Holiday Happenings at the Library

The Lawrence Library has an abundance of programs scheduled in December! Celebrate the holidays with your friends, family, and neighbors at our annual holiday tree lighting on Friday, December 7 at 6:45 PM. There’ll be music, hot chocolate, and a visit from Santa!

The annual Holiday Tree Lighting will be held on Friday, December 7 at 6:45 PM

We have a bunch of other events sleigh-ted for December. On Wednesday, December 5, Jennifer will lead an adult craft night at 6:30 PM. Adults and kids ages 10+ (accompanied by an adult) can learn how to make small gift boxes out of festive winter and holiday scrapbook paper.

On Sunday, December 9 at 2 PM, “Holiday Music with touch of Jazz” will be performed by the Nick Goumas Quartet, featuring Geraldine Bergonzi on piano and vocals on Sunday. They will be performing Christmas classics and holiday gems.

Get in the holiday spirit by crafting your very own ugly – or cute! – Christmas sweater at our Ugly Christmas Sweater Workshop. You bring in a sweater or shirt that you would like to decorate, we will provide all the crafting materials. Drop in between 6:30 and 8:00 PM on Thursday, December 13. This program is for adults and older kids/teens (with an adult).

Celebrate the Winter Solstice with a free henna tattoo from Mandy of Wicked Good Henna on Thursday, December 20 from 6:30 to 8 PM. Winter Solstice Henna is open to all ages.

For kids, we have Candy Cane Science and Crafts on Saturday, December 15 at 11:30 AM. On December 29, children can Countdown to Noon with New Year’s Eve-themed crafts in the Children’s Activity Center at 11:30 AM.

Many of our regularly scheduled programs will also be happening in December. On Thursday, December 6 at 7 PM, our Nonfiction Book Club will be discussing The Radium Girls by Kate Moore. Meditation will be held on Tuesdays at 7 PM. Make sure you register in advance for Yoga with Meagan, being held Wednesday, December 19 at 7 PM.

Our LGBTQ+ Youth group will meet on both December 5 and December 19 at 6:30 PM. The LGBTQ+ Adult group will have its first LGBTQ+ Holiday Potluck meeting on Wednesday, December 12 at 6:30 PM. Bring something savory or sweet to share with the group!

Teens (ages 12+) are invited to our SWITCH Super Smash Bros. Tournament! Have fun competing, enjoy some snacks, and maybe win a prize. Please register online.

Please note that the library will be closed on:

• Tuesday, December 25
• Wednesday, December 26
• Tuesday, January 1

All library events are funded by the Friends of the Lawrence Library and are free and open to the public. We welcome donations for PACH, our local food pantry, at all of our music programs.

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Chill Out In the Library

Feeling stressed out? The library offers two programs that can help you relax: a weekly meditation group and a monthly yoga class. Both are free, thanks to the funding of the Friends of the Library!

The meditation group is led by Pepperell resident Brian Findlay and is held on Tuesday nights from 7 PM – 8:45 PM. This group is open to everyone from beginners to experienced meditators.

Brian says, “Meditation covers a variety of practices that are designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy, and develop compassion. Benefits of meditation include calming and clarity of the mind and decreased anxiety, stress, anger, fear, jealousy, and destructive thoughts. Over time, meditation can help us to better relate with others and become more empathetic in all situations.”

Photo by Prasanth Inturi | Courtesy of Pexels.com

Yoga classes will be held on Wednesday, November 14 and Wednesday, December 19 at 7 PM. Join instructor Meagan for Hatha Vinyasa Flow-a balanced combination of sustained poses and poses flowing in a mindful progression. This class is suitable for all levels.

To register for a yoga class, please click on the date(s) that you would like to attend: November 14 and/or December 19. Please arrive a few minutes early, wear comfortable clothing, and bring a yoga mat, water, and if you have them-yoga blocks and straps. Registration is only required for yoga; it is not necessary for meditation.

Questions about meditation can be directed to Brian at brfindla@yahoo.com. For details about the yoga class, please email Library Director Deb Spratt at dspratt@cwmars.org.

Food for Fines

During the first week of November, the library will be taking donations for PACH Outreach in lieu of overdue fines! You can donate personal care products and non-perishable food items at the library and we will waive overdue fines on your library account. Please note that this offer does not apply to replacement charges for lost items.

The Food for Fines event will run from November 6, 2018 – November 10, 2018. Contributions must be made at the library in order for fines to be waived.

Suggested food donations include:

• Canned meats, including tuna, salmon, ham, and chicken
• Healthy cereals
• Peanut butter and/or jelly
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Pasta, pasta sauce, and macaroni & cheese
• Baked beans, soups, chili, and canned stews
• Canned ravioli, canned soups
• Juice and juice boxes (preferably 100% fruit juice)
• Milk (shelf-ready, non-perishable)
• Children’s snacks
• Cake and brownie mixes
• Gluten-free, sugar-free, low-sodium, and vegetarian items for clients with special dietary needs

Personal care items:

• Diapers (especially larger sizes)
• Depends & adult diapers or protective panties (especially larger sizes)
• Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and toiletries
• Toilet paper, paper towels, tissues

Please check expiration dates! We cannot accept any items that are past their expiration dates. Items for holiday dinners would be appreciated.

PACH (Pepperell Aid from Church to Home) is a volunteer-staffed, community-based non-profit organization that provides short-term assistance to Pepperell residents during difficult times. The library accepts donations year-round at our monthly music series as well as in a bin that’s located near the circulation desk.

You can drop off donations year-round in our PACH bin

The Walking Dead Turns 15

Join us on Saturday, October 13 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of The Walking Dead comic book! While supplies last, we’ll be giving away The Walking Dead buttons, bookmarks, comics, and bandana masks all courtesy of Image Comics!

To get some free swag, here’s what to do:

1. Stop by the library desk on Saturday, October 13
2. Present your library card (from any CW/MARS library)
3. Tell us the secret word “KIRKMAN”

If you don’t already have a library card from the CW/MARS network, you can sign up for a card at our circulation desk. Anyone who lives, works, goes to school, or owns property in Massachusetts is eligible to get a free library card at our library. For details on what you need to apply for a library card, please visit How to Get a Library Card on our website.

 

Discounted UMass Lowell River Hawks Tickets Now Available

We are pleased to announce the latest addition to our discounted museum/event ticket program: UMass Lowell River Hawks sporting events! You can reserve these tickets in person at the library, by calling the library at 978-433-0330, or on our website.

To reserve tickets online, visit our website and click on the Museum Passes tab. Once you’re on the museum passes page, you can find these tickets listed under UMass Lowell.

Currently, we offer discounted tickets to Men’s Basketball, Men’s Hockey, and Women’s Basketball games at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. You can learn more about the River Hawks on their website.

Our museum pass program is sponsored by the Friends of the Lawrence Library.

LGBTQ 101 Training

Learn how to be an effective ally to the LGBTQ+ people in your life! On Wednesday, September 12, the Lawrence Library will be hosting an LGBTQ+ 101 training. This program will serve as a basic introduction to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) community.  It will also cover terminology, statistics, and some of the issues that LGBTQ+ people face.

Pepperell resident J.D. Melendez will be our educator for the evening. For over 15 years, J.D. has facilitated training for law enforcement, schools, and private corporations on LGBTQ+ cultural competency. He hails from the Bronx, NY, and has been a part of Triangle Community Center, Public Allies-Americorps, New Alternatives for Homeless LGBT Youth, and was a founding member of FIERCE!

J.D. also facilitates our two LGBTQ+ groups. Our youth group meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. The adult group meets on the second and third Wednesday of each month. The start time for the meetings is 6:30 PM. Please note that allies are welcome to attend the adult LGBTQ+ group!

The LGBTQ+ 101 training will start at 6:30 PM and will be held in the Library’s meeting room on the lower level. Please register online. We hope to see you there!

Free Digital Magazines from Your Library

You can now access over 50 magazine titles through the eBook/audiobook app Libby. This free app is available from the App Store, Google Play, and Microsoft. If you are a first-time user of Libby, make sure you have your library card handy. A full list of magazine titles can be browsed here.