Library Closings In May
The Gleason Public Library will be closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day.
Everyone
Carlisle Poetry Contest And Festival
The Gleason Public Library is holding its first Poetry Festival, during which a panel consisting of prominent local poets Michael Ansara, Anna V. Q. Ross, and Carla Schwartz will discuss the inner workings of the writing life and their recent publications. The hybrid event will take place in the Hollis Room with refreshments on Saturday, May 13th at 2pm.
This panel is a fresh way to relaunch the library’s annual poetry contest, which was hosted in celebration of National Poetry Month in April. This year’s theme is “Waking Up.” All ages are welcome. Winners will be selected for the following age groups: ages 8 and younger, ages 9-12, ages 13-17, and ages 18+.
First place winners will receive a $100 cash prize, have their poems printed in the Carlisle Mosquito, and will read their poems (or have their poems read) at the Poetry Festival.
Contest Rules: Contestants may submit one original, unpublished poem. Poems may not exceed 45 lines in length (including title) and must fit on a single 8.5”x11” page. Poems should address the prompt “Waking Up” in some way. All entries must include a cover sheet with the contestant’s name, age group, and contact information; to facilitate blind judging, names and contact information should not appear on the poem.
Anonymous entries and collaborations are not eligible. Prizes will be issued at the judges’ discretion. Entries will be accepted by email to director@gleasonlibrary.org or in-person at the library. All entries must be received by 12 p.m. on Monday, May 1st.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Carlisle Cultural Council and the Friends of the Gleason Public Library.
Singing Frogs With Mass Audubon (Virtual)
Thursday, May 18 | 2 p.m.
**Please Note This Is A Virtual Program That Will Take Place Via Zoom. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email. Sign up directly on Zoom HERE.**
One sure sign of spring is the sound of singing frogs. Why do frogs sing, and how can we identify their calls? Frogs can be very sensitive to pollution and climate change and can be a strong indicator of how healthy an environment is. Learn the different frogs found in Massachusetts, as well as how to identify them by their calls. Wrap up with information on “Frogwatch," a community science project in which individuals can monitor populations by documenting their sounds. Led by Alex Dohan, Statewide Education Department Coordinator at Mass Audubon.
Presented in collaboration with the Tewksbury Public Library with the support of the Gleason's Susan Zielinski Natural Science Fund.
NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 24 hours of the program.
Children
If you have questions about any of these events, please email childrens@gleasonlibrary.org.
Take And Make: Kindness Rock Kit
Friday, May 12 | 10 a.m.
Have you seen these fun painted rocks in unexpected places? We've had a few show up at the Gleason Library! These rocks will sprinkle positivity and kind words around our community. Once you paint your rock, the idea is to quietly leave it somewhere for another person to discover and enjoy. A simple message of love and compassion can bring a smile and brighten someone's entire day. Register online for a kindness rock kit and pick it up any time between Friday, May 12th and Monday, May 15th at 9 p.m. via in-person or curbside pickup. This kit includes a smooth rock, paint strip of acrylic paints, paint brush, and instructions.
This craft is for ages 4 and up with help from an adult. Take & Make craft kits are made possible by our wonderful Friends of the Gleason Public Library.
Baby Lapsit
Fridays, April 7 through May 26 | 10:30 a.m.
Baby Lapsit is a 30-minute interactive story time experience for our youngest library users and their caregivers. Join us for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces that are developmentally appropriate for children from birth to when they start walking. This Lapsit program is just for you and the baby! Enjoy time together with other caregivers and babies to learn; play; and develop language, early literacy, and motor skills. Come prepared to sit on the floor one-on-one with your baby in your lap. Please bring along your own blanket. This program is designed for newborn through pre-walking babies.
Please register for each session individually. Masks are strongly recommended for grown-ups.
Spring Preschool Story Time
Tuesdays, April 18–May 23 | 10:30 a.m.
Join us Tuesday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. for a fun story time. This event is chock-full of interactive stories, rhymes, fingerplays, songs and a small craft. Our story time program, designed for children ages 3 to 6, promotes reading readiness and early literacy skills. Our Spring Preschool Story Time will run weekly April 18 through May 23. Please register for each session individually.
