Preschool Palooza

Join librarian Elise for 45 minutes of songs, stories, and movement!  For children ages 3 through 6. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/preschool-palooza-206/

Library Community Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Trevor the Games Man

Join Trevor "The Games Man" for an uproarious, participatory show featuring stilt-walking and cooperative games.  All ages welcome. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/trevor-the-games-man/

Library Community Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Virtual - "Heal the Beasts" with Author and Veterinarian Philipp Schott

Virtual - "Heal the Beasts" with Author and Veterinarian Philipp Schott **Please register ......More

Virtual - "Heal the Beasts" with Author and Veterinarian Philipp Schott **Please register here for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them. The email will be coming from the Ashland Public Library** **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.**  We had so much fun chatting with author and veterinarian, Philipp Schott a few years ago, we just had to bring him back to discuss his new book, "Heal the Beasts: A Jaunt Through the Curious History of the Veterinary Arts". This history of veterinary medicine provides an abundance of bizarre, funny, surprising, and heartwarming anecdotes. Heal the Beasts chronicles human efforts to treat animal illnesses from 14,000 BCE to today. About the book: How and why did humans begin to treat sick and injured animals? And how did those practices, and the associated attitudes, evolve from prehistory to the present day? To answer these questions, Dr. Schott shares stories of 22 different animal healers and veterinarians from across eras and continents, examining the always fascinating, often unexpected, and sometimes hilarious veterinary methods employed by these people and their colleagues. But at the heart of the tale lies the evolution of the human-animal bond, which has been more cyclical than linear. In many ways, we are returning to the outlook of our distant ancestors after a centuries-long detour through a more utilitarian approach. James Herriot will be familiar to many people, but most of the other featured vets will be new. They range from Palakapya, who treated fighting elephants in India almost 3,000 years ago, to Dr. Louis Camuti, who had the first feline house call practice anywhere, tending to the cats of celebrities in mid-20th-century Manhattan. Along the way, we see every kind of person trying to heal every kind of creature, from dogs, cows, horses, and cats to canaries, gorillas, and even dragons. Whether you have a passion for animals, the history of the medical sciences, or just quirky history, this light-hearted exploration of the empathetic relationship between man and beast will entertain and delight. About Philipp: I was born in Germany in 1965. A year later my family emigrated to Canada. I grew up in Saskatoon, regularly returning to Germany to visit. I studied biology the University of Saskatchewan before switching to veterinary medicine. After graduation in 1990 I moved to Winnipeg with my classmate and future wife, Lorraine. Except for a year taken to backpack around the world, I have been in the same Winnipeg small animal practice since 1990. My writing began with blogging about travel and veterinary medicine, and then my first book, The Accidental Veterinarian, was published by ECW Press in 2019. Lorraine and I live in a creaky old house on the river with two young adult children, and a young cat. (We had two old cats and an old dog up until very recently, but it's been an exceptionally sad year.) Although the clinic, writing, and my family keep me busy, I love to spend time outdoors in self-propelled activities. I'm a particular fan of long-distance walking, having completed the West Highland Way, Hadrian's Wall, the Laugevegurinn, and the Inca Trail, among others. The pandemic also inspired me to start tackling "virtual walks", with the highlight being a 2863 km trek across Middle Earth from The Shire to Mordor. I learned how sturdy those hobbits really were. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library and in partnership with a multitude of MA Libraries. We are thrilled to be partnering with the Ashland Senior Center for this event. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/virtual-heal-the-beasts-with-author-and-veterinarian-philipp-schott/

Online Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Budding Bookworms

A storytime just for infants from newborn to not-yet walking and their caregivers.  Rhymes, stories, fingerplays, and bounces in the storytime room.  Size is limited, registration required.  https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/budding-bookworms-99/...More

A storytime just for infants from newborn to not-yet walking and their caregivers.  Rhymes, stories, fingerplays, and bounces in the storytime room.  Size is limited, registration required.  https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/budding-bookworms-99/

