Volume 10 No. 7 | June 30, 2026

TUTORIAL:

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

Friends of the Greenfield

Public Library’s Board Members

The Friends of the Greenfield Public Library (FGPL) elected board members at their Annual Meeting on Wednesday,

June 24th.

As you can see from the number of individuals listed below, it takes a village to nourish a library. These volunteers spend hundreds of hours running the activities that raise the funds to provide all of the programs in the library, coordinating the Poet's Seat Contest, and assisting with various library events.

President: Sara Lark, 

Vice-President: Celine Nader 

Corresponding Secretary: Clarita Shaffer 

Recording Secretary: April Sugimoto, 

Treasurer: Jonathan Cohen-Gorczyca 

Members: 

Danielle Andrew 

Eva Carrier 

Paul Jablon 

Rachel Roberts 

Pete Smith 

Cathy Whitely 

Karin Benson 

David Brock 

Peter Jenkins 

Corey Knight 

Karen Larabee 

Cyndie Rothschild 

Clarita Shaffer 

Jenn Gagne 

Sara Lark  

Celine Nader 

Diana Roberts 

Rich Roth 

April Sugimoto 

Janina Thayer 

Ex-officio 

Anna Bognolo, Library Director 

Associate Members: 

Lyndi Antic 

Bob Barba 

Jonathan Cohen-Gorczyca 

Ellen Cookson 

Florence MacGregor 

Ruth McDonald 

Maura Morrison 

John Ridgway 

Barbara Roman

Fern Smith 

Lynn Waldron

Analee Wulfunkle 

Emeritus: 

Dennis Finnell

Steve Roberto 

Ellen Berson

Phyllis Nahman 

Roma Hansis

Tori Kelliher 

Barry McColgan

Terry Ruggles 

Marianne Snow 

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

Teen Summer Reading Challenges

ongoing through August 1 

Read Books! Win Prizes! Teens going into grades 7- 12 have 3 separate opportunities to participate in summer reading at the library. All challenges focus on creating a lifelong reading habit. Stop by the Teen Room to sign up. 

Manga Unpacking Party and Boba

Thursday, July 2, 1:00 - 3:00pm 

Snack of the Week 

Weekdays in July, 12:00 - 4:00 pm 

July 6 - 10: Hakurei Turnips, Kohlrabi, and Kale

July 13 - 17: Beets, Sweet Corn, and String Beans

July 20 - 25: Blueberries, Bell Peppers and Melon

July 27 - 31: Raspberries, Cucumbers and Peaches 

Heartstopper Vol. 6 Party! 

Tuesday, July 7, 12:00 - 4:00pm (drop-in) 

Book Tasting with Ms. Winn 

Monday, July 10, 1:00 - 4:00pm (with pizza!)

Hang with Ms. Winn 

Friday, July 10, 1:00 - 4:00pm (with snacks!)

Book Crafternoon 

Wednesday, July 15, 12:00 to 3:00pm 

Summerween! 

Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24 

10:00am - 5:00 pm daily 

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!

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

Children's Programs and Events

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

ACTIVITIES & SPECIAL EVENTS

Children's Summer Reading Program,

Friday, June 17 - Saturday, August 1 

Kids ages 0-12, read this summer to earn up to two ice cream coupons to Ice Cream Alley and SOLVE THE MYSTERY POSTER! Sign ups start June 17. Caregivers can sign kids up at the library or online at greenfieldpubliclibrary.org and pick up or download a reading log.

Weekly drop-in craft 

available from 12:00 - 2:00 pm Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 9:30 am - 2:00 pm 

Summer Eats Supper Pick Up & Family Movie Night 

Tuesdays in July, 5-6pm (for supper pick up; Movie begins at 5:30pm each week. 

School Committee Reads 

Saturday, July 11, 18, 25, 10:30 am 

Dino Drama Workshop 

July 13, 14, 16, 17, 10:00 am-12:00 pm 

Space is limited and registration is required. For more information, and to register, visit ptco.org 

Piti Theatre DinoFest Performance

Wednesday, July 15, 6:00 pm 

Fabric Stamping (drop in) 

Wednesday, July 29, 3:00 - 4:30 pm

ONGOING PROGRAMS

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Our self-directed early literacy program for families with children ages 0-5. 

GPL Lego Club (drop-in) 

Mondays in July, 3:30 - 5:00 pm 

Book Babies with Ellen Lavoie 

Tuesdays in July, 10:00 am 

Toddler Time with Ellen Lavoie 

Wednesdays in July, 10:00 am 

Drop-in Playgroup 

Fridays in July, 9:30-11:30 am 

Meet a Therapy Dog (drop-in) 

Friday, July 10, 3:30 - 4:30 pm 

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

Join the Greenfield Public Library for a summer of mystery and suspense! Our Adult Summer Reading program, "Return to Camp Readmore," runs from Monday, June 1, through August 31, bringing you a fresh slate of fun activities.

