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Library News & Upcoming Events

Inclement Weather?

If the Library will be closed due to inclement weather, an email announcement will be sent via the Town's email announcement list.

Sign up for the Town's email list here.


Outdoor Pickup Only

Friday, January 14th through Wednesday, January 26th.

Outdoor pickup is available during the following times.

Tuesdays: 3-7:30

Wednesdays: 11-1 and 3-6

Thursday: 3-7:30

Fridays: 3-6

Saturdays: 10-1

Sundays: Outdoor pickup - limited to items on the hold shelf only.

To request items, call 259-1213 or email library.director@shutesbury.org.

If you have you received a hold available notification? Click here to schedule a pickup!


Small Library Pilot Project

Visit this page to learn more about the Small Library Pilot Project.




Programs

Storytime with Julie

Fridays, 10 am, on Zoom

Grab your favorite stuffie and snuggle up for 30 minutes of stories and songs with Julie!

Email library.director@shutesbury.org to register.


The Stolen Beam:

A Study of the Question of Reparations for descendants of Enslaved Africans in the U.S.

The M.N. Spear Memorial Library is partnering with the Pelham Public Library and the Pelham Anti–Racism Committee to present a Five Week Reading Group:

The goal of the Stolen Beam* Series is educational engagement with a narrative of U.S. racial history that is different from what many of us learned in our schooling; specifically, a focus on the legacy of African enslavement, what was stolen, what may be owed and historical examples of reparations.

The class offers an opportunity to study and reflect on writings of prominent thought leaders on the topic of reparations for African Americans as a path to restorative justice. It reviews the case for and arguments against reparations, various definitions of the concept, U.S. House Resolution 40, the particular Jewish case for reparations, historical perspectives and various models of such programs past, present and future. Each class offers both readings as well as videos or audio recordings of the authors being discussed that week. Suggested study questions are included for each class. We urge all participants to plan on reading and/or viewing all the materials and come prepared for thoughtful discussion.

The class meets on Zoom for five consecutive Tuesdays, January 18 to February 15, from 7:00-8:15 p.m. and will be facilitated by Jeff Gold, a Pelham resident and one of the developers of the series. Registration will be limited to 15 people on a first come, first serve basis.

Most reading/video material will be provided via the internet.

Register at: library.pelham@gmail.com

Other questions: call Michael Hussin @ 413-658-5345

*The name “Stolen Beam” is a reference to a rabbinic deliberation in an ancient Jewish text about the right thing to do when we discover that the house in which we live was built on stolen materials,“a stolen beam”. One rabbi argues that the entire house must be torn down and the beam returned; another argues that it makes no sense to destroy the home, yet some form of acknowledgment and compensation is owed to the owners of the stolen beam. Thus, the metaphor for the realization that much of our country was built on stolen land, with stolen lives and stolen labor.

Roadtown Reads Book Club

The Roadtown Reads Book Club meets monthly from September through May.

Newcomers are always welcome! Click the title to see what we are reading.

Books are available at the Library.

The Magic of a Winter Garden

Tuesday, February 8th at 7pm on Zoom

Email library.director@shutesbury.org to register.


The garden can be a magical place – even in winter! This richly illustrated lecture provides

inspiration and tips on designing your garden for winter interest, choosing the best trees, shrubs and perennials, and grouping them to create arresting vignettes.

Presented by Joan Butler who has been an enthusiastic gardener and plant collector for over 35 years, and

believes gardens should invite you to linger in the world outside your door. The gardens on her half-acre

suburban property have been included on several garden tours and feature exciting plant combinations,

dramatic horticultural specimens, and collections of native plants, hosta and epimedium.

Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Certificate

in Landscape Management from UMass Extension Green School. She is a Master Gardener, a retired

horticulturist, and is a past Chairman of the Massachusetts Landscape Design Council. She is a member of

the Garden Consultants Council, the New England Hosta Society and is an accredited Flower Show Judge.

Joan has presented programs at flower shows in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and at numerous garden clubs, horticultural societies and libraries.


This program is funded by a grant from the New Salem Academy


Seed Starting

Tuesday, February 22nd,

7 pm, on Zoom

Email library.director@shutesbury.org to register

In this workshop, we will learn the basics of seed starting!

Everyone will learn best practices to ensure success in preparing seeds for a home garden.

This workshop is presented by Eric Bromberg, a Master Gardener in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. To this day, he remains the youngest person to receive certification in the history of the Rhode Island program at just 25 years old in May 2003. With a focus on vegetable production, Eric teaches classes on indoor seed starting, as well as hydroponics for Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens. He lives in Uxbridge with his wife and two young children, where he and his seven-year-old son maintain two gardens consisting of five raised beds each.

This program is funded by a grant from the New Salem Academy



Ukulele- Musical Zoom-Along

Join Julie for an hour of music and song on Zoom!

4th Monday of the month!

January 24th

7 pm, Online

Email library.director@shutesbury.org to join the list!

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Shutesbury Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.Additional funding is provided by the Friends of the M.N. Spear Memorial Library.

Science Fiction Book Club

Wednesday, February 2nd , 7:30 pm, Online

For February, we are reading

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

Email library.director@shutesbury.org to join the list!

Books are available at the library.

Fitness Classes


Gentle Yoga with Jeannette

Wednesdays, 9 am on Zoom

Email library.director@shutesbury.org to register.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Shutesbury Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Additional funding is provided by the Friends of the M.N. Spear Memorial Library and the Council on Aging.


Therapeutic Yoga with Dr. Kathy Sward

(Resumes mid-February)

Thursdays, 9 am on Zoom

Email library.director@shutesbury.org to register.

This program is supported by the Council on Aging


Zumba Gold with Aimee

Fridays, 10 am on Zoom

Email library.director@shutesbury.org to register.



Strength Training with Jay

Saturdays, 8:30 am on Zoom

Email library.director@shutesbury.org to register.








Public Resources

Look4Help

The Look4Help Public Resource Directory, a program of Community Action Pioneer Valley, is a free, web-based public information service that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are close to 1,000 agencies, programs or services at over 450 locations, available to serve you.

Click here