Pembroke Public Library Newsletter
September 2026
 
 Library Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
 
The Library will be closed on Monday, September 7th, for Labor Day.
 
Library News
New Virtual Author Talks
Sign Up or Check our Archive Today!
The Pembroke Public Library is pleased to announce our new Virtual Author Talk Series, showcasing bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors from around the world! Each month we'll be showing at least two author talks from a wide range of fiction and nonfiction authors, and if you can't watch the talks live, we have an archive available of the talks we've shown here and others in the same series.

Our virtual author talks are done in collaboration with the Library Speaker's Consortium, a partnership of librarians bringing bestselling author talks to communities of all sizes, and are generously sponsored by the Friends of the Pembroke Public Library, without whose continued support we would be unable to bring wonderful programs like this to our community.
 
 
Give Back Where It Counts at Big Y
For the month of September, the Friends of the Pembroke Public Library will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of the $2.50 reusable GIVE BACK bag at the Big Y store located at 24 Mattakeesett Street, Pembroke MA.
 
 
 
 
Special Events
Youth
Where the Paletero Man Goes with Lucky Diaz
Thursday, September 24th from 7:00-7:30 p.m.
Grab a pocketful of change and get ready to dance down the street! Join us virtually in this special K-12 author talk for an energetic conversation as we celebrate the joy of community and summer fun with Latin GRAMMY-winning musician Lucky Diaz, author of the sensational bilingual picture book, Paletero Man.

Registration is required; call the library or click here to sign-up, or to watch a recording of the presentation if you cannot attend live.

El programa también estará disponible a las 8:00 p.m. Haz clic aquí para registrarte.
 
 
Adult
The Democracy We Must Keep with David O. Stewart
Tuesday, September 1st at 2:00 p.m.
Join us virtually 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? 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.
 
Registration is required; call the library or click here to sign up, or to watch a recording of the presentation if you cannot attend live.
 
Craft Night: Beaded Tapestries
Wednesday, September 9th at 6:00 p.m.
Join the Library's own Sarah Nelson as she teaches you how to make these lovely fall-themed tapestries out of out of vibrantly colored beads! All materials will be provided by the library for this craft.
 
Registration is required; call the library or click here to sign up.
 
 
Writing the Nightmare with Daniel Kraus
Tuesday, September 8th at 7:00 p.m.
Prepare to launch into the darkest depths of deep space! Join us in this virtual author talk 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.
 
Registration is required; call the library or click here to sign up, or to watch a recording of the presentation if you cannot attend live.
  
Recurring Events
Youth
Teen Take-And-Make: Penguin Magnets
Available beginning September 1st, while supplies last
Pick up a craft kit in the teen lounge and craft it there, home, or anywhere! This month's craft is axolotl sticker art. These crafts are kindly sponsored by the Friends of the Pembroke Library.
 
 
 
Storytime
Mondays at 10:30 a.m.
Children ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers can enjoy an interactive storytime with songs, dances, and a story that encourages language development and social skills. Each themed storytime is followed by a craft. This is a drop-in event; no registration is needed.
 
There will be no storytime on Monday, September 7th.
 
Playtime
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Children ages 2 to 5 will enjoy playtime. Sharing in play is an excellent way to help children build social skills, promote learning, and discover that the library is a destination for fun. Children can build with blocks, explore magnets, dance with ribbons, and more! This is a drop-in event; no registration is needed.
 
 
Baby Playtime
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Babies and toddlers, from 6 to 24 months, will enjoy playtime. Sharing in play is an excellent way to help children build social skills, promote learning, and discover that the library is a destination for fun. Babies can build with blocks, explore shapes and colors, pretend with animal toys, and more!  This is a drop-in event; no registration is needed.
 
 
LEGO Club
Tuesday, September 8th from 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Kids ages 4 and up are welcome to visit and build with the library LEGOs. This month's theme is Hot vs. Cold." Bring your neighbors, big siblings, and school friends! LEGO Club is a STEM-based program designed to give kids a safe, creative environment in which they can solve problems, interact with peers, and express themselves. This is a drop-in event; no registration is needed.
 
T(w)een Night
Thursday, September 10th from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Tweens and teens ages 11 -16 are welcomed to a night all about THEM! Choose to play a Switch game or a classic board game; craft with buttons, beads, paper, or slime; snack on something sweet or salty; or do a little of everything. Suggestions from our attendees are always welcome. This is a drop-in event; no registration is needed.
 
 
Puppy Dog Tales
Thursday, September 17th from 4:15-5:00 p.m.
Readers of all ages may read to a certified therapy dog to develop their literacy and presentation skills, as well as build confidence and self-esteem. Our dogs and trainers provide a supportive environment to practice reading aloud. This is a drop-in event; no registration is needed.
 