This Year’s Theme is Mysteries & Thrillers! We're leaning into the shadows with a theme focused on edge-of-your-seat reads:

• Recommendations in Zine Format: Forget boring lists! Look out for our curated book recommendations and lists provided in cool, handcrafted zine format.
• Track Your Progress: All participants will receive a badge tracker to help monitor reading progress.

Win an Amazon Kindle!

We have two Amazon Kindles up for grabs this summer—one for our readers and one for our creators.

Camp Activities & Events

• Monthly Take-and-Make Crafts
• Make a Zine!: Tuesday, July 6th , 6:00 - 7:45 pm
• Show Your Library Love in the Maker Space: Saturday, August 8th 10:00 am - 1:30 pm

Stay Updated

For more information, details, and updates, check out the library blog.

• First Post: Camp Readmore Blog Post

Read Books! Win Prizes! Teens going into grades 7-12 have 3 separate opportunities to participate in summer reading at the library.

All challenges focus on creating a lifelong reading habit:

Read 15 Minutes a Day: Did you know that reading 15 minutes a day will lower your stress level by 75%, raise your SAT scores and help you live longer?

Take the 15 Minutes a Day challenge - receive a raffle ticket for every day you read and increase your chances to win a reader of the week prize for the grand prize: A Franklin County Fair Prize pack that includes 2 fair tickets, 2 demolition derby tickets and 2 ride wristbands

Bedtime Reader Challenge: Put your electronics away and read before you fall asleep. Receive a raffle ticket for each night you fall asleep to a good book! One grand prize winner will receive a giant Squishmallow and a reading lamp.

Mass Teen Choice Book Award Challenge: Receive a small prize for each 2026 MTCBA nominee you read. The reader who completes the most titles will win a special book themed prize pack!

Bonus Challenge: If teen summer readers hit a combined number of 1000 days read, they will vote on a prize for the teen room.

Kids ages 0-12, read this summer to earn up to two ice cream coupons to Ice Cream Alley and SOLVE THE MYSTERY POSTER!

Caregivers can sign kids up at the library or online at greenfieldpubliclibrary.org and pick up or download a reading log. Show your reading log to earn ice cream coupons and visit the library for stickers for our bulletin board to reveal the mystery poster in the Children' s Room. Plant a Seed, Read this summer and visit us for books and crafts all about things that grow from seeds! 

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

Weekly drop-in craft

During our summer reading program, a weekly craft will be available from 12:00 - 2:00 pm Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 9:30 am - 2:00 pm. 

This program, made possible through the generosity of the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, is free and recommended for ages 0-12.

Zine Club heads to Camp Readmore this month to help you get inspired for the library’s summer zine contest! Work on your zine with other campers, get feedback on your work, and use library supplies to make and print copies. 

What’s a zine again? A zine is a DIY, self-published, print work, often on a subject that falls outside of what’s traditionally seen in publishing.

No experience necessary, all supplies provided. Ages 13+. 

GPL’s Zine Club is an ongoing bi-monthly meeting to learn new zine skills, share your work, and meet other zinesters.  

For more information, contact Jesse Cole at jesse.cole@greenfield-ma.gov, or call (413) 772-1544 x5122.

This program, generously sponsored by the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, is free and intended for ages 13 and older.

Join us as the Greenfield Public Library presents Talia Miller, M.Ed., a hypnotherapist certified in Integrative Hypnosis™, with a 60-minute event for adults to learn about tools for emotional first aid.

Join in this safe space to care for yourself with the guidance of a trained hypnotherapist. Why: When times are tough, you need to take care of yourself so you can show up for your loved ones and your community. Learn simple tools to interrupt anxiety and stressful reactions to current events or personal challenges. With the addition of self-hypnosis tools, you will be able to go deeper inside to create space for care, healing, and clarity about how to move forward. As one recent participant put it: “After my first session (focusing on anxiety) I found myself feeling hopeful, inspired and maintaining an open mind about my own body and brain's ability to heal and grow from within.”

Talia Miller is a hypnotherapist certified in Integrative Hypnosis™. She is also an elementary school librarian with 25 years of experience in the education field. She has experience working with children and adults and giving presentations to audiences of all ages. She runs Skylight Hypnotherapy in Northampton, MA.

This program is free and open to everyone in our community.

Librarian and Archivist Kacy Westwood will be available the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm to assist people who want to research local Greenfield history or work on genealogy. Kacy will be here to guide and assist in your search for history. She will be able to help one or two people each visit, depending on the level of research being done.

This group is free and open to all. 

The Story Wizard is back and needs your help making a new story with DINOSAURS! Join the performance on Wednesday, July 15 at 6:00 pm, and adopt a pre-loved dinosaur toy at this special evening program. Recommended for dino-lovers ages 3-12. 

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 ages 3-12.

Join Shannon on Wednesday, July 29, from 3:00 - 4:30 pm for Fabric Stamping. Kids can use foam fruit and veggie stamps to decorate fabric napkins to take home, display, use, and enjoy. Great for ages 5-12. 

