Library closed for Memorial Day

Intermediate English Conversation Circle

Join our small informal group to practice speaking English. Come for 2 hours or drop in for a little while. We talk about anything and everything. There is no homework, and our conversations range from world issues to personal stories. Come listen, and talk if you want......More

Join our small informal group to practice speaking English. Come for 2 hours or drop in for a little while. We talk about anything and everything. There is no homework, and our conversations range from world issues to personal stories. Come listen, and talk if you want to.Anyone interested in the English Conversation Circles should contact Jianna Christopher at jchristopher@chelmsfordlibrary.org or 978-256-5521 x1107.

Conference Room

Zoom Book Club for Grades 3-5

Please join us for a Book Club for children in grades 3 - 5. Each week kids will be expected to read several chapters from a chosen book. Each book will be completed over the course of several weeks. Books will be available at the Circulation Desk at the Chelmsford P......More

Please join us for a Book Club for children in grades 3 - 5. Each week kids will be expected to read several chapters from a chosen book. Each book will be completed over the course of several weeks. Books will be available at the Circulation Desk at the Chelmsford Public Library. Each week participants will engage in discussions, games and fun activities related to the book that the group is reading. A good time is had by all! Registration is required. The Zoom link will be emailed in the early afternoon on Tuesday. For more information feel free to reach out to Deborah in the Children's Room at dmorrissey@chelmsfordlibrary.org.Book to be determined.

Online - Zoom (Chelmsfordlibraryzoom)

VIRTUAL: Champions of Change with Charlotte Gordon

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email.**Delve into the stories of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Learn how three women fought for......More

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email.**Delve into the stories of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Learn how three women fought for women's rights, but ended up fighting with each other. Professor Charlotte Gordon returns to Groton to discuss her newest research on these famous suffragettes.About Charlotte: A graduate of Harvard College, Charlotte Gordon received a master's degree in creative writing and a Ph.D. in history and literature from Boston University. She has been a frequent guest on NPR and the CBC, including spots on Weekend Edition and The Current. From 1999-2002 she was Elie Wiesel's teaching assistant at Boston University. Currently, she is the Distinguished Professor of Humanities at Endicott College. RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.Made possible by the Groton Public Library Endowment Trust in cooperation with several other regional libraries.Sign up directly via Zoom HERE!

Online - Partner Organization

Beginner English

ESL learners can stop by for basic lessons in English with an instructor. The instructor has taught for many years in both local schools and abroad. Please bring a notebook and your questions about English and its challenges. Materials will also be provided for partici......More

ESL learners can stop by for basic lessons in English with an instructor. The instructor has taught for many years in both local schools and abroad. Please bring a notebook and your questions about English and its challenges. Materials will also be provided for participants. This is a weekly meeting, every Wednesday afternoon. Students are not obligated to come for meetings each week and are welcome to drop in on the weeks they are able. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jianna Christopher at jchristopher@chelmsfordlibrary.org or 978-256-5521 ext. 1107

Conference Room

VIRTUAL Knitting Circle

VIRTUAL: Art on Thursdays- May - Perennial Muses: Flowers in Art

Please CLICK HERE to register on zoom and receive the link. THave you ever wondered about the hidden messages blooming within famous paintings? Throughout the history of art, flowers have been more than just beautiful decorations - they've served as powerful symbols, ca......More

Please CLICK HERE to register on zoom and receive the link. THave you ever wondered about the hidden messages blooming within famous paintings? Throughout the history of art, flowers have been more than just beautiful decorations - they've served as powerful symbols, carrying secret meanings known to artists and their patrons. From the purity of lilies in Renaissance Madonnas to the fleeting nature of life represented by wilting bouquets in Dutch still lifes, each petal and stem tells a story. This fascinating exploration of flora in art will unveil the language of flowers, revealing how these delicate blooms have shaped our visual culture and continue to inspire artists - and flower lovers! - to this day. Image: Rachel Ruysch. Still Life on a Marble Slab, 1716. Rijksmuseum.Th.Speaker Bio: Jane Oneail is a sought-after speaker, educator, and independent art historian. Jane curates and delivers engaging art appreciation programs through her company Culturally Curious, founded in 2017. She holds a master’s in Art History from Boston University and a master’s in Education from Harvard University. Born and raised in New Hampshire, she has worked at some of the state's most esteemed cultural institutions, including the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where she served as Executive Director, and the Currier Museum of Art, where she held the role of Senior Educator. Jane has also taught at the college level for more than a decade, most recently at Southern New Hampshire University. For more information visit iamculturallycurious.comProgram provided by the Chelmsford Public Library and sponsored by the Friends of the Library. This program is brought to you in collaboration with the Ashland, Groton, and Tewksbury Libraries.