Nature Connection Explorations
Tuesday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 17 | 3:15 p.m.
Join us for this new Nature Connection program for children and families as we explore nature at Center Park! This series for ages 6 and up will take participants outdoors for a mindful exploration of nature. Listen for birds, make a nature map, become a plant detective, draw a leaf, write a poem about a pebble, count flower petals, imagine a bee's life, tell a seed's story, and wonder about the world.
Participants will become more familiar and build a deeper connection with the nature that surrounds them every day, making it easier for them to access the wild spirit, strength, and dignity of nature no matter where they are. Nature Connection Explorations take place outdoors at Center Park unless there is inclement weather, in which case we will prepare an indoor nature exploration at the Gleason Public Library. For ages 6 and up (with an adult participant). Please register for each session individually.
The Nature Connection provides therapeutic nature programs that utilize radical respectfulness along with sensory exploration of nature to foster well-being for participants of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
The Nature Connection Explorations Series is sponsored by the Susan Zielinski Natural Science Fund.
Nature Connection Story Time
Thursday, May 11 | 10:30 a.m.
Join The Nature Connection as we explore plants and animals and connect with the world around us in new ways—all through nature-based stories and poems! During this monthly 45-minute program for 3–6-year-olds, we will read a seasonally appropriate story followed by a sensory engagement activity. Registration is required; please register for each session individually. Masks are strongly recommended for ages 2 and up.
Kids' Book Clubs
Come join one of our book clubs for grades 1 through 4 at the Gleason Library. Visit our book clubs page for more information or to register.
1st & 2nd Grade
Wednesday, May 3 | 4 p.m.
Have your first- or second-grader join us at the Gleason Library's 1st & 2nd Grade Book Club! Each month we'll meet in person at the Library to talk about our book of the month. After discussion, we will do a craft, activity or game. This month's book is Cranky Chicken by Katherine Battersby and copies will be available to check out at the library's circulation desk downstairs. Registration is required; participants only need to register once for the entire school year. If you have any questions about the book club or would like to register your child, please contact Jenn at childrens@gleasonlibrary.org or call 978-369-4898 and ask for the Children's Desk.
3rd & 4th Grade
Thursday, May 11 | 4 p.m.
Have your third- or fourth-grader join us at the Gleason Library's 3rd & 4th Grade Book Club! Each month we'll meet in person at the Library to talk about our book of the month. After discussion, we will do a craft or activity. This month's book is Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo and copies will be available to check out at the circulation desk. Registration is required; participants only need to register once for the entire school year. Your child can join at any time. If you have any questions about the book club or would like to register your child, please contact Tahleen Shamlian or call 978-369-4898 and ask for the Children's Desk.
Teens
Teen Advisory Board
Thursday, May 4 | 7 p.m.
Use your voice and help the Gleason Library become even better! The Teen Advisory Board will meet once a month over Zoom to discuss the library, what you think would be most helpful to you as teens, and to talk with your peers about school, what you're reading and/or watching, and life in general. Registration is required in order to receive the Zoom link. This group is for students in grades 9 through 12 and will provide participants with community service hours. If you have any questions, reach out to Tahleen, the Teen Services Librarian.
Middle School Take & Make: Kindness Rocks
Friday, May 11 | 10 a.m.
Paint a kindness rock to spread joy in your community! Once you paint your rock, the idea is to quietly leave it somewhere for another person to discover and enjoy. A simple message of love and compassion can bring a smile and brighten someone's entire day. Kits will include a rock, paint, and a paintbrush. Reserve your kit by registering for this event. Pickup will be during Library hours Friday, May 12 through Monday, May 15. Any kits not picked up by 9 p.m. on Monday, May 15 will then be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Teen Weekend Reading Kit
Friday, May 19 | 10 a.m
Grab a kit that has everything you need for a book-lover's weekend. Each kit will include a random YA novel for you to keep (genres and reading/maturity levels will vary), a craft or activity, a snack, a little bookish accessory, and a hot or iced beverage to make at home. Registration is required to reserve your kit, and pickup will be Friday, May 19 through Monday, May 22. These kits are for grades 7-12. Please email Tahleen, the Teen Services Librarian, with any questions.