For more information, contact Shannon Gilcreast at shannon.gilcreast@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 ages 5-12.

Join local artist Danielle Lucier on Thursday, July 9 at 3:00 pm for “Thursday Still Life Club”, a monthly workshop designed for drawing or painting a still life and work on observational skills. 

There is nothing quite like spending a couple of hours focused on creating a piece of art. It's soothing for the mind and the soul. This month we’ll be exploring pastels and charcoal. All materials will be provided and all skill levels are welcome.

This class is part of our Summer Roundhouse Series. Participants are encouraged to use the skills they’ve learned to make a project to enter at this fall’s Franklin County Fair. We will hold sessions in mid-August to assist with framing and entering arts and crafts into the Roundhouse. Participants may also use the Makerspace and classroom materials throughout the summer. 

Pre-registration is encouraged: greenfieldpl.libcal.com/event/17079403

For more information please contact librarian Francesca: francesca.passiglia@greenfield-ma.gov or 413-772-1544 x5120

This program, made possible thanks to a grant from the Greenfield Local Cultural Council and the Franklin County Fair , is free and intended for teens and adults, ages 13+. No experience is necessary.

Join Emily Coderre of Pursuit Pilates Club in the library's Community Meeting Room on Wednesday, July 22 at 5:30 pm, for a rejuvenating Mat Pilates Pop-Up Class — a full-body, low-impact workout designed to strengthen your core, improve flexibility, and boost your posture. Perfect for all levels, this 50-minute session will leave you feeling strong, centered, and refreshed. Just bring a mat, water, and good vibes!

Registration is required with a limit of 15 participants.

Register at https://greenfieldpl.libcal.com/event/16988209.

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

Express yourself using felt! No sewing experience is required. Join us for this fun class led by the incomparable Danielle Lucier. All materials will be supplied.

This class is part of our Summer Roundhouse Series.

Participants are encouraged to use the skills they’ve learned to make a project to enter at this fall’s Franklin County Fair. We will hold sessions in mid-August to assist with framing and entering arts and crafts into the Roundhouse. Participants may also use the Makerspace and classroom materials throughout the summer. 

Pre-registration is encouraged: https://greenfieldpl.libcal.com/event/17079431

For more information please contact librarian Francesca: francesca.passiglia@greenfield-ma.gov or 413-772-1544 x5120

This program, made possible thanks to a grant from the Greenfield Local Cultural Council and the Franklin County Fair , is free and intended for teens and adults, ages 13+. No experience is necessary.



Weekdays in July

12:00 - 4:00 pm

beginning Monday July 6

Thanks to Chef Kyle from Dig In, we have a full menu of healthy and tasty treats available in the teen room each week this summer! Teens are invited to stop by to try out new flavors and old favorites Monday through Friday between 12:00 - 4:00 pm:

July 6 - 10: Hakurei Turnips, Kohlrabi, and Kale

July 13 - 17: Beets, Sweet Corn, and String Beans

July 20 - 25: Blueberries, Bell Peppers and Melon

July 27 - 31: Raspberries, Cucumbers and Peaches

10:00am - 5:00 pm daily

Celebrate Halloween in July all week long in the teen room. We’ll be featuring scary books, showing spooky movies, making sinister crafts and giving out tiny candy! Costumes encouraged …if you dare.

For more information please contact librarian Francesca: francesca.passiglia@greenfield-ma.gov or 413-772-1544 x5120

Heartstopper Volume 6, the final volume of the beloved series, is coming out on July 7 and we’ll be celebrating all afternoon long. Stop by the teen room to play Heartstopper trivia, make Heartstopper crafts, eat Heartstopper-inspired treats and try to win a copy of the book! Costumes are strongly encouraged.

For more information please contact librarian Francesca: francesca.passiglia@greenfield-ma.gov or 413-772-1544 x5120

Hoopla: Due to additional cuts in our materials budget for FY2027, GPL has made the difficult decision to reduce the availability of our Hoopla Digital collection. 

Cardholders will now be limited to 4 borrows per month, and the total we can spend on the platform has been cut in half. We apologize for any inconvenience and are always doing our best to provide the fullest platform possible.

Consumer Reports Online: Access to Consumer Reports Online ends on June 30, 2026 due to additional cuts to the library's materials budget. We still have the paper magazine in the Periodical Lounge, so you can check reviews of items here in the library!

Transparent Languages Online: Starting July 1, the MBLC will be offering Transparent Language Online with courses in 140+ languages, including ESL, ASL, and Indigenous languages. Flexible courses let you learn what you want, when you want so you're ready to use the language in the real world.

July Art Exhibits

Exhibits are on display throughout the month and accessible when programming is not taking place in our meeting rooms. The galleries are always open for viewing on Saturday mornings from 9:30 - 10:30 am.

Grit, Grace and Growth Stories of Women and Non-Binary Farmers in Massachusetts 

June 1 through July 24, Community Meeting Room

Celebration of Color Paintings by Mike Donaghy through July, Conference Room

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.