Online - Zoom (AAdams)

Teddy Bear Concert with Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys. Drop in for all ages.

Join us at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts (CCA) in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium for this annual event! We've wrapped up our spring storytimes and are looking forward to summer. Vanessa and her band will have us singing, dancing, and clapping along celebrating a......More

Join us at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts (CCA) in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium for this annual event! We've wrapped up our spring storytimes and are looking forward to summer. Vanessa and her band will have us singing, dancing, and clapping along celebrating another school year of storytimes. Be sure to bring your picnic blanket and a teddy bear or other stuffed friend! Drop in for all ages.The Veterans Memorial Auditorium at the CCA is located upstairs. If an elevator is needed it can be accessed at ground level at the back entrance of the building next to the parking lot. Please allow extra time if the elevator is needed as there is only one or consider leaving strollers behind. Parking is limited so please allow extra time to find parking at area lots like the town green or the library. This event is generously sponsored by the Family Resource Network. The Family Resource Network is funded by the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant from the MA Department of Early Education and Care.It is managed by Community Teamwork.

Offsite - Chelmsford Center for the Arts

Bibliobites Book Group

Bibliobites is a book group with a culinary focus. We read a combination of cookbooks, culinary memoirs, and food-centric fiction. We often pick a theme for a meeting and encourage members to try recipes related to the theme. We do not discourage members from bringing i......More

Bibliobites is a book group with a culinary focus. We read a combination of cookbooks, culinary memoirs, and food-centric fiction. We often pick a theme for a meeting and encourage members to try recipes related to the theme. We do not discourage members from bringing in those recipes for taste-testing! .

Main Library - Fireplace Area

Novel Conversations Book Group

For the June meeting, the group will be meeting (on May 30th) to discuss After Annie by Anna Quindlen "When Annie Brown, a fun-loving woman, suddenly dies, her husband, best friend, and her children all struggle to find ways to go on after the loss of the woman who was ......More

For the June meeting, the group will be meeting (on May 30th) to discuss After Annie by Anna Quindlen "When Annie Brown, a fun-loving woman, suddenly dies, her husband, best friend, and her children all struggle to find ways to go on after the loss of the woman who was the center of their lives, and who made life happy, fun, and secure. Her husband is overwhelmed with four children to raise, and turns to his teenage daughter for help, and to an old girlfriend for solace. Annie's best friend struggles again with opioid addiction, having depended on Annie for support through addiction and recovery. Annie's daughter discovers disturbing truths about life in a small town, including at her new best friend's house, where she stumbles upon a dangerous secret. These and other characters reconfigure their lives and learn how to go on, after Annie"-Copies of the book are available at the Main Library's circulation desk.New members are always welcome! This group meets in-person at the Main Library downstairs in the Conference Room.

Conference Room

Teen Children's Programs Volunteer Training - Grades 9-12

Do you like interacting with Children? Do you love books? Are you looking for community service hours? Then you might want to consider volunteering to help with Children's Programming! Register here to complete our in-person training to be a Children's Programming Volu......More

Do you like interacting with Children? Do you love books? Are you looking for community service hours? Then you might want to consider volunteering to help with Children's Programming! Register here to complete our in-person training to be a Children's Programming Volunteer. Our volunteers serve an essential purpose - helping keep our programs running smoothly! In this training, library staff will lead teens in some fun team-building activities, present them with information on the expectations of the program, and walk teens through the library to show them where they can find all the materials needed to run our various programming and answer any questions that may come up. After attending this training, volunteers will be equipped to earn community service hours by assisting with in-person children's programs.Volunteers will need to complete an application and have it signed by a parent or guardian before registering for this training and earning service hours.

McCarthy Meeting Room (Entire Room)

Writers' Group

Stop by the library every other Monday for this participant led group. Aspiring and seasoned writers can use this time to work on their writing, discuss their work with other writers or bring copies of your work to get feedback. This is a space to use how you need as yo......More

Stop by the library every other Monday for this participant led group. Aspiring and seasoned writers can use this time to work on their writing, discuss their work with other writers or bring copies of your work to get feedback. This is a space to use how you need as you start out or continue your writing career and allows participants to network with other local writers.

