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

Seasonal Programs

Autumn StoryWalk – Oct. 1 through Nov. 30 Visit the VFW Playground for our latest StoryWalk™, The Scarecrow’s Hat by Ken Brown. Stroll through the playground, reading each poster panel with your child. Fill out our QR code at the end to enter a chance to win a copy of the book for your home library. One entry per child.

Drop-In Craft – Dec. 4 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Stop by the library to make a winter hat! We will use paper, coloring materials, scissors, and cotton balls to make our winter creations. For ages 3+. No registration required. While supplies last.

Winter Paper Trees – Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. Elementary school aged patrons can join us as we share a winter story, and then use construction paper and paint to create beautiful skylines of winter trees. For ages 5 to 12. Pre-registration is required.

Gingerbread Clay Pots – Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. Tweens and teens can join us for this seasonal event, as we make an adorable gingerbread man out of a mini clay pot! Participants will use small terracotta pots, hot glue, and paint to make a seasonal decoration. For ages 10 to 16. Pre-registration required.

Teen Hangout – Tuesdays & Thursdays 2 - 5 p.m. NEW program just for Teens! Teen Hangout is a time just for tweens and teens! Every Tuesday and Thursday after school, we reserve the Classroom as a space for teens to hangout, play video games and board games, make crafts, read, and more. This is a drop-in program.

Special Events

Virtual Program: Favorite Romance Books of 2024-25 Monday, Dec. 16, 7 - 8 p.m. – Online program

Lorelai of Lorelai's Lit Lair will share her favorite romance books of 2024 and what books she’s looking forward to in early 2025. This program is brought to you in collaboration with the Ashland Public Library and is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library. Registration is required to receive the link to attend this virtual program.

Puzzle Swap Returns!

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1 - 2 p.m.

Bring in a gently used puzzle with no missing pieces to participate in our Yankee Swap of puzzles (either 500 or 1,000 pieces). You will walk away with a new-to-you puzzle of your own! You may bring more gently used puzzles to swap with other patrons after the Yankee Swap icebreaker is over. There will be a table set up with a puzzle going, so feel free to stay and help put it together! To attend this event, please register 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.

Author Talk with Mona Susan Power: Native Rights and Culture in Fiction  - Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.

Author Talk with Dr. Jeffery Post: Unearthed: Exploring the Smithsonian National Gem Collection  - Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m.

Author Talk with Laura Dave: On Pulse-Pounding, Family Driven Mysteries  - Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.

Children’s & Young Adult Events

Movies at the Library – Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. Join us for afternoons at the movies in our Greatroom! On Nov. 25, we will screen Inside Out 2, rated PG. Both movies are for ages 5+. No registration required. Not a drop-off event. These events coincide with the release days for the Mendon-Upton Regional School District.

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.

Tabletop Game Night for Adults

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. Beginners and experienced players both welcome! Register at uptonlibrary.org.

Baby Storytime – Fridays at 9:30 & 10:30 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.  

Preschool Storytime –Thursdays at 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Preschool Storytime is for ages 3 to 5 and is held on Thursdays. This is a 45-minute program featuring stories, songs, rhymes, and a craft. Pre-registration required.

Saturday Storytime –  Nov. 16 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. For ages 0-5. Pre-registration required.

Drop-In Storytime – Nov 25. & Dec. 9 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 – Nov. 20 at 4 p.m.

This group meets the 1st & 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 – Dec. 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. For our December meeting, we will be discussing Classic Starts: 

Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass by Eva Mason. This group is for ages 8-12. Pre-registration required.

Tween Book Club – Nov. 21 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. This month, we will be discussing the realistic fiction title One Last Shot by John Green Anderson. Pre-registration required.

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, Dec. 10 at 12:45 p.m., and Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6:45 p.m.: North Woods by Daniel Mason

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. Meeting date for Nov./Dec. is changed to Dec. 11. Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 6:45 p.m.: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See.

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