In this issue: Special Collections Events - Author Talk - Scholarship Opportunities - Adult Events - Virtual Films at Fowler - Poetry at the Library - Teen Events - Children's Events | |
Highlights from Special Collections: Events Galore! | |
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A Perpetual Invitation: 150 Years of Art at the Concord Free Public Library
March 24 - September 4, 2023
Concord Museum
Opening Day: March 24, exhibit 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Guided Tours of the Exhibition: March 24 and 31, 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
In honor of the Concord Free Public Library’s 150th Anniversary, the Concord Museum, the Concord Free Public Library, and the Concord Free Public Library Corporation’s William Munroe Special Collections have collaborated on this special exhibition featuring the Library’s art collection. Curators from the Concord Museum and the Library’s William Munroe Special Collection lead the guided tours of the exhibition.
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Special Collections Author Talk | |
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Author Talk: Ilyon Woo, Author of Master Slave Husband Wife
Thursday, March 30, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Goodwin Forum, Main Library
Join author Ilyon Woo who will discuss her new book Master Slave Husband Wife - An Epic Journey From Slavery to Freedom. The true story of William and Ellen Craft, a couple who escaped slavery through daring, determination, and disguise, with Ellen passing as a wealthy, disabled White man and William posing as “his” slave. Woo will discuss her book, with behind-the-scenes glimpses of the archival sleuthing process, with special focus on the Crafts' sensational lecture tour, which included a stop in Concord.
Ilyon Woo is also the New York Times best-selling author of The Great Divorce: A Nineteenth-Century Mother’s Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times. She has written for The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine and received support for her research from the Whiting Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities, among other organizations. She holds a BA in the Humanities from Yale College and a Ph.D. in English from Columbia University.
This event is being co-sponsored by the Library's William Munroe Special Collections and the Concord Free Public Library Corporation.
[Register]
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The Charles Williams Scholarships | |
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The Williams Scholarship Committee, an initiative of the Concord Free Public Library Corporation, is now accepting scholarship applications from college-bound High School Seniors residing in Concord, MA for The Charles Williams Scholarship for Excellence in Music and The Charles Williams Scholarship for Excellence in the Visual Arts. The deadline for submissions for both scholarships is May 5, 2023.
The Williams Scholarships are named for one of the Library’s original benefactors, Mr. Charles Williams, an enthusiastic supporter of higher education, music and the arts.
Online application forms as well as submission requirements for each Scholarship can be found here.
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Arts & Crafts Club with Art for All at Fowler (teens & adults)
Tuesday, March 21, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Fowler Branch Large Meeting Room
Art for All comes to Fowler - Every Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30, teens and adults with cognitive differences are welcome to attend Arts and Crafts Club. Projects and activities may include making art for local shows, making holiday cards, and playing drawing games. [Register]
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Author Talk: Kwan Kew Lai
Thursday, March 23, 7:00 p.m.
Goodwin Forum, Main Library
Join us as we listen to author Kwan Kew Lai talk about her latest book The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly, followed by a Q & A session and book signing. Books will be available for purchase. Originally from Penang, Malaysia, Kwan Kew Lai attended Wellesley College on a full scholarship, paving the way for her to become a doctor. In 2005, she left her position as a professor of medicine to dedicate time to humanitarian work: in HIV/AIDS in Africa and to provide disaster relief all over the world, during wars, famine, and natural disasters, including the Ebola outbreak, the Syrian, Rohingya refugee crises Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Yemen, and the COVID-19 pandemic in New York and the Navajo Nation. She is a three-time recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, the Distinguished Alumna Award of Wellesley College, and the Distinguished Alumni Service Award of Chicago Medical School. [Register]
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Fowler Afternoon Tea Book Club
Friday, March 24, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Fowler Branch Large Meeting Room
Join Samantha at our Fowler Branch Library to enjoy a selection of teas and discuss a blend of historical and contemporary fiction. This month we will discuss The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. Copies of the selected book are available at Fowler and through Libby. We will discuss the book and Native American recipes. Please feel free to bring in food related to the recipe theme. [Register]
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Native Seed Packing Party
Saturday, March 25, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Fowler Branch Large Meeting Room
Over the past year, the Library has been working with the Natural Resources Division and the Concord Land Conservation Trust and other local organizations to learn ways to support native pollination systems. Continue this work by helping us pack native seed for our Seed Lending Library. Join Isabel Bailey of the Pollinator Health Advisory Committee to do some hands-on seed packing, learn more about these efforts and what you can do, and find other native plant enthusiasts. [Register]
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Conservation of Native Pollination Systems with Dr. Gegear at the Main Library
Wednesday, March 29, 6:00 p.m.