Monday Evening Book Group

This month we will be discussing the book, Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.GMA BOOK CLUB PICK AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of ......More

This month we will be discussing the book, Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.GMA BOOK CLUB PICK AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history."Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."—The Washington Post"Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." —People MagazineMaine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.Please CLICK HERE to register in person or for the zoom link.

Conference Room

Intermediate English Conversation Circle

Join our small informal group to practice speaking English. Come for 2 hours or drop in for a little while. We talk about anything and everything. There is no homework, and our conversations range from world issues to personal stories. Come listen, and talk if you want......More

Join our small informal group to practice speaking English. Come for 2 hours or drop in for a little while. We talk about anything and everything. There is no homework, and our conversations range from world issues to personal stories. Come listen, and talk if you want to.Anyone interested in the English Conversation Circles should contact Jianna Christopher at jchristopher@chelmsfordlibrary.org or 978-256-5521 x1107.

Conference Room

Zoom Book Club for Grades 3-5

Please join us for a Book Club for children in grades 3 - 5. Each week kids will be expected to read several chapters from a chosen book. Each book will be completed over the course of several weeks. Books will be available at the Circulation Desk at the Chelmsford P......More

Please join us for a Book Club for children in grades 3 - 5. Each week kids will be expected to read several chapters from a chosen book. Each book will be completed over the course of several weeks. Books will be available at the Circulation Desk at the Chelmsford Public Library. Each week participants will engage in discussions, games and fun activities related to the book that the group is reading. A good time is had by all! Registration is required. The Zoom link will be emailed in the early afternoon on Tuesday. For more information feel free to reach out to Deborah in the Children's Room at dmorrissey@chelmsfordlibrary.org.Book to be determined.

Online - Zoom (Chelmsfordlibraryzoom)

VIRTUAL: Changing Our Perspectives: 5 Books with Bill Thierfelder

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email.** If you’re looking for a “meaningful” book to read, here are five prime suggestions: Ray Bradbury’s FAHRENHEIT 451, Toni Morriso......More

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email.** If you’re looking for a “meaningful” book to read, here are five prime suggestions: Ray Bradbury’s FAHRENHEIT 451, Toni Morrison’s BELOVED, Yasunari Kawabata’s SNOW COUNTRY, Carl Sagan’s COSMOS, and Walt Whitman’s LEAVES OF GRASS. This program gives a brief overlook of each author and the principal ideas of each book--ideas that are intended to challenge our preconceived notions and inspire our “better angels.” There will be time at the end to hear some of your “important” books. What is your most meaningful book?RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.Made possible by the Groton Public Library Endowment Trust.Sign up directly via Zoom HERE!

Online - Partner Organization

VIRTUAL: 50 Job Seekers Networking Group -- Second Act Careers ("Thinking Outside The Box")

The Massachusetts Library Collaborative's 50 Job Seekers Group meets via Zoom on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, from 9:30am to 11:30am. Informal networking takes place from 9am to 9:30am and 11:30am to noon. If you are unemployed and actively looking, underem......More

The Massachusetts Library Collaborative's 50 Job Seekers Group meets via Zoom on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, from 9:30am to 11:30am. Informal networking takes place from 9am to 9:30am and 11:30am to noon. If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your "Encore Career," this networking group program is perfect for you! Remember, 85% of jobs are found through networking!Join us in a professional forum for networking with peers in a safe and comfortable environment conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help in your career transition. Each meeting features a new topic. Meetings include a presentation and interactive workshop on topics relevant to career transition, guest speakers, access to hiring managers, small group breakout rooms to network, and 1-on-1 coaching guidance. Participating on a regular basis will give job seekers the many tools and strategies needed for a successful job search.Each biweekly meeting is facilitated by Deborah Hope, MBA, PCIC, an experienced executive career coach. Deborah is a former Fortune 500 executive, investment banker and entrepreneur. She transitioned to executive coaching over 12 years ago. Deborah has coached with Harvard Business School Executive Education programs and the Massachusetts Conference for Women. She has been trained or certified in a variety of coaching models and assessment tools. Deborah has facilitated 50 job seekers networking groups since 2016. This week's topic (June 4th) is Second Act Careers ("Thinking Outside the Box"). Register directly on Zoom HERE. This group is sponsored by approximately 50 Massachusetts public libraries.RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