Inside, Children's Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Baby Playgroup with Family Access

Join us for stories, gross motor play, and caregiver support. Babies and caregivers are expected to attend all 5 sessions, Registration Required. For infants ages 0 to 1 and a caregiver, hosted by Needham Youth & Family Services and Family Access Community Connection......More

Join us for stories, gross motor play, and caregiver support. Babies and caregivers are expected to attend all 5 sessions, Registration Required. For infants ages 0 to 1 and a caregiver, hosted by Needham Youth & Family Services and Family Access Community Connections. Register through Family Access at https://forms.office.com/r/biY9hXKuAL https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/baby-playgroup-with-family-access/

Inside, Children's Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Shark Tagging

Sharks are charismatic wildlife, and tend to get a lot of attention in the media. However, they are often misrepresented and misunderstood. Learn about a shark workup and what research practices are used and get to apply model tags to inflatable sharks to conduct a fu......More

Sharks are charismatic wildlife, and tend to get a lot of attention in the media. However, they are often misrepresented and misunderstood. Learn about a shark workup and what research practices are used and get to apply model tags to inflatable sharks to conduct a full workup themselves. Information is provided on how the tags are a part of a communication system and how the data is transferred to the researchers.  For ages 5 and up. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/shark-tagging/

Library Community Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Needham Library Trustees Board Meeting - July 8, 2025 @ 7:00 PM

Board of Trustees Meeting - July 9, 2025 @ 7:00 PM Zoom: Please use the link below to join the webinar from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82238584185?pw......More

Board of Trustees Meeting - July 9, 2025 @ 7:00 PM Zoom: Please use the link below to join the webinar from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82238584185?pwd=kE7oz3C2Y8XDO9TxpG66sQY8LgzPrE.1 Passcode:404242 Phone one-tap: +13126266799, 82238584185#, *404242# US (Chicago), +16465588656, 82238584185#,* 404242# US (New York) Join via audio: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago), +1 646 558 8656 US (New York), +1 646 931 3860 US, +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) Webinar ID: 822 3858 4185 Passcode: 404242 International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/keH9GkZANh 1. 7:00PM     Call to Order 2. 7:02PM     Public Comments 3.  7:05 PM    Minutes of June 10, 2025 Meeting 4.  7:15 PM    Director’s Report                                  - Department Highlights                                  - Personnel                                  - Phase 1                                  - Building and Grounds                                  - Financial Reports                                  - Statistical Reports including DEI and New Materials 5. 7:40 PM     New Business                                  - Action Item: Vote on Accepting List of Gifts                                  - Action Item: Vote on FY2026 Library State Aid Spending Plan                                   - Action Item: Vote to Approve Trustee Report on FY2025 Action Plan                                  - Action Item: Vote to Approve FY2026 Action Plan                                  - Discussion Item: Draft of Revised Art & Exhibits Policy 6. 8:15 PM      Old Business                                  - Discussion: Draft of Trustees Onboarding Document 7. 8:35 PM      Library Art and Exhibits Committee Report (Kay)                                  - Action Item: Vote on Exhibitors 8. 8:40 PM     McIver Series  9. 8:45 PM     Friends of the Library  10. 8:50 PM   Library Foundation of Needham  11. 8:55 PM   Trustee Comments 12. 9:00 PM   Adjourn https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/needham-library-trustees-board-meeting-july-8-2025-7-00-pm/

Library Community Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

VIRTUAL: JOB SEARCH HELP - LinkedIn Advice From A 35-Year Recruiter

VIRTUAL: JOB SEARCH HELP - LinkedIn Advice From A 35-Year Recruiter **Please register ......More