Goodwin Forum, Main Library
Dr. Robert Gegear, assistant professor of biology at UMass – Dartmouth and founder of The Beecology Project, will present research on plant-pollinator interactions and solutions to their decline. Before his talk, local organizations and groups will have tables where they will provide information about their pollinator work. Dr. Gegear's presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. Come early to learn how you can get involved! [Register]
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Virtual Films at Fowler: True Stories | |
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Films at Fowler continues in winter 2023 with True Stories. For 26 years Concord film viewers gathered on winter evenings at Fowler Library to see some of the most interesting and stimulating examples of current and classic cinema from around the world. That movie series, now called Films at Fowler, changed to an online video streaming format in 2021 and continues in that format in 2023. Because we no longer meet in person, we now watch—on your own schedule—selected movies on Kanopy, a free streaming service available to Library patrons. We will then gather on Zoom on scheduled evenings for a lively movie discussion. The theme of the movies this winter is True Stories. The movies in this series are based on real events, and have varying degrees of surprise, suspense, compassion, and drama at their heart.
Umberto D (1952)
Wednesday, March 22, 7:00 p.m. (Discussion Date on Zoom)
This neorealist masterpiece by Vittorio De Sica follows an elderly pensioner as he strives to make ends meet during Italy’s tough postwar economic recovery.
Please watch the film on Kanopy before the discussion. To register for the discussion and receive a Zoom link, send an email to the host of the series Randall Warniers at [email protected].
This series is sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.
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Teen Dungeon and Dragons
Wednesday, March 22, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Teen Lounge, Main Library
Teens - Join Dungeons and Dragons. Play casual one-off games or start a campaign with others. Beginners are encouraged. Experts expected to help out. No registration required. Ages 11-18 welcome.
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Navigating College Admissions Successfully in 2023
Wednesday, March 22, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Zoom
Stand Out For College is offering this Zoom presentation to help families understand how the lingering effects from the pandemic have changed the college admissions landscape and how it affects Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen. They will discuss current college admissions trends, the importance of researching and visiting colleges to find schools that can be a good fit for your child, a timeline and other action steps that can be taken to make this second half of the school year productive and help reduce the stress around the college admissions process. The presentation will be led by Ron Feuchs and Jackie Tepper, partners at Stand Out For College, LLC. [Register for Zoom Link]
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Teen Board Game Advisory Board
Thursday, March 23, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Teen Lounge, Main Library
Teens - Join The Board Game Advisory Board. Register now and visit the Teen Lounge on Thursdays this winter. Receive your very own Board Game Board Member membership card. Choose from our game selection at the Library, plan which games we purchase in the future, or bring your own from home (board games, table top role playing, card games Magic, Pokemon, etc). Popcorn will always be provided. [Register]
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Make Your Own Videogame with Coderdojo
Saturday, March 25, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Teen Lounge, Main Library
The Concord Free Public Library is excited to invite videogame designer and master coder Matthew Mackowski for Make Your Own Videogame with Coderdojo. Teen participants (ages 7-17) will have the opportunity to learn the basics of coding and get an inside look at the videogame industry and what it takes to become a designer. Or if you already have projects you are working on, bring them in for consultation. No registration required.
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Children's Events at the Main Library | |
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StoryWalk: Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 11 by Helaine Becker
Main Street Leading to the Children's Library
From Katherine's early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, Counting on Katherine is the story of a groundbreaking American woman who not only calculated the course of moon landings but, in turn, saved lives and made enormous contributions to history.
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Saturday Morning with Music at the Blissful
Saturday, March 18, 10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Children's Activity Room, Main Library
Join us for music and movement with Evan from Music at the Blissful. No registration required.
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Read to Laddie the Collie
Saturday, March 18, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Children's Activity Room, Main Library
Register for your own 15-minute session with Laddie. Bring along a favorite book. Did you know that reading to dogs boosts reading skills & emotional & social skills for children? Read to a good listener who loves stories! [Register]
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Musical Monday with Alan Goodrich
Monday, March 20, 10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Goodwin Forum, Main Library
Enjoy music and stories with Alan Goodrich - Alan is a guitarist and singer-songwriter/solo performer who presents live music concerts for "kids" of all ages including classic and current children's songs and original songs. No registration required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library.
For more Children's events at the Main Library, visit here.
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Fowler Branch Children's Events | |
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Pediatric Dentistry Visits Fowler, Ages 6 & under
Monday, March 20, 4:15 - 4:45 p.m.
Fowler Branch
Friends from Pediatric Dentistry will teach about brushing, flossing, and healthy snack choices. Join us for an interactive program, ideal for preschoolers and kindergartners. No registration required.
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Game Time at Fowler with Minute Man Arc
Saturday, March 25, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Fowler Branch Large Meeting Room
Join fellow enthusiasts on the fourth Saturday of the month to play Sorry, Operation, Uno, and other classic games. This program is sponsored by Minute Man Arc. We welcome teens and adults with cognitive differences. No registration required.
For more Children's events at Fowler, visit here.
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