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Curbside During Covid: Westford residents wearing masks and gloves, may now return library materials in the rear drive-through Book Drop. As of Monday June 1, patrons may order materials via our web form (the form will be posted on June 1) for contact-free CURBSIDE PICKUP Monday through Friday. You may also place holds through the catalog for Westford items. Currently, we are only able to fill requests with items that are available on our shelves. Pickups will be by appointment only. Although the building is closed, we are still serving you! Please check our website for updates on our pop-up Fresh Air Library, Summer Reading Programs, virtual offerings and collections.
June Book Sale Canceled: Due to the current situation, the Friends of the Library June Book Sale is canceled. We are looking forward to the October Book Sale. Currently, we are still unable to accept Book Sale donations. Stay tuned!
Children’s, Teens and Tweens, and Adult Summer Reading Programs: “Imagine Your Story” is the 2020 Summer Reading Program theme. Registration for all three Summer Reading Programs begins on Monday, June 8.
Children’s Summer Reading Program: Because of the current national situation, all programs are free and do not require tickets. Some may have limited space due to virtual meeting space limitations, but we will let you know about that on the Calendar of Events on our website.
We will be using the READSquared program for Summer Reading registration and reading logging. You can download the READSquared app from your online App store, for free, to your remote device (phone or tablet) and you can also use this website: http://westfordmareads.readsquared.com/ to register and log reading.
Please call or email us with any questions and as always you can check out the Children’s Summer Reading Program page on our website for more information on this very different but exciting summer-long program.
Teen and Tween Summer Reading Program: This program is for Teens and Tweens in grades 5-12. All Teen and Tween events are FREE thanks to generous funding by the Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library. Reading Logs, prizes, and raffles will be organized through READsquared. Download the app or go to http://westfordmareads.readsquared.com/
Nancy and Kate will be sending videos to the School librarians on June 1 who will distribute them to your students. These videos will also be on our website on the Children’s and the Young Adult summer reading pages.
Adult Summer Reading Program: Your summer reading goal is up to you: choose to read 1, 3, or 5 books this summer, to read a particular title, or to join a book club. Signing up automatically enters you into our weekly raffle for a $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. You will also be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing for a gift card to a Westford restaurant that offers delivery and take out! We’ll be using the READSquared program for registration. Download the free READSquared app, or use this website, http://westfordmareads.readsquared.com, to register. Once you complete your reading goal, contact us and we’ll arrange for curbside pickup of your coupon for a free ice cream cone at Kimball Farm. Check out some new titles and Imagine Your Story.
All of the Summer Reading Program are sponsored by the Friends of the J.V. Fletcher Library, Inc. and are for Westford residents and non-resident members of the Friends. Imagine Your Story is also sponsored by the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Virtual Adult Non Fiction Book Group: Tuesday, June 2 at 7p.m. Email Charles at cschweppe@westfordma.gov for Zoom details if you would like to attend. We’ll discuss “H is for Hawk” by Helen Macdonald. Download a copy from Hoopla or Overdrive.
Virtual Rock & Roll’s 65th Birthday Celebration with Craig Harris: Thursday, Jun. 4 at 7 p.m. Enjoy the golden days of a groundbreaking music. Percussionist Craig Harris will take you through this fun, fast-paced, 90-minute-plus program of archival audio tracks, rare video clips, behind-the-scenes stories, singing and music-making. Relive the days of rockabilly rebellion and street corner harmony. This program will take place online. For details and registration, email Sarah Regan at sregan@westfordma.gov.
Middle School Book Clubs: The Book Clubs have moved to GoogleMeet! Stony Brook Book Club is meeting every Tuesday from 4-5pm and Blanchard Book Club is meeting every Thursday from noon-1pm until the end of the school year. Email Kate at krose@westfordma.gov to join the next book club meeting.
Virtual Book Club Meeting: The Thursday night Adult Book Club will be meeting via Zoom on Thursday, June 11 to discuss “The Hidden Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben. If you would like to participate, email Kristina Leedberg. Download a copy of the book from Hoopla.
Virtual Feasting from Your Pantry with Liz Barbour: Thu., Jun. 18 at 7 p.m. We’re all trying to use our pantry supplies to make easy, healthy, and delicious meals. In this fun and tasty Zoom class, Liz will share her pantry basics and inspire you to be creative with what you’ve got. Following her discussion, Liz will demonstrate two pantry recipes anyone can cook at home. NOTE: Liz is hosting this program from her Zoom account. Visit westfordlibrary.org for details on how to register. If you have any questions, email Sarah Regan at sregan@westfordma.gov.
