By Upton Library Staff

Library Summer

Reading Program

Summer Reading Program Begins! – June 15, all day

It's the Annual Summer Reading Program! This year's theme is Plant a Seed, Read! Register online or at the circulation desk, and be sure to visit the library to pick up your packet of  materials. Keep reading and join us for special events throughout the summer. Our program begins June 15 and ends Aug. 8. This program is for all ages.

Kickoff Event: Mini Golf at the Library!  – June 15 at 4 p.m., ages 5 to adult

Join us for mini golf inside the library after it closes for the day! One Up Games will be on-site to run an indoor mini golf course for the Kickoff Event for our Annual Summer Reading Program. Please register each child and adult who will be golfing. Registration is required. Time slots are in 15-minute increments, so choose a time that’s best for your group. Library services will not be available during this event, but you are welcome to come early and socialize while waiting for your start time. This program will be welcoming children ages 5 and up, including teens, adults, and senior citizens. This program is generously sponsored by The Friends of the Upton Town Library!  

Friends of the Library News

Reading with Friends

Come join the Friends of the Library for Reading with Friends! Reading with Friends is a quiet reading group where you can bring your own book, have some refreshments and chat with other readers, then spread out and read on your own in our lovely library. Upcoming dates for this are June 25, July 30 and August 27.

Museum Passes

Looking for something fun to do this summer? Come check out the museum passes, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. We have an assortment of 10 passes, offering discounted admissions to all sorts of great area attractions!

Book Donations

Thanks to all who supported the Friends' spring book sale- it was one of our best ever! Don't forget to check out our ongoing book sale shelves, located to the right just inside the main library doors. Donations of books in good, saleable condition are accepted all year round.

Children’s & Young Adult Events

Read Around the Town: Kelly’s Family Farm  – June 17 at 10 a.m., ages 3+

Join us for a storytime at Kelly's Farmstand in Upton! Workers will join us for stories, songs, and rhymes all about plants. Learn all about your favorite fruits and veggies and what happens at the farm stand. Kelly’s is located at 146 Milford St. in Upton. This is an outdoor event, so please bring your own chairs or blankets. Registration required. 

Summer StoryWalk Begins  – June 20, all day, ages 3+

Stop by the VFW Playground anytime it's open to enjoy the library's Summer StoryWalk, "And Then Comes Summer" by Tom Brenner. A StoryWalk is a self-guided picture book activity, put together with separate story page panels that families can enjoy one at a time with their children. No staff is involved with this event, so enjoy it any time that fits your schedule! *Enter our QR code at the end of the story and enter for a chance to win a copy of the book! This program will run through Aug. 1.

4-H Babysitters’ Course - June 22 & 23, 1-5 p.m., ages 11 to 16

This babysitting course is taught by an instructor from the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation. Participants will learn the responsibilities of babysitting, as well as the skills needed to become good babysitters. The course will help develop confidence in handling situations that may occur when babysitting. Upon completion of this course, youth will receive a Babysitters' ID card and a Certificate of Completion. This course is held over the course of two afternoons; participants must attend both sessions. The cost of this course is $50. A check made out to UMASS must be brought on the first day of class.

Hands on Nature: Our Pollinators! - June 24 at 6 p.m., ages 5 to 12

Join Heather Simpson from Hands on Nature, as we learn about the fabulous pollinators of New England! Discover the wonderful things our butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds do to help our planet thrive. Learn who our pollinators are and how they help our planet. Includes pollinator activity! This is a lecture style program with a short activity at the end. Registration required.

Vegetable Tote Stamping - June 29 at 1 p.m., ages 3 to 12

Join us for a story and craft about veggies! We will be stamping vegetable prints on tote bags, using fabric paint and cut up vegetables for this activity. This activity may get a little messy! Caregivers should attend this program with their child and plan on assisting them. Registration required.

NEW! Family Music & Movement - July 6 at 9:15, ages birth to 5 

We are bringing a new music program to the library! Join us as we change our format and time to welcome Brenda Lau from Apple Tree Arts! This program features the Musikgarten curriculum, with instruction that is just right for each age level—from your baby who benefits from a live music environment, right up through preschool-age children who delight in exploring dramatic play in a musical context. Singing, moving, and exploring rhythm instruments are all a part of this event. Registration required.

NEW! Parody Playhouse - July 11 at 10 a.m., ages birth to 6 

We are bringing a quarterly Saturday music program to the library! Join us for our first session as we welcome Erica Leigh from Parody Playhouse for a morning of musical fun! Ideal for kids up to age 6, Parody Playhouse's performance will include kid-friendly versions of popular songs that help teach kids important social-emotional skills. Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for a show that combines music, education, and hands-on fun! Registration required.

