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Library Closings
The Library will be CLOSED Monday, Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Read to Milo!
Sat, Jan. 18 at 10am
Read to Milo! 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.
Make a Gnome with Keara Whipple – Adult Craft
Wed, Jan. 29 at 6:30pm
This program is now full!
Make a gnome – the perfect winter decoration! No experience is necessary for this activity. All supplies will be provided. Space is limited – registration required! Call (603-585-6503) or email us (info@fitzlib.org) to sign up.
Take Your Child to the Library Day (and Happy Birthday Milo!)
Sat, Feb. 1 at 10am
Come celebrate Milo’s birthday on Take Your Child to the Library Day! Enjoy birthday cake and read to Milo. Each child who comes gets a goodie bag, and new patrons who sign up for a library card will be entered into a raffle to win an Amazon gift card!
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!
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.
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.
On Wed, Jan. 22, we will be doing a STEM activity — building a penguin raft!
Tweens & Teens: Needle Felting with Carole Beckwith
Wed, Jan. 22 at 6:30pm
Try your hand at needle felting! Make hearts for Valentine’s Day while enjoying a snack and time with friends. No experience necessary! Registration required. Call (603-585-6503) or email us (info@fitzlib.org) to sign up.
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, Feb. 10 at 7pm
The Bee Sting
by Paul Murray
Books available
“Anyone who starts The Bee Sting will be immediately absorbed by this extraordinary story. Although Murray is a fantastically witty writer, his empathy with these characters is so deep that he can convey the comedy of their foibles without the condescending bitterness of satire . . . The Bee Sting never fails to dazzle with its colliding coincidences, the great sprawling randomness of life all somehow brought to glamorously choreographed climaxes . . . Every paragraph is marked by Murray’s stylistic brilliance ― and daring.”
― Ron Charles, The Washington Post
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
Cindi recommends…
by Clare Chambers
“A beautiful story of unfolding secrets and unforeseen consequences, filled with moments that are somehow restrained and astute and gorgeously written all at the same time.”
— Holly Gramazio, author of The Husbands
Veronika recommends…
by Stella Gibbons
“‘Brilliant … very probably the funniest book ever written.”
— Sunday Times
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