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

Summer Reading Finale – Ice Cream Social

Our Annual Summer Reading Program ends Saturday, August 10 with a free ice cream social from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community center. Ice cream provided by JJ’s Ice Cream Shoppe. Don’t forget to turn in your reading logs, bingo sheet and punch cards to get your summer raffle tickets.

Virtual Author Talks

Your Upton library card now gives access to the Library Speakers Consortium, a year-round series of virtual author talks. Offering 2-3 speakers each month, these virtual author talks are live interviews with current authors. You can register to watch the talks live, or view recordings of past speakers.  Everything from non-fiction, to children’s authors, to popular fiction, the authors discuss their works and the writing process.

Get started at uptonlibrary.org and click ‘virtual author talks’ under the adult events tab.

4-H Babysitting Course – openings for Aug. 19 & 20

August 19 and 20 from 1 - 5 p.m.

Back by popular demand is our 4-H Babysitting Course. Participants will learn the responsibilities of babysitting, as well as the skills needed to become good babysitters. The course will help develop confidence in handling situations that may occur when babysitting, along with basic first aid instruction. Upon completion of this course, youth will receive a Babysitters' ID card and a Certificate of Completion. For ages 11-16. This is an 8-hour course taught over two days, and participants must attend both days to earn their certificate. Tuition fee of $35 must be paid by check made out to Massachusetts 4-H Foundation on the day of the class. Pre-registration is required. 

Special Events

Charles Ponzi Talk by Bob Ainsworth 

Wednesday, September 4, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

A new presentation by Bob Ainsworth, author of Duped. This presentation covers Ponzi’s scam in 1920s Boston. It also covers other scams, including Bernie Madoff and cryptocurrency, and reviews what to look for so you don’t become a victim. Register for the event on the library website.

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 Irena Smith: The Golden Ticket to College Admissions is Not What You Think - Thursday, August 15, 2 - 3 p.m.

Author Talk with Shelby Van Pelt: An Exploration of Friendship, Reckoning, and Hope  - Wednesday, August 21, 7 - 8 p.m.

Author Talk with Garrett Graff: Capturing the Human Drama Through History - Tuesday, September 10, 2 - 3 p.m.

Children’s & Young Adult Events

Afternoon Movie – Aug. 12 from 1 - 3 p.m.

Join us in the Greatroom for an afternoon children’s movie on the big screen. Visit the library for movie title.

Drop-in Craft Summer Sunshines – Aug. 14 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Drop in to the library between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and make a summer sunshine. We will use paper plates, pipe cleaners, and pony beads. For ages 3+, no registration needed, while supplies last.

Game Day at the Community Center – Aug. 21 from 1 - 3 p.m.

Join us for an intergenerational event as senior citizens and library patrons ages 3 and up join together for an afternoon of fun and games. We will host giant board games, classic board games, puzzles, and more. This event is to celebrate National Senior Citizens Day.

Registrations for seniors may be done by calling the Senior Center at 508-529-4558. Registrations for children on the library events website. For ages 3+, not a drop-off event.

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.

Drop-In Storytime – Aug. 12 at 9:30 a.m.

Our Children’s Department offers a Drop-In Storytime session, once a month. No registration required. This is 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.

LEGO Club – Aug. 21 at 4 p.m.

This group meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 4 - 5 p.m. This group is led by Library Director, Matthew Bachtold, and is for ages 5 to 12. We provide the LEGOs while you have fun building and making new friends. Pre-registration is required. 

Kids’ Book Club – Sept. 4 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. This group is for ages 8-12. We welcome new members all year round. Pre-registration required.

Tween Book Club – Aug. 15 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 August title is the mystery title, The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie. 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. *NO Teen Group on Aug. 20.

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, Sept. 10 at 12:45 p.m., and Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6:45 p.m.: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.

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. August 28 at 6:45 p.m.: nonfiction title, Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone, by Brené Brown.

For more information or assistance with any library services, call 508-529-6272 or email [email protected]