News & Notes from the Blanding Library

Clay Workshop for Adults on Tues. May 10

Local artist Beth Buvarsky will show how to use dry clay to make a decorative coil vessel you can take home with you on May 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. Space is limited to 12 adults and advance registration is required. $5 fee.

Table-Top Gardens for Adults on Fri. May 20  

Build a personalized table top garden or terrarium for your home. We will use stones, soil, moss and other plants. Bring your own container or buy one at the event. All other materials provided. $5 fee. Space is limited to 15 adults and advance registration is required.

Children’s Activities

Tot Time for children under age 3 will continue Tuesdays at 10 a.m. through June 14.  Story & Craft times will continue the current series through May 26 and then begin again in July.

Look for more news of fun summer programs for kids in next month’s Reporter. Kicking off the summer reading program will be a return visit from Ed the Wizard on Wed. June 29 at 1:30 p.m.

Parents interested in enrolling their child in the library’s Puppy Pals reading program may call the library to register. The library offers 15-minute time slots after school where children get to practice their reading skills with a trained Canine Good Citizen. These dogs are always patient listeners.

Under Construction

You’ve probably noticed all the construction work going on at Goff Hall. The building renovation project is well underway. This will be a new addition to the 100-year-old building which will include new handicapped accessible bathrooms. We are all eagerly looking forward to the completion of our new addition and ask your patience while construction work is taking place.

New E-Book Collection  

The Blanding offers not only books but so much more. Starting in May the Blanding will be subscribing to the Commonwealth e-Book collection. Library director Laura Bennet explains, “It's another way to increase offerings to our patrons, including fiction and nonfiction and holdings from academic and special libraries, without crowding our shelves even more.”

According to the Mass Library System, “Over the past several years, eBook circulation at libraries in Massachusetts has skyrocketed. To meet this growing demand, libraries across the state are joining together to participate in the Commonwealth eBook Collections. This is a statewide eBook lending program that is opening up access to eBooks for Massachusetts residents.”

“Just as we do with print materials, Massachusetts Libraries are committed to providing equal access to digital content for all Massachusetts residents. Libraries that have joined Commonwealth eBook Collections are working together to help solve the eBook access challenge. These libraries provide their patrons access to a new collection of eBooks that include many academic titles and self-published materials as well as popular fiction titles.”

Remember, you can now reserve museum passes online by going to Blanding Tixkeeper. Just go to blandinglibrary.net and click on Museum Passes. These one-day discount passes are free to anyone who has a library card.

“The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein will be the next book discussed by the Blanding book club on Wed. June 1 at 7 p.m.

The Blanding Library, 124 Bay State Rd., is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays and holidays, including Mon. May 30 for Memorial Day. Phone 508-252-4236 or go to blandinglibrary.net.