Chelmsford Public Library Events

3D Crochet - Amigurumi Ice Cream Cones - Experienced class

Join Off the Hook Crochet for a fun and creative 2-hour workshop at the Chelmsford Public Library, where you’ll crochet your own adorable amigurumi ice cream! This guided session is perfect for crocheters who are comfortable with basic stitches and ready to build their skills while completing a cute, finished project. All materials are provided, though you are welcome to bring your own yarn and hooks if you prefer. With over 30 years of crochet experience, your instructor will offer plenty of hands-on support, including tips for shaping amigurumi, improving stitch consistency, and confidently following patterns. Please note that this is not a beginner class; participants should already know how to crochet basic stitches such as single crochet and work in the round. Let me know if you need anything else from me! See you next month!

Intermediate English Conversation Circle

Join our small informal group to practice speaking English. Come for 2 hours or drop in for a little while. We talk about anything and everything.  There is no homework, and our conversations range from world issues to personal stories. Come listen, and talk if you want to!

When Trees Testify: Reclaiming America's Black Botanical Legacy with Beronda Montgomery

Join us for a riveting conversation with award-winning biologist Beronda Montgomery as we discuss her book,  When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy.  The histories of trees in America are also the histories of Black Americans. Pecan trees were domesticated by an enslaved African named Antoine; sycamore trees were both havens and signposts for people trying to escape enslavement; poplar trees are historically associated with lynching; and willow bark has offered the gift of medicine. These trees, and others, testify not only to the complexity of the Black American narrative but also to a heritage of Black botanical expertise that, like Native American traditions, predates the United States entirely. In  When Trees Testify , award-winning plant biologist Beronda L. Montgomery explores the ways seven trees, as well as the cotton shrub, are intertwined with Black history and culture. She reveals how knowledge surrounding these trees has shaped America since the very beginning. As Montgomery shows, trees are material witnesses to the lives of enslaved Africans and their descendants. Combining the wisdom of science and history with stories from her own path to botany, Montgomery talks to majestic trees, and in this unique and compelling narrative, they answer. Register today for this insightful discussion about Black history and botanical mastery.    About the Author: Beronda L. Montgomery, PhD, is a writer, researcher, and scholar who pursues a common theme of understanding how individuals perceive, respond to, and are impacted by the environments in which they exist. Her primary laboratory-based research has been focused on the responses of photosynthetic organisms (i.e., plants and cyanobacteria) to external light cues. Additionally, Beronda pursues this theme in the context of effective mentoring and leadership of individuals, and the role of innovative leaders in supporting success. Beronda is author of two books  When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy  (2026, Henry Holt and Co.) and  Lessons From Plants  (2021, Harvard University Press).     The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chelmsford Public Library.

Zoom Book Club for Grades 3-5

Please join us for a Book Club for children in grades 3 - 5.  Each week kids will be expected to read several chapters from a chosen book.  Each book will be completed over the course of several weeks.  Books will be available at the Circulation Desk at the Chelmsford Public Library.  Each week participants will engage in discussions, games and fun activities related to the book that the group is reading.  A good time is had by all!  Registration is required.  The Zoom link will be emailed in the early afternoon on Tuesday.  For more information feel free to reach out to Deborah in the Children's Room at dmorrissey@chelmsfordlibrary.org. We will finish exploring The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies.  Participants are encourage to have the read the whole book before today's meeting.

Community Computer Skills Class

Are you an absolute beginner with technology? Join us for an eight-week computer basics course presented by our partners at UMass-Lowell, and be eligible to receive a free Chromebook computer! With support from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the Mass Tech Collaborative, and in collaboration with University of Massachusetts Lowell, the Chelmsford Public Library is offering courses on digital literacy.  This weekly in-person course will introduce trainees to the basics of computer and internet use, including creating an email account and sending/receiving emails, internet search techniques, creating a word document, and AI. The 12-hour course will consist of eight 90-minute sessions in the McCarthy Meeting Room on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Participants who complete all eight weeks of the course will receive a Chromebook, provided by a grant from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. Use the link on this page to register for the program, and contact the reference desk at askus@chelmsfordlibrary.org with any questions.

Beginner English

ESL learners can stop by for basic lessons in English with an instructor. The instructor has taught for many years in both local schools and abroad.  Please bring a notebook and your questions about English and its challenges. Materials will also be provided for participants. This is a weekly meeting, every Wednesday afternoon. Students are not obligated to come for meetings each week and are welcome to drop in on the weeks they are able. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jianna Christopher at jchristopher@chelmsfordlibrary.org or 978-256-5521 ext. 1107

VIRTUAL Fiber Arts Circle

Join a group of fellow knitters, crocheters, and other crafters over zoom to talk about your projects and chat with other creatives!