VIRTUAL: JOB SEARCH HELP - LinkedIn Advice From A 35-Year Recruiter **Please register here for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them. The email will be coming from the Tewksbury Public Library** Discover why it is imperative to have an updated LinkedIn profile and resume on hand all the time. Learn how to add lots of "recruiter-bait" to your LinkedIn profile. Led by Wendy Schoen, a New York City-based NALSC (National Association of Legal Search Consultants) executive legal recruiter of 35 years. She has recruited for law firms (domestic, international, big, medium and boutique, associates and partners) and inhouse for General Counsels, Chief Operating Officers, and Chief Compliance Officers, and everything else in between. Prior to becoming a full-time legal recruiter in 1993, Schoen received her MBA and worked as a Wall Street investment banker for 10 years before attending law school. Sponsored by the Tewksbury Friends of the Library. RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/virtual-job-search-help-linkedin-advice-from-a-35-year-recruiter/

Online Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Metro West Knitters Guild

Meets monthly on the 2nd Wednesday of each month with the exception of April. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/metro-west-knitters-guild-29/

Library Community Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

AUTHOR HOUR IN MASSACHUSETTS: Author Dwyer Murphy ("The House on Buzzards Bay") with Peter Swanson

AUTHOR HOUR IN MASSACHUSETTS: Author Dwyer Murphy ("The House on Buzzards Bay") with Peter Swanson **Please register ......More

AUTHOR HOUR IN MASSACHUSETTS: Author Dwyer Murphy ("The House on Buzzards Bay") with Peter Swanson **Please register here for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them. The email will be coming from the Tewksbury Public Library** Bestselling author Dwyer Murphy will discuss his new thriller, The house on Buzzards Bay, in conversation with author Peter Swanson, author of The Final Episode, in this installment of "Author Hour in Massachusetts." About Dwyer:  Dwyer Murphy is the author of An Honest Living and The Stolen Coast, both of which were New York Times Editors' Choice selections. He is the editor in chief of Literary Hub's CrimeReads vertical, the world’s most popular destination for thriller readers, and was previously an Emerging Writer Fellow at the Center for Fiction. About The House on Buzzards Bay:  As they hurtle into midlife, Jim and his closest college friends get together to rekindle the bonds of their friendship in his family’s beautiful, generations-old vacation home along Buzzards Bay, the demands of work and family having caused them to drift apart over recent years. But what begins as a quiet and restorative seaside escape takes a darker turn when Bruce, an aloof but successful writer, disappears from the house without a trace, sending the group into an uneasy tension. Meanwhile, a series of mysterious break-ins besets the town, which is the site of an old Spiritualist campground turned idyllic fishing village. After a series of uncanny disturbances at the house, Jim can’t help but feel that someone—or something—is watching them from the other side of the marsh. And with the arrival of a strange, seductive guest at their home, the group begins to question the very nature of their experiences—along with their already precarious ties with one other. In The House on Buzzards Bay, Dwyer Murphy returns with a chilling, atmospheric page-turner that explores the bonds of friendship, the growing accumulation of life's responsibilities, and whether our youthful dreams can endure the complexities of adulthood. About Peter:  Peter Swanson is the New York Times bestselling author of The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger; Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year; and Eight Perfect Murders, a New York Times bestseller, among others. His latest book is Kill Your Darlings. His books have been translated into 30 languages. He lives on the North Shore of Massachusetts.  About Author Hour in Massachusetts: "Author Hour in Massachusetts" is a series of virtual author talks this spring featuring some of the publishing industry's top trending writers. These webinars -- held from 7pm (ET) to 8pm (ET), Monday through Thursday -- are free and open to all. This series, which runs through July 16, 2025, is being promoted by more than 50 public libraries in Massachusetts.  Bookstore Partnership: If interested, you may purchase a copy of he House on Buzzards Bay from Wellesley Books, our official bookstore partner.  https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/author-hour-in-massachusetts-author-dwyer-murphy-the-house-on-buzzards-bay-with-peter-swanson/

Online Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Virtual - In Conversation with Romance Author Rachel Reid

Virtual - In Conversation with Romance Author Rachel Reid **Please register ......More