Teen Weekend Reading Kits are generously sponsored by the Friends of the Gleason Public Library.
Felted Rainbow Patches With Pop Up Art School
Friday, June 2 | 2:45 p.m.
Make a fuzzy felted patch with wool. Pick from four rainbow designs. Use the finished piece as a patch on a jacket, or frame it for a unique piece of art. Pop up Art School will show you how to use a barbed needle and wool roving to make this cool accessory. Needle felting is fun and easier than it looks!
This art program is for ages 11 and up, as required by the presenter for safety reasons. Registration is required as space is limited.
This program is sponsored by the Carlisle Cultural Council.
Adults
Wild Edible Plants Id Walk With Russ Cohen
Wednesday, May 24 | 3-5:30 p.m.
Carlisle and surrounding communities are home to over 100 species of edible wild plants, many of which are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. These include native species like Elderberry and Black Raspberry; non-native weeds, like Burdock and Chicory; and invasive species, like Autumn Olive and Black Locust. Join Russ Cohen, author of the book Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten, on a 2+ hour ramble through Great Brook Farm State Park to encounter and learn about at least 18 species of edible wild plants. Keys to the identification of each species will be provided, along with info on edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as guidelines for safe, ethical and environmentally responsible foraging. We will meet at the Interpretive Center at Great Brook Farm State Park, located at 165 North Road in Carlisle. Registration is required.
This event is sponsored by the Susan Zielinksi Natural Science Fund.
Adult Take & Make: Marbled Clay Ring Dish
Friday, May 19 | 10 a.m.
Create a marbled trinket bowl using polymer clay. This is a hands-on, sensory craft that is super fun and easy to make. Register online for a kit and pick it up any time between Friday, May 19th and Monday, May 22nd at 9 p.m. via in-person or curbside pickup. This kit includes clay, a wood tool, gold paint, and a paintbrush.
This craft is for adults ages 18 and up. Take & Make craft kits are made possible by our wonderful Friends of the Gleason Public Library.
If you have any questions about this kit please email jpike@gleasonlibrary.org.
What's Wrong With My Houseplant? (Virtual)
Thursday, May 4 | 2 p.m.
**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email. Register directly on Zoom HERE.**
As with our outdoor gardens, many things can go wrong when you grow plants indoors. Learn the factors that make for happy houseplants, including light, water, and soil...and how to provide them. Common houseplant pests and diseases are also on the agenda, as well as how to treat them. Led by Bonnie Power, a Massachusetts Master Gardener since 2016 and a serious outdoor/indoor gardener most of her life. Curious and research-oriented by nature, she has many horticultural interests and areas of expertise. Bonnie holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Zoology, which informs her perspective on the management of garden insects; she is also an administrator for a “sick houseplant” group on Facebook. She spent the past year as manager of the MMGA Soil pH Testing team and while she has passed this on to a new manager, she continues as a member of the team. Bonnie also volunteers at Garden in the Woods, a Native Plant Trust botanical garden in Framingham, where she is a guide. She learned to grow vegetables as a child from her father, and flowers and houseplants from her mother. At home in Marlborough, Bonnie grows a variety of vegetables and ornamentals (with a bias for natives).
Presented with the support of the Friends of Gleason Public Library in collaboration with the Tewksbury Public Library.
NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 24 hours of the program.
First City On Mars: An Urban Planner's Guide To Settling The Red Planet (Virtual)
Thursday, May 11 | 12 p.m.
**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email. Register directly on Zoom HERE.**
Award-winning author and Tufts University Professor Justin Hollander will give a presentation based on his new book, First City on Mars: An Urban Planner’s Guide to Settling the Red Planet, in this webinar. Hundreds of novels, films, and TV shows have speculated about what it would be like for us Earthlings to build cities on Mars. To make it a reality, however, these dreamers are in sore need of additional conceptual tools in their belt—particularly, a rich knowledge of city planning and design.
