Your Account and our Library Catalog: Click Here
Holiday Closings
The Library will be CLOSED Tue, Dec. 24 and Wed, Dec. 25 for the Christmas Holiday. We will also be closed on Wed, Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.
Read to Milo!
Sat, Dec 21 at 10am
Milo is a certified, trained, and insured therapy dog who loves a good book! Kids can practice their reading skills, without judgement. No pre-registration required.
Giving Tree Thank You!
What a fantastic community we have! All of the tags on our Giving Tree have been taken. Books have been purchased and many local children will receive a book this holiday! Thank you for your support!
Novel the Elf
Novel the Elf, our special visitor from the North Pole, is back and more mischievous than ever! He’s getting ready to head back home for Christmas. Check out our Facebook page to see what he’s been up to around the Library!
Book Talk and Signing: Everyone’s Trash by Duncan Watson
Wed, Jan 8 at 7pm
Duncan Watson, a seasoned waste management professional and lifelong storyteller, will be discussing his Booklist Starred Review debut book, Everyone’s Trash. Learn more about recycling and sustainability as he shares his insights and vision for the future of waste management.
Pajama Storytime
Sat, Jan 11 10:30 to 11:30am
Join us for a fun and cozy pajama storytime, complete with warm beverages and delicious snacks! This program is open to kids ages Pre-K to 2nd grade. Registration is required! Call (603-585-6503) or email us (info@fitzlib.org) for more information.
Home Delivery – Available on a Trial Basis
Are you homebound (long or short term) and can’t get to the Library? We are trying a new program to deliver books once every other week (on Thursdays) to those who cannot access our collection. Call (603-585-6503) or email us (info@fitzlib.org) for more information.
Pre-K Storytime
Join us for Pre-K Storytime every Wednesday at 10:30! Storytime is a beneficial way for children to socialize (parents too!) while gaining literary proficiency and learning new skills. Children who are read to are statistically proven to do better in school. Give your child a jumpstart on success in life!
There will be no Pre-K Storytime on Wed, Dec 25. Happy holidays!
Big Kid (K-2) Storytime
Tuesdays 3:45 to 4:45 (after school)
Big Kid Storytime (for grades K-2) continues. We will be eating a snack, reading, and playing a game or creating a craft. Registration required! Call (603-585-6503) or email us (info@fitzlib.org) to sign up.
There will be no Big Kid Storytime on Tue, Dec 24. Happy holidays!
Wednesday Afternoons at the Library for Grades 1-6
3:45 to 4:45 (after school)
Wednesday Afternoons at the Library (for grades 1-6) are happening every Wednesday from 3:45 to 4:45. Kids can take the bus from Emerson School. Come enjoy a snack and make a craft! Registration required! Call (603-585-6503) or email us (info@fitzlib.org) to sign up.
There will be no Wednesday Afternoon Program on Wed, Dec 25. Happy holidays!
Stitch and Bitch!
Every Wednesday at 6pm
Whether you stitch, sew, embroider, crochet, like to color or prefer to just socialize, come join friends who like to craft and chat!
Coffee Hour
Saturday Mornings at 10am
Enjoy coffee, conversation, and a freshly baked treat with neighbors.
Book Club – Monday, Jan 13 at 7pm
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
by Michael Finkel
Books available
“Meticulously detailed, [a] page-turning account….As much a crime caper as a psychological thriller, Finkel’s narrative interweaves gripping descriptions of Breitweiser’s in-plain-sight thefts armed with nothing more than stealth and a Swiss Army knife, a concise history of global art theft, and psychologists’ musings on Breitwieser’s unconscious motivations….Finkel deftly keeps us swaying between great sympathy for his central character and profound suspicion.”
—Jenny McPhee, Air Mail
ALA Grant update:
In May of 2023, The Fitzwilliam Town Library was honored to receive a special grant from the American Library Association in the amount of $10,000. The funds have given us the opportunity to make purchases and adjustments in order to provide a more accessible library to all patrons. Changes made were based on community suggestions for improved accessibility during the summer of 2023, when a community forum was held:
- The purchase and installation of two sets of automatic door openers at the main patron entrance
- Stable stools for the children’s section as seating and access to resources
- Comfortable and over-sized upholstered chairs with device charging capacity
- Colorful carpet squares (defined seating) for children’s programming
- A second book return to be installed/located closer to the Library’s parking area and handicapped parking spaces (purchased with installation in progress)
Recently, the Library distributed a patron survey to assess perceptions of how essential/useful these improvements are The results were extremely positive!
Pioneer Valley Symphony Library Passes
Get a pass for up to 4 tickets to any Pioneer Valley Symphony concerts of the 2023-2024 season. Check out a pass, bring it to the box office before the concert of your choice to redeem. The box office opens 1-11/2 hours before each performance. Return your pass to the library so it can bring the joy of music to others! Visit pvsoc.org for the most up-to-date season information.
3-D Printer
Now patrons can use our 3-D printer for projects. Check out https://www.thingiverse.com/ for free project files. Then schedule a time with us to get your files ready to print.
New to our Library of Things
Hand Free Magnifier
This hands free magnifier allows users to have both hands free while getting the clearest view of the magnified object. It’s a suitable feature for those who are into sewing, crafting, reading books, and doing tiny electronic repairs but need a visual aid for making objects bigger and totally high definition. Check one out!
Fitzwilliam History and Information Page
There is a whole new page on the Fitzwilliam Library website (http://fitzlib.org) featuring Fitzwilliam-specific history and resources. You can find it under the 24HOUR-LIBRARY tab. Information will be updated regularly. Check it out!
Booklist Reader: Find it under 24-Hour Library above!
Click on the image to access this great free resource for all book lovers.
Booklist, the review publication of the American Library Association, proudly announces the launch of Booklist Reader, a new digital library patron–facing magazine featuring diverse readers’ advisory recommendations for readers of all ages.
Each month, Booklist Reader will showcase top-10 lists, must reads, interviews with (and articles by) top authors and illustrators, and adult, youth, and audio recommendations for all communities and all who love to read. Booklist Reader is also partnering with LibraryReads, an organization that each month publishes a list of the top 10 books read by library workers across the nation.
Continued Support for Library Programming!
Town Library while making everyday purchases on Amazon. Use the link below when shopping. Part of the proceeds will go to the Friends who fund books, programs and more for the Library.
Staff Book Recommendations
Kate recommends…
Karla’s Choice: A John le Carré Novel
by Nick Harkaway
“In Karla’s Choice, Nick Harkaway has done the impossible and made it look easy. He’s written a new George Smiley novel that reads like a long lost le Carré classic. It’s a story as gripping as a hand on the throat, a subtle, blood-chilling work of suspense that promises to both enthrall the le Carré faithful and captivate a whole new generation of readers. I was floored.”
— Joe Hill, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman and Horns
Novel recommends…
by Elly MacKay
“This gem of a story is an ideal cold-weather companion, offering wintry wonders and a humorous twist that sweetly shifts the dynamic between the sisters. The gently suspenseful story is satisfying on its own, but the exquisite paper scenes are a wonder as well. . . . An enchanting outing that will have readers longing to wander a winter wonderland.”
—STARRED REVIEW, Booklist
Upcoming Events