DIY Insect Habitats - July 7 at 10 a.m., ages 3 to 12 

What kinds of structures make good habitats for our buggy friends? Find out and create your own at this insect-themed event. Adults must attend and assist their children with this building project. Registration required. 

Mass Audubon: Life Under a Log - July 8 at 6 p.m., ages 5 to 12 

Mass Audubon visits the library for an informational event about "Life Under a Log"! We will meet specimens such as beetles and worms, all while learning about the importance of decomposition in our local ecosystem. This is a lecture-style event. Registration required. 

Adult Events

Drum Circle with Dave Curry - Fri., July 10, 7-9:30 p.m.

Ages 8 - Adult

Join facilitator Dave Curry for an evening of freestyle drumming. Instruction and extra drums are provided, but you can also bring your own drums and percussion instruments. No prior experience is necessary, so the circle is suitable for beginners on up to experienced drummers. Please note the date change to Friday in July.

Tabletop Game Night for Adults – Thurs., June 25, 5:15-7:30 p.m.

Join our tabletop game series for adults! Meets every fourth Thursday of the month from 5:15 - 7:30 p.m. Beginners and experienced players welcome!

Virtual Author Talk Series

View free online author talks, either live or recorded. Register and get more information at the library website, or at https://libraryc.org/uptontownlibrary

-Author Talk with Zalia Avant-Garde: Wonderfully Weird: Celebrating the Joys of Feeling Different - Tuesday, July 16 at 7 p.m.

-Author Talk with Sana Javeri Kadri: Simple, Sustainable, and Powerfully Delicious Meals - Tuesday, June 23 at 2 p.m.

Book Groups

Monthly book groups are facilitated by Upton Library staff.

We also reserve book copies for local private book groups, contact us for more information!

Upton Reads Book Group

An eclectic mix of contemporary literary fiction with meetings on the second Tuesday afternoon and Thursday evening of each month, with a remote call-in option.

Tuesday, July 14 at 12:45 p.m., and Thursday, July 16 at 6:45 p.m.: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.

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. 

Wednesday, June 24 at 6:45 p.m.: Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams

Rainbow Readers Book Club - June 17 at 6 p.m., ages 10-14

Join us for a conversation on the 3rd Wednesday each month to discuss books featuring an LGBTQ+ main character. This book club will feature age-appropriate titles and foster community, curiosity, and conversation, all in a comfortable and respectable atmosphere. This group is for anyone wishing to read such literature. For June, our meeting will be for kids ages 10-14. We will discuss the title, The Civil War of Amos Abernathy by Michael Leali.

Tween Book Club – June 18 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. For our June meeting, we will be discussing the title Family Week by Sarah Moon. 

Kids’ Book Club – July 1 at 4 p.m.

Our book club members explore popular juvenile chapter books on the first Wednesday of each month from 4-4:45 p.m. For our July meeting, we will be discussing the title Good Dog: Beach Paws by Cam Higgins. This group is for ages 6 to 9.

Monthly Library Events – Register Now!

Most programs and events require pre-registration at uptonlibrary.org or call 508-529-6272. Program details can be found on our website on our Event Calendar. *Registrations open the month prior to events.

Baby Storytime – Fridays at 9:30 & 10:30 a.m., ages birth to 3

Preschool Storytime –Thursdays at 9:30 & 10:30 a.m., ages 3 to 5

Saturday Storytime – June 13 at 9:30 a.m., ages birth to 5

Drop-In Storytime - June 8 at 9:30 a.m., ages 1 to 5

Music & Movement - June 15 at 9:30 a.m. and NEW TIME! July 6 at 9:15 a.m., ages birth to 5

Storybook Art Club – 3rd Tuesday each month at 10 a.m., ages 3 to 5

LEGO Club – 1st & 3rd Wednesdays each month at 4 p.m., ages 3 to 12

Crafternoon – 3rd Thursday each month, 3-5 p.m., ages 3+

Tween Book Club – 3rd Thursday each month at 6:30 p.m., ages 10 to 14

Kids’ Book Club – 1st Wednesday each month at 4 p.m., ages 6 to 9

Chess Club – 1st Tuesday each month, 4-6 p.m., ages 5 to 14

Crafting Club – 2nd Tuesday each month, 4-6 p.m., ages 5 to 14

Gaming Club – 3rd Tuesday each month, 4-6 p.m., ages 5 to 14

Magic the Gathering: Commander – 4th Tuesday each month, 4-6 p.m., ages 8 to 16

FreeDrum Circle – 1st Saturday each month, 7-9:30 p.m., ages 8+  *Date Changed in July

Tabletop Game Night for Adults – 3rd Thursday each month, ages 16+

Upton Reads Book Group – 2nd Tuesday and 3rd Thursday each month

Fic or No Fic Book Group – last Wednesday each month

Virtual Author Talks – varies, see our website

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