Library Hours
The Franklin Public Library will be closed Monday, February 21 for Presidents' Day. The Library's regular hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:30-5:00 p.m.
Book Sale
Franklin Library Book Sale
Friday, February 18, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Saturday, February 19, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.
All books are just one dollar!
Bag Sale - $5 A Bag—Saturday, February 19, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can!
Homework Help Program
The Franklin Public Library is now offering its free Homework Help program for grades 1-8. The program takes place Monday through Thursday, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Students will be assisted by either retired teachers or high school students. Application forms for both participants and volunteers are available at the Circulation Desk and on the Library's website https://www.franklinma.gov/children-teen-services/pages/homework-assista... .
One Book, One Community Winter 2022
The Franklin Public Library is having a Winter 2022 One Book, One Community program as a way to have the community come together through the reading and discussion of a common book. We'll be reading The 71/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. Turton's book is a mixture of "Locked room mystery" (a la Agatha Christie), psychological thriller, romance, and...maybe...time travel? That's for you to find out!
Print copies of the book are available at the library, and it is also available through interlibrary loan. If you'd prefer a digital copy, it's available as both and ebook and audiobook through the Hoopla and Libby apps. Please visit our One Book, One Community webpage to learn more about author Stuart Turton, read the book discussion questions, and experience the online escape room challenge! The library will be hosting a discussion of the book on Tuesday, March 22nd at 7:00 p.m.
New Materials
Check out our list of newly added books, movies, music, ebooks and eaudiobooks!
https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/pages/new-materials
Featured Database: Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union, an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization. Since 1936, CU's mission has been to test products, inform the public and protect consumers. It is a comprehensive source for unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health and nutrition, and other consumer concerns. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.
Programs for Children and Teens
Weekly Events for Families!
Move Along! Mondays @ 10:30AM
This thirty minute program features music, movement, stories, and other interactive activities to encourage social skills and promote early literacy!
Idea Club! Mondays @4:00PM
Join us for a weekly storytime celebration of all the ways we are different and wonderful! We'll read, sing, play and learn about our diverse world and talk about how we can make it kinder and more inclusive!
Dungeons and Dragons Club for Kids! Mondays, 4:00-6:00PM (7+)
Kids are invited to join us for a weekly Dungeons and Dragons Club! The library will supply dice, rule books, and blank character sheets! (Dungeon Masters must be ages 10 and up) Email mgousie@minlib.net to sign up!
Animation Nation Anime Club! Mondays, 6:00-7:30PM (7+)
Your weekly dose of anime goodness at The Franklin Public Library! Come watch the latest releases and popular anime shows, ideal for ages 7+!
Cool Cruisers! Tuesdays @ 9:30AM
Babies who have graduated from tummy time and are scooting all over the place are welcome to this playgroup just for them! We recognize that fun age of exploring is very different from their first few months, so join us for a special playgroup just for this exciting time!
Get Ready for Kindergarten! Tuesdays @10:30AM (3–5)
This 45 minute program featuring stories, songs, activities, and crafts will help prepare your children for preschool and kindergarten. Parents and caregivers can attend with their child if they wish. No registration required!
Homeschool Hangout! Tuesdays from 12:00-2:00PM
Join other local homeschool families in a space dedicated to you! Each Tuesday between 12-2PM, the Friends of the Franklin Library Room will be available for homeschool families to hang out, get work done, and connect!
Toe-Tapping Tuesdays! Tuesdays @ 4:00PM (2-4)
Let's play some music and get those little toes moving! We will have fun learning to move to the music while building coordination and confidence.
Girls Who Code! Grade 3-5 Meeting time Tuesdays @ 4:00 PM
Spring 2022 Session Sign ups start January 1st on the library website!
This club is a great introduction to coding languages and concepts while building the community and group work skills needed to excel! Whether you want to try something new, build on skills, make friends, or help someone else grow... Welcome to our club!
Terrific Toddlers! Wednesdays @10:30AM (18 mos–3yrs)
Enjoy thirty minutes of interactive stories, songs, and activities for families and children from birth to age 3. No registration required!
Science Junction! 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month @4:00PM
(Also 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the Month for Homeschool families @2:30PM)
FHS Seniors Mani and Vedika are so excited to share their love for science and foster that love in elementary-level kids! Join them once a month for fun science experiments, activities, and more! From dinosaurs to chemical reactions the possibilities are endless!
Tummy Time! Thursdays @ 9:30AM
Babies and caregivers: join us each Thursday morning for Tummy Time! Nurture your baby's development with gentle music, movement, and sensory play at the library! Please bring a small blanket or towel for your baby's comfort!
Story and Craft, Thursdays @10:30AM (3+)
Join us for 30 minutes of themed stories, songs, and movement followed by 30 minutes of craft and sensory play. For children ages 3 and up that can attend on their own. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to watch from the adjoining room.
