ADULT PROGRAMS

• Author Talk: United Tastes: The Making of the First American Cookbook. The Library of Congress has designated American Cookery (1796) by Amelia Simmons one of the eighty-eight “Books That Shaped America.” Keith Stavely and Kathleen Fitzgerald’s United Tastes explores multiple histories-of food, cookbooks, printing, material and literary culture, and region-to illuminate the meaning and affirm the importance of America’s first cookbook. Keith Stavely, a former college literature teacher and retired library director, has been a Guggenheim and American Council of Learned Societies fellow. Kathleen Fitzgerald is Director of the Willett Free Library in Saunderstown, Rhode Island. Thursday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m.
• Spanish for Beginners: a Four-Class Series. You’ve been meaning to take a stab at Spanish for years, but you don’t like listening to discs and you don’t want to take a class at night. Luckily for you, Colombia natives Patricia Barrios and Roberto Perdomo have offered to share the bounty of their native tongue in this series of FREE classes. Open to learners of all ages, no previous experience with Spanish needed. Just come prepared hablar. Thursdays, February 22 and March 1, 8, 15 at 11:30 a.m.
• Barbary Coast Pirates of the 1800s and Somali Pirates of Today. In the early nineteenth century, the Barbary States attacked American and other Western vessels and held crews and ships for ransom. Approximately 200 years later, piracy surfaced in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia and caused significant problems for the American vessel, the Maersk Alabama. Avocational historian Bob Begin will discuss the structure of the pirate gangs and their techniques, along with the economic and political causes of piracy across the centuries. Wednesday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m.

BABY AND PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

• Weekly Storytimes
  • Mother Goose Time (Infants-2.5 years) Tuesdays, Feb. 13 and 20 at 10:30 a.m.
  • StoryVine (2.5 -5 years) Thursdays, Feb. 15 and 22 at 10:30 a.m.
• Brain Building Storytime, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Storytime, parachute play, and brain building activity.Program led by Beverly Mobilia of Wayland Community Partnerships for Children and Families. For ages 2 to 5, with parent/caregiver.
• Sensory Storytime. Saturday, Feb. 24, 10:30-11:00 a.m. Children will sing songs, listen to stories, and make a simple craft. For ages 2 and up, with parent/caregiver. Sensory Storytime is designed for children with autism spectrum disorders, sensory integration issues, other developmental disabilities, and their typically developing peers. If your child has difficulty sitting through our other storytimes, this program might be for you.
• Zumba Kids Jr. Tuesday, February 27, 10:30-11:00 a.m. Rhythm and dance program for children ages 2.5 to 4 years old. Led by Hayley Chizinsky of H2K Happy Healthy Kids Fitness Studio.

SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS

• Drop-in Crafts: Valentines and Chinese New Year Wednesday, February 14, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Make fabulous crafts in celebration of Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year. Led by librarian Elise Katz. For ages 5 and up.
• Parent/Child Book Group,  Wednesday, February 28, 7:00-8:00 p.m. This book club is for 4th and 5th graders with a parent. February’s book is Wishtree by Katherine Applegate.
• Book Buddies,  Wednesday, February 28, 3:00-3:45 p.m. This month’s book is Bearsie Bear and the Surprise Sleepover Party by Bernard Waber. We will read the book, enjoy a snack, and make a craft. For children in grades K-2 with parent/caregiver. This program is co-run with the WCPA.

SCHOOL VACATION WEEK

• Library Winter Olympics,  Tuesday, February 20, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of games, crafts, and friendly competition inspired by the Winter Olympics! For ages 4 and up.
• Tanglewood Marionettes,  Wednesday, February 21, 2:00-2:45 p.m. Set in the 18rh century and featuring a dozen lavishly costumed marionettes, this production of Cinderella is a Tanglewood Marionettes showpiece. For all ages.
• Comic Book Workshop,  Thursday, February 22, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Local comic book artist Jonathan Todd will lead a comics-making workshop from concept to inking. Online registration required. For ages 8 to 14.