Adult Programs September 2025

Upcoming Events:

To register for an event, click on the Library Event Calendar & Registration link at the top of the library’s homepage (www.taftpubliclibrary.org). 

Adult Handcrafting Group

Let’s get crafty!  Join the Adult Handcrafting Group on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. downstairs in the library and get your craft on! Bring your own craft project, whatever it might be, to work on while you visit.  Intended for adults. No registration is required. Crafts are not supplied. 

Adult Book Club

Upcoming book club discussions are as follows:

Monday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m.: Discussion of The Women by Kristin Hannah

Monday, Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m.: Discussion of The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

Monday, Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m.: Discussion of The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

Copies of the Adult Book Club book for October can be picked up at the downstairs desk. For additional information on upcoming book clubs contact the library at 508-473-3259.  

Awards Book Club

Hosted by Taft Library Assistant Jane Blackwood, the Awards Book Club meets on a quarterly basis to discuss fiction award winners of the year.  Jane selects from the books that took home the coveted Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Booker Prize and more! Stop at the downstairs circulation desk to pick up the latest Awards book for discussion.  

The current book in the Awards Book Club discussion series is Hernan Diaz’s Trust, recipient of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in fiction. Discussion date for Trust is Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. Copies of Trust can be picked up at the downstairs circulation desk.

Footnotes Nonfiction Book Club

Footnotes Nonfiction Book Club is back with a whole new slate of books to discuss for 2025-26! Led by Library Director Andrew Jenrich, the club will tackle There’s Always This Year:  On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib first. Discussion of the Abdurraqib book will be on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. Other upcoming books in the Footnotes series include:

Over the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe by Laurence Bergreen

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong

There is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America by Brian Goldstone

Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization by Ed Conway

A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko

Dates for discussion of the upcoming books are to be determined. The Footnotes Nonfiction Book Club typically meets on a quarterly basis. Those interested can pick up a copy of the next book at the downstairs circulation desk.

German Conversation Club

Are you looking for a place to practice what German you remember or to improve your German vocabulary? Conversations in German is no pressure, just fun! Lead by Library Assistant (and Mendon resident) Monika Schmid, the group typically meets the last Monday of each month. The group will meet next on Monday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. Registration is required. To register, visit our website. 

Friends of the Taft Public Library Meeting

The Friends of the Library meetings are typically held on the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. downstairs in the Art Holmes Community Room, unless it falls on a holiday or during a school vacation. All are welcome (and encouraged) to attend. If you plan on attending, it’s always a good idea to call the library at 508-473-3259 or email the Friends at [email protected] to confirm the date and time of the meeting. The group will do its best to post any meeting changes on the Taft Library web site. The meeting in September is on Monday the 15 at 7 p.m.

Coming in October!

A Paranormal Double Feature with Jeff Belanger and Dustin Pari

Two of our favorite speakers on the haunted and unexplained team up for a Paranormal Double Feature at the Taft Public Library! This is a multi-media program, meet and greet, and book signing. Join us on Oct. 6 upstairs in the library at 7 p.m.  Registration is required and limited. Visit www.taftpubliclibrary.org to register. 

Ted Reinstein Returns for Travels Through the Heart and Soul of New England

Join us on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m for. a visit from WCVB reporter and author Ted Reinstein when he discusses his book Travels Through the Heart and Soul of New England: Stories of Struggle, Resilience, and Triumph. Ted will highlight some of his most memorable travels and the compelling stories he gathered from the people he met along the way. From Rhode Island to Vermont, from Maine to Massachusetts these are the stories that resonate with Ted, all of them unique, inspiring, and unforgettable. Registration is required for this event. Visit www.taftpubliclibrary.org to register.

Children’s & Teen PROGRAMS September 2025

Registration is required for all programs. Please log onto our website: www.taftpubliclibrary.org and find the events page to register along with more information for the programs. 

Children’s News

Itty Bitty Story Time 

Itty Bitty Storytime is designed for our youngest patrons birth to 3 years old. Join us for a lot of fun on Tuesdays and select Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. 

Story & Craft Time 

Join us for Story and Craft Time! Perfect for the preschool-aged child! All sessions take place on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m.  

Alphabet Storytime 

It’s all about the alphabet! Each week we will focus on a different letter. We will read a couple of books, sing songs, and learn about the letter of the week! Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Please note there is no Alphabet Storytime the last Wednesday of the month. 

