Town of Blackstone Public Library Releases Jam-Packed July Schedule of Events

BLACKSTONE — Library Director Lisa Cheever and the Blackstone Public Library Board of Trustees are pleased to invite the community to take part in summertime events taking place at the Blackstone Public Library, with a jam-packed schedule planned for July and early August. The Blackstone Public Library is located at 86 Main St.

Monthly Activity Highlight:

Have ewe herd the news?
Adult Summer Reading Program Participants
to Make Felted Sheep at Pop-Up Art School

In its second event of the summer, the Adult Summer Reading Program is getting crafty with a Pop-Up Art School event that will teach participants how to make felted sheep. In this hands-on event, guests will use only wool and a needle, practicing the art of needle felting, guided by an expert instructor through each step of the process to sculpt a fuzzy barnyard friend.

• WHEN: 6 p.m., Monday, July 7
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Free event. Registration is required. In order to register for the event, patrons must be signed up for the Adult Summer Reading Program and check-in once to document ongoing participation in the program prior to this event in order to take part. To register or to find out more information, please visit the library or call 508-883-1931. This program is supported by a grant from the Blackstone Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Family-Friendly Activities at the Library:

Take the Wheel at Annual Touch the Trucks Events

A popular, family-friendly summer event featuring heavy-duty vehicles is returning to the Blackstone Public Library. The annual “Touch the Trucks” event offers guests a chance to get up close and personal with a large variety of trucks, including a fire truck, a school bus, a police cruiser, construction equipment and more. Take the family and let the kids get behind the wheel and explore these powerful automotives.

• WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon, Friday, Aug. 1
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: No registration is required. All are welcome to this family-friendly event. Parking for this event must be off-site and on side streets where parking is permitted.

Adult Programs at the Blackstone Public Library:

Paint Up a Storm with Paul Jacques

This art class, aimed at adults, is offering the chance for participants to take their painting skills to new heights. Instructor Paul Jacques, a Blackstone resident, is now teaching how to paint in the community where he grew up. This scenic painting class is being funded by a generous donation from the Library Gift Account, as authorized by the Board of Library Trustees.

• WHEN: 6 p.m., Friday, July 18
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration is limited to Adult Summer Reading program participants, with one check-in during the course of the program required. For more information or to register, call the Blackstone Public Library at 508-883-1931.

Take Your Shot with the Photography Club

Join other photographers to discuss various topics including equipment and techniques. Each month, the Blackstone Photography Club hosts a guest speaker, exploring all things photography related and providing special insight into the craft.

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 15
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration is required. Call the Blackstone Public Library at 508-883-1931 for more information or to register. This club is sponsored by the Friends of the Blackstone Library.

Keep Calm and Quilt On

Patch it up with a group of like-minded crafters by joining the Quilting Club at the Blackstone Public Library. Come together for a relaxing and creative gathering with fellow quilters. Not a quilter? Become one. Each meeting is an opportunity to learn, relax, share ideas, work on projects, and enjoy each other’s company.

• WHEN: 1 p.m., Thursday, July 24
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Call the Blackstone Public Library at 508-883-1931 for more information. This club is sponsored by the Friends of the Blackstone Library.

More than Books. Borrow Appliances, Board Games,
Puzzles and Even a Telescope

Have you ever heard about the Library of Things? Through the Blackstone Public Library, you can follow through with those healthy eating goals by borrowing the library’s blender, allowing you to make a smoothie packed with vitamins (fruits and vegetables not included). Graduations and graduation parties are just around the corner. Borrow fun outdoor games offered by the Library of Things to bring the graduation festivities to a whole new level. Just call the library with your library card ready at 508-883-1931 to reserve items from the Library of Things. To browse the catalogue for the Library of Things, click here.

Get in the Groove by Making Tie-Dye Aprons

Take your cooking experience to all new levels of grooviness by crafting a new tie-dye apron to wear while in the kitchen. These tie-dye aprons are also perfect for painting and crafting. Guests at this event, “Adult Crafting with Jean,” will get to make a unique tie-dye apron, with all the supplies provided by organizers, and no experience needed. The event is being held twice, on July 10 and July 15.

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 10; 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 15
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library, Meeting Room
• MORE INFO: Registration is required. Call the Blackstone Public Library at 508-883-1931 for more information or to register. This event is funded by a donation from the Blackstone Library’s LIG MEG account, as authorized by the Board of Library Trustees.

Scrap It Up: Learn How to Preserve Family Memories

Scrap your other plans for the evening. A family history scrapbooking class is being held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, at the Blackstone Public Library. This is an opportunity to create beautiful scrapbooks, meant to preserve memories and family history. Guests at this Blackstone Public Library event are asked to bring at least four photographs each to use in the scrapbook, along with information about the subject. The rest of the supplies will be provided by library staff.

• WHEN: 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 21
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration is required. Call 508-883-1931 to sign up. This program is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Federal Library Services Act, as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Capture the Ocean in a Hexagon for Your Home

Ever wish you lived on the ocean? Here’s your chance for the next best thing. The Senior Crafty Corner held in the Library Meeting Room will offer guests a way to take a bit of the ocean home by making a seashore shadowbox, a hexagon-shaped container with a miniature seashore on display.

• WHEN: 1 p.m., Thursday, July 17
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library, Library Meeting Room
• MORE INFO: Participants must be 60 years of age or older. Space is limited to 15 spots. Registration is required. Call the Blackstone Public Library at 508-883-1931 to register or to get more information. This event is funded by a donation from the Blackstone Library’s LIG MEG account, as authorized by the Board of Library Trustees.

Get Cracking on Some Crackle Tray Crafts

Participants in the Adult Summer Reading Program are dropping the books for a night and getting crafty, making crackle trays. Guests must have documented two check-ins, marking their ongoing participation in the Adult Summer Reading Program, in order to take part in this event. Crackle tray crafts involve creating a tray with a cracked or weathered appearance. The crackle effect adds a vintage or rustic look to the tray. 

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 24
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration is required. Call the Blackstone Public Library at 508-883-1931 to register or to get more information. This program is funded by LIG MEG.

Color Your World with Pastels

Take part in a pastel art event as part of the Adult Summer Reading Program. 

• WHEN: 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 2
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Registration is required. Registration is limited to those who have signed up to participate in the Adult Summer Reading Program. Patrons must be signed up for the Adult Summer Reading Program and check-in once to document ongoing participation in the program prior to this event in order to take part.

Ongoing Book Groups:

The Blackstone Book Group Picked Out a Sweet Mystery for this Month

The Evening Book Group, also known as the Blackstone Book Group, has picked out a sweet book for this month. “The Berry Pickers: A Novel” follows the mysterious story of a Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia that arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later, the 4-year-old of the family, Ruthie, vanishes. She was last seen sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Take part in the discussion with like-minded readers.

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 8
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Contact Renee Milliken at rmilliken@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931.

Spend an Afternoon Recapping the Latest Book of the Month

The Afternoon Book Club meets on the last Tuesday of each month. Join the group for a lively chat and a cup of tea. Take a seat, relax and unwind during an afternoon of great conversation about the Afternoon Book Club’s latest book of the month. Newcomers are welcome. Copies of the book of the month are available at the front desk.

• WHEN: 3 p.m., Tuesday, July 29
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Contact Donna Foster at dfoster@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931.

Get Spooked with the Grim Reader’s Society, a Horror Book Club

Fans of ghosts, ghouls and gore unite. The Horror Book Club is a monthly book club focusing on spooky, spine-tingling tales. Newcomers are welcome. Scaredy cats are welcome, too. Copies of the book of the month are available at the front desk.

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 10
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: Contact Tressy Collier at tcollier@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931.

Feed your Appetite for Culture and Literature with the Heritage Book Club

Members of the Heritage Book Club dig into a new book each month, while also sampling a foodthat represents the ancestry of people who live in Blackstone. As they explore diverse literary works, members also explore the diversity of ancestral backgrounds of the various people who reside in Blackstone.

• WHEN: 2 p.m., Thursday, July 24
• WHERE: Blackstone Public Library
• MORE INFO: The Heritage Book Club program is part of the “Voices: A Common Thread” program and it is sponsored by Unibank. For more info or to sign up, contact Renee Milliken at rmilliken@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931.

Senior Center Book Club is on Hiatus

The Senior Center Book Club is not meeting during the month of July. Normally, this group meets on the third Tuesday morning of every month at the Senior Center on St. Paul Street. Monthly books are available at the front desk at the library or at the Senior Center. New members are always welcome.

• MORE INFO: Contact Donna Foster at dfoster@cwmars.org or call 508-883-1931.