 
 
Saturday Storytime (ages 4-8)
Saturday, September 19th from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Children ages 4-8 can join Miss Kiki for an ancient storytime, featuring the book The Shipwrecked Sailor by Tamara Bower, followed by a papyrus paper craft and mummy wrap activity! This is a drop-in event; no registration is needed.
 
 
 
 
Adult
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Pembroke Public Library Book Club
Tuesday, September 1st from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
For our September meeting, the PPL Book Club is reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, an intimate novel about the transformative power of the written word and the beauty of slowing down to reconnect with the people we love. 
New members are always welcome! For more information or to request a copy of the book, call the library at 781-293-6771.
 
 
 
 
Silhouette yoga woman female exercise fitness pose meditation
Yoga
Every Wednesday at 10 a.m. starting September 9th
Led by Kim Norton and other instructors from the YogaConnection in Plymouth.
 
Open to all levels! A single-class drop-in is $12 and a four-class registration is $45 ($35 for Friends members). Friends members can purchase an eight-class punch ticket for $80, which is valid for three months. Feel free to reach out to Kim at 781-588-5545 if you have any questions!
 
 
Monday Movie Matinee: Mr. Burton
Monday, September 14th at 1:30 p.m.
Schoolmaster Philip Burton becomes a mentor to Richard Jenkins, a working-class Welsh schoolboy who becomes one of the most celebrated actors of his generation. Starring: Toby Jones, Lesley Manville, Harry Lawtey.124 minutes. No MPA Rating.
 
Monday Movie Matinees are generously sponsored by the Friends of the Pembroke Public Library.
 
 
A Killer Wedding by Joan O'Leary
PPL Mystery Book Club
Thursday, September 17th from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
This month, we're reading A Killer Wedding by Joan O'Leary. Christine Russo’s career-making scoop, the wedding of billion-dollar beauty empire founder Gloria Christine’s grandson for hit fashion magazine Bespoke, proves too good to be true when Gloria herself is found dead the first morning of the celebratory weekend. What’s worse is that Christine can’t help but wonder if one of Gloria’s heirs is guilty, especially after receiving a chilling collective warning to keep things quiet, and keep the wedding marching on. As Christine navigates a world where glamour masks grimy secrets and everyone she meets is a suspect, she realizes that among this glitzy elite, nothing is as it seems.
 
 
Join us every month to read and discuss a different book in the Mystery Genre; new members are always welcome! For more information or to request a copy of the book, call the library at 781-293-6771.
 
 
Monday Movie Matinee: The End of the Tour
Monday, September 21st at 1:30 p.m.
The story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace, which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, Infinite Jest. Starring: Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, and Anna Chlumsky. 106 minutes. Rated: R.
 
Monday Movie Matinees are generously sponsored by the Friends of the Pembroke Public Library.
 
 
 
Monday Movie Matinee: Tokyo Cowboy
Monday, September 28th at 1:30 p.m.
A Japanese businessman goes on an unwitting journey of self-discovery when he takes a company trip from Tokyo to a Montana cattle ranch. Starring: Arata Iura, Goya Robles, and Ayako Fujitani. 118 minutes. Rated: PG.
 
Monday Movie Matinees are generously sponsored by the Friends of the Pembroke Public Library.
 
 
 
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
Pembroke Public Library Book Club
Tuesday, October 6th from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
For our October meeting, the PPL Book Club is reading I, Medusa by Ayana Gray, a reimagining one of the most iconic monsters in Greek mythology as a provocative and powerful young heroine.
 
New members are always welcome! For more information or to request a copy of the book, call the library at 781-293-6771.


Reader's Corner
Looking for Your Next Read?
 
Stuck on what to read next? We're here to help! Fill out our online reading suggestion form to get recommendations personalized just for you based on your favorite books, genres, authors, or styles. You can choose to have books selected from our collection for pickup at the library or to get a list of suggestions delivered to your email.

For Fans of Dark Academia
 
While We Were Silent by Alex Myers
While We Were Silent
by Alex Myers
 
Green Dell Academy is a prestigious co-ed prep school tucked away in a quiet corner of Connecticut. And although it has its first female head of school, it's still very much a boys' club, one with longstanding traditions that involve gross misconduct, and now murder. A woman has been killed, right on campus, a woman who has been deeply involved in fighting sexual violence, a woman who had no shortage of enemies. The murder case, coupled with an investigation into allegations of sexual assault, threatens to bring dark, deep-rooted secrets to the surface, