Reminder: The library will be closed on Oct. 12 in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day.

For more information or to register for programs, please visit the Library’s online Event Calendar at www.bancroftmemoriallibrary.org or call the Library at 508-634-2209. 

Community Conversations – Wed., Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m., Community Conversations will meet in the Program Room for a discussion on “How Our Municipal Government Works” with guest speaker Bernie Stock.

Helen Symonds Book Club – Wed., Oct. 7, from 1–2:30 p.m. The Helen Symonds Book Group will meet in the Program Room to review News of the World by Paulette Jiles.

Drop in Cribbage – Fridays 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23 & 10/30 at 1:30 p.m. Join us in the Program Room where we offer a relaxed, come-when-you-can atmosphere to enjoy friendly games with players of all levels.

Cribbage Tournament – Wed., Oct. 21, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. We are excited to partner with Blackstone Valley Libraries to host Cribbage Tournaments! Enjoy an evening of strategy, fun, and great company! We do ask that you bring a cribbage board and deck of cards just in case we need more. Registration is required.

Medicare help with SHINE Counselor Jenna – Tues., Oct. 6, appts at 10 a.m. & 11 a.m. Jenna is a SHINE Counselor trained and certified by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence in the various options available to Medicare beneficiaries-including Medicare Parts A & B, Medicare Advantage, Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), Medigap, Prescription Advantage, MassHealth, and other programs that help people with limited resources pay for health care costs. Register for a FREE 1 hour appointment with Jenna through the Library’s online Event Calendar or call the Library at 508-634-2209.

Get help with Jenna – Tues., Oct. 20, appts at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., & 11:30 a.m. Need help with applications or accessing support services? Jenna, a Community Health Worker with the Blackstone Valley Partnership for Public Health, is here to help! She works closely with the Hopedale Board of Health and has extensive experience in healthcare and human services. Jenna can provide guidance with WIC and Fuel Assistance applications, past-due bills, and other life challenges. Register for a FREE 30-minute appointment with Jenna through the Library’s online Event Calendar or call the Library at 508-634-2209.

News from the Friends of the Hopedale Library

New England Ghosts – Mon., Oct. 26, at 6:30 p.m. Join award-winning storyteller and performer Jonah Knight of New England Ghosts for an engaging evening of true, well-researched ghost stories from across New England. Jonah brings these fascinating tales to life by combining storytelling, history, and magical effects. The journey includes one story from each of the six New England states - from a benevolent spirit in Massachusetts and a haunted graveyard in Vermont to mysterious happenings in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island. Come discover some of the region's most intriguing legends and the stories behind them. You may even leave wondering what is possible—and what remains unexplained! Registration is required.  

Book Donation Day – Wed., Oct. 21, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. 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 books be published within the last 10 years or later. Unfortunately, we cannot accept old books, textbooks, or cookbooks. We depend on books in saleable condition to raise money to support Library programming.

FlowerPower Fundraiser – through Oct. 15. Please support The Friends of the Hopedale Library by shopping our FlowerPower.com fundraiser through Oct. 15. You can order fall bulbs online and have orders shipped directly to you. The Friends of the Hopedale Library earns 50% which goes right back to the Library! Shop at http://hopedalelibrary.fpfundraising.com.

Ongoing Book Sale – ongoing. Visit the Friends of the Hopedale Library Ongoing Book Sale downstairs outside the Program Room. Open whenever the Library is open, with new selections added weekly! Find books for adults and children, plus puzzles, starting at just 50¢. All proceeds support Library programs and services.

The Friends of the Library monthly meeting – Wed., Oct. 14, at 6:30 p.m. 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, October through June. New members and ideas are always welcome.  

News from the Marjorie Hattersley Children's Room

B.A.S.H. (Bancroft After School Hangout). This is an after-school, drop in program held Mondays through Thursdays for students in Grades 4-6 from 2:30-4 p.m. Play games, use laptops, or do arts and crafts in a safe, social environment. Students must be able to reach a parent/guardian and follow Library rules.

Tummy Time – Tuesdays, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20 & 10/27 at 10 a.m. Welcome parents and newborns! Drop in for some infant fun in our Program Room. Tummy Time will have a story time and free play with developmentally appropriate assorted toys that encourage gross motor development and social interaction. For ages newborn – 18 months.

Toddler Tunes – Thursdays, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22 & 10/29 at 10 a.m. Toddlers are full of energy and this program is perfect for them! Each class we will do an assortment of story time, movement games, parachute fun, ball movement skills, instruments, bean bags, scarves and bubbles. Drop in. For ages 18 months to 3 years.

2nd Annual Costume Swap – Sat., Oct. 3, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Join us for a pop-up costume store in the Program Room. Bring a costume to swap, receive a ticket, and browse for a new-to-you costume to take home. Swap any costume for any other, regardless of size. If you don’t find something you love, take your original costume back or donate it for future swaps.

Builder Saturdays – Sat., Oct. 10, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. If you love Legos, we’ve got thousands to play with! Drop in - all ages are welcome.

Movie Matinee – Sat., Oct. 17, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Join us for a movie at the Library! Bring some snacks, a cozy blanket, get comfy and enjoy a family friendly flick!

Volunteer Saturdays for High School Students – Sat., Oct. 24, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Each month there will be an opportunity for high school students to earn 2 hours of volunteer time from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration is required.  

Rolling Programs

Genre Book Club – All ages. Join the Genre Book Club and create your own bookmark with a cable ring. Read any book you choose on your own schedule; after each finished book, stop by the Children’s Room to collect a genre badge. The club has no scheduled meetings, is open to all and can be joined at any time.

Reading Dragons: A Card Game Reading Club – All ages. The Reading Dragons program allows kids to earn collectible dragon cards through logged reading time. Every 30 minutes recorded on a Time Tracker earns one card, and completing two hours earns all four stages of a dragon. As they collect more dragons, they can play the card game with friends. Readers can also share their favorite books by adding recommendations as “Book Scales” to the dragon display in the Program Room. 

1000 Books Before Kindergarten. Bancroft Memorial Library offers the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program for young families and early readers. At registration, you will be provided a starting kit with a library book bag, cable for achievement tags, program information, suggested book list and a log for books 1–100. Every 100 books read earns a tag for the cable, and reaching 1,000 books earns a lawn sign celebrating the achievement. 

For updates throughout the month, Like 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. 

On Oct. 21, the Friends of the Hopedale Library will collect your like-new books for its Ongoing Book Sale. Children’s books of any age are welcome. Adult books should be published within the last 10 years. No old books, textbooks, or cookbooks. Proceeds support Library programming.