Special Announcements

Do you defy a stereotype? Are you like an open book with valuable experiences that Readers could benefit from learning about? Apply to be a human Book in SPL’s Human Library®! Community members will be able to “check you out” for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices about marginalized groups/identities through dialogue. 

Email SPL's Director, Priya Rathnam, at [email protected] for more information about becoming a Book. Books selected for the program will be required to complete an online training in October. 

Not sure your identity/experience fits the Human Library®? See examples of other human Books on their website.

The Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library Bookstore is now open! Instead of one annual book sale in October, the bookstore will be open year-round. The current hours are 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Pricing: Adult/Teen hardcovers are $2; adult/teen paperbacks, children's books, and media are $1; special items are as marked. Proceeds go to the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library, who provide vital support to the library.

The bookstore is located on the lower level of the library (outside of the Children's department). If you are interested in volunteering to help staff the bookstore and can commit to at least one day a week consistently, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Annie Lee King, at [email protected].

The Shrewsbury Public Library has partnered with Headspace! The Headspace app includes hundreds of meditations along with exercises for sleep, focus, and movement. Shrewsbury residents are eligible to request access to Headspace on a first come, first served basis, typically between the 14th and 28th of the month for the month that follows (i.e., you should sign up between October 14th and October 28th to request a November license). Find out more on our website.

Library Programs

50+ Job Seekers Networking Group 
First and third Wednesdays (October 5 & 19)
9:30–11:30 a.m.
Virtual

If you are over 50, unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your "Encore Career", this networking group program is perfect for you! Remember, 85% of jobs are found through networking! 

Join us in a professional forum for networking with peers in a safe and comfortable environment conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help in your career transition. Each meeting features a new topic. Meetings include a presentation and hands-on workshop on topics relevant to career transition, guest speakers, access to hiring managers, small group breakout rooms to network, and 1-on-1 coaching guidance. Participating on a regular basis will give job seekers the many tools and strategies needed for a successful job search.  

Each biweekly meeting is facilitated by Deborah Hope, MBA, PCIC, an experienced executive career coach. Deborah is a former Fortune 500 executive, investment banker and entrepreneur and transitioned to executive coaching over 10 years ago. She has coached with Harvard Business School Executive Education programs, the Mass. Conference for Women, and is a Certified Leadership Agility Coach. She has facilitated 50+ Job Seekers Networking Groups for 5 years and is a Licensed Group Leader.  

This month's topics will be:

Oct 5: Creating a LinkedIn Profile

Oct 19: LinkedIn: Personal Branding

This program takes place virtually on Zoom; please register to attend separately for each session. 

View the full list of topics on our Facebook event page.

Halloween Hauntings
Monday, October 3rd
7:00–8:15 p.m.
At the library

Join the Shrewsbury Public Library for a live performance of two American tales of suspense, “The Shadows on the Wall” and “The House That Was Not,” in which professional actress Michèle LaRue portrays eight very different characters. Both were written in the days of ominously flickering candles and kerosene lamps, but more than one hundred years later, they’re even scarier!

In the wake of a sudden mysterious death, “The Shadows on the Wall” gathers four siblings in a familiar but threatening New England parlor. “The House That Was Not” lures an unsuspecting new bride across the Nebraska prairie. Authored by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1903) and Elia Wilkinson Peattie (1898), respectively, these tales evoke the America of a century ago, enthralling audiences today.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

This program will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.

The Music of West Africa, presented by Sean Gaskell
Tuesday, October 4th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library
Join the Shrewsbury Public Library on Tuesday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m. for a performance and educational demonstration by Sean Gaskell on the kora, an ancient 21-stringed harp from West Africa. He will feature traditional songs that are the heart and soul of the kora’s musical repertoire.

The kora is traditionally played by oral historians known as Griots, often called Jalis or Jelis. Many songs tell stories of war, hardship, love, and loss, all while presenting the history and fabric of Mande society of which the instrument originates. Visits to Brikama, Gambia, and West Africa provided Gaskell the opportunity to study the kora under the instruction of Moriba Kuyateh and his father, the late Malamini Jobarteh.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

This event will take place in person at the library; please register to attend. 

An Evening with Gish Jen (MetroWest Readers Fest)
Thursday, October 6th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
Hybrid: At the Goodnow Library and virtual

In partnership with Wayland Free Public Library and Goodnow Library (Sudbury, MA), MetroWest Readers Fest (MWRF) invites you to a talk by author Gish Jen. This event is a part of ONE, a community-wide read organized by MWRF and is a collaboration between 24 Massachusetts libraries.

The title for this year’s initiative is Thank You, Mr. Nixon, a short story collection by the acclaimed writer Gish Jen. In this collection of 11 linked short stories, Jen “embarks on a fictional journey through U.S.-China relations, capturing the excitement of a world on the brink of tectonic change.” The book was named the #1 Recommendation for AAPI Month by Oprah Daily, an Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Literature & Fiction, and was called “marvelous” by Claire Oshetsky in the New York Times. In July 2022, NPR included Thank You, Mr. Nixon in its biannual “Books We Love” feature.

