Bancroft Memorial Library
50 Hopedale Street, Hopedale MA 01747
Contact: Tricia Perry, Library Director 508-634-2209
Columbus Day
The Bancroft Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, October 9 in observance of Columbus Day.
New Instagram Account
The Bancroft Memorial Library is now on Instagram! Follow us today at Bancroft_Memorial_Library.
Pumpkin Decorating Contest!
Participate in the Library’s 2nd Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest! Decorate a faux/foam pumpkin at home (no real pumpkins please - they don’t keep well inside) and drop it off at the Bancroft Memorial Library beginning Tuesday, October 10. Vote with a non-perishable food item for your favorite pumpkin from October 16-26. The entry with the most votes wins a prize, so vote early and vote often! All food items will be donated to The Daily Bread Food Pantry in Milford. The Library will have a limited number of pumpkins to give out while supplies last, but feel free to provide your own in whatever size/color/shape you’d like! Good luck and happy decorating!
Community Conversations Sponsored by Hopedale For Change
Community Conversations will meet this month on Wednesday, October 4 at 6:30pm featuring Chief Ladybug (Dr. Denise Pruitt) who will speak about honoring Native American culture. If you are interested in joining the conversation, please sign up at the Circulation Desk.
Helen Symonds Book Group
The Helen Symonds Book Group will meet on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 1:00 pm in the Library Program Room. We will discuss All the Broken Places by John Boyne. “An elderly London resident befriends the little boy who moves in downstairs, but his parents’ fighting brings her back to her harrowing escape from Nazi Germany. Ninety-one-year-old Gretel Fernsby has lived in the same well-to-do mansion block in London for decades. She lives a quiet, comfortable life, despite her deeply disturbing, dark past. She doesn’t talk about her escape from Nazi Germany at age 12. She doesn’t talk about the grim post-war years in France with her mother. Most of all, she doesn’t talk about her father, who was the commandant of one of the Reich’s most notorious extermination camps. Now, Gretel faces a similar crossroads to one she encountered long ago. She can choose to save a young boy, but if she does, she will be forced to reveal the secret she has spent a lifetime protecting.” – adapted from CW MARS catalog
Virtual Q&A with Historical Fiction Author Denny S. Bryce
Celebrate Denny Bryce’s new book, The Other Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria’s Goddaughter, with a fascinating virtual Q&A with the author on Tuesday, October 10 at 7pm via Zoom. The story of an African princess raised in Queen Victoria’s court and adapting to life in Victorian England is based on the real-life story of a recently rediscovered historical figure, Sarah Forbes Bonetta. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library and in partnership with a multitude of MA Libraries. For attendees to the Ashland Public Library Event with Denny S. Bryce on October 10, the author will be signing bookplates for every book ordered through Aesop’s Fable. Please call the Bancroft Memorial Library to register and receive the link.
Virtual Q&A with Mystery Writer Andrea Penrose, Author of Murder at Merton Library
Join the conversation with mystery writer, Andrea Penrose, on Thursday, October 12 at 7pm via Zoom about her latest Regency-era Wrexford & Sloane Mystery, taking place in a library! This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library and in partnership with a multitude of MA Libraries. For attendees to the Ashland Public Library Event with Andrea Penrose on October 12, the author will be signing bookplates for every book ordered through Aesop’s Fable. Please call the Bancroft Memorial Library to register and receive the link.
Maker Mondays
Join our new evening Crafting workshop for adults! Held every 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30pm, the workshops are FREE and all materials supplied! This month’s workshop is on Monday, October 16th and participants will learn about the art of decoupage from Mary Alice Gruppi, and create decorative seashells using some of the techniques demonstrated. Registration is required.
Wednesday Needlework Group
Join us for an evening of needlework every Wednesday night from 6:00pm until 7:45pm. Bring your latest project. No commitment required – come when you can!
News from The Friends of the Hopedale Library
Witchcraft in the 21st Century
The Friends of the Hopedale Library are pleased to present “Witchcraft in the 21st Century” by Leslie Cape on Wednesday, October 18th at 6:30. Leslie will discuss the fundamental aspects of modern Witchcraft, as well as the basics of spells, ritual work, and seasonal celebrations. Learn how Modern Witchcraft emphasizes personal sovereignty, truth-seeking, empowerment, and responsibility that stands proudly on the cultural and religious foundations of our ancestors. Through it we can craft a meaningful connection to nature that will serve our future. To register, please sign up at the upstairs circulation desk or call 508-634-2209.
