Jen and Mike from HGTV's "Houses with History" Visiting the Library

If you're a fan of HGTV's "Houses with History," featuring designer Jen MacDonald, history buff Mike Lemieux, and carpenter Rich Soares, you'll know that they've restored two 100+-year-old Middleboro properties. Both season 1 and season 2 of the show featured homes here in town. Mike and Jen also are co-founders of Full Circle Homes, based in Plympton.

On Wed., Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m., they'll share their passion for real estate, antiques and preserving historic properties with us, and will walk us through their journey of how they acquired and renovated the Middleboro properties.

Mike and Jen have built both a life and a business around real estate, antiques and preserving historic properties. Their impact has stretched through the South Shore with homes such as the Deacon Eldred House, Cape Cod’s oldest continued residence, and the recent restoration of a Victorian Era Carriage house in Kingston which was involved in a 100-year-old cold case.

Through their new take on a historic country store, Mayflower Mercantile, and their biannual event, Mayflower Market Days, both located in Plympton, Mike and Jen have also extended their commitment to the community by bringing people together and promoting small business owners on their journey.

Registration is required, and can be done through our online calendar.

Please call 508/946-2470 with any questions.

This program is supported by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Join Us For Yoga @ the Library

Our final summer session of Yoga @ the Library will take place on Sat., Aug. 17 at 9:30 a.m. and all levels are encouraged to attend. Please bring a yoga mat and water to class. Several mats will be available to borrow if you don't have your own.

Instructor Paige Hogg is a 200-hour certified yoga teacher who specializes in restorative and vinyasa styles. For adults ages 18+. Registration is required as space is limited, and priority will be given to those who haven't attended other sessions. Call 508/946-2470 or email Reference/Adult Services Librarian Libby Fox.

Thanks to the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library for funding Yoga @ the Library.

Next Up in Our Virtual Author Talk Series

Register for one of our upcoming 60-minute virtual author talks here and submit your questions for the author, or you can watch here, at any time, any of the previous programs archived back to July 2022.

Your VIRTUAL All-Access Pass Behind the Scenes at the Space Station with Smithsonian Curator Dr. Jennifer Levasseur, Wed., Aug. 7, 2:00 p.m.

You’re invited to virtually step inside one of the greatest international achievements with a behind-the-scenes guide to space exploration with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curator Dr. Jennifer Levasseur.

Revealing a new perspective into the world of space exploration and the daring astronauts who make it possible, Dr. Levasseur will take you on a once-in-a-lifetime virtual tour of the International Space Station. 

You'll learn what the astronauts do once they make it to the space station, from experiments to repairs and so much more. Have you ever wondered if plants could grow in outer space? Or how the space station doesn’t break down in outer space? Or how astronauts go to the toilet in microgravity?

Did you know that during a 24-hour period, the space station completes 16 orbits of Earth and the astronauts on board see 16 sunrises and sunsets every day? Or that the International Space Station is so enormous that it was launched in pieces and constructed in orbit?

Brimming with astonishing visuals, step-by-step explanations of everyday space work in action, and job profiles of the adventurous people who make it happen, register to experience Dr. Levasseur’s tour.

Dr. Levasseur's first book examined the cultural significance of astronaut photography. She's the responsible curator for the Museum's astronaut cameras, chronographs, the Space Shuttle, and International Space Station programs.

Register here.

The Golden Ticket to College Admissions Is Not What You Think: Redefining Success for Parents of Teens with Irena Smith, Thurs., Aug. 15, 2:00 p.m.

Another college application season is around the corner, and stress is already beginning to ratchet up for teens and their parents. You’re invited to join us for this talk with Irena Smith, PhD. You'll hear about constructive and healthy ways to approach the college application process, preserve your relationship with your teen, and help them define success on their terms instead of chasing the elusive “golden ticket.”

Irena is a former Stanford Admissions Officer who has spent 18 years advising accomplished, tightly-wound students in Palo Alto and around the world. She saw firsthand the extreme measures parents took to help their children gain admission to highly selective colleges and the toll it took on the children as well as on their parents.

Irena Smith is an author, former Stanford admissions officer, independent college counselor, and mother of three. She emigrated from the former Soviet Union with her parents when she was nine years old. In spite of her fierce insistence that she would never learn English, she went on to earn a BA in English and then a PhD in Comparative Literature, both from UCLA.

Her recently published memoir won the Story Circle Network's Gilda Award, and has been described by Forbes as “captivating and smart… a potential antidote to the fevered belief that being admitted to an elite college will spell the difference between a successful life vs. a doomed future.”

Register here.

