Adult Programs

DECEMBER 2024

Please Note: The Taft Public Library will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Wednesday, Dec. 25. It will be open from 10 a.m - 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31 and closed on Wednesday, Jan. 1. Enjoy the holidays!

Upcoming Events:

To register for an event, click on the Library Event Calendar & Registration link at the top of the library’s homepage www.taftpubliclibrary.org . 

Winter Solstice Story & Song

Celebrate the Winter Solstice with haunting legends of light, evergreen traditions, and entertaining tales surrounded by traditional and original music and song. Join master storyteller Diane Edgecomb and Celtic harper Margot Chamberlain for a fascinating look at the enchanting stories by winter holiday traditions. Featured stories include the beautiful Scandinavian “Legend of the Mistletoe,” humorous English Wassail traditions, and the poignant Swiss legend of the Christmas Rose. Lovely instrumental melodies evoke the warmth of the season, rounding out the event. Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. Registration required as space is limited. Register at www.taftpubliclibrary.org. The program is supported by a grant from the Mendon Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council.

Dustin Pari presents Ghosts of Christmas Past

Join Dustin Pari of SYFY television’s Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International for a festive, frightful, and fun program that takes the cobwebs off of a classic tradition, the Victorian Christmas Ghost Story.  Dustin explains the history of this oft forgotten practice, shares a few timeless tales, and recounts some real-life stories of holiday visits from the ghosts of Christmas past. Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Registration is required.

Adult Handcrafting Group

Let’s get crafty! Join us on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m downstairs in the library and get your craft on. Bring your own craft project, whatever it might be, to work on while you visit.  Intended for adults. No registration is required. Crafts are NOT supplied. 

Adult Book Club

The Adult Book Club will meet next on Monday, Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. upstairs in the library to discuss Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout. For upcoming book clubs contact the library at 508-473-3259 to request copies of the books or log in to your account from our website to request them through interlibrary loan. Upcoming books for the Adult Book Club are as follows:

- Monday, Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m.: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

- Monday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m.: The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

- Monday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m.: The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

- Monday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m.: Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper 

Footnotes Nonfiction Book Club

The Footnotes Nonfiction Book Club typically meets downstairs in the library on a quarterly basis. This year the group will read and discuss five nonfiction titles. Those interested are asked to stop at the downstairs desk to sign the Footnotes registration sheet and pick up a copy of the latest book.

Upcoming books in the Footnotes series:

Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m.: American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans by Eve LaPlante

March (date TBD): The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I by Douglas Brunt

June (date TBD): How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

Awards Book Club

New to our slate of adult book clubs is Awards Book Club! Hosted by Taft Library Assistant Jane Blackwood, the Awards Book Club meets on a quarterly basis to discuss fiction and nonfiction award winners of the year. Jane selects from the books that took home the coveted Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Booker and more! Stop at the downstairs circulation desk to pick up the latest Awards book for discussion:

Upcoming books:

February (date TBD): Booker Prize winner for Fiction Orbital by Samantha Harvey

May (date TBD): National Book Award winner for Fiction James by Percival Everett

German Conversation Club

Are you looking for a place to practice what German you remember or to improve your German vocabulary? Conversations in German is no pressure, just fun! Lead by Library Assistant (and Mendon resident) Monika Schmid, the group typically meets the last Monday of each month. Registration is required. To register, visit our website. Next club date: Monday, at 6 p.m.

Taft Library now has Mango Languages!

Visit the Taft Public Library website for access to the Mango Languages platform. If you have an interest in learning a language, Mango provides lessons in over 70 languages.  Children can try their hand at language learning with Mango Little PIM, a platform designed just for them, and for those interested in learning American sign language we provide access to Mango ASL. Mango’s Intuitive Language Construction methodology helps build skills in vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, culture, comprehension, and retention. To see all of the Mango options the Taft Library offers scroll down the left-hand side of our webpage to the Databases section.

Friends of the Taft Public Library Meeting

The Friends of the Library meetings are typically held on the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. downstairs in the Art Holmes Community Room, unless it falls on a holiday or during a school vacation. All are welcome (and encouraged) to attend! If you plan on attending, it’s always a good idea to call the library at 508-473-3259 or email the Friends at [email protected] to confirm the date and time of the meeting. The group will do its best to post any meeting changes on the Taft Library website.

CHILDREN Programs

DECEMBER 2024

Registration is required for all programs. Please log onto our website: www.taftpubliclibrary.org and find the events page to register along with more information for the programs. 

Itty Bitty Story Time 

Itty Bitty Storytime is designed for our youngest patrons birth to 3 years old. Join us for a lot of fun on Tuesdays and select Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. 

Story & Craft Time 

Join us for Story and Craft Time! Perfect for the preschool-aged child. All sessions take place on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m.

Alphabet Storytime 

It’s all about the alphabet! Each week we will focus on a different letter. We will read a couple of books, sing songs, and learn about the letter of the week. Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Please note there is no Alphabet Storytime the last Wednesday of the month.

Coffee and Conversations 

On Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m., at Taft Public Library, 29 North Ave., Mendon Join us for an informal playtime where families will be able to build social connections and learn about early childhood development and family friendly resources. The library will supply Muffin House Muffins! Please stay for the 10:30 a.m. Puppet Storytime. Join Newton & Friends of Through Me to You Puppetry for songs & stories. At the end of the 30-minute show, children can greet the puppets. Geared for children 2 to 5 years, but all are welcome.

Music & Movement with Deb Hudgins 

Join Deb Hudgins for a 30-minute music and movement theme-based program which features singing and guitar music for young children (infant and preschool). Join us on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Program starts promptly at 10:30 a.m.

Storytime with Santa 

Join us on Monday, Dec. 16 at 9:30 a.m. for Storytime with Santa. Santa will be sharing some of his favorite books with us. Space is limited. 

Cookies with Santa

On Monday, Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m., Santa will join us via Zoom all the way from the North Pole! Santa will share some of his favorite books about one of his favorite things ... COOKIES! Not only will Santa be reading about cookies, but we will be decorating cookies from Hens & Chicks Cookie Company. To make this event even more fun, Deb Hudgins will join us to sing a few of our favorite holiday songs. Please visit www.taftpubliclibrary.org to register. You will be sent a Zoom link the day before the event. Cookie Kits are limited and will need to be picked up Dec. 12 - 14 during normal library hours.

Science with Amanda

On Thursday, Dec. 19 at 4:30 p.m., Amanda shows program participants how to create fake snow. Each monthly Science with Amanda session explores a different scientific theme. Designed for children and families, this program encourages curiosity and learning in a fun and interactive way. Recommended for children ages 5-12 and their families. Registration is required. Please visit www.taftpubliclibrary.org to register. Science with Amanda is supported in part by a grant from the Mendon Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council.

Tutors with Tails

Meet Sprite! Sprite is a therapy dog who loves children and love books. Sprite and her owner Janet will visit the Taft on the last Tuesday of each month. Register today for the opportunity to read to Sprite! Spots are limited.