ADULT SERVICES

• Author Talk: Tastes Like War with Grace M. Cho. Cho and her mother were among the few immigrants in a small, xenophobic American town during the Cold War when her dynamic mother suffered the onset of schizophrenia.  Part food memoir, part sociological investigation, Tastes Like War is a hybrid text about a daughter’s search through intimate and global history for the roots of her mother’s mental illness.  Register for the webinar.  Thursday, February 16 at 1 p.m.
• Author Talk: Before Brooklyn with Ted Reinstein. Journalist Reinstein of WCVB’s “Chronicle” tells the story of the little-known heroes who fought segregation in baseball in the years before Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Register to attend or for the Zoom link.  Thursday, February 23 at 7 p.m.
• Book Donations Temporarily Suspended. The Friends of the Wayland Library cannot accept any book donations inside or outside of the Library at this time.  This is a temporary arrangement that will allow the Friends to set up the new home of their ongoing book sale in the Library’s Raytheon Room.  They look forward to expanding their shelves and selections.  Please watch this space for news of donations resuming (and the first book sale in the new space)!
• Wayland Free Public Library: 175 Years of History. Founded in 1848, the WFPL is one of the oldest public libraries in the United States. It played a pivotal role in the passage of legislation that authorized the use of public funding to support public libraries. In the past 175 years, the Library has come to be not only a place where residents can borrow books, but a hub of programs for all ages, art exhibits, and community gatherings, as well as a refuge in stressful times. Register to join us in person or online.  Sunday, March 19 at 2:30 p.m. Our library history program will feature a number of illuminating speakers:
  • Jane Sciacca will discuss her experience as a Wayland resident and de facto town historian.
  • Brandeis History Dept. doctoral students Rafael Abrahams, Elizabeth Simms, and Joseph Weisberg will present their research on highlights from the WFPL’s past in a roundtable discussion.
  • UConn Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Gross will give a talk titled “The Public Library and the Community: Reflections on Wayland’s Experiences,” reflecting on the WFPL’s unique history as a pioneering library and its place in the broader contexts of Massachusetts, New England, and the nation at large.
• Library Anniversary Photo Project.  As part of the Library’s 175th anniversary celebration in March, we’d like to display photos from community members taken at the library.  They could be pictures from book groups or library programs, children’s events, or of friends or family members reading or browsing.  Send them to abrahams@brandeis.edu with the subject line “Library Memories.”  If they’re physical prints, you can scan them at the library.  When sending, please include the names of people in the photo (if you feel comfortable), the event, and the approximate year the photo was taken.  These photos may end up in the library archives for historical purposes.

BOOK GROUPS 

• Dystopian / Sci-Fi. Network Effect by Martha Wells.  Remote only.  Contact ekatz@minlib.net for the Zoom link.  Thursday, February 16 at 7 p.m.
• Evening. December ’41 by William Martin.  In person and remote.  Contact btuttle@minlib.net for the Zoom link.  Monday, March 6 at 7 p.m.
• Cookbook Club. The Korean Vegan Cookbook by Joanne Lee Molinaro.  Remote only.  Contact shogan@minlib.net for the Zoom link.  Thursday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m.
• Noon. Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell.  In person and remote.  Contact amoore@minlib.net for the Zoom link.  Friday, March 10.

YOUTH SERVICES

FOR BABIES, TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS

• Babytime with Ms. Carly. This lapsit storytime encourages early literacy and caregiver-child interactions with lively songs and rhymes, gentle tickles, bounces, and body-awareness. Best for babies birth to 18 months. Please register. Tuesdays,  February 14, February 21, February 28 at 10:30 a.m.
• Toddler Stem with Ms. Leslie. Join Ms. Leslie for some fun, hands-on Engineering activities in this STEM series. Registration required. For ages 2-4 years with a caregiver.Wednesday,  February 22 at 10:30 a.m.
• Storytime with Ms. Pam. Join Ms. Pam for stories, songs, puppets, and activities. For ages 2.5 to 5 years with an adult. Please register. Thursdays, February 16, and February 23 at 10:30 a.m.
• Sing, Move, Story! Jodi Levin from Family ACCESS Community Connections will lead children in songs and movement, and will share a story! We will meet in the Children’s Room. For ages 0-3. Please register HERE. Wednesday, February 15, at 9:30 a.m.

FOR ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN.

• Pokemon Card Trading Day. Kids are invited to a Pokemon card trading day at the library. Come with cards you are willing to trade! We will meet in the Raytheon Room. For ages 7 to 11. Please register HERE. Monday, February 13, at 4:00 p.m.
• Animals in Winter. How do animals survive through the snowy winter months? Ms. Pam will read Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart and then children will choose an animal and make a shoebox diorama of the animal’s winter home. For ages 4 and up, with caregiver. Please register HERE. Wednesday, February 15, at 3:30 p.m.
• 4^th/5^th Grade Book Club. This month we will be discussing Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder. We will meet in the Teen Loft. Questions or to get a copy of the book, please email Pam at pmccuen@minlib.net. For 4^th and 5^th graders. Please register HERE. Wednesday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m.
• Sophisticated Stories: Book Club for Grades 2 and up. You are never too old for picture books! Ms. Janet will lead this book club that features fantastically fractured fairy tales. There will also be a craft. For children in grades 2 and up. Please register HERE. Thursday, February 16 at 4:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY VACATION SPECIALS

• Get Crafty with Ms. Elise. Ms. Elise will lead this art workshop whre children will create with rubber stamps, artsy papers, watercolors, squiggly scissors & ribbons! For ages 4 and up, with caregiver. Please register HERE. Wednesday, February 22 at 3:00 p.m.
• Dance with the Snow Sisters. Defrost your dancing shoes and let it go at this special dance party and sing-along event with the Snow Sisters! For ages 3 and up. Please register HERE. Thursday, February 23, at 2:30 p.m.

FOR TEENS

Candy Sushi Making for Teens. Teens will make tasty candy sushi that looks like the real deal. We will meet in the Teen Loft. For teens in grades 6 and up. If you have a food allergy please email Carly at cmoniz@minlib.net ahead of time. Please register HERE. Thursday, February 16, at 4:00 p.m.