Library Hours
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
Friday, March 18, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Saturday, March 19, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.
All books are just one dollar!
Bag Sale - $5 A Bag—Saturday, March 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. This winter, we are 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 e-audiobooks!
https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/pages/new-materials
Featured Databases: hoopla & Kanopy
With hoopla, you can borrow thousands of movies, television, music, and audiobook titles for free with your library card. Always available, no waiting lists. Enjoy on your PC, tablet, or phone. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents. Watch video tutorials on using hoopla here.
Kanopy is an on-demand movie streaming video service with access to thousands of documentary, foreign, silent, and independent films. Stream over 30,000 films from hundreds of popular producers such as The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, and PBS, as well as thousands of independent filmmakers. Stream Kanopy on your computer or download the app on your phone, tablet or Roku device. 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 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
March Madness Character Challenge!
Our favorite characters are competing again in the hopes of being crowned Franklin's Favorite Character! 2018 - Harry Potter; 2019 - Gerald and Piggie; 2020 - Dog Man; 2021 - Curious George; 2022 - Who will win? Only YOU can decide!
Kids Take & Make: Pot of Gold!
Starting Tuesday, March 1st stop by and pick up your very own Pot of Gold Kit. Kits include supplies and instructions for making your very own paper plate pot of gold! SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED! Pot of Gold Kits will be distributed on a first come first serve basis!
Tape Town! Saturday, March 5th @10:30AM
Families! Spend an imaginative morning at the library! Bring along a small toy vehicle (or borrow one of ours) and cruise along our "roads" made of tape all through our big meeting room, and enjoy a series of interactive pretend play stations all through the town!
Baby Sensory! Saturday March 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!)
Rainbow Scavenger Hunt! March 14-19!
Can you find all of the colors of the rainbow hidden around the children's and teen rooms? Find every color to win your own pot of gold!
Encanto Fiesta! Saturday March 19th @10:30AM
Families! Join us for a special fiesta celebrating the film, family and casita everyone is loving lately! We'll have crafts, games, songs, and more!
Weekend Wiggles! Saturday March 12th and March 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!
Kids Paint Party! Saturday March 26th @1:00PM
Join local instructor Denise Palmieri for this step-by-step paint party specifically for kids! All materials will be provided and you'll get to take home your very own lucky masterpiece! Space is limited!! Register on our website to reserve your spot. For Ages 5-11!
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+!
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.
Special Events for Teens
Teen Take & Makes: Chalk Boards!
Teens! Starting Tuesday, March 1st stop by the library to pick up your very own Chalk Board kit! Kits include supplies and instructions for making your very own hanging (or standing) chalk board! SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED! Chalk Board Kits will be distributed on a first come first serve basis!
Python Problem, Saturday, March 5, 2:00 p.m.
A Python challenge to: Learn some new expressions, Code new applications, or Fix broken code.
Each session starts with an explanation of a concept or code piece followed by a challenge using that code or concept!
Crime Time Mysteries! Saturday March 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!
As You Wish: An Interactive Princess Bride Viewing! Saturday March 19th @3:00PM
Join us for a special viewing of a cult classic movie, complete with props and snacks and interactive fun!
Teen Paint Party! Thursday March 31st @5:00PM
Teens! Join local instructor Denise Palmieri for this step-by-step paint party for teens! All materials will be provided and you'll get to take home your very own Owl painting! Ages 12+
Programs for Adults
Take and Make Craft for Adults: Macramé
Kits will be available starting March 1st at the Circulation Desk. Supplies are limited. There is a limit of one kit per adult.
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.
Celebrating Ireland in Story & Song, Saturday, March 5, 3:00 p.m.
Celtic music with 'Celebrating Ireland in Story & Song'. Come join us for an afternoon celebrating the music, hilarity and dance of Ireland. Phil Edmonds (originally from County Clare), is an (alleged) leprechaun who plays the tin whistle and button accordion with great warmth and spirit. Kevin Fallon (by way of county Roscommon and Mayo) is a soulful guitarist, fiddler and singer. Mary King (Up Donegal & Cavan) joins in with the fiddle, Celtic Harp and voice. She also teaches a beginning Irish step 1/2 hour before the program. Get your green on, warm up your voices and sit back and enjoy. This program is in-person, free, and open to the public. For more information about Celebrating Ireland, please visit https://marykingharpist.com/celebrating-ireland/ .
Indoor Seed Starting with Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens, Tuesday, March 8, 7:00 p.m.
There are so many more varieties of vegetables than what the garden centers offer! We'll show you everything you need to know to start your own plants from seed. This program is in-person, free, and open to the public. For more information about Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens, please visit https://www.blackstonevalleyveggiegardens.com/ .
Before Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball's Color Barrier with Author Ted Reinstein, Tuesday, March 15, 7:00 p.m.
In April of 1945, exactly two years before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball, liberal Boston City Councilman Izzy Muchnick persuaded the Red Sox to try out three black players in return for a favorable vote to allow the team to play on Sundays. The Red Sox got the councilman's much-needed vote, but the tryout was a sham; the three players would get no closer to the major leagues. It was a lost battle in a war that was ultimately won by Robinson in 1947. This book tells the story of the little-known heroes who fought segregation in baseball, from communist newspaper reporters to the Pullman car porters who saw to it that black newspapers espousing integration in professional sports reached the homes of blacks throughout the country. It also reminds us that the first black player in professional baseball was not Jackie Robinson but Moses Fleetwood Walker in 1884, and that for a time integrated teams were not that unusual. And then, as segregation throughout the country hardened, the exclusion of blacks in baseball quietly became the norm, and the battle for integration began anew.
About the Author: Ted Reinstein has been a reporter for "Chronicle," WCVB-TV/Boston's award-winning—and America's longest-running, locally-produced—nightly news magazine since 1997. In addition, he has been a contributor for the station's political roundtable show and sits on WCVB's editorial board. He lives just west of Boston with his wife and two daughters. He is also the author of New England Notebook (Globe, 2013) and Wicked Pissed (Globe, 2016). To find out more about Ted, please visit https://tedreinstein.com/
Computer Confluence Saturday, March 19, 3:30 p.m.
Basic Computer skills for the digital age! Topics for this session are: Windows Navigation, Windows Settings and Controls, Keyboarding, & Devices & Peripherals. If you have a topic you would like covered at a future program please email mgousie@minlib.net with suggestions.
Franklin Public Library Book Club, Tuesday, March 22, 7:00 p.m.
The book for discussion is the library's Winter 2022 One Book, One Community title 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.
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... .
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.