High Altitudes and High Stakes: A Miss Marple Mystery with Lucy Foley

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Guest List and The Midnight Feast   Join us for a thrilling conversation with acclaimed author Lucy Foley as we delve into her brand-new Miss Marple mystery,  Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel .  High in the Swiss Alps, accessible only by a single, winding railway, stands the luxurious Grand Alpine Hotel. With glorious mountain views and exclusive access to powdery slopes, it draws guests from far and wide.  The notorious actress.  The high-flying politician.  The society wife.  The reckless friend.  The shrewd doctor.   But not everyone is here for a winter holiday. Beneath the champagne and furs, dark histories simmer; old grudges emerge like cracks in the ice. And someone is watching from the shadows. A polite, unassuming woman with an extraordinary mind: Miss Marple. When a body is found and a blizzard cuts off all escape, only Miss Marple can connect the clues before the killer strikes again. Because it isn’t a question of who has a motive, but who’s next…   About the Author: Lucy Foley is a No.1  Sunday Times ,  Irish Times  and  New York Times  bestselling author. More than 10 million copies of her books are in print worldwide, and several are currently being adapted for the screen. She is a Waterstones Thriller of the Month author, a three-time nominee at the British Book Awards, and  The Guest List  was a Reese’s Book Club selection and winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery Thriller. As a life-long Agatha Christie fan, Lucy has drawn immeasurable inspiration from the Queen of Crime. She was one of 12 writers to contribute to  Marple , a collection of short stories featuring the beloved detective. And in  Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel,  she was inspired to transport Miss Marple – her favorite Christie creation – to the glamorous post-war setting of the Swiss Alps, in a mystery that feels gloriously escapist yet utterly relevant to our times.     The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chelmsford Public Library.

Teen Dungeons and Dragons Summer Adventure

This program is for grades 7 through 12. Please come prepared with a level 8 Dungeons and Dragons character. Contact Youth Services Librarian Julia Sullivan at jsullivan@chelmsfordlibrary.org or 978-256-5521 x1123 with questions.

VIRTUAL: Art on Thursdays- August - Through Wind and Storm: The Art of Wild Weather

Please CLICK HERE to register on zoom and receive the link. Explore the raw power and sublime terror of nature's most dramatic moments through the eyes of artists who dared to capture lightning, tornadoes, floods, and tempests on canvas, from Turner's legendary storm at sea to Curry's iconic Kansas tornado. These masterworks reveal how painters throughout history have transformed meteorological chaos into profound artistic statements about humanity's fragile relationship with the natural world, whether through Hokusai's towering wave, or contemporary artists responding to our climate crisis. How do these artists manage to make us feel the wind's roar, the lightning's flash, and the earth's trembling through mere pigment and brushstrokes? This program reveals how wild weather has always served as both artistic inspiration and metaphor for life's most turbulent and transformative moments. Image: John Steuart Curry. Tornado Over Kansas, 1929. Muskegon Art Museum.

Outdoor Baby Storytime (O-Walking)

Join Deborah and fellow parents for a wonderful introduction to early literacy. Caregivers share parenting experiences with one another and bond with their babies through lap bounces, nursery rhymes, songs, and board books. This storytime will be held outside, weather permitting.  If bad weather, we will be inside.

Outdoor Storytime (all ages)

Join Deborah for a fun morning of stories, songs, rhymes, bubbles and the parachute!  Registration is not required--drop in for some fun! This storytime will be held outside, weather permitting.  If bad weather, we will be inside.

True Crime & Chill Book Club

Have you already binged every documentary available & listened to all the podcasts on your phone? Want to learn about some obscure criminal cases and the psychology behind crime? This month's pick is Slenderman by Kathleen Hale, so stop by the library to grab a copy today.

Monday Evening Book Group

This is a hybrid book group, where we meet in person as well as on zoom.  Please register in person if you'd like to join us in the conference room, or online via zoom. This month we will be discussing,  The Names by Florence Knapp .  "A dazzling debut that asks: Can a name shape the course of a life? In the wake of an enormous, history-making storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son's birth. Her husband Gordon, a local doctor, respected in the community but a terrifying and controlling presence at home, intends for her to follow his family tradition going back generations, and name the child Gordon. But on the journey there, Cora wonders if it's right to impose the burden of this name and its legacy onto her tiny newborn son. She herself has Julian in mind, and Maia offers up her own suggestion: Bear. What follows are three alternate and alternating versions of both Cora's life and her young son's life shaped by her brave, last-minute choice of name. Spanning thirty-five years, the novel draws us in from the first page, as we follow three unforgettable journeys of one young man, but also his mother, grandmother, and sister. In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing. With exceptional sensitivity and depth, Knapp draws us into the story of one family told through a prism of what-ifs, and shows us what we each can do with the "one precious life" we are given. The Names's brilliantly imaginative structure and storytelling, and the emotional, gut-wrenching power of the book itself, are certain to make it a modern classic."

Intermediate English Conversation Circle

Join our small informal group to practice speaking English. Come for 2 hours or drop in for a little while. We talk about anything and everything.  There is no homework, and our conversations range from world issues to personal stories. Come listen, and talk if you want to!

