Free Children's Concert with Marcie

Join us this Saturday, May 12 at 10:30 AM for a free performance by Boston area children's musician Marcie. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Pepperell Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

This concert kicks off our summer reading program. This year's theme is Libraries Rock!. Check back with us during the first week in June for more details on how you can rock your summer reading.

       

Be Kind, Please Rewind

Now on display at the library are hand-woven bags made by the Social Catalysts Charitable Foundation. What makes these bags unique? They are created with videotape "yarn" that is made from recycled videotapes.

Social Catalysts bags | Photos by Amy Lordan

 

Through Social Catalysts' partnership with CLASS and other human service agencies, disabled individuals are employed to disassemble videocassettes and hand-weave recycled videotape into cotton and other types of yarn. Members of the Weavers' Guild of Boston work with Social Catalysts to set up these weaving programs.

Photo courtesy of Social Catalysts

Social Catalysts brings the finished fabric to local fashion designers who then create these one of a kind accessories. A variety of these environmentally-friendly bags are available for purchase on Etsy.

On June 14 at 6:30 PM, Social Catalysts will present a program in our art gallery. Here's a description of the program, courtesy of Christine Wyman of Social Catalysts:

Are you an avid recycler? Would you like to learn about weaving? Christine Wyman of Social Catalysts, a local non-profit that creates employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, will talk about their weaving program and how they collaborate with weavers from the Weavers' Guild of Boston and local seamstresses to create unique products to help fund their program. 

The talk will be followed by a demonstration of weaving by Barbara Provest and sewing by Susan Thompson, as well as an opportunity for hands-on learning.

We hope to see you there!

Special Author Event with Bruce Robert Coffin

We are excited to welcome Bruce Robert Coffin for a book discussion and signing on Wednesday, May 16 at 7 PM. Bruce is a former detective sergeant and author of the best-selling Detective Byron mystery series.

Author and former detective Bruce Robert Coffin
Photo by Kelly Watters

At the time of his retirement from the Portland Police Department, Bruce oversaw all violent crime and homicide investigations for Maine's largest city. During his 27 years in law enforcement, he also spent four years working counter-terrorism with the FBI where he earned the Director's Award, which is the highest honor a non-agent can receive.

Bruce has used his extensive background to craft the Detective Byron series. He is also a regular contributor to both the Maine Crime Writers blog and Murder Books blog. Search our catalog for the first book of the Detective Byron series, Among the Shadows, or book two, Beneath the Depths. You can also look for his short story "Fool Proof," in Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Best American Mystery Stories 2016.

Please REGISTER for this event, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Lawrence Library.

Barbara Cooney Literary Landmark Dedication

Photo by Amy Lordan

The Lawrence Library Board of Trustees & the Friends of the Lawrence Library invite you to attend the Barbara Cooney Literary Landmark Dedication being held on Saturday, May 5 at 2 PM. We are delighted to celebrate former Pepperell resident Barbara Cooney, the beloved children's author and illustrator.

This Literary Landmark appellation was awarded by the Literary Landmarks Association. The Lawrence Library is featured in Ms. Cooney's picture book Miss Rumphius, which won the National Book for Award for Children's Books in 1983. Our Head of Youth Services, Shannon, applied for the designation.

The ceremony will take place in the Mahony Garden behind the library. Browse our catalog for more books by Ms. Cooney.

New at the Lawrence Library: LGBTQ+ Groups

We are thrilled to announce two new groups, one for youth and one for adults, to discuss LGBTQ+ issues and topics in a safe, welcoming environment. Pepperell resident J.D. Melendez has volunteered as the facilitator. For over 20 years, J.D. has been working with LGBTQ+ people, with a focus on transgender and LGBTQ+ youth communities. 

The first LGBTQ+ Youth Group meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 2 at 6:30 PM. The inaugural LGBTQ+ Adult Group meeting is being held on Wednesday, May 30 at 6:30 PM. 

In other LGBTQ+ news, our newest staff member, Amy (That's me!), is proud to identify an LGBTQ+ ally. I previously worked at the Bentley University Library where I was a member of the university's LGBTQ Ally Network. 

We hope that you will join us for conversation and snacks. And be on the lookout for more LGBTQ+ special events in the future.