By Matthew Bachtold, Library Director and Lee Ann Murphy, Children’s Librarian

Library Services

At the Upton Town Library you can … Print, scan, copy and fax documents. Buy yellow and blue town trash bags. Find a used book for the summer. Apply for a passport. Learn about ebooks and digital magazines. Chat with a friendly librarian!

Special Events

Intro to Hand Drums & Drum Circles - Wed., July 10, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Hand drumming is a fun and exciting way for people to have a satisfying musical experience without years of training. Join Dave Curry as he introduces you to a range of different types of drums from various traditional sources. No prior experience is necessary, for ages 15+ Instruments will be provided. Register at uptonlibrary.com.

Beekeeping 101 - Sat., July 20, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Join beekeeper and Worcester County Beekeepers Association member John Hedly for a presentation on beekeeping! Topics will include starting a beehive, the bee colony, collecting honey, the importance of pollination, and more. Register at uptonlibrary.com.

Tabletop Game Night for Adults Thurs., June 20, 5:15 - 7:30 p.m.

Join our tabletop game series for adults! New games are featured each month such as 7 Wonders, Mysterium, and Azul. Meets every third Thursday of the month from 5:15 - 7:30 p.m. Experienced players and beginners both welcome! Register at uptonlibrary.org.

Virtual Author Talk Series

View free online author talks, either live or recorded. Register and get more information at the library website, or at https://libraryc.org/uptontownlibrary

Author Talk with Tiffany Jewell: Unpacking a History of Systemic Racism in the American Education System  - Thurs. June 20, 2 - 3 p.m.

Children’s & Young Adult Events

Summer Reading Program Begins – June 17

Our Annual Summer Reading Program will begin taking official registrations beginning June 17. A paper form will be available at the circulation desk, or visit our website for a Google Form link and more information. Participants can then pick up a packet of materials including a calendar of events, a reading log, and more. Our theme this summer is Read, Renew, Repeat. Keep reading all summer to learn more about ways to help our environment and support conservation efforts!

Kickoff Event – The Traveling Lantern Theatre – June 21 at 6 p.m.

The Traveling Lantern Children's Theatre will visit us once again at the Nipmuc High School Auditorium as we celebrate the start of our Summer Reading Program - Read, Renew, Repeat. This time they will bring us their performance of The Quest for the Kakapo! For ages 3+. Pre-registration is appreciated. This event is generously sponsored by The Friends of the Upton Town Library. Pizza slices will be for sale before the show beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Paper Lanterns – June 24 at 3 p.m.

Tweens and teens can join Mrs. Murphy to create paper lanterns using popsicle sticks, parchment paper, and battery-operated tealights. For ages 10 to 16. Pre-registration is required.

Hands on Nature – Wildlife Tracking – June 26 at 6:30pm

Come discover the tracks of our local mammals and learn to identify which ones leave which types of tracks. We will also discover other animal 'signs', such as fur traces, scat, and scratch marks. Make some track rubbings and a track cast to take home! For ages 5 to 12. Pre-registration is required.

Movie Night – June 27 at 5:30 p.m.

Join us for Movie Night in the Greatroom. Check our website’s Event Calendar for the title of our film. Hint: it’s a movie about a certain famous candymaker! Bring your own snacks and enjoy a cool night at the movies, all for free at the library! For ages 5+. No registration necessary.

Newspaper Crafts – June 29 at 10 a.m.

Participants will use recycled newspaper scraps to create their own animal artwork! For ages 5 to 12. Pre-registration is required.

Monthly Library Events – Register now!

All programs and events require pre-registration at uptonlibrary.org or call 508-529-6272. Registrations open the month prior to events.

Baby Storytime – Fridays at 9:30 a.m.

Baby Storytime is for ages birth to 3 and is held on Fridays. This is a 20-30-minute lapsit program featuring stories, songs, and nursery rhymes. Pre-registration required. Waitlisted patrons will receive priority for the following month.

Preschool Storytime –Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.

Preschool Storytime is for ages 3 to 5 and is held on Thursdays. This is a 45-minute program, featuring longer stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts. Pre-registration required. Waitlisted patrons will receive priority for the following month. During the summer, this program is replaced by our Read around the Town series, where we visit municipal locations in Upton for storytime. Register for each location separately on our Event Calendar.

Saturday Storytime –  June 22 at 9:30 a.m.

Once a month we offer a 30-45-minute Saturday Storytime, blending Baby and Preschool storytimes featuring stories, songs, rhymes, and a craft. Can’t join us for our weekday programs? This event is just for you! For ages 0-5. Pre-registration required.

Drop-In Storytime – June 24 at 9:30 a.m.

Our Children’s Department is now offering a new Drop-In Storytime session, once a month. No registration required! This will be a blend of our Baby and Preschool Storytimes; however, no craft will be provided. We will feature stories, songs, rhymes, and fun! This will be held in the Greatroom and will be a larger group size. For ages 0 to 5.

Kids’ Book Club  – July 3

at 4 p.m.

Our book club members explore popular juvenile fiction titles on the first Wednesday of each month from 4 - 4:45 p.m. Our June title will be the science fiction pick, The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian: The Fuzzy Apocalypse by Jonathan Messinger. For July, we will be reading Who Was? biographies. This group is for ages 8-12. We welcome new members all year round. Pre-registration required.

*NEW* Tween Book Club – June 20 at 6:30 p.m.

This club is especially for our middle grade patrons, ages 10 to 14. This group reads popular middle grade titles selected by our members. Our June title is the adventure title, The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee. For July, we will be reading the realistic fiction title Thirst by Varsha Bajaj. We welcome new members all year round! Pre-registration required.

 Teen Group – Tuesdays

3 p.m.

This group meets weekly on Tuesdays from 3 - 4 p.m. and focuses on a new theme each month, sharing books, crafts, games, and more. This group is for tweens and teens ages 10-16. This is always a drop-in program led by Adult Librarian Micaela.  

Upton Reads Book Group

An eclectic mix of contemporary literary fiction with meetings on the second Tuesday afternoon and Thursday evening of each month in the Community Center classroom, with a Zoom remote option. Tuesday, July 16 at 12:45 p.m., and Thursday, July 18 at 6:45 p.m.: The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali.

Fic or No Fic Book Group

An adult book group led by Librarian Micaela that alternates fiction and non-fiction selections. Meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:45 p.m.

Wed., June 26 at 6:45 p.m.: nonfiction title, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann. For more information or assistance with any library services, call 508-529-6272 or email [email protected]