VIRTUAL: The Democracy We Must Keep: Why the Ideas that Built America Still Matter with David O. Stewart

Award-Winning Historian and Bestselling Author of Impeached and The Summer of 1787 Join us as we chat with award-winning historian David O. Stewart about his newest work,  The Democracy We Must Keep , and the question he explores throughout the book: What did America's founders say about democracy, and can we remain true to their vision for America? Two hundred fifty years ago, passionate men attempted to create something the world had never seen before: a nation built not on kings or armies, but on ideas where the people ruled. In  The Democracy We Must Keep , historian David O. Stewart takes readers inside the nine key documents that shaped the formation of the United States—from Patrick Henry's thunderous cry for liberty to the carefully crafted design of a government chosen by the people, with limits on all officials holding power under the Constitution. Through the words of seven visionary founders—Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, and others—Stewart shows how a fragile experiment in self-government took shape. These men were not saints. They argued passionately. They worried that the new nation might fall apart. Yet together, they forged the principles that must still define American democracy: Power must be limited. Leaders must answer to the people. Individual rights must be protected by law. As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary,  The Democracy We Must Keep  urges readers to rediscover core ideas that built the nation—and to consider what it will take to protect them. Register today to gain a deeper understanding of how American democracy started, why it still matters, and the active role each generation must play to uphold it.   About the Author: David O. Stewart has published eleven award-winning and best-selling books of history and historical novels. In 2023, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Washington Independent Review of Books. His most recent fictional series, the Overstreet Saga, is inspired by family stories his mother told. He lives in Maryland with the light of his life, Nancy Floreen; they have three children and six grandchildren.     The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chelmsford Public Library.

NO MEETING TODAY - Zoom Book Club for Grades 3-5

Please join us for a Book Club for children in grades 3 - 5.  Each week kids will be expected to read several chapters from a chosen book.  Each book will be completed over the course of several weeks.  Books will be available at the Circulation Desk at the Chelmsford Public Library.  Each week participants will engage in discussions, games and fun activities related to the book that the group is reading.  A good time is had by all!  Registration is required.  The Zoom link will be emailed in the early afternoon on Tuesday.  For more information feel free to reach out to Deborah in the Children's Room at dmorrissey@chelmsfordlibrary.org. Book Club will not meet today.  Enjoy the start of the school year.  We will resume next week with a new book!

Community Computer Skills Class

Are you an absolute beginner with technology? Join us for an eight-week computer basics course presented by our partners at UMass-Lowell, and be eligible to receive a free Chromebook computer! With support from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the Mass Tech Collaborative, and in collaboration with University of Massachusetts Lowell, the Chelmsford Public Library is offering courses on digital literacy.  This weekly in-person course will introduce trainees to the basics of computer and internet use, including creating an email account and sending/receiving emails, internet search techniques, creating a word document, and AI. The 12-hour course will consist of eight 90-minute sessions in the McCarthy Meeting Room on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Participants who complete all eight weeks of the course will receive a Chromebook, provided by a grant from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. Use the link on this page to register for the program, and contact the reference desk at askus@chelmsfordlibrary.org with any questions.

Pop-Up Library: The Village at Meadowood

You'll find the Pop-Up Library set up in The Village at Meadowood. St. Andrews Way, North Chelmsford, MA 01886.  Open to the public!

Beginner English

ESL learners can stop by for basic lessons in English with an instructor. The instructor has taught for many years in both local schools and abroad.  Please bring a notebook and your questions about English and its challenges. Materials will also be provided for participants. This is a weekly meeting, every Wednesday afternoon. Students are not obligated to come for meetings each week and are welcome to drop in on the weeks they are able. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jianna Christopher at jchristopher@chelmsfordlibrary.org or 978-256-5521 ext. 1107

Thrive! Memory Cafe - Music Appreciation

Memory Cafés are a fun place to socialize, relax, and engage with people experiencing memory loss and their friends, family members, or caregivers. Each café has a unique focus to facilitate social connection and joy. Please register through the Chelmsford Public Library.  Live music: Max (Piano 2 the Max)  Piano and Sax

Teen Volunteer Shelf Reader Training

Are you detail oriented? Do you love books? Are you looking for community service hours? Our volunteer shelf reading program might be just for you!  Register here to complete our brief in-person training to be a volunteer shelf reader. Our volunteer shelf readers serve an essential purpose - helping to keep our shelves neat and organized! In this training, library staff will walk teens through the library and show them how to sign in for shelf reading, how our collection is organized, and answer any questions that may come up. Volunteers will need to complete an application and have it signed by a parent or guardian before registering for this training and earning service hours. If you have any questions, please email Marty Mason at mmason@chelmsfordlibrary.org.

Chelmsford Friends of the Library

Join the Friends of the Library to become more involved in your community! The Friends meet on the first Thursday of each month. Their support makes possible educational, cultural, art and music programs for adults and children, as well as museum passes, computer workstations, equipment, and furniture for both the Anna C. MacKay Branch and the Main Library. Learn more about the Friends of the Library and what they do on their website:  https://www.chelmsfordlibraryfriends.org/ . This meeting will be a hybrid meeting.  The options are to join the meeting through using the zoom link or to attend in-person.  Please email the Friends of the Library for the zoom information at Chelmsfordfriends@gmail.com

VIRTUAL: Talkin' Bout a Revolution with Bruce Magnuson (Part 1)

Talkin’ Bout a Revolution  From the opening salvos at Lexington and Concord through the  Evacuation of Boston, local photographer (and NPS volunteer at  Minute Man National Historical Park) Bruce Magnuson will take  you on a journey through key spots in the first year of the American  Revolution. Venturing north to Quebec City and Fort  Ticonderoga as well as closer to home in Boston and Cambridge,  much of the first year concentrated in and close to New  England. America’s 250th year is a great time to revisit these  landscapes through the lens of history, using photography to  connect modern views with the events, people, and decisions  that shaped the Revolution’s turbulent beginnings.

