PRESIDENTS’ DAY HOURS
The library will be closed all day Monday, February 15.

“SINGING OUR STORY” WITH DR. LEONARD BROWN
On Tuesday, February 23, at 7 p.m. the Gossels Fund for Human Dignity and the Wayland Library will sponsor “Singing Our Story” with Professor Leonard Brown. Brown’s presentation will provide insight into how enslaved Blacks in colonial America used music as a vehicle to create a sense of family and community, as well as to provide secret social commentary on their conditions and their enslavers. The program is appropriate for an audience from 3rd/4th grade through adults. An ethnomusicologist and distinguished musician in his own right, Dr. Brown is an emeritus professor of African American Studies and Music at Northeastern University/Boston, where he taught and served in various administrative capacities for 30 years. He is the author of several books, including “John Coltrane and Black America’s Quest for Freedom: Spirituality and the Music,” published in 2010 by Oxford University Press.

SUMMER IN ITALY—SI MANGIA, SI BEVE, SI RILASSA
On Tuesday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m. Miriam Michalczyk will inspire us to conjure up summertime in Italy. During the three years that Miriam lived in Italy, she made it her goal to take every opportunity to explore what the country had to offer. By befriending Italians, she learned about the things that make l’estate italiana so special: food festivals, roadside stands, open markets, and long walks in the countryside. Whether you’re planning a trip to Italy or just daydreaming about it, come discover how Italians spend their summers. Miriam has her Master’s degree from New York University in Italian and Food Studies and has spent much time working and studying in Italy. Passionate about food from a young age, she is a professional baker and is currently the bakery manager at Concord’s Verrill Farm.

IMMORTAL GODS, HUMAN LIVES: MYTHOLOGY OF GREECE AND ROME
Classics scholar Frank Smith returns for a six-week course in which we will laugh and sometimes cry at the struggles men and women of Ancient Greece and Rome endured as they interacted with their gods and goddesses. The timeless stories of the Classical Age include some of the world’s great loves, tragedies, and adventures and have inspired artists and writers through the ages. Selected readings from Classical writers including Ovid, Virgil, and Homer will enliven our discussions. Series will be on the following Tuesdays: March 8, 15, 22 and April 5 and 12 from 1-3 p.m.

ESOL TUTOR TRAINING CLASS
Training classes for new ESOL tutors are scheduled for these five upcoming Wednesday evenings from 6-9 p.m.: 2/24, 3/2, 3/9, 3/23, and 3/30. Please note the schedule skips Wednesday, 3/16. If you are interested in participating or have questions, please contact Ginny Steel, ESOL Program Director, at 508-358-7517 or virginia@thesteels.com.

GENEALOGY GROUP MEETING
The second monthly meeting of the library’s new genealogy group will be on Wednesday, March 16, at 7 p.m. Come connect with fellow genealogists for inspiration and support. Librarian Rachel Sideman-Kurtz will be on hand with guidance and resources.

FEBRUARY SCHOOL VACATION SPECIAL EVENTS

• Drop-in Board Games, Tuesday, February 16, 2-4 p.m. for ages 5 and up. Play a favorite board game with a friend in the library. We will supply the games.
• Sounds Like Fun, Wednesday, February 17, 2:30-3:30 p.m. for ages 4 to 7. Learn about the different types of sound. Discover what sounds actually are. Make sound travel through different media. Build your very own roaring cup. Make salt dance and water fly! Program led by High Touch High Tech of New England. Limited to 25 children. Please register by calling the Children’s Room at 508-358-2308.
• Mr. Vinny’s Shadow Puppet Show, Friday, February 19, 2:30-3:15 p.m. for ages 3 and up  Mr. Vinny’s interactive shadow puppet show tells the story of the 12 Lil’ Pigs and the Big Bad Pineapple and also play a game called “What’s that Shadow.”