Bookworm Bounce! Thursdays @ 4:00PM
Join us for an afternoon story time full of music, movement, stories, and other interactive activities to encourage social skills and promote early literacy!
Doggie Tales! 1st and 3rd Thursday of the Month @4:30 PM (1st grade +)
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a trained therapy dog! Bring your favorite book or pick out one of ours to read. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. SPOTS ARE LIMITED. Register on our website to reserve your spot.
Happy Feet! Alternating Fridays @10:30AM (2-4)
Let's play some music and get those little toes moving! Join us for an introductory class into creative movement using very basic ballet moves. We will have fun learning to move to the music while building coordination and confidence. Laughter and giggles are definitely expected!
Silly Songs and Stories! Alternating Fridays @10:30AM (0-5)
This thirty minute program features music, movement, stories, and other interactive activities for littles! Parents and caregivers are welcome and encouraged to participate. No registration required!
Lego Free-Build Friday! Alternating Fridays @2:30 (0-5)
Let imaginations run WILD! Enjoy 2 hours of Friday fun time to build what you like with the Library Legos! Cool builds will be displayed on the Library Website & Facebook! ALL Legos are washed in between sessions!
Special Events for Kids & Families
Kid's Take & Make: Disney Friend Magnets!
Starting Tuesday, February 1st stop by the library to pick up your very own Disney Friend Magnet kit! Kits include supplies and instructions for making your very own magnets! SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED! Kits will be distributed on a first come first serve basis!
Marble Run Challenge! Tuesday, February 1st - Friday, February 25th
A special program brought to you by our VolunTeens! Register to play, pick up your kit and complete the tasks to earn materials that you will use to build your very own marble run! Then join us on the 26th to put your design to the test!
Lunar New Year Scavenger Hunt! Saturday February 5th
It's the year of the tiger! Come celebrate at the library with a special scavenger hunt!
Galentine's Day! Saturday, February 5th @1:00-3:00PM
Drop-in and spend some time crafting with your favorite gals! We'll have a few different crafts on offer, as well as a nail polish station! Enjoy a weekend treat with the special ladies in your life!
Baby Sensory! Saturday February 19th @9:30AM
Join us for a 45 minute baby sensory program! Watch your little one interact and engage with a variety of sensory items! Sensory play is a fantastic way to help babies explore their worlds, stimulate the senses, and create little inquisitive explorers! Babies under 2 are welcome and encouraged! (Got older siblings? They can bring along a stuffed toy or baby and play along!)
Winter Beach Party! Saturday February 19th @10:30AM
Families! Let's bring a little summer warmth to this cold month! Join us as we turn our big program room into an indoor summer oasis! Grab a cold drink and hit the play sand, enjoy beach balls, sand castles, snacks, and groovy tunes!
Tea Dragon Society Tea Party! Saturday February 19th @3:00PM
Join us for a sweet celebration of the lovely graphic novel series, including games, crafts, and of course, tea!
Twos-Day Scavenger Hunt! Tuesday February 22nd
Tuesday 2/22/22! We'll have 20 "22s" hidden around the children's and teen rooms! Can you find them all?
Pumpernickel Puppets! Tuesday February 22nd @10:30AM
Join us for a fun show, including a cast of colorful puppet characters, live voices and sound effects!
Weekend Wiggles! Saturday February 12th and February 26thth @10:30AM
A weekend storytime for littles and their grown-ups! Let's play some music and get those little toes moving! We will have fun learning to move to the music while building coordination and confidence. Laughter and giggles are definitely expected! Ideal for children ages 2-5!
Stuffed Animal Sleepover! Wednesday February 23rd @6:00PM
What kind of trouble can a bunch of stuffed animals cause in an empty library? Here's our chance to find out! Bring one of your favorite stuffed friends to the library for a cozy storytime, then leave them in our care for the evening! When you pick your friend up on Thursday, see what antics they might have caused!
Slime Time! Thursday February 24th @1:00PM
Make your very own slime at the library! Join us for a fun afternoon of slime creation!
Marble Run Showcase! Saturday, February 26th @ 1:00PM
You've worked hard all month long to earn your marble run materials, now it's time to build and show off your designs!
Weekly / monthly Events for Teens
Animation Nation Anime Club! Mondays, 6:00-7:30PM (7+)
Your weekly dose of anime goodness at The Franklin Public Library! Come watch the latest releases and popular anime shows, ideal for ages 7+!
Girls Who Code! Grade 6-12 Meeting time Tuesdays @ 6:00 PM
Spring 2022 Session Sign ups start January 1st on the library website!
This club is a great introduction to coding languages and concepts while building the community and group work skills needed to excel! Whether you want to try something new, build on skills, make friends, or help someone else grow... Welcome to our club!
Teen Book Bites! Weekly on Wednesdays, 5:30-PM
Teens! Bring along a snack and join us in the teen room each Wednesday for a casual chat about what we're all reading!