Music & Movement with Deb Hudgins & Coffee and Conversations 

Dates: Wednesday: 9/24, 10/29, 11/19 & 12/17

Join Deb Hudgins at 9:15 a.m. for a 30-minute music and movement theme-based program which features singing and guitar music for young children (infants & preschool).  

Coffee & Conversations is from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Location: Taft Public Library, 29 North Ave., Mendon 

Join us for an informal playtime where families will be able to build social connections and learn about early childhood development and family-friendly resources. The library will supply Muffin House Muffins!

Lego Club

Back by popular demand! During this one-hour building session we will be led by the "Lego Lady" Kim Steadman! No need to bring any Legos! This program is great for all ages....as long as they don't eat the Legos! Tuesday: 10/14 & 12/19 at 4:30 p.m.

Preschool Kidding Around Yoga 

We will learn yoga poses, dance, sing, and meditate. This class is all about fun. All abilities are welcome! Mats are available, or feel free to bring your own. Wednesday 10/8, 11/12 & 12/10 at 9:30 a.m. 

Music & Movement with Deb Hudgins 

Join Deb Hudgins for a 30-minute music and movement theme-based program which features singing and guitar music for young children (infants & preschool). Join us on Tuesdays: 9/30, 10/28, 11/25 & 12/23. The program starts promptly at 10:30 a.m.

Tutors with Tails

Meet Sprite! Sprite is a therapy dog who loves children and love books. Sprite and her owner Janet will visit the Taft on the last Tuesday of each month. Register today for the opportunity to read to Sprite! Spots are limited.

Book Clubs

6-9 Book Club: We will be reading: The Underdogs by Tracey West. The book club discussion will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. 

8-12 Book Club: We will be reading: Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan. The book club discussion will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m.  

Graphic Novel Book Club: We will be reading: Crumble by Meredith McClaren & Andrea Bell. Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 5 p.m. to discuss this month's book pick! 

All book clubs will take place downstairs in the library.  Books are available for pickup at the upstairs circulation desk. The book club will include a discussion, pizza, and refreshments.

Arrayscape Gaming

Join us on Tuesday, Sept. 23 4:30 to 6 p.m. for an afternoon of Fall Adventure Minecraft gaming! There will be 5 activities to choose from:

Pumpkin Patch Hunt, Fall Harvest Frenzy, Scarecrow Building Contest, Acorn Archery & Haunted Mansion!

Participants need to bring their own devices. To ensure a smooth experience, it is essential for participants to install Minecraft on their personal devices before arriving. Supported devices: Laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, and Tablets. Unsupported devices: Nintendo Switch, School-issued Chromebooks, and Minecraft Education Edition  (Minecraft Education Edition is incompatible due to its lack of multi-server play functionality, which is necessary for our program. School-issued Chromebooks often have restrictions that prevent the installation of the required Minecraft version).For Minecraft setup instructions go to https://www.arrayscape.com/mcsetup. Participants should also have their Gamertag or Java profile name ready for server whitelisting. They can borrow a Minecraft account if needed.

Music at the Blissful

Six-time Boston Parent Paper Family Favorite and National Touring Musician, Music at the Blissful (Evan Haller) from Boston, Massachusetts comes to Taft Library for a high-energy, fun-filled, interactive, movement-packed music experience for the whole family.  

Come join the fun as we sing, jump, shake, laugh and go slow and fast with Music at The Blissful. He will be playing songs featured on his new album, "This". It is sure to be an action-packed good time for all. Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 10:30 a.m.

Dr. Junglestein’s Halloween Spooktacular Balloon Madness Show

Get ready for some Autumnal fun! Jungle Jim is excited to perform his “Dr. Junglestein’s Halloween Spooktacular Balloon Madness Show” for the patrons of Taft Library on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

This program combines festive entertainment with Jungle Jim’s trademark high-energy, interactive engagement. Get ready for the Zombie Dance Challenge, Giant Spooky Creature Creation, and even Ghostbusters Training!

Teen News

Jeff Belanger and Dustin Pari team up for a Paranormal Double Feature at the Taft Public Library! This is a multi-media program, meet and greet, and book signing. Join us on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. Registration is required and limited. Visit www.taftpubliclibrary.org to register. 

Teen Book Club

Join us for the return of our Teen Book Club! We will be reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. Pizza and refreshments will be served. Registration Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m.

Registration is required. Please visit www.taftpubliclibrary.org to register. Copies of the book are available for pickup at our downstairs circulation desk.