Novel Conversations Book Group

In September of 2026, the group will be meeting to discuss Heartwood by Amity Gage. "In the heart of the Maine woods, an experienced Appalachian Trail hiker goes missing. She is forty-two-year-old Valerie Gillis, who has vanished 200 miles from her final destination. Alone in the wilderness, Valerie pours her thoughts into fractured, poetic letters to her mother as she battles the elements and struggles to keep hoping. At the heart of the investigation is Beverly, the determined Maine State Game Warden tasked with finding Valerie, who leads the search on the ground. Meanwhile, Lena, a seventy-six-year-old birdwatcher in a Connecticut retirement community, becomes an unexpected armchair detective. Roving between these compelling narratives, a puzzle emerges, intensifying the frantic search, as Valerie's disappearance may not be accidental." Copies of the book are available at the Main Library's circulation desk. New members are always welcome! This group meets in-person at the Main Library downstairs in the Conference Room.

Libary closed for Labor Day

Little Learners Playgroup; drop in for ages 0-5

Come and join us for STEM Play Group! Every week we will explore a new STEM topic. We'll read a story, and then enjoy a hands-on activity based on science, technology, engineering, or math.  Best for ages 3-5, but everyone from age 0-8 is welcome to attend with their caregiver.  We can't wait to see you there! Presented by Chris Cole, CFCE Coordinator for Community Teamwork Incorporated. The Family Resource Network is funded by the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant (CFCE) from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.

Intermediate English Conversation Circle

Join our small informal group to practice speaking English. Come for 2 hours or drop in for a little while. We talk about anything and everything.  There is no homework, and our conversations range from world issues to personal stories. Come listen, and talk if you want to!

VIRTUAL: Writing the Nightmare: A Ship Called Sickness and One Unforgettable Space Crew with Daniel Kraus

2026 Pulitzer Prize Winner and New York Times Bestselling Author of Whalefall and Angel Down Prepare to launch into the darkest depths of deep space! Join us online as we sit down with master storyteller Daniel Kraus, winner of the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, to celebrate the release of his breathtaking new novel,  The Sixth Nik. Deep into space, far past the triworld outposts, beyond range of the lethal trollbot internet, soars  The Sickness : a ship woven from biomatter and capable of reacting to every need of its human crew. Sisilla, a nine-year-old cultist with a brain enhanced by arcane tech known as “niks,” has boarded to investigate the enigma of Fém—a plague-riddled planet that has abruptly gone rogue. The mysterious crew includes a faceless assassin, a beautiful engineer jigsawed by plastic surgery, a peyote-addicted medic, and—most lethal of all—a rugged, NonModded captain with a score to settle with Sisilla. Other dangers abound. A hacked robot begins to believe Sisilla is its daughter.  The Sickness  itself is mutating, possibly even pregnant. And the secret of Fém is more horrific than anyone could have imagined. To survive, Sisilla will need to forsake her predetermined fate and embrace the unknown. Register now to gain exclusive insight from one of the most visionary voices in modern fiction.   About the Author: Daniel Kraus is a Pulitzer Prize-winning,  New York Times  bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. His novel   Angel Down  was the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner, a  New York Times  Top 10 Book of 2025, and a national bestseller. His novel   Whalefall  received a front-cover review in the  New York Times Book Review , won the Alex Award, was an L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, the  New York Times , Amazon,  Chicago Tribune , and more. With Guillermo del Toro, he co-authored   The Shape of Water , based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar-winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus co-authored   Trollhunters , which was adapted into the Emmy-winning Netflix series. He co-wrote   The Living Dead  and   Pay the Piper  with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero. Kraus’s   The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch  was named one of  Entertainment Weekly ‘s Top 10 Books of the Year. Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both   Rotters  and   Scowler ), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, and more. Kraus’s work has been translated into over 25 languages. He lives with his partner in Chicago. Visit him at  danielkraus.com .     The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chelmsford Public Library.

Zoom Book Club for Grades 3-5

Please join us for a Book Club for children in grades 3 - 5.  Each week kids will be expected to read several chapters from a chosen book.  Each book will be completed over the course of several weeks.  Books will be available at the Circulation Desk at the Chelmsford Public Library.  Each week participants will engage in discussions, games and fun activities related to the book that the group is reading.  A good time is had by all!  Registration is required.  The Zoom link will be emailed in the early afternoon on Tuesday.  For more information feel free to reach out to Deborah in the Children's Room at dmorrissey@chelmsfordlibrary.org.