Author Justin Hollander will draw on his experience as an urban planner and researcher of human settlements to offer a presentation on what a city on Mars might actually look like. Exploring the residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure elements of such an outpost, Professor Hollander is able to paint a vivid picture of how a Martian community would function—the layout of its public spaces, the arrangement of its buildings, its transportation network, and many more crucial aspects of daily life on another planet. Professor Hollander will then bring all these lessons to life through his own rendered plan for “Aleph,” one of many possible designs for the first city on Mars.
Presented in collaboration with the Tewksbury Public Library.
NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 24 hours of the program.
Momfluenced: Inside The Maddening, Picture-Perfect World Of Mommy Influencer Culture (Virtual)
Wednesday, May 31 | 7 p.m.
**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email. Register directly on Zoom HERE. **
Author Sara Petersen will discuss her brand new book, Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture, in this webinar.
Presented in collaboration with the Tewksbury Public Library.
NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 24 hours of the program.
Books About Books
Wednesday, May 24 | 7 p.m.
Books About Books discusses noteworthy books and the books they have inspired. This month we will be reading the second book in this series, On Beauty by Zadie Smith. The first was Howards End by E.M. Forster, which we read in April. We will discuss both books at this meeting.
The group will meet the third Wednesday of every month in the Hollis room from 7-8 p.m. Copies of each month's book will be available for checkout at the Circulation Desk. Come read and discuss books and the books written about them, and bring your ideas for pairs of books we could read! Register here.
Community Book Club
Monday, May 1 | 10:30 a.m.
May: The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
June: Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
The Carlisle Community Book Club welcomes new members anytime. Members take turns suggesting a book, and because the members have different reading habits and suggest a wide range of books, everyone broadens their horizons. We also talk about other books we’ve read or are interested in reading, and usually someone else at the meeting has read it or has something to say about it. If you like to read and are looking for some literary companionship, give the Community Book Club a try.
The Community Book Club meets once a month, usually on the first Monday, at 10:30 AM via Zoom. Please register to receive the Zoom login information. No commitment required. You don’t even have to have read the book to go to the meetings, but you may come out of the discussion wanting to read it. Sponsored jointly by the CoA and the Gleason Public Library.
Reading Poetry Anew
Tuesday, May 2 | 10 a.m.
Reading Poetry Anew will meet via Zoom. Please note the change in the starting time—the class will now begin at 10 a.m instead of 10:30 a.m. Please register to receive the Zoom invitation and poem packet by email. All are welcome!
Dip or dive into the pleasures of poetry. This informal course, led by Mary Zoll, will include poetry readings and reactions, discussions of the patterns and techniques used in the poems, and perhaps some intellectual understanding of the poems. This class meets one Tuesday a month. Mary Zoll has published a few poems and read a multitude of poems.
Employment Opportunity: Library Page Position
Part-time position. Sorts and shelves materials; assists with routine library needs; and assists on occasional special projects and special programs for children and teens.
Qualifications: Graduation from ninth grade or equivalent; volunteer or work experience with a library recommended but not required.
Pay and hours: $19.22/hr ($19.80/hr as of July 1st). This is a year-round position working 1.5-2 hours per week during the school year and 2-6 hours per week during the summer.
Application instructions: Send cover letter and resume to Martha Feeney-Patten, Library Director, mpatten@gleasonlibrary.org. Deadline Monday, May 15, 2023. EOE/AA.
Have You Tried Tumblebooks?
Carlisle residents have access through the Gleason Library to TumbleBooks: animated, talking picture books that teach kids the joy of reading in a format they'll love. TumbleBooks are created by taking existing picture books and adding animation, sound, music, and narration to produce an electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you.
To log on, visit gleasonlibrary.org and go to “What We Offer” and then “Digital Resources.” The collection includes picture books, easy readers, nonfiction, and a growing selection of books in Spanish and French. Enjoy favorites like Bink & Gollie, Diary of a Fly, and The Paper Bag Princess, or discover new authors and characters.
Please consider donating to the Friends of the Gleason Public Library to help us bring more great programs and services to the Carlisle community.
