Bancroft Memorial Library

50 Hopedale Street, Hopedale
Contact: Keely Bethel-Penny, Library Director
(508) 634-2209
Library News
The Library will be closed on Monday, February 17th in observance of Presidents’ Day
Check out our new website at www.bancroftmemoriallibrary.org
Helen Symonds Book Group – Wednesday, February 5th at 1:00pm
The group will be discussing The Women by Kristin Hannah.
Community Conversations – Wednesday, February 5th at 6:30pm
Community Conversations will meet in the Program Room to talk about “The Electoral College and the true source of political power.”
News from the Friends of the Hopedale Library:
Training with Tara – Monday, February 3rd at 6:30pm
Are your New Year’s resolutions already fading but you want to get in shape and lose weight? Come and get inspired by Tara! Since 2021 Tara has transformed her lifestyle through diet and exercise. She is on a mission to share her knowledge and guide others on their weight loss and fitness journey. She will demonstrate fitness and boxing moves, followed by a mini-fitness class. This class is for all fitness levels and comfortable clothing is recommended. To register, please sign up online on the Library’s Event Calendar or call (508) 634-2209.
Book Donation Day – Wednesday, February 26th from 5:30pm-7:30pm
The Friends of the Hopedale Library would love your like-new books for our Ongoing Book Sale. Children’s books of any age are welcome. Due to space constraints, we ask that adult hardcovers be five years old or newer and adult paperbacks be ten years old or newer. Unfortunately, we cannot accept old books, textbooks, or cookbooks. We depend on books in saleable condition to raise money to support our programming.
Maker Mondays – Monday, February 24th at 6:00pm
This month the adult crafting workshop is “Crafting 101: Table Centerpieces”! Create a beautiful centerpiece for your table with flowers, greens and other items set in vases. Registration is required. To register, please sign up online on the Library’s Event Calendar or call
(508) 634-2209.
Commemorative Glass Sun catcher Special Fundraiser
Help support the Friends fundraising efforts by purchasing a commemorative glass sun catcher celebrating Bancroft Memorial Library’s 125th Anniversary. These handcrafted ornaments by Becker Glass are available in blue and clear for $20. To purchase, simply stop by the Library. Cash and checks will be accepted. Any checks should be made out to The Friends of the Hopedale Library.
Free Seed Library! – Beginning February 15th
Beginning on Saturday, February 15th, stop by the Bancroft Memorial Library and get free seeds from our Seed Library. There is no limit! If you don’t need a full packet, there are smaller envelopes available, just take what you need. Sponsored by The Friends of the Hopedale Library.
About the Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Hopedale Library, founded in 1983, is an active volunteer, non-profit organization with a town-wide membership and a representative executive board. We work with the library staff and the trustees to support the library in providing funds for equipment, materials, and programs not covered by the library’s regular operating budget. The Friends of the Hopedale Library meets the second Wednesday of the month, September through June at 6:30pm. New members and ideas are always welcome.
News from the Marjorie Hattersley Children’s Room:
Special events:
February is Check Out Challenge Month!
For the month of February, Hopedale students in grades K-6 who come in and borrow items will receive a checkmark for their class. Prizes will be given to the top 3 classrooms with the most checkmarks.
Take Your Child the Library Day! – Saturday, February 1st from 11am-1pm
Bring your child to the Library and create some Story Stones to take home and play with!
February Vacation is Dinosaur Week! – Tuesday, February 18th through Friday, February 21st
Tuesday 2/18 from 1-3pm: Create your own Prehistoric ooze (ages 6-12)
Wednesday 2/19 from 6-7:30pm: Decorate a box as a car and join us at our own Drive-In for a Dinosaur movie
Thursday 2/20 from 10-4:30pm: Dino Day – all are invited to play games, make crafts and more!
Friday 2/21 from 3-4:30pm: Dinosaur Art!
Please check the Library’s online calendar for more information.
LEGO Days in February
If you love Legos, we’ve got thousands to play with! Come in on Friday, February 7th from 3-4:30pm, Saturday February 8th from 11am-1pm and Monday, February 10th from 6-7:30pm and use our Legos to create a masterpiece that we can put on display for all to see. All ages welcome!
Weekly Programs:
Tummy Time Play – Tuesdays 2/4, 2/11, 2/18 and 2/24 at 10:30am, ages 0-18 months
Join us for some infant fun in a safe environment! Along with a story there will be fun, developmentally appropriate toys that encourage gross motor development. Drop in!
Toddler Tunes – Thursdays 2/6, 2/13, and 2/27 at 10:30am, ages 18 months– 3 years
This program is perfect for energetic toddlers! Along with a story, we will work on gross motor skills and play with balls, a parachute, instruments, bean bags, scarves and more. Drop in!
Rhyme Time – Thursdays 2/6, 2/13, and 2/27 at 11:30am, ages 3-5 years
Each week we will build early reading skills as we learn a new rhyme, dance and sing, do finger plays, play musical instruments and engage in other activities. Each class will end with a craft that is a reminder of our rhyme. Drop in.
Monthly Programs:
HQ Crew Book Club – Monday 2/3 at 4pm, Grades 4-6
Do you like the Who Was/Where Was/What Was series of books? Join this club and build your own HQ Scrapbook! Read a book from these series and when we gather you will be given a composition notebook to create entries for the books you read. All materials will be provided; just come to the meeting, share information about the book you read and work on your scrapbook. Drop in.
Book Buffet Book Club – Monday 2/3 at 6:30pm, Grades 7-12
Book Buffet is a monthly book group for tweens and teens. Read a book of your choice and create your own Mini Book Library Jar. All materials (and snacks!) will be provided. Drop in.
Genre Book Club – Wednesday 2/12 at 4pm, Grades 1-3
Here’s a book club for kids in Grades 1 - 3 who want to discover what they love about reading. Miss Laura will help participants find a right-for-them book in a genre of their choice. Each month the readers will earn a new genre badge to add to their personal bookmark as they explore all the different types of stories offered! Drop in.
TACO: Teen Advisory and Community Organization – Wednesday 2/12 at 6:30pm
TACO is the advisory and activity planning organization for teen patrons here at the Library. Open to students in Grades 7-12, we will meet once a month to discuss specific programming, ideas and opportunities for the Young Adult residents of Hopedale. Drop in.
Volunteer Saturdays for High School Students – Saturday 2/15 11:00am-1:00pm
Each month there will be an opportunity for high school students to earn 2 hours of volunteer time from 11am - 1pm. Registration is required. Please register online on the Library website under Calendar of Events or call the Library at (508) 634-2209. We will provide all necessary supplies, you just bring your energy and motivation.
Desserts & Discussions – Wednesday, February 26th at 6:00pm
Desserts and Discussions is a program of the Milford Family Community Network CFCE that is meeting in the Program Room. Come connect with other parents to share stories, challenges and triumphs. This is a fun night for parents/caregivers only and will be a participant led discussion, so bring your questions, concerns and advice! Coffee and desserts will be provided; please call (508) 277-4981 to register.
Bancroft Memorial Library’s Check Out Challenge is back
February is Check Out Challenge Month.
For the month of February, Hopedale students in grades K-6 go to the library and borrow items will receive a checkmark for their class. Scholastic eGift Cards, sponsored by the Friends of the Hopedale Library, will be awarded to the top three classrooms with the most checkmarks.
The program runs Feb. 1 to Feb. 28 and the winning classrooms will be notified the first week of March.
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 www.bancroftmememoriallibrary.org