Community Computer Skills Class

Are you an absolute beginner with technology? Join us for an eight-week computer basics course presented by our partners at UMass-Lowell, and be eligible to receive a free Chromebook computer! With support from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the Mass Tech Collaborative, and in collaboration with University of Massachusetts Lowell, the Chelmsford Public Library is offering courses on digital literacy.  This weekly in-person course will introduce trainees to the basics of computer and internet use, including creating an email account and sending/receiving emails, internet search techniques, creating a word document, and AI. The 12-hour course will consist of eight 90-minute sessions in the McCarthy Meeting Room on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Participants who complete all eight weeks of the course will receive a Chromebook, provided by a grant from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. Use the link on this page to register for the program, and contact the reference desk at askus@chelmsfordlibrary.org with any questions.

Between the Sheets: A Romance Book Group

Did you know that romance novels generate over $1.4 billion in revenue--making romance the highest earning genre of fiction?  Romance novels sold more than 39 million print copies in 2023, which represents a 52% increase over the previous year.  Sales of romance novels MORE THAN DOUBLED over 2021 sales, and last year was the third consecutive year of increasing romance sales.  Meaning: romance readers, we know you're out there, and we've got the book club for you!   Join Julie Iatron, romance devotee, for "Between the Sheets: A Romance Book Group."  We'll gather on Tuesday, September 8h at 6:30 PM in the conference room to discuss "A Showgirl's Rules For Falling In Love" by Alice Murphy.   "It's 1897, and a new fashion for thin threatens to end the career of proudly fat vaudeville performer Evelyn Cross. Enter Thomas Gallier, the man behind the new palace of entertainment promising to be the apex of New York City's theatrical scene. He's in search of a star for his vaudeville spectacular, and when he hears Evelyn sing, he knows exactly who he needs to grace his stage." Alice Murphy  is the pen name for a prolific Hallmark screenwriter and romance author from the deep south. She collects secret recipes, secret admirers, and secret histories.   Join Julie to unpack this historical and talk characters, happily ever afters (or happily for now), and alllllll the romance tropes!  Copies of "A Showgirl's Rules For Falling In Love" are available at the Borrower Services desk and as an eAudiobook and eBook on the Libby app.  For more information or questions, email jiatron@chelmsfordlibrary.org.  See you on September 8th at 6:30 PM!

Sensory Storytime - Registration Required

Join Ms. Marty in the McCarthy Meeting Room for a Sensory Storytime, designed for children with special needs and their caregivers. We will read, sing, and do some sensory play activities together. In order to keep the group small, registration is required. Children are welcome to bring or wear headphones, fidget toys, chews, and other comfort objects with them to storytime. If this sounds like it will be a good fit for your family, please email Marty at mmason@chelmsfordlibrary.org to sign up!

Singalong (All Ages)

Join Marty for a morning of movement and song for the whole family! Enjoy favorite tunes and discover new songs you will love in English and a variety of world languages.

Beginner English

ESL learners can stop by for basic lessons in English with an instructor. The instructor has taught for many years in both local schools and abroad.  Please bring a notebook and your questions about English and its challenges. Materials will also be provided for participants. This is a weekly meeting, every Wednesday afternoon. Students are not obligated to come for meetings each week and are welcome to drop in on the weeks they are able. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jianna Christopher at jchristopher@chelmsfordlibrary.org or 978-256-5521 ext. 1107

Board of Library Trustees Meeting

Monthly meeting of the Board of Library Trustees. Meetings are open to the public and agendas can be found on the Town website at:  https://tinyurl.com/u7zsmm4z . Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85308745880?pwd=36DWgASe4FIJHpfMAz4N2q9UtFIJDn.1. Please copy and paste into your browser to attend.

PlaySpace (Ages 2-3)

Join our PlaySpace program for two and three year olds to enjoy a story and then bring it to life with activities, crafts, play and lots of fun! (Drop in, registration is not required.)

French Conversation Circle

For intermediate speakers looking to dust off their skills, the French Conversation Circle meets in the Conference room every second Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm.

VIRTUAL - Declutter series with Jamie Novak: Prepare for the Unexpected: 5 things to put in your emergency kit (tie into National Preparedness month)

Please note this is a VIRTUAL event.  Please CLICK HERE to register on zoom and receive the link. Log on for the September Declutter Program when professional organizer Jamie Novak shares what you should add to your emergency kit to give you peace of mind during the unexpected. Jumpstart your decluttering by participating in an (optional) short, live guided tidy up task during the program. About Jamie: You may have seen her on morning TV, read her newest book Keep This Toss That, listened to her 10 Minute Podcast, or watched her YouTube Show. Jamie spends most days presenting virtual programs on how to de-stress and de-clutter, with a humorous twist. When not on the computer Jamie is clipping out recipes she never prepares. Check out her website for more information:  https://jamienovak.com/   Program provided by the Chelmsford Public Library and sponsored by the Friends of the Library . This program is brought to you in collaboration with the Ashland, Groton, and Tewksbury Libraries.