Ongoing Fundraisers
Did you know that you can support the Friends of the Hopedale Library anytime the Library is open by shopping at the Ongoing Book sale? We offer a selection of adult and children’s titles, and even puzzles! You can find the sale area just outside the Program room. Our Flower Power Fundraiser runs through 10/15! You can order fall bulbs online and have orders shipped directly to you. The Friends of the Hopedale Library earns 50%. Shop at http://hopedalelibrary.fpfundraising.com. Thank you for your support!
Who are The Friends of the Hopedale Library?
We are a volunteer, non-profit organization. Our purpose is to stimulate interest in the use of the Library, focus attention on community services the Library offers, and raise funds for equipment, materials, and programs not covered by the Library’s regular operating budget. We assist library staff as needed for special events. Our fundraising supports the museum pass program and children’s and adult programming, including summer reading. Our next Executive Board meeting is Wednesday, October 11th at 6:30 pm. We love new members!
News from the Marjorie Hattersley Children’s Room
Registration is encouraged but not required for all events. Please visit our website to register online.
Miss Laura
Hello, my name is Laura Brillant-Giangrande and I am the new Youth Services Librarian at Bancroft Memorial Library! I am a lifelong resident of Foxboro as well as a long time Patriots fan. I have been married for over 25 years and I have 2 children, CJ and Bella. My education and background are in Education but I have been a librarian for almost 10 years now and am LOVING IT! If you are wondering, YES, I DO read a lot. It’s one of my favorite pastimes along with listening to music, doing jigsaw puzzles, playing card and board games and watching movies. When I want to get out of the house, I like walks in the woods and to visit historical places. I volunteer by helping adult immigrants learn English and study for their Citizenship test, mostly Ukrainian and Russian speakers. I am very excited to be a part of the Hopedale community and I look forward to bringing new programming to the library. Please don’t hesitate to drop by and meet me and I hope to see everyone soon!
StoryWalk®
The Library Fish Learns to Read StoryWalk® will be up through Saturday, October 7th on the Community House Lawn.
Homeschool Meetup - Families - 1st Monday of the month(10/2) 1 - 2 pm
Get together, meet other families, share information and experiences while helping the Library learn what we can do to support you. Drop in.
Homeschool Classes - 2nd, 3rd and 4th Mondays(10/16, 23) 1 - 2 pm
TBD programs for all ages created by the librarian in support of homeschool families’ needs. Drop in or registration as needed. Check the Library calendar for more information.
Rhyme Time - Ages 2 - 4 years - every Tuesday(10/3, 10, 17, 24, 31) 10 - 10:30 am
Fun with story time, music and movement as we build beginner reading skills. Drop in.
Toddler Tunes - Ages 1 - 3 - every Tuesday(10/3, 10, 17, 24, 31) 11 - 11:30 am
Gross motor skills are the focus as we have fun with dancing, throwing, catching, kicking and using instruments. Drop in.
Teen Advisory - Grades 7 - 12 - 1st Wednesday of the month(10/4) 2:30 - 3 pm
Meet to discuss interests, activities and how the Library can best support Hopedale’s teen community. Registration required.
Book Cubs - Grades 2 - 3 - 2nd Wednesday of the month(10/11) 4 - 5 pm
Check out the book, read it over the month, then we come together for a peer discussion and a related activity. Registration required.
Raucous Readers - Grades 4 - 5 - 3rd Wednesday of the month(10/18) - 4 - 5 pm
Check out the book, read it over the month, then we come together for a peer discussion and a related activity. Registration required.
Starlight Story Time - Families - 4th Wednesday of the month(10/25) - 6 - 7 pm
In a cozy room with the stars over our heads I’ll read a short story and we can all unwind and share some quiet, relaxing time together. Drop in.
Alpha-nauts! - Ages 4 - 6 - every Thursday(10/5, 12, 19, 26) - 10 - 10:30 am
Come explore the universe of the Alphabet as we build emergent reading skills. Registration required.
Busy Babies - Ages 0 - 18 mos - every Thursday(10/5, 12, 19, 26) - 11 - 11:30 am
Come for a story and fun with toys intended to encourage your infant’s motor and language development and meet other beginning families in our community too! Drop in.
Kommunity Kids - all school age kids - 1st Friday of the month(10/6) - 2:30 - 3 pm
Discussion and planning of opportunities for the youth of Hopedale to participate in civic engagement. Registration required.
Saturday Family Fun - Families - every other Saturday(10/14, 28) - 11 am - 1 pm
Check the calendar each month to see what’s happening: activities, crafts, movies and more - TBD each month - Drop in.
For updates throughout the month, Friend us on Facebook and sign up at www.wowbrary.org to discover the Library’s newest books, movies and music. Our webpage is https://www.hopedale-ma.gov/bancroft-memorial-library.