Whether or not you’ve read Thank You, Mr. Nixon, we enthusiastically invite you to a lively evening and hear from Gish Jen, an observant chronicler of American life. Attendees will have ample opportunity to ask questions, share thoughts, or just listen. The Silver Unicorn Bookstore will be onsite at the Goodnow Library to sell Ms. Jen’s books.

This is an in-person event with the opportunity to tune in virtually:

Please register here to attend in person at the Goodnow Library in Sudbury, MA

Please register here to attend virtually on Zoom

Get Started with Libby
Thursday, October 13th
6:00–7:00 p.m.
At the library

Want access to ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more, anytime and anywhere? You can with Libby! Bring your device and join us for a “Get Started with Libby” class in the library’s Learning Lab to get set up and familiar with the Libby app! The first session is scheduled for Thursday, October 13th at 6:00 p.m.

This program is intended for first-time Libby users. If you currently use OverDrive, check out our other program, "Goodbye OverDrive . . . Hello Libby!"

Registration is required; please visit our events calendar and register for your preferred date. 

Detox Your Mind Through Meditation
Thursday, October 13th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
Virtual

Many people participate in programs that cleanse the body and eliminate toxins that have accumulated over one’s life, seeking wellness as detoxing has become mainstream. Many of us tend to our physical well being, but there is a very important aspect of ourselves that we ignore: the health of our mind. We need to detoxify our minds. This world we live in is a stressful place and there are many factors that can have a negative impact on our daily lives. By befriending our mind, we can wipe the slate clean and detoxify our negative thought patterns and calm the body. In this workshop, long-time meditator Guarav Singh will teach attendees how to implement a simple yet very powerful meditation technique that can be life changing. 

Gaurav Singh is an experienced management consultant working as a Senior Manager with Ernst & Young. Along with managing his professional commitments, Gaurav is also very passionate about meditation and has been practicing meditation for over 15 years. He has used meditation as an anchor to find balance between his personal and professional life. He has led many meditation workshops and retreats which has enabled him to speak firsthand about the role of meditation in enhancing the daily lives of busy people.

This event will take place virtually on Zoom; please register to attend.

Author Talk: Cheryl Melody Baskin
Tuesday, October 18th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Award-winning author, Cheryl Melody Baskin, presents two of her award-winning motivational self-help books, Peace Dreamer: A Journey of Hope in Bad Times and Good and its sister book, Heart-Dreamer: Stepping into Life, Love, Creativity and Dreams - No Matter What.

In her presentation, “Melody” (her preferred first name) shares her specific reasons for authoring each book, reads meaningful sections, shares samples of poetry and songs woven within each book, and warmly invites your interactive participation.

Cheryl Melody Baskin www.cherylmelody.com is an award-winning author of four books. Her motivational self-help books include Peace Dreamer: A Journey of Hope in Bad Times and Good, Heart-Dreamer: Stepping into Life, Love, Creativity and Dreams - No Matter What, Shift of Heart: Paths to Healing and Love, and Peace Begins with You and Me. In addition to being an author, she is a singer, recording artist, composer, performing artist, intuitive life coach, peace educator, motivational speaker, and music educator for young children. 

This event will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.

Shrewsbury Genealogy Club
Monday, October 24th
7:15–9:15 p.m.
Virtual

Anyone interested in genealogy (or family history) can now join the Shrewsbury Genealogy Club from the comfort of their home! The club will meet on Zoom the fourth Monday of every month starting at 7:15 p.m. 

To register, email the Genealogy Club’s clubmaster, former SPL Assistant Director George Brown, at [email protected].

Feasting from the New England Seaside
Wednesday, October 26th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
Virtual

The beautiful shorelines of New England offer an amazing variety of fresh seafood. During class, chef Liz Barbour of The Creative Feast will share her tips about buying, storing, and preparing seafood at home. Liz will demonstrate two recipes you and your family will love.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library.

This event will take place virtually on Zoom; please register to attend.

A Halloween Harvest
Thursday, October 27th
7:00–8:00 p.m.
At the library

Join the Shrewsbury Public Library with Davis Bates on Thursday, October 2th at 7:00 p.m. for this wonderful way to celebrate the harvest season, Halloween, and New England regional culture. It will include stories and songs designed to entertain, educate and create a feeling of community, while encouraging a connection to and an awareness of the seasons and folk traditions of a variety of cultures from the region and around the world.

The audience will sing harvest songs and ghost songs, and hear true-life ghost stories and tales about other spirits and shape-shifters, including a traditional story from Ireland and a trick-or-treating ghost story from Davis’ childhood. The seasonal sing-alongs are often accompanied by spoons, limberjack, and other percussion instruments.

Since 1979, Davis has shared thousands of performances at schools, libraries and community settings throughout the northeast. He is known for his humor, his professionalism, and for his ability to adapt his programs to fit the age range and needs of his audience.

Funded in part by a grant from the Shrewsbury Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

This event will take place in person at the library; please register to attend.