Virtual - In Conversation with Romance Author Rachel Reid **Please register here for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them. The email will be coming from the Ashland Public Library** **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.**  Do you love sports romances? With a tagline of "I like to write cute smut about hockey players and other people", you really can't go wrong! We're excited to chatting with romance author Rachel Reid who our romance book club has dubbed, "the queen of M/M hockey romance". So, even though it's hot outside, join us for this discussion with one of our favorite authors, writing one of our favorite romance sub-genres. About the Author: Rachel Reid is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Game Changers hockey romance series, as well as the standalone hockey romance novels Time to Shine and The Shots You Take. She lives in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has always lived there, and it's looking like she probably always will. She has two boring degrees and two interesting kids. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library and we're thrilled to be collaborating with a multitude of MA Libraries to bring this program to our communities. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/virtual-in-conversation-with-romance-author-rachel-reid/

Online Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Lego Time

Drop-in Lego Time Thursday afternoons in the Storybook Room.  Come build creations with the Library's large Lego supply. For children ages 5 and up.  Younger children will not be allowed in the room because of small pieces. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com......More

Drop-in Lego Time Thursday afternoons in the Storybook Room.  Come build creations with the Library's large Lego supply. For children ages 5 and up.  Younger children will not be allowed in the room because of small pieces. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/lego-time-150/

Inside, Children's Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Sensory Storytime

Designed for children on the autism spectrum and their peers. For ages 2 to 7. Presented by Bierman Autism Centers https://www.biermanautism.com/location/needham-ma/ Size is Limited. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/sensory-storytime-29/

Inside, Children's Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Young Adult Movie : Dungeons and Dragons : Honor Among Thieves (PG-13, 2023)

Ages 12 and up are welcome to join us for an afternoon of fun with this fantasy heist comedy based on the table-top role playing game Dungeons and Dragons in this Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley directed film. A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventu......More

Ages 12 and up are welcome to join us for an afternoon of fun with this fantasy heist comedy based on the table-top role playing game Dungeons and Dragons in this Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley directed film. A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but thigs go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.   (Rating: PG-13) https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/young-adult-movie-dungeons-and-dragons-honor-among-thieves-pg-13-2023/

Library Community Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Family Activity Morning

Drop in the Snack and Craft room for dots and bead necklace crafts. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/family-craft-morning-15/

Inside, Children's Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Splish Splash Storytime

Join Librarian Paula for a special Splish, Splash Storytime at the Rosemary Splash Pad at 178 Rosemary Street. Sponsored by the Needham Free Public Library and Needham Parks and Recreation. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/splish-splash-storytime-3......More

Join Librarian Paula for a special Splish, Splash Storytime at the Rosemary Splash Pad at 178 Rosemary Street. Sponsored by the Needham Free Public Library and Needham Parks and Recreation. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/splish-splash-storytime-3/

Outside Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Monkey Mind Belly Breath Children's Yoga

Joanie Woodward's program joyfully weaves laughter, yoga, mindfulness, deep belly breathing, art, and reading.  For children ages 2 and up. Start your week off with a mindful note on Monday mornings!   Her children’s book “Seven Little Monkeys” was awarded the Natio......More

Joanie Woodward's program joyfully weaves laughter, yoga, mindfulness, deep belly breathing, art, and reading.  For children ages 2 and up. Start your week off with a mindful note on Monday mornings!   Her children’s book “Seven Little Monkeys” was awarded the National Parenting Publications Honors Award and the reason she is a sought after teacher and presenter at the nation's largest Kids Yoga Conference in Washington, D.C. and at libraries, schools and museums. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/monkey-mind-belly-breath-childrens-yoga-40/

Library Community Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Magic and Beyond

Magician David Garrity brings his show of magic and illusion to Needham. Laughs, gasps and audience participation.  Fun for ages 5 and up. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/mike-bents-magic-show/

Library Community Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Virtual - "Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal" with Author Samuel Marquis

Virtual - "Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal" with Author Samuel Marquis **Please register ......More