Teen Advisory Board, 2nd Wednesday of the Month @ 6:30PM
Join us each month for Teen Advisory Board! The Teen Advisory Board is a GREAT opportunity to get involved here at the library! You'll help plan events and programs, create displays and decorate the teen space, and help drive decisions around the kinds of materials we bring to the YA collection, from books and beyond, all while eating snacks and getting volunteer hours! It's a win-win-win!
VolunTeens! 2nd & 4th Thursday of the Month, 6:00-7:00PM (6th-12th Grade)
An elite volunteering program for dedicated library volunteers, this program is designed to facilitate unique volunteer opportunities for committed teens to work on special library projects. You will learn all about event planning and execution, hone your creative and crafty skills, and build your resume!
For more information please contact Bree at bcomeau@minlib.net.
Collage Club! Friday Afternoons (Feb 11 & Feb 25) 3:00-4:00PM
Join us every other Friday afternoon as we cut, paste, and create! Materials will be provided, though you can always bring your own magazines!
Special Events for Teens
Teen Take & Makes: Nail String Art!
Starting Tuesday, February 1st stop by the library to pick up your very own nail string art kit! Kits include supplies and instructions for making your very own string art creation! SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED! Kits will be distributed on a first come first serve basis!
Love crafting? Check out the CREATIVEBUG database! Available to Franklin residents with a valid Minuteman Library Network library card. Creativebug.com has more than 1,000 award-winning art and craft video classes, taught by recognized design experts and artists.
Galentine's Day! Saturday, February 5th @1:00-3:00PM
Drop-in and spend some time crafting with your favorite gals! We'll have a few different crafts on offer, as well as a nail polish station! Enjoy an after school treat with the special ladies in your life!
Tea Dragon Society Tea Party! Saturday February 19th @3:00PM
Join us for a sweet celebration of the lovely graphic novel series, including games, crafts, and of course, tea!
Crime Time Mysteries! Saturday February 12th @2:00PM
AGES 13+ Join us for an immersive murder mystery game from "Hunt a Killer" that is told over the course of six "episodes." Each episode contains different clues that you'll use to solve the ongoing investigation! Examine the evidence to uncover critical clues, corroborate alibis, create timelines, and identify each suspect's means, motive, and opportunity! It is not required that you attend all 6 meetings, but since the episodes build on themselves, it is highly encouraged!
Events for Adults
Take and Make Craft for Adults: Valentine's Day Wreath
Get into the Valentine's Day spirit by making your own Argyle Heart Wreath! Kits will be available starting February 1st at the Circulation Desk. Supplies are limited, and there is a limit of one kit per person.
Love crafting? Check out the CREATIVEBUG database! Available to Franklin residents with a valid Minuteman Library Network library card. Creativebug.com has more than 1,000 award-winning art and craft video classes, taught by recognized design experts and artists.
Alice's Ordinary People with filmmaker Craig Dudnick, Tuesday, February 8, 7:00 p.m.
Alice's Ordinary People is a documentary about Alice Tregay – a woman who refused to stand still for injustice and brought others together to change what was. Her remarkable story spans the historic period from the marches of Dr. King to the election of Barack Obama. Her unique contribution in the field of politics is the thread which connects the two. The film can be watched for free on Kanopy prior to the program, but it is not required. For more information, please visit imaginevideo.org and click the tab for Alice's Ordinary People. To register for the program, please visit https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvce2prz8iH9fUF5Y1U8zbml9FFQh... .
Senator Edward M. Brooke: the First African American Elected to the Senate, Tuesday, February 15, 7:00 p.m.
October of 2019 marked the centennial of the birth of BU Law graduate, Edward M. Brooke, who blazed a trail across the 20th century as a decorated military officer, an attorney, a crusading Massachusetts Attorney General, and as a Republican Senator from Massachusetts, the African American man popularly elected to that role in US history.
Local historian Alan Earls, will deliver a slide presentation covering Brooke's fascinating life and, in particular, his role in Massachusetts and his visit to Franklin!
Franklin Public Library Book Club, Tuesday, February 22, 7:00 p.m.
The book for discussion is The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett.
The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect? Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing.--Provided by publisher.
For more information, please contact Assistant Library Director Kim Shipala at kshipala@minlib.net . Book Club meetings are now taking place both in-person at the Library and on Zoom. To participate through Zoom, please register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kduuppj0oGd1riTUPnGfsy7Qph0W... .
Genealogy Club, Thursday, February 24, 6:30 p.m.
February program: Research strategies for adoptees presented by Francine Griffis.
Genealogy database spotlight: A great resource for genealogical research, Newspapers.com-Northeast edition, is available to Franklin residents with a valid Minuteman Library Card. Newspapers.com is an extensive online database of over 4,000 historical newspapers from the early 1700s into the 2000s.
Knitting Group, Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Love to knit or crochet? Join our group of local fiber artists who will be meeting in the Friends of the Franklin Library Community Room on Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
