By Reference Department

Saturday Hours

The library is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Thanksgiving Hours

The library will close at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 26 for Thanksgiving. We wish all our patrons a happy, safe, and delicious holiday!   

From Sea to Shining Sea: Atelier Artists Exhibit

During November, the Atelier Artists present their group exhibit, From Sea to Shining Sea in honor of the 250th birthday of the United States. In keeping with their annual tradition of a challenge theme, each artist will be showing a painting or photograph with their individual interpretations. 

A communal painting, "Uncle Sam's Traveling Quilt", will be part of the exhibit. This "quilt" brings together twelve sections by different artists. The canvas passed from artist to artist over several months. Painting using a red, white and blue color palette, the sections were then skillfully "woven" together by artist Helen Bonnett. It's a vibrant piece of folk art. The Atelier Artists, a group of senior artists meet to support and inspire one another to make art. Artists work in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other media.

Ted Reinstein: Greetings from Breed's Hill: Facts & Folklore for America's 250th

Local author and broadcaster Ted Reinstein celebrates the 250th anniversary of the nation with a new talk, Greetings from Breed’s Hill: Fact & Folklore on America’s 250th on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Just a few lesser-known stories behind the more famous ones from New England’s Revolutionary War period. It’s a fun and informative foray through fact vs. fiction. This FREE event is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Milford Town Library. While no registration is required, additional parking is available in the municipal lots on Pine Street.

English Classes

The library offers free drop-in classes for adults who want to learn and improve their English. Beginner classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7-8 p.m. An intermediate class is held on Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Classes are held on the lower level of the library in the ESL Classroom. Registration is not required. For more information, call the Information Desk at 508-473-2145 ext. 2. 

2 Lbs Classic Jazz Concert

Join us for an afternoon of the finest in vocal and instrumental music from the American Songbook with 2 Lbs Classic Jazz, a Boston Metrowest-based jazz quartet on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. The quartet features Wendy on vocals, Mike on bass guitar, Jonathan on piano, and Rachel on drums. This 2 Lbs Classic Jazz concert is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Milford Town Library. No registration is required for this FREE concert.

CommonShelf: The Palace Project

eBooks and e-audiobooks continue to delight readers and listeners and now there's a new FREE option, CommonShelf via the Palace Project App. CommonShelf is made possible by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Boston Public Library, the Massachusetts Library System and your local library with federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. It provides (1) immediate access with a virtual library card that anyone in Massachusetts can get through the app, (2) a growing collection of 20,000 eBooks and audiobooks with titles in Spanish, (3) shorter holds/wait time, (4) access to Amazon exclusive titles, indie publishers and authors, (5) your library purchases eBooks and audiobooks that everyone across the state can use—the same way we share print materials. 

How to Get Started with CommonShelf's Palace Project App and Get a Virtual Library Card; (1) Install the Palace Project app available in both the Apple App Store for iOS phones and tablets and the Google Play Store for Android phones and tablets. (2) Inside the app, use the “find my library” search function to find “CommonShelf of Massachusetts.” (3) Browse the collection until you find a title you would like to read then either “get” or “reserve” that book. (4) Choose the option to create a virtual card and then complete the details in the form. You will need to enable the app’s permission to use your specific location, just one time, for the creation of your library card. (5) Look in your email for your library card number. You can borrow items using that number and your new password. 

Virtual cards can only be used with CommonShelf.

Adult Book Club: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 

Love reading and discussing books with others? Come join us at the Milford Town Library Adult Book Club! Designed for readers 18 and older, our meetings take place on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. The next meeting will be on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. The November book selection is Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Best known for her novel, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Clarke won the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2021. In this elaborate fantasy, the title character Piranesi lives in a realm called "The House." It's a place of hallways and vestibules filled with statues. Piranesi keeps detailed daily journals, recording life, rhythms and tides of the House, the clouds above and the sea below. Piranesi communicates with a being called "The Other" and together they seek "A Great and Secret Knowledge." 

Stop by the Circulation Desk to check out a copy of Piranesi. Copies may also be available via the Libby App. 

Center Book Group 

The Center Book Group meets next on Tuesday, Nov. 17 to discuss Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray. A prolific author of historical fiction, Dray has also co-authored several books with Laura Kamoie including America's First Daughter, My Dear Hamilton and A Founding Mother. Becoming Madam Secretary brings Frances Perkins, the first female to serve in the Cabinet as Labor Secretary under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to life in fiction. 

Born in Boston, Perkins advocated for workers and helped craft many New Deal programs like Social Security. Perkins also created the Immigration and Naturalization Service, believing immigrants deserved to be treated with humanity. Her views caused some friction with Congress which she weathered with trademark strength and commitment.

To reserve regular or large print copies, call us at 508-473-2145 ext. 2 or visit the Libby App.

Mahjong @ MTL 

The Mahjong group meets twice a month on select Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. in the Quarry Room on the lower level of the library. The next meetings are Nov. 17, 24, and Dec. 8, 22. 

The group welcomes players familiar with Mahjong to join other players for fun, low-stakes competition. More experienced players often share strategies and tips to improve. The group meets on select Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. at the library in the Quarry Room. Those who are interested can attend any of the meetings. Mahjong sets are provided. Questions? Please call the Information Desk at 508-473-2145 ext. 2.

Milford Area Wordsmiths 

Looking for a quiet, dedicated time, and place where you can write? Join the Milford Area Wordsmiths writers' group! We provide a safe place for adults (18+) to write and even share your work if you desire. All levels are welcome, from first-time writers to published authors. All genres are welcome, too. 

The group meets the first and third Monday of each month (except holidays) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Drop-ins are welcome. Carol Allen, a retired middle-school teacher, writer, and book lover, serves as facilitator of the Milford Area Wordsmiths. For more information, call 508-473-2145, ext. 2. 

Next Meetings: Nov. 2, 16, Dec. 7, 21

Puzzle Swap: Sat., Dec. 12

Back by popular puzzler demand - we're hosting a quarterly Swap to refresh your stash! Puzzles will be available on Sat., Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on our display table by the main entrance. Take one or more puzzles home and leave a puzzle or puzzles if you want! (These are not part of the library's collection and are FREE to take home - they do not need to be checked out. If you enjoy working on puzzles, please also consider participating in our Community Puzzles in the Non-Fiction area of the library. Note that this is a quiet area - group puzzle work is welcome, but please be considerate of others who are studying/working. Thank you!

Ongoing: Friends Book Store, Food Pantry donations 

Find great deals on gently used books for children, teens and adults at the Friends Book Store and book table, replenished weekly. 

Donations for the Daily Bread Food Pantry can be dropped off in the blue bin by the Friends book table.