Baby Storytime (0 to walking)

Gather together for a wonderful introduction to early literacy. Caregivers share parenting experiences with one another and bond with their babies through lap bounces, nursery rhymes, songs, and board books. Registration is not required--drop in for some fun! Contact dmorrissey@chelmsfordlibrary.org for more information

Virtual - Presidential Series with Doodler Heather Rogers: William Henry Harrison

**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.**  Welcome to our yearlong series in which “America’s Preeminent Presidential Doodler”, Heather Rogers, shares facts, factoids, and fun illustrations about the presidents of these United States.This month we turn to a lesser known president -  William Henry Harrison: His wife had more children than any other First Lady. He had a super-catchy campaign song (which we hope to hear!). He was the first president to die in office; shortest presidency. He once had a 2,000-beaver bounty on his head.  Don't you want to know more?  In 2026, journey through Heather's sketchbooks as she shares some of her favorite tidbits, doodles, observations, and resurrection stories about the first 12 presidents. Register directly on Zoom  HERE . You can sign up for one session or for all!  RECORDING NOTE:  This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. About Heather :  Heather Rogers isn’t a historian, an academic, or an impartial storyteller… but she has read more than one book about every U.S. president. Out of spite. She was dubbed “America’s Preeminent Presidential Doodler” by one of her favorite biographers and she’s been repeating it ever since. When she’s not reading or doodling history books, she’s a  freelance graphic designer , illustrator, and content creator. To keep her interest during her accidental spite project, Heather Rogers filled hundreds of sketchbook pages doodling her way through presidential biographies. Doing so heightened her curiosity and turned her into an insufferable presidential nerd. Along the way, she discovered unexpected threads connecting seemingly unconnected people, times, and events. She can’t get enough of the weird trivia, coincidences, and quirks. Like the fact that English wasn’t the first language of the first president born in the U.S. Or that a three-part plan was proposed to bring George Washington back to life. Don’t even get her started on William Henry Harrison – he was only president for a month, but she could talk about him for hours. *All illustrations for this series have been created by Heather Rogers and are her property therein.  Please register for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them, the email will be coming from Zoom. This program is sponsored by the  Friends of the Ashland Public Library  and is in collaboration with a multitude of MA and NH libraries.

Knit-Lit Book Group

In September, the group will meet to discuss Isola by Allegra Goodman . "Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian--an enigmatic and volatile man--spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. Isolated and afraid, Marguerite befriends her guardian's servant and the two develop an intense attraction. But when their relationship is discovered, they are brutally punished and abandoned on a small island with no hope for rescue. Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she'd never before needed. Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival" Copies of the book will be available at the main library circulation desk. This group meet will now be meeting in person only in the fireplace room.  Bring yourself, your discussion points, your crafting project or just to listen!  All are welcome.   Any questions? Contact Jill Kenny, jkenny@chelmsfordlibrary.org

All Ages Storytime

Join together for a fun and energetic morning of stories, songs, and rhymes! Registration is not required--drop in for some fun! For more information reach out to dmorrissey@chelmsfordlibrary.org

Free Fix-it Clinic

Come with your broken items and learn to fix your stuff from local volunteers! Please register to let us know you are coming and what item(s) you need to fix. This is a free event and you can drop-in anytime between 1:30 and 3:30 pm. Examples of what can be fixed: Clothing/ textiles Device and computer hardware Jewelry Bicycles Household Appliances Contact Jianna Christopher at jchristopher@chelmsfordlibrary.org or 978-256-5521 x1107 with questions. Are you interested in being a fixer?  Please email Julie Iatron, Assistant Director of Community Engagement at jiatron@chelmsfordlibrary.org.     Our Fix-It Clinics are offered through a collaboration with the Chelmsford Public Library and the Chelmsford Recycling Committee!

Toddler Storytime (ages 1-2)

Drop in & join Dominique for a fun & movement-filled Storytime! This Storytime includes 2 shorter books based on a weekly theme typically read at the beginning. These are followed by rhymes, songs, & multiple opportunities to use music/movement props such as scarves, bean bags, shakers etc.  Every session ends with bubbles & dancing!

Preschool Storytime (Ages 3-6)

Drop in & join Dominique for a fun & energetic Storytime! Each session has about 2 stories based around a weekly theme. There are also songs, rhymes, & opportunities to use instruments such as rhythm sticks. Each session ends with parachute, bubbles & dancing time!

Little Learners Playgroup; drop in for ages 0-5

Come and join us for STEM Play Group! Every week we will explore a new STEM topic. We'll read a story, and then enjoy a hands-on activity based on science, technology, engineering, or math.  Best for ages 3-5, but everyone from age 0-8 is welcome to attend with their caregiver.  We can't wait to see you there! Presented by Chris Cole, CFCE Coordinator for Community Teamwork Incorporated. The Family Resource Network is funded by the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant (CFCE) from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.

Intermediate English Conversation Circle

Join our small informal group to practice speaking English. Come for 2 hours or drop in for a little while. We talk about anything and everything.  There is no homework, and our conversations range from world issues to personal stories. Come listen, and talk if you want to!