Online - Partner Organization

Beginner English

ESL learners can stop by for basic lessons in English with an instructor. The instructor has taught for many years in both local schools and abroad. Please bring a notebook and your questions about English and its challenges. Materials will also be provided for partici......More

ESL learners can stop by for basic lessons in English with an instructor. The instructor has taught for many years in both local schools and abroad. Please bring a notebook and your questions about English and its challenges. Materials will also be provided for participants. This is a weekly meeting, every Wednesday afternoon. Students are not obligated to come for meetings each week and are welcome to drop in on the weeks they are able. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jianna Christopher at jchristopher@chelmsfordlibrary.org or 978-256-5521 ext. 1107

Conference Room

Fermented Pickle Workshop: Radish Kimchi!

Supplies participants to bring: knife, cutting board, scale that weighs in grams, large bowl, vegetable peelerCome show yourself some love and learn how to make probiotic pickles for your health and happy taste buds. At this small class on food preservation, you will le......More

Supplies participants to bring: knife, cutting board, scale that weighs in grams, large bowl, vegetable peelerCome show yourself some love and learn how to make probiotic pickles for your health and happy taste buds. At this small class on food preservation, you will learn how to pickle anything! You will make your own jar of Radish Kimchi (my favorite ferment) and learn a slightly different (and uncommon) method for lacto-fermented foods. Emily Makrez, owner of F-Word Farm & educator on all things fermenting, farming, & foraging related, will show you how to pickle what's in season to make the most of your veggies, capture gut-healthy microbes & prevent food waste. This will include the basic science of fermentation and methods so you will leave with the knowledge and confidence to be able to safely ferment practically anything! Leave knowing the difference between a vinegar pickle and a fermented pickle. We will talk about the benefits of lacto-fermented food & how they are a benefit to our overall health. Samples will be provided!Emily Makrez, M.S., started F-Word Farm (Farming, Foraging, Fermenting) out of a love for the environment. It is an Earth centered farm that practices organic, low-input, no-till farming focused on building eco-systems. After graduating with an M.S. from UML, her interest in food & science brought her to Seattle, WA to pursue a Master's degree in Nutrition/Dietetics at Bastyr University, but her love of New England called her back home to start the farm. She’s passionate about caring for the soil, fermentation for food preservation, and sustainable farming and foraging. Her focus is on using every bit of what nature provides and making it taste delicious.

McCarthy Meeting Room (Entire Room)

RESCHEDULED____ to JUNE 4th---VIRTUAL: Nourishing the Caregiver: Cultivating Calm in Chaos

Due to presenter's illness, this event has been rescheduled to Wed. June 4th----Please note this is a VIRTUAL event. Please CLICK HERE to register on zoom and receive the link. This interactive workshop will help you: define stress, learn daily stress management techni......More

Due to presenter's illness, this event has been rescheduled to Wed. June 4th----Please note this is a VIRTUAL event. Please CLICK HERE to register on zoom and receive the link. This interactive workshop will help you: define stress, learn daily stress management techniques, understand the de-stress alphabet, learn the seven dimensions of wellness, and set goals for yourself. This class is appropriate for anyone caring for someone (even themselves!) and is not dementia-specific. BIO: Olivia Companion is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional with over a decade of experience in dementia care. She has been a home care case manager, memory care director, and activity director, earning a nomination for the 2018 Massachusetts Assisted Living Association’s Activities Excellence Award. In 2022, she founded Purple Hydrangea Dementia Care Consultation and Support to address gaps in dementia education and to do dementia better. Olivia specializes in Montessori dementia care, focusing on behavior and symptom management, as well as purposeful engagement through activities. Her mission is to support caregivers through a variety of resources, including caregiver support sessions, an e-newsletter, the Connected Companions podcast, workshops, a women’s support group, and her social media presence. Olivia has been featured as a podcast guest on And Then Be Well, Senior Strategies, and To Be You. Her writing can be found in Elephant Journal (Activities That Matter: Finding Joy and Purpose in Daily Dementia Engagement), the NeuroReserve blog (How to Show Your Brain Love with Expert Guidance), and in her collaboration with S&S Worldwide.

Online - Zoom (AAdams)