The Fun Continues on the Youth Services Facebook Page: Some highlights of the week include “Make Heart Bookmarks” with Miss Kate, Storytime with Miss Ellen and Bernie (her adorable dog) – “Hug Machine”, Storytime with Miss Jennifer – “Ugh, a Bug!”, Miss Jackie “Crushes a Can Using Science!” and Miss Nancy reads “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone – Chapter 5, Part 3”. You will find many other stories and activities available to you each week. On Facebook – search for J. V. Fletcher Library Youth Services Department – and send us a request to become a member.
Job Seekers Virtual Meeting: Join us on June 3 from 3-4:30 p.m. for “Virtual Interviewing – How Do I Land on the Short List?” with Debbie Hope, an established Executive Leadership and Career Coach. A variety of topics will be covered that will help you stand out in a virtual interview. Virtual programs will take place via zoom. To attend a WJS Meeting, please email Dina Kanabar at dkanabar@westfordma.gov. Attendees will receive a link to access the Zoom Meeting via email. Weekly topics may be found on our job seekers web page.
Staff Recommendations: Many of our patrons rely on our staff members, to make personalized reading recommendations for them. Each week we will highlight some of our digital titles available for downloading through Hoopla or Overdrive.
Susan’s Pick: A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay (Listen to it on Hoopla. Read it on Overdrive.) Paul Davis is a small town college professor. Eight months ago he stumbled upon a murderer disposing of two bodies. Unfortunately for him, the murderer sees him and tries to kill him too. The attack has left him with a severe concussion and recurring nightmares. He decides to face the events of that night head on and maybe even write a book about it. As a gift, his wife Charlotte gives him an old typewriter to use in the unraveling of that nights tragic events. What could go wrong? That’s what Paul thinks. Until one night he wakes to hear the keys on the old typewriter tapping away? It seems that the spirits of the two murdered women are trying to reach out to him. Is this possible or is he losing his mind? Read to find out! This book kept me guessing right to the very end.
Holly’s Pick: Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves (Read it on Overdrive or listen to it on Hoopla.)is a “leave the lights on and lock the doors” mystery which will have you questioning who really lives in the vast expanses of wooded highway areas of the Great North Woods of bumpkin Bearkill, Maine. This suspenseful, nail biter, finds heroine cop, Lizzie Snow, at odds with criminals vastly different than those found in the sophistication of her hometown of Boston. Is it the rich gun culture or the meth supply chain that attracts Daniel, a backwoods survivalist to “effectively utilize his resources”? When Lizzie confronts the captive woman and child he calls family she quickly finds out exactly how good Daniel’s aim is. The secrets kept, lies told and friends betrayed are at the crux of this dark drama. Readers who enjoy Linda Castillo and Lisa Gardner will find Lizzie to be strong, driven and brave.
Kanopy Streaming Films with Carol: Have you tried Kanopy yet? Are you looking for recommendations of what to watch? If you visit our Fine Arts Desk, you have probably met Carol who is our go to for film recommendations. Below is one of her latest picks from the Kanopy collection.
Hunt for Wilderpeople is a quirky and delightful New Zealand film directed by Taika Waititi. Thirteen year old rebellious Ricky Baker has been bounced around the foster care system for most of his life, having been abandoned by his mother. He arrives at the home of eccentric Aunt Bella and crabby Uncle Hec. This is his last hope for normalcy. He begins to bond with Bella who is maternal and comforting, but he and his uncle are clearly incompatible. Due to circumstances, Ricky and Hec suddenly become fugitives in the wild New Zealand bush. On their own to survive (for five months), they are aggressively pursued by Paula, an over the top child welfare services officer. You will enjoy the Thelma and Louise pairing of actors Sam Neill (Hec) and Julian Dennison (Ricky). The kid really steals the film….as he states, ” I didn’t choose a skux life. The skux life chose me.” This film, which reminds me of Disney’s Up, is currently on Kanopy.
Looking for more recommendations? Reach out to us at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov or check out our Staff Recommendations page.
Still Serving You: The best way to reach staff is through email at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov. Reach out to us if you need your card number or a new card to access our downloadable collections and services. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
The J.V. Fletcher Library is located at 50 Main St., Westford. For more information, visit http://www.westfordlibrary.org or email us at westfordlibrary@westfordma.gov.