VIRTUAL: The Art of Fighting: Building Better, Stronger Relationships with Priya Parker

Bestselling Author, Master Facilitator, and Acclaimed Strategic Advisor Join us for a paradigm-shifting, essential event as we sit down with world-renowned master facilitator Priya Parker to discuss her groundbreaking new book,  The Art of Fighting: The Transformative Power of Conflict .  In  The Art of Fighting , Priya Parker explains that we can’t form and grow effective relationships without a fight. She rejects the idea that conflict is abnormal or that good groups don’t fight. All groups change and evolve; indeed, it’s because people disagree that good groups flourish. As she did in the now-classic  The Art of Gathering , Parker draws on her far-reaching experience as a conflict facilitator, her own detailed research, and real-world examples to lay out the ways that people can identify disputes, determine how to address them, and what to do if they are insurmountable. Whether people disagree in the boardroom or the locker room, on a playground or in church, online or in person, conflict is a part of life, and understanding healthy conflict and how to harness its power is more important than ever.  The Art of Fighting  is a vital primer to help all of us understand how to do that. Register today to learn how to turn everyday arguments into profound moments of connection and trust!   About the Author:   Priya Parker is an internationally recognized expert on creating purposeful gatherings and reimagining how we come together in our communities and our workplaces. She is a conflict facilitator, strategic advisor, speaker, and author of the acclaimed book  The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters  and the host of  The Art of Gathering Digital Course . Whether addressing CEOs, non-profit leaders, students or community organizers, Parker captivates audiences with her unique blend of storytelling, research-backed insights, and practical strategies.     The views expressed by presenters are their own and their appearance in a program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chelmsford Public Library.

Zoom Book Club for Grades 3-5

Please join us for a Book Club for children in grades 3 - 5.  Each week kids will be expected to read several chapters from a chosen book.  Each book will be completed over the course of several weeks.  Books will be available at the Circulation Desk at the Chelmsford Public Library.  Each week participants will engage in discussions, games and fun activities related to the book that the group is reading.  A good time is had by all!  Registration is required.  The Zoom link will be emailed in the early afternoon on Tuesday.  For more information feel free to reach out to Deborah in the Children's Room at dmorrissey@chelmsfordlibrary.org.

Community Computer Skills Class

Are you an absolute beginner with technology? Join us for an eight-week computer basics course presented by our partners at UMass-Lowell, and be eligible to receive a free Chromebook computer! With support from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the Mass Tech Collaborative, and in collaboration with University of Massachusetts Lowell, the Chelmsford Public Library is offering courses on digital literacy.  This weekly in-person course will introduce trainees to the basics of computer and internet use, including creating an email account and sending/receiving emails, internet search techniques, creating a word document, and AI. The 12-hour course will consist of eight 90-minute sessions in the McCarthy Meeting Room on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Participants who complete all eight weeks of the course will receive a Chromebook, provided by a grant from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. Use the link on this page to register for the program, and contact the reference desk at askus@chelmsfordlibrary.org with any questions.

Pop-Up Library: The Village at Meadowood

You'll find the Pop-Up Library set up in The Village at Meadowood. St. Andrews Way, North Chelmsford, MA 01886.  Open to the public!

Wednesday Morning Book Group

Our group is always looking for new members. You can choose to come to the library to meet in-person or meet via Zoom. To receive the link to join via Zoom, please register or contact Vickie Turcotte, 978-256-5521 x1106, vturcotte@chelmsfordlibrary.org to be added to the group's email list. This month the group will discuss, A guardian and a thief : a novel / Megha Majumdar "In a near-future Kolkata beset by flooding and blight, Ma, her two year old daughter Mishti, and her elderly father Dadu are just days from leaving the collapsing city behind to join Ma's husband in the home he has been building for them in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After procuring long-awaited passports and visas from the consulate, they pack their bags for the flight to America. But in the morning they awaken to discover that Ma's purse, with all the treasured documents within it, has been stolen. A Guardian and a Thief tells two stories: the story of Ma and her family, their struggle to emigrate to America, and their devastation in the wake of the theft that changes their fate to one of implacable tragedy ; and Boomba, the thief, whose hunger and desperation to care for his family drive him to commit a crime whose consequences he cannot fathom."--Provided by publisher.

Sensory Storytime - Registration Required

Join Ms. Marty in the McCarthy Meeting Room for a Sensory Storytime, designed for children with special needs and their caregivers. We will read, sing, and do some sensory play activities together. In order to keep the group small, registration is required. Children are welcome to bring or wear headphones, fidget toys, chews, and other comfort objects with them to storytime. If this sounds like it will be a good fit for your family, please email Marty at mmason@chelmsfordlibrary.org to sign up!

Singalong (All Ages)

Join Marty for a morning of movement and song for the whole family! Enjoy favorite tunes and discover new songs you will love in English and a variety of world languages.

Beginner English

ESL learners can stop by for basic lessons in English with an instructor. The instructor has taught for many years in both local schools and abroad.  Please bring a notebook and your questions about English and its challenges. Materials will also be provided for participants. This is a weekly meeting, every Wednesday afternoon. Students are not obligated to come for meetings each week and are welcome to drop in on the weeks they are able. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jianna Christopher at jchristopher@chelmsfordlibrary.org or 978-256-5521 ext. 1107

Parenting Book Group

For the first 4 months (September-December), our Parenting Book Group will be intended for parents/caregivers of children ages 1-8. We will be reading 'But I'm Bored!' by Lizzie Assa. Come read & discuss how we can foster independent play! This is an extremely quick & practical read that gives amazing ideas & suggestions for how we can build more independent play for our children. Help others with their challenges by suggesting ideas that work in your own home and get input from others as well!  Please see below for the schedule of dates. Read the indicated section by the date listed.  Books can be picked up at the Circulation Desk.  September 16th: Introduction-chapter 5 (pp. 1-78)  October 21st: chapters 6-chapter 10 (pp.79-151)  November 18th: chapter 11-chapter 14 (pp.151-206) December 16th: chapter 15-appendix/resources (pp. 207-258)

PlaySpace (Ages 2-3)

Join our PlaySpace program for two and three year olds to enjoy a story and then bring it to life with activities, crafts, play and lots of fun! (Drop in, registration is not required.)

Science Fiction Book Group

Our new Science Fiction Book Group will meet on the third Thursday of each month IN PERSON, with Lesley, in the Fireplace area.   This month's discussion will be The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson "When Melisande Stokes, an expert in linguistics and languages, accidentally meets military intelligence operator Tristan Lyons in a hallway at Harvard University, it is the beginning of a chain of events that will alter their lives and human history itself. The young man from a shadowy government entity approaches Mel, a low-level faculty member, with an incredible offer. The only condition: she must sign a nondisclosure agreement in return for the rather large sum of money. Tristan needs Mel to translate some very old documents, which, if authentic, are earth-shattering. They prove that magic actually existed and was practiced for centuries. But the arrival of the scientific revolution and the Age of Enlightenment weakened its power and endangered its practitioners. Magic stopped working altogether in 1851, at the time of the Great Exhibition at London's Crystal Palace--the world's fair celebrating the rise of industrial technology and commerce. Something about the modern world "jams" the "frequencies" used by magic, and it's up to Tristan to find out why. And so the Department of Diachronic Operations--D.O.D.O.--gets cracking on its real mission: to develop a device that can bring magic back, and send Diachronic Operatives back in time to keep it alive . . . and meddle with a little history at the same time."

VIRTUAL: Manager got you down? What to do if you're in a toxic environment- strategies

If you’re struggling with a difficult or destructive manager, you’re not alone. Please join Cathy Alfandre, career coach and author of  Breaking Free from a Malignant Manager: Strategies to Reclaim Your Confidence & Career , for a discussion of this pervasive problem and practical strategies to survive and thrive again. Brief bio:  Cathy Alfandre is a certified career coach and resume writer who serves as a practical and collaborative partner to those seeking greater fulfillment in their work. She works with clients across all industries, functions, and levels, helping them navigate career challenges and transitions and move forward with confidence. Cathy holds a joint MBA/MILR from Cornell, a BA from Yale, and several career coaching and writing certifications. Learn more at  www.cathyalfandre.com .

Baby Storytime (0 to walking)

Gather together for a wonderful introduction to early literacy. Caregivers share parenting experiences with one another and bond with their babies through lap bounces, nursery rhymes, songs, and board books. Registration is not required--drop in for some fun! Contact dmorrissey@chelmsfordlibrary.org for more information

All Ages Storytime

Join together for a fun and energetic morning of stories, songs, and rhymes! Registration is not required--drop in for some fun! For more information reach out to dmorrissey@chelmsfordlibrary.org

Real Reads: Base Nation by David Vine

Real Reads is our non-fiction reading discussion group. We will explore excellent authors and world-changing ideas on urgent issues affecting the globe and our own communities.   September's Real Reads title is Base Nation : How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World by David Vine.   "American military bases encircle the globe. More than two decades after the end of the Cold War, the U.S. still stations its troops at nearly a thousand locations in foreign lands. These bases are usually taken for granted or overlooked entirely, a little-noticed part of the Pentagon's vast operations. But in an eye-opening account, Base Nation shows that the worldwide network of bases brings with it a panoply of ills--and actually makes the nation less safe in the long run. As David Vine demonstrates, the overseas bases raise geopolitical tensions and provoke widespread antipathy towards the United States. They also undermine American democratic ideals, pushing the U.S. into partnerships with dictators and perpetuating a system of second-class citizenship in territories like Guam. They breed sexual violence, destroy the environment, and damage local economies. And their financial cost is staggering: though the Pentagon underplays the numbers, Vine's accounting proves that the bill approaches $100 billion per year. For many decades, the need for overseas bases has been a quasi-religious dictum of U.S. foreign policy. But in recent years, a bipartisan coalition has finally started to question this conventional wisdom. With the U.S. withdrawing from Afghanistan and ending thirteen years of war, there is no better time to re-examine the tenets of our military strategy. Base Nation is an essential contribution to that debate."   The book is paired with the documentary film Earth's Greatest Enemy , which will screen at the Chelmsford Public Library on August 22nd at 2 p.m. in the McCarthy Meeting Room.   Print copies of Base Nation  will be available at the Borrower Services desk in late August. It is also available on Hoopla  at the following link:  audiobook Contact Todd Bowser with any questions or for help with the resources.