AT THE LIBRARY

Learning Opportunities for the First Half of October

October often brings old stories to mind, especially as the leaves change and Halloween approaches. As the days get shorter and the evenings cooler, familiar places can feel a little different. Local libraries offer a place to explore the histories and stories that shape our communities. Whether it’s an old burial ground, a local legend, or a tradition passed down through generations, these stories can reveal what makes a place distinctive and why certain stories endure. This month, libraries across Western Massachusetts are offering programs that invite us to look at the past in new ways. Here are several happening in the first half of October.

Discover the Remarkable Intelligence of Crows Through Art & Play

October 6, 2026 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Inspired by the curiosity of crows, participants at the West Springfield Public Library learn about these intelligent birds by trading small objects, decorating trinket boxes, and folding origami crows. The event invites everyone to explore what makes crows so clever through creative activities and hands-on learning.

Burial Grounds of Palmer: Gravestones as Primary Sources for Local History

October 6, 2026 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Local historian Robert Comeau leads a program exploring Palmer's cemeteries as lasting records of community history, revealing stories through gravestones, names, and inscriptions. Learn how these burial grounds serve as primary sources, connecting individual lives to broader historical changes over time. Hosted by the Palmer Public Library.

Springfield Witch Trials: Exploring Witchcraft, Law, & Fear in Colonial New England

October 7, 2026 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Elizabeth Kapp, Curator of History at the Springfield Museums, discusses the Springfield witch panic at the East Longmeadow Public Library, an event that took place decades before the Salem trials. The program explores how fear and conflict shaped early witchcraft accusations in colonial New England and broadens understanding of Massachusetts history.

Botanical Brooms: Exploring Seasonal Plants & Traditional Broom Making

October 7, 2026 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Andrea Cressotti-Yung leads a hands-on workshop at the West Springfield Public Library where participants learn about the history of the besom and create decorative fall brooms from dried botanicals. The session explores how seasonal plants transform after drying and how traditional crafts turn them into beautiful, useful items.

Mysterious Massachusetts: UFOs, Strange Creatures, & the Making of Folklore

October 8, 2026 @ 5:15 pm - 6:45 pm

The 1969 Berkshire UFO incident remains one of the region's enduring paranormal stories, with reports of unusual events in the skies called in to a Great Barrington radio station. At the Carnegie Public Library in Turners Falls, Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe explores Massachusetts folklore, from the Dover Demon to UFO accounts, and examines how mysterious stories become part of community history.

Chinese Ceramics: Discover What a Teacup Can Reveal About Art, Chemistry & Global Exchange

October 9, 2026 @ 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Scholar Grace Mingli Zhu shows how an ordinary teacup helps people learn about chemistry, craftsmanship, and global exchange through the story of Chinese ceramics at the Greenfield Public Library. The program explores how materials and designs reveal cultural connections and ends with a performance on the seven-string guqin.

New England Ghosts: Folklore, Oral Tradition & Critical Thinking

October 10, 2026 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

At the Westfield Athenaeum, Jonah Knight shares ghost stories from across New England, helping listeners learn how folklore, history, and storytelling connect. The program explores why these tales persist and what they reveal about communities and their landscapes.

Sewing Workshop: Create a Halloween Costume & Build Practical Sewing Skills

October 15, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm

At the Forest Park Branch Library in Springfield, participants learn sewing skills while creating Halloween costumes using sewing machines, fabric, and other supplies. The workshop encourages creativity while staff provides guidance and help with design challenges.

Klezmer Performance: Exploring Yiddish Music from the Archives to the Present

October 15, 2026 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

At Leverett Library, Ariel Shapiro and Clarissa Lyons help audiences learn how musicians bring archived klezmer music to life by blending classic tunes with new pieces inspired by old recordings. The program explores how musical traditions can grow and change while staying connected to their roots.

The First Amendment: Explore Why Freedom of Speech Becomes Complicated When Speech Is Unpopular

October 15, 2026 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

At the North Amherst Library, Professor Austin Sarat helps audiences learn about the history and complexities of the First Amendment and freedom of speech. The talk explores how constitutional principles apply to contemporary questions about protected expression.

Keep Following Your Curiosity

Public libraries let you follow an interest wherever it leads, often opening the door to questions and ideas you might not expect. With At the Library, Hilltown Families shares a twice-monthly collection of programs from libraries across Western Massachusetts, along with self-directed learning ideas that can help extend the experience beyond the event itself. Together, these programs show how much learning is already happening close to home and how libraries can connect us more deeply with the places and communities around us.

Find out more at www.HilltownFamilies.org.

Share This Email

Learn Local. Play Local.

Rooted in Western Mass.

Supporting community-based education since 2005.