Buttonwood Park "Zoo2You" Event

Drop in for a visit with Buttonwood Park Zoo's "Zoo2You" program., on Mon., Aug. 5 at 2:00 p.m. An educator from the zoo will bring two animals and a variety of educational materials to share with families in an informal setting. All ages are welcome to stop by anytime between 2:00 and 2:45 p.m. 

This program is brought to you by the generous support of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Family Movie Night: Kung Fu Panda 4

Drop in for a Family Movie Night featuring "Kung Fu Panda 4," rated PG, on Tues., Aug. 6 at 6:00 p.m. Families can bring their own picnic dinner and/or snacks for the show.  

Thanks to the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library for sponsoring this event.

Read with a Ranger Storytime

Meghan Schill, Educator for the National Parks Service, will be joining us virtually on the Library's big screen to read "If I Were a Park Ranger," on Thurs., Aug. 8 at 10:30 a.m. She'll also tell us about the park where she works, the Cane River Creole National Park, and lead us in an art activity. 

This program is best for kids ages 6 to 10, and siblings are always welcome. No registration is required.

Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals

Author Jennifer Welborn and illustrator Rozillia MH will join us on Tues., Aug. 13 at 10:30 a.m. Kids will enjoy an interactive reading of Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals as well as hands-on activities while also learning how to take care of animals. They're encouraged to bring their own stuffed animal for a vet clinic check-up. 

This program is best for kids ages 4 to 8. The first 30 participants will receive mini vet kits to keep. 

No registration is required.  

This program is brought to you by the generous support of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Crafternoon Returns!

Drop-in on Wed., Aug. 14, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. to make something from recycled materials. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.

Thanks to the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library for sponsoring this program.

Toddler/Preschool Program with Ms. Marsha

August is a wonderful time for stories and crafts. Join Ms. Marsha as we celebrate the awesomeness of summer on Thurs., Aug. 22 at 10:30 a.m. We'll sing, dance, listen to some stories, and make some awesome crafts.

This program is suitable for toddlers and preschoolers ages 2-5. Siblings are always welcome. Please register here.

Helping Endangered

Animals

There are a few spots remaining for those tweens and teens who are interested in meeting some endangered species up close and personal in this live animal presentation with wildlife educator Joy Marzolf on Thurs., Aug. 15 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. 

Learn about endangered species in the wild here in New England and around the world, and what we can all do to help them. Joy will bring animals to view and touch including snakes, lizards, turtles, and a crocodile.

This program is geared for ages 8-17. Space is limited so please register here to reserve a spot. Adults accompanying youth are NOT required to register.

Joy runs The Joys of Nature providing nature, nature travel, and live animal programs for all ages. She loves sharing her knowledge about wildlife, wildlife photography, and nature in general. In addition to a bachelor's degree in Biology, she's been doing a variety of animal-related education programs in her professional life for more than 20 years. 

This program is brought to you by the generous support of the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

TODAY: Bookworm Babies and Tiny Tots

Both Bookworm Babies (BB) and Tiny Tots (TT) will meet at the Library or the park near Pierce Playground (weather dependent) Wed., July 31, and Aug. 7. BB meets first, from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m., followed by TT from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. Check the Library's website for location updates.

BB is geared towards lapsit babies and their caregiver(s), while TT is geared toward babies and up to kids three years old and their caregiver(s).  Join in a story, songs and rhymes that build early literacy skills. Siblings are always welcome.

To sign up for program updates, please call the Library at 508/946-2470.

This program is supported by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

TOMORROW: Smokey Bear is 80

In celebration of Smokey Bear's 80th birthday, we're throwing a party at the Library tomorrow, Thurs., Aug. 1 at 10:30 a.m.

Wildland Firefighters from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Bureau of Fire Control and Forestry will read the Smokey Bear Story, discuss campfire safety, and share some fun facts about Smokey. Each attendee will receive a Smokey Story mini book.

Following the story, participants will be invited outside to tour a Wildland Fire Engine to learn about the tools of the trade and meet Smokey Bear. Smokey materials such as wrist bands, bookmarks, pencils, and stickers will be handed out, as long as supplies last.

Smokey is encouraging kids to read this summer. Check out his reading badges in the Kids Summer Reading Challenge. You can join using the free Beanstack app or by logging onto the computer using this link.

Smokey's firefighting crew is very busy this time of the year, so watch our online events calendar for any program updates or rescheduling.

All ages are welcome, and no registration is required.

Reading with Ms. Marilyn's Spaniels Concludes for the Summer

There's one Thursday remaining in the summer when Ms. Marilyn's spaniels will visit the Library. You can sign up your child to read to a dog for the session on Thurs., Aug. 1. It's a great way to practice and improve reading skills in a non-judgmental environment. Ms. Marilyn will bring her credentialed therapy dog and kids can sign up for a 15-minute session that starts with a meet and greet. They can bring their own reading material from home or pick something out at the Library.

