Register for the Cookie Exchange HERE. After registering, your reservation will be confirmed.

For more information, contact Pamela McBride at:

pamela.mcbride@greenfield-ma.gov or call (413) 772-1544.

This program, generously sponsored by the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library is intended for ages 14 and older.

Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6

Make a Jingle Bracelet (drop-in) Friday, December 5, 3:00 - 5:00 pm, and Saturday, December 6, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Drop by the Children’s Room during Greenfield’s JingleFest on Friday afternoon and Saturday to make a festive jingle bracelet.

JingleFest Holiday Storytime, Saturday, December 6, 10:30 am Join us for a special Jinglefest storytime on Saturday, December 6, at 10:30 am. Ages 0-12 welcome.

Greenfield Winter Farmers Market, Saturday, December 6, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Join us as the Greenfield Farmers Market Association returns to the Greenfield Public Library with their Winter Market featuring local farmers, artisans, music and more! 

Makerspace Craft: Gift Wrapping, Saturday, December 6, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Drop by the Makerspace and get a head start on your holiday wrapping! While supplies last.

This program, made possible through the generosity of the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library

This New Age with George McCully

December 10, 2:00 pm

Conference Room

As Local Author McCully states: “We are now entering a New Age in human history—one of only four such transformations in the history of the West, in which all mature fields of human endeavor are being simultaneously transformed, to possibly create a new civilization. My book, Christianity Then and Now: Can It Be Saved? describes a small but fundamental aspect of this transition."

George McCully has had two careers: first for twenty years as a professor of Renaissance and Reformation history, and as an independent philanthropy consultant. In 1996 he created the Massachusetts “Catalogue for Philanthropy,” which led to a doubling of Massachusetts giving in only four years and pioneered donor education nationwide. He resides in South Deerfield, MA.

This program, sponsored by the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, is free and open to the public.

Monday, December 1

6:00 pm

Community Meeting Room

Did you know Blue Jay feathers aren't blue? That some foxes climb trees? And some frogs make their own anti-freeze!

Come join us for an entertaining and educational wildlife presentation with Brad Timm,  Brad, wildlife ecologist, author, and Founder of the Northeast Wildlife Team will share with us loads of fascinating wildlife factoids, inspired by his book Wildlife Out Your Window.

Brad will share with us simple actions each of us can take to help wildlife all around us. Come join us for this free program! Your eyes will be opened to wildlife in ways you never could have imagined! He will also stay after the presentation to chat with attendees and will have signed copies of his book available for purchase ($20) at the event.

This event, sponsored by the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library

Kick Off to Winter Break!

Tuesday, December 23, 11:30 - 2:30 pm,

Community Meeting Room

Make a stop at Greenfield Public Library on Tuesday, December 23 between 11:30 am - 2:30 pm before you start your winter break.

Check out a book and receive a special reading kit.

Make a quick craft in the teen room.

Join the Mario Kart/Super Smash Bros tournament in the Community Room. Plus pizza!

This event is open to middle and high school aged youth.

Questions? Contact Teen Librarian Francesca at francesca.passiglia@greenfield-ma.gov or call (413) 772-1544 x5120

This program, funded by The Library Initiative for Teens and Tweens, is free and intended for youth ages 13 - 20.

Conference Room

Good books, good tea & good company. What could be better to end your busy day?

Literary Teas combines literary works of fiction with cozy cups of local tea, from Greenfield’s local tea shop: Alchemy of Avalon. Our next book discussion is on Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30 pm, in the GPL Conference Room.

In December, we are going back to our roots and discussing all things Jane Austen! Do you have a favorite Austen novel? Has it been made into a movie or mini-series? Was the adaptation a good one, or did you want to yell insults at the screen? Come and share your favorite (or least favorite) adaptations with us!

If you would like tea, please email us at librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org by 5:00 pm on December 5, 2025.

If you can only attend by Zoom, email us for the registration link. 

This program is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library.

Twirlers and dance lovers, join Hayley from Catherine Grace Studios for a special holiday reading and craft inspired by the Nutcracker ballet, on Friday, December 19 at 3:30 pm. You may even meet a sugarplum fairy!

For more information, contact Ellen Lavoie at ellen.lavoie@greenfield-ma.gov or call (413) 772-1544 x5104.

This program, made possible through the generosity of the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, is free and recommended for children ages 3-8.

Half day at school? Tweens and teens are welcome at the library on Tuesday, December 23 from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm for some pizza and Switch game play on a big screen in the GPL Conference Room. 

For more information, contact Ellen Lavoie at ellen.lavoie@greenfield-ma.gov or Francesca Passiglia at francesca.passiglia@greenfield-ma.gov or call (413) 772-1544 x5104.

This program, made possible through the generosity of the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, is free and recommended for children ages 10-18.

Library Closed:

Wednesday, December 24 at 12:00 pm, and Thursday, December 25

Check us out 24/7 at greenfieldpubliclibrary.org, for e-books, audiobooks, movie streaming, music, and research fun.

Library Closed: 

Wednesday, December 31 at 12:00 pm, and Thursday, January 1

Check us out 24/7 at greenfieldpubliclibrary.org, for e-books, audiobooks, movie streaming, music, and research fun.

ECard registration can be found at https://www.bpl.org/ecard-registration/ 

Greenfield Public Library Hours

Monday - Wednesday: 9:30 am – 8 pm

Thursday - Friday: 9:30 am – 5 pm

Saturday: 9:30 am – 2 pm

For security purposes, the upstairs floor closes 15 minutes before closing time. Main doors are locked 5 minutes before closing.

Check us out 24/7 at at our website for e-books, audiobooks, movie streaming, music, and research fun.