UPCOMING KIDS’ PROGRAMS

• Pajama Storytime, Saturday, February 13, 10:30-11 a.m. for ages 3 and up. Come to the library in your PJs for this storytime in support of our Cradles to Crayons/Boston Bruins PJ drive, which runs from February 1-March 15. We will have a pajama collection box downstairs near the Children’s Room. Please consider donating to help keep all kids warm in PJs this winter.
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Storytime, Friday, February 19, 10:30-11 a.m. for babies to 3 years old. Storytime launching the library’s 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Program
• Zumba Kids Jr, Tuesday, February 23, 10:3-11 a.m. for children ages 2.5 to 4 years old. Rhythm and dance program led by Julia Walderzak of H2K Happy Healthy Kids Fitness Studio.
• Read to Corbyn the Samoyed, Tuesday, February 23, 3:30- 4:30 p.m. Children are invited to drop in to read to Corbyn, a beautiful Samoyed.
• Spanish Storytime, Wednesday, February 24, 10:30-11 a.m. for ages babies to 5 years old. Children and their caregivers are invited to join us for stories, songs and fingerplays in Spanish.
• STEAM Team: Ice and Snow, Wednesday, February 24, 3-4 p.m. for ages 5 and up with caregiver  We’ll read some stories, excavate objects trapped in ice, and do other snowy, science-y activities.
• Sing-along with Jeannie Mack, Thursday, March 3, 10:30-11:15 a.m. for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with caregiver.  Jeannie Mack will perform all kinds of fun, bounce-around, sing-along songs geared for young children.

LIBRARY TECH WORKSHOPS.  Introductory workshops to help you keep up with technology. Here’s what’s coming up:

• Intro to the iPhone/iPad, Tuesday. March 1, 2-3 p.m. You have some experience with your iPhone/iPad, but feel like you might be missing out on some of the basics. Come on in with your device. We’ll discuss organizing icons, SIRI and the microphone, battery life, and other basics.
• OverDrive: The Library eBook App (for iPhone/iPad), Thursday, March 10, 2-3 p.m. Discover how easy it is to find, reserve, and download library ebooks and audiobooks. Bring your Apple ID and password. We will also talk about Hoopla, the app for streaming movies, music and downloading ebooks, which is also available to Wayland residents with a library card.
• Introduction to Gmail Workshop, Thursday, March 24, 2-3 p.m. Many people are switching to Gmail. Find out how Gmail divides email into categories to reduce junk mail in your inbox. Learn how to customize your account so that it looks and functions in ways that suit you. We will also take a brief look at Google Drive.

MARCH BOOK GROUPS FOR ADULTS. The library runs several adult book groups, and new members are always welcome. For more information about any of the groups, call the library at 508-358-2311.

• Evening Book Group: Monday, March 7, 7-8:30 p.m., “Outerbridge Reach” by Robert Stone
• Armchair Travel Book Club: Wednesday, March 16, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., “Visit Sunny Chernobyl” by Andrew Blackwell
• Clean Eating Cookbook Club: Thursday, March 10, 6-7:30 p.m., “True Food: Season, Sustainable, Simple and Pure” by Andrew Weil
• Noontime Book Group: Friday, March 11, 12-2 p.m., “Secret Daughter” by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

MARCH FOREIGN FILM
Our next foreign film, “Twin Sisters (De Tweeling)” will screen on Tuesday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the Raytheon Room. Based on the best-selling novel by Tessa de Loo, the story concerns orphaned twin sisters who are separated while young in 1926 and forbidden to contact each other. The socioeconomic differences between their experiences growing up drive them to opposite sides during World War II, making their long-delayed reconciliation difficult. (Dutch with English Subtitles, 137 minutes)

HANDWORK GROUP
This group, led by Ann Moses, welcomes any adult who quilts, embroiders, knits, or does any type of hand work. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 10-12 a.m. to share ideas and resources in the Raytheon Room. If you have any questions please call or email annbmoses@gmail.com or 508-358-7113. Upcoming dates are: March 2, April 6, May 4, and June 1.

POETRY WORKSHOP
The Poetry Workshop gathers two Thursdays a month from 2-4 p.m. to work on writing poetry. Beginners and advanced are equally welcome. Their next meetings will be Thursdays, February 18 and March 3. For more information, contact Joan Kimball at 978-318-0991.

WAYLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL ART SHOW RECEPTION
Wayland Middle School art students will be exhibiting their work in the library’s Raytheon Room during February. There is an artist reception at the library scheduled for Sunday, February 28, from 2:30-4 p.m. Drop by and see how talented our youth are.