Virtual - "Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal" with Author Samuel Marquis **Please register here for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them. The email will be coming from the Ashland Public Library** **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.**  We are excited to chat with author Samuel Marquis about his most recent book, "Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal" which is both thrilling and tragic. Behind the legend is a real man woven into the tapestry of early America, rendering him a unique colonial hero and scapegoat whose life story was fascinating, exciting, bizarre, and heartrending. Doesn't that sound fascinating? We hope you can join us! About Captain Kidd: Captain William Kidd stands as one of the most notorious “pirate” outlaws ever, but his legend is tainted by a bed of lies. Having captivated imaginations for more than three hundred years and inspired many stories about pirates, troubling questions remain. Was he really a criminal or is the truth more inconvenient: that he was a buccaneer’s worst nightmare, a revered pirate hunter turned fall guy for scheming politicians? In Captain Kidd, his ninth-great-grandson, bestselling author Samuel Marquis, reveals the real story. Kidd was an English American privateer and leading New York husband and father. The King of England himself dubbed Kidd “trusty and well-beloved,” and some historians describe him as a “worthy, honest-hearted, steadfast, much -enduring sailor” who was the “victim of a deliberate travesty of justice.” With honors far more esteemed than the menacing Blackbeard, or any other sea rover at the turn of the seventeenth century, how can Kidd be considered both gentleman and pirate, both hero and villain? Marquis’ biography recreates Kidd’s perilous world of explosive naval warfare and the daring integrity he exemplified as a pirate hunter, as well as the political scandal that entangled Kidd in British–American history, rocking the New World and the Old, and threatening England’s valuable trade with India. About Samuel: The ninth great-grandson of legendary privateer Captain William Kidd, Samuel Marquis is a Colorado #1 bestselling and award-winning American history and historical fiction author. He works by day as a VP–Principal Hydrogeologist with an environmental consulting firm in Boulder, Colorado, and by night as a writer of the world’s most heralded and entertaining historical works (hyperbole intended). This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library and in partnership with a multitude of MA Libraries. https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/virtual-captain-kidd-a-true-story-of-treasure-and-betrayal-with-author-samuel-marquis/

Online Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Stuffie Game Night

Drop your stuffie off so they can enjoy a game night at the library. See pictures of their mischief Wednesday, July 16, when you come to bring them home! Drop off is between 10 am and 6 pm on Tuesday, July 15.    https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/st......More

Drop your stuffie off so they can enjoy a game night at the library. See pictures of their mischief Wednesday, July 16, when you come to bring them home! Drop off is between 10 am and 6 pm on Tuesday, July 15.    https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/stuffie-sleepover/

Inside, Children's Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Sing, Move, and a Story

Join Community Connections for in-person singing, movement and a shared story! Let's get your little one's fine motor, gross motor, language and early literacy skills growing. For children 0 - 5 with a parent/caregiver. Friday, October 4th from 10:30 - 11:00 am, at t......More

Join Community Connections for in-person singing, movement and a shared story! Let's get your little one's fine motor, gross motor, language and early literacy skills growing. For children 0 - 5 with a parent/caregiver. Friday, October 4th from 10:30 - 11:00 am, at the Needham Library. Contact Jodi at jlevin@familyaccess.org with questions and visit www.familyaccesscommunityconnections.com for more information about all of our free programs and services.  Register through Family Access - https://forms.office.com/r/T5n9kQJPr3 https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/sing-move-and-a-story-6/

Library Community Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494

Baby Playgroup with Family Access

Join us for stories, gross motor play, and caregiver support. Babies and caregivers are expected to attend all 5 sessions, Registration Required. For infants ages 0 to 1 and a caregiver, hosted by Needham Youth & Family Services and Family Access Community Connection......More

Join us for stories, gross motor play, and caregiver support. Babies and caregivers are expected to attend all 5 sessions, Registration Required. For infants ages 0 to 1 and a caregiver, hosted by Needham Youth & Family Services and Family Access Community Connections. Register through Family Access https://forms.office.com/r/biY9hXKuAL https://needhamma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/baby-playgroup-with-family-access-2/

Inside, Children's Room Needham Free Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA, 02494