After you register, Ms. Amanda will contact you with your assigned time slot between 2:00 and 3:30 pm.

Didn't make it to a summer session? Don't worry, Ms. Marilyn will be back in the fall!



This program is supported by the Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.

Summer Reading Continues For All Ages Until August 15

If you haven't had a chance to register yet for our summer reading programs, sign up through the Beanstack platform or through the Beanstack Tracker mobile app (see sidebar). They run through Thurs., Aug. 15.

Find out more details in this newsletter, on our website, or by calling 508/946-2470, or visiting our Facebook or Instagram pages.

DOWNLOAD THE BEANSTACK MOBILE APP

Download the Beanstack Tracker mobile app to your mobile device so you can easily track your reading and activities.

Download for Android and iOS devices.

Children's Summer Reading

Kids up to 6th grade can "read, renew, repeat" this summer by logging reading time and completing activities to have the chance to win one of five grand prizes, weekly ice cream giveaways, free books and more.

This year's grand prizes are a $50 Amazon gift card; an Amazon Fire 7 Tablet; Eco Wireless Ear Buds and a Cork Speaker; Endangered Animals Prize Pack; and a Surprise Prize Pack.

The more kids read, the more chances they have to win. Those entering 6th grade have their choice of joining the Children's or the Teen's Summer Reading program but they must choose one.  

Register and get a free book. Everyone who reaches eight hours of reading will get to choose a second free book and everyone who reaches 16 hours will have the opportunity to put their name on a bookplate in a library book of their choice. Read 30 hours or more to be entered into a special drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card as well as additional prizes. Read 40 hours or more and be entered into a drawing for a new book of your choice.

For more convenience, download the Beanstack Tracker mobile app to your mobile device (Android and iOS) so you can easily track your summer reading.

For more information, visit our Kids Summer Reading page.

Teens Are Reading to Make A Difference

Teen readers participating in the Teen Summer Reading Challenge have logged enough reading time so far to earn Gifts of Honeybees, which includes a hive, bees, and beekeeping training, for nine families, thanks to the generous donation by our sponsor, The Rotary Club of Middleboro!

In honor of this year's conservation theme of Read, Renew, Repeat, teen readers can support honeybees and families in need this summer just by reading. The Rotary Club of Middleboro will generously donate up to $500 towards Heifer International's Gift of Honeybees program. Every hour you read brings us closer to helping a struggling family and supporting the honeybee population.

Keep logging time and completing activities--like biking, designing a button, crafting, and so many more-- using Beanstack. Don't forget to add any virtual tickets you've earned to the drawing(s) or your choice for a chance to win one of six Grand Prize Gift Packs. We'll have a drawing for $50 Gift Card Packs from Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble, and more.

Readers also have the chance to win one of three $25 "Super Reader" Amazon gift cards for reaching 20+, 40+, and 60+ hours of reading time.

Read to help the bees and families this summer! For more information, visit our Teen Summer Reading page.

Sharebrary Item of the Week: Chess Set

Sharebrary: Borrow. Try. Experience.

Get inside and away from the heat and humidity and try your hand at a game of chess.

Our set comes with 17 white pieces, 17 black pieces, and a playing mat, all in carrying bag. It's one of 40 different items we have in our Sharebrary collection. Check them all out.

This Month's Marvelous Museum Pass

The Boston Children's Museum is one of the largest children's museums in the world. For more than 100 years it's been engaging children in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. 

The Museum's exhibits and programs emphasize hands-on engagement and learning through experience, employing play as a tool to spark the inherent creativity, curiosity, and imagination of children. Designed for children and families, exhibits focus on science, culture, environmental awareness, health and fitness, and the arts. 

Now through Mon., Sept. 2, visit the temporary exhibit, "Hundred Acre Wood," featuring the beloved bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, and all his friends. Your kids can:

• Take photos in front of Pooh’s house, or in Eeyore’s lean-to.

• Try Pooh’s stoutness exercise.

• Pretend play in Rabbit’s Garden, Kanga’s Kitchen, or Piglet’s Patch of Grass.

• Build structures in Eeyore’s Gloomy Place.

• And more.

Each pass admits four people (adults or children) at half off the regular admission price. Children under 12 months are free. It's valid for only one day.

1. Reserve your pass here then, after receiving a library discount code via email, you must reserve a timed visit and pay for it online with the Museum at their discounted/library ticket page.
2. Your tickets will be sent to you via email. 

The Children's Museum pass is made possible thanks to the

Friends of the Middleborough Public Library.