50 Hopedale Street, Hopedale MA 01747

Contact: Tricia Perry, Library Director  508-634-2209 [email protected]

Columbus Day

The Bancroft Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, October 10 in observance of Columbus Day.

First Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest!

Participate in the Library’s first annual pumpkin decorating contest! Decorate a faux/foam pumpkin at home (no real pumpkins please - they don’t keep well inside) and drop it off at the Bancroft Memorial Library beginning Tuesday, October 11. Vote with a non-perishable food item for your favorite pumpkin from October 12-26. The entry with the most votes wins a prize, so vote early and vote often! All food items will be donated to The Daily Bread Food Pantry in Milford. The Library will have a limited number of pumpkins to give out while supplies last, but feel free to provide your own in whatever size/color/shape you’d like! Good luck and happy decorating!

Intellectual Freedom: Fighting the Good Fight with Martin Garnar, PhD 

On Wednesday, October 19 at 7pm, the Hopedale Unitarian Parish and The Friends of the Hopedale

Library invite you to join in a community conversation led by Martin Garnar, Director of the Amherst

College Library, Chair of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, and Editor of the 10th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual.  Across the country there has been an overwhelming increase in the number of materials challenged in school districts and public libraries. Join us as we explore the themes of freedom of expression, the intersection of intellectual freedom and social justice, and the rights of readers. To sign up, please call the Library at (508)634-2209.

Ongoing Monthly Library Events

Helen Symonds Book Group

The Helen Symonds Book Group meets in the Library Program Room at 1:00 pm on the first Wednesday

of every month. Everyone is welcome to join the group. If interested, please call the Library at (508)634-2209 to request a copy of the discussion book.

The group will meet on October 5 at 1:00pm to discuss 11/22/63 by Stephen King. “Receiving a horrific essay from a GED student with a traumatic past, high-school English teacher Jake Epping is enlisted by a friend to travel back in time to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, a mission for which he must befriend troubled loner Lee Harvey Oswald.” –adapted from CW MARS catalog

Join the group in November to discuss The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure. “A Parisian architect is paid handsomely to devise secret hiding spaces for Jews in his Nazi-occupied country but struggles with risking his life for a cause he is ambivalent towards, until a personal failure brings home their suffering.” – CW MARS catalog

Wednesday Needlework Group

Join us for an evening of needlework every Wednesday night from 6:00pm until 7:45pm. Bring your latest project. No commitment required – come when you can!

The Friends of the Hopedale Library

The Friends of the Hopedale Library are pleased to present The Doll-Maker’s Ghost and Stories on Wednesday, October 12th at 6:30 pm. This hour-long program will be held in the downstairs program room. Join us as actress and puppeteer Charlotte Anne Dore presents three creepy stories. This show uses real antiques and objects that come to life as Charlotte tells the stories of The Doll maker’s Ghost, Jessica’s Well and Dr Joseph White.  The intended audience is teens and adults. There is no charge to attend this program, but registration is required.  To register, please stop by the upstairs circulation desk or call 508-634-2209. You do not have to be a Friend of the Library to attend. The Friends hold their meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm. New members are always welcome!

News from the Marjorie Hattersley Children’s Room

“Check It Out” 

The Library’s annual “Check It Out” contest for grades K-3 at Memorial Elementary School is here! During this four-week contest (October 1-31), children are urged to visit the Library and earn points for their class. Check out an item and tell us your grade and teacher. Each visit with a checkout = 1 class point. Come every day if you like! The winning class will win a pizza dinner and special evening event chosen just for them at the Library, along with a basket of fun items for the classroom. This annual competition is sponsored by The Friends of the Hopedale Library and Memorial Elementary School.

“Kids Plus One”Book Club

Join our newest book club for kids in grades 3 and 4 on Monday evenings (Oct 3 & 17) from 6-7pm! Bring an adult of your choice and discuss books! Books will be provided. Please call Mrs. Kraimer to register at (508)634-2209.

Homeschool Hangout!

Join homeschool families from the Hopedale area to learn, engage, and socialize on Tuesday mornings 11am-12pm. All ages invited!

Story Hour with Mrs. Kraimer

Join Mrs. Kraimer for stories, flannel boards, music, and crafts on October 4 & 11 at 3:30pm! Please call to register at (508)634-2209. Ages 3-6

Mother Goose

It’s Mother Goose time! Enjoy stories, puppets, music, and rhymes on Thursday mornings at 10:30am on October 6 & 13. Please call Mrs. Kraimer to register at (508)634-2209. Ages 2+

Come Sail with Me!

Sail away with Mrs. Kraimer on Saturday, October 15 at 11am! Listen to nautical tales and make a wooden sailboat! Please call Mrs. Kraimer to register at 508-634-2209. Ages 3+

Halloween Fun

Celebrate Halloween with us on Wednesday, October 26 at 6:30pm! Check our website for details.

For updates throughout the month, Friend us on Facebook and sign up at www.wowbrary.org to

discover the Library’s newest books, movies and music. The library webpage is https://www.hopedale-ma.gov/bancroft-memorial-library .