Berlin Public Library Newsletter May 3rd

Upcoming events and new materials

May 03, 2025

Click here to see all upcoming programs and register. Registrations help us plan our space and materials appropriately for all of our programs.

This week at the library

Tor register for a program, click on the image, visit berlin.cwmars.org/programs, or call or email the library. 978-838-2812, [email protected]

  • Monday 5/5 @ 11am: Story Time: Join Ms. Hadley in the Children's Room on Monday mornings. We’ll read some stories, make some crafts, sing, groove, and play to start our week.

  • Thursday 5/8 @ 1pm: Young Scientists: Children will learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts through hands-on activities, a story time, challenges and simple experiments. "Young Scientists" is facilitated by STEM Beginnings and hosted libraries. Parents & caregivers are encouraged to help their child and join in the fun! Siblings are welcome and must be supervised.

    Register at online at the YFCP. If you need assistance email [email protected].

  • Monday 5/12 @ 4pm: Teen Advisory Board Meeting: The teen advisory board is made up of teenagers in middle and high school who have a desire to help their community and a love for the library. Work together with your peers to create and run programs and build community.

  • Tuesday 5/13 @ 1pm: Obstacle Course: Ages 3-10 can come and navigate an obstacle course and master new challenges. Run, jump, bend and balance. Get some exercise and have some fun with us.

  • Wednesday 5/14 @ 11:30am: How to: Use Libby: Learn how to use your library card to create an account on Libby, place and manage holds, check out e-books and audiobooks, browse the catalog, and more!

  • Tuesday 5/20 @ 5:30pm: Cardboard & Lego City: Do you love to construct? This program combines two favorite building materials into one exciting program with a different themed challenge each time. Children ages 5-10 can use either Lego or cardboard, safe tools, and tape to build an innovative creation in this once a month montage of fun.

  • Thursday 5/22 @ 5:30pm: Fantasy Fans Unite!: Online teen book and activity meet up. Join on Zoom to talk about your favorite fantasy book. Pick up an activity kit before the meeting, socialize, use the materials in the kit to do art, play games, and talk about books. Grades 6-12 welcome. Zoom link and passcode will be emailed the day before the event.

Where is the library on the town meeting warrant?

There are a few articles on the town meeting warrant that will impact the library. The first is Article 3, in which the library is asking to re-appropriate funding from a prior year article. Originally, the funding was for the design and engineering of a new library. Now, the library would like to spend the remaining funds for interior improvements to the building, such as the purchase of new shelving. The primary focus of the spending will be to create a more dynamic Children’s Room, which would be able to hold all of the children’s collections, rather than having them split between 2 floors.

Next up is Article 4, the FY2026 town operating budget. Naturally, this includes the library’s budget. Perhaps more than ever, now is the time to show your support for libraries at the local level. A recent Executive Order has effectively dismantled the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the source of federal funding for libraries, which supports many statewide efforts. For more information about how these federal cuts have and will impact Massachusetts library services, please read the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners press release. Maintaining a robust budget at the local level will help us keep a high level of service for all of our residents. We also encourage you to contact State representatives to voice support for libraries, and opposition to the cancellation of IMLS grants. We would like to thank Select Board Chair Peg Stone for signing her name as an elected leader of Berlin onto a letter sent to the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation regarding library funding.

Finally, Article 5 is the FY2026 capital improvement plan. This includes some much needed work on the library building and grounds, including repairs to our front door, walkways, Walnut St. parking area, and retaining wall. These projects were identified as priorities from our recently completed Long Range Plan, the town’s Facilities Studies, and the town’s ADA self-evaluation.

With several other important items on the agenda, we hope to see many residents at town meeting, and we hope to have your support on these articles!

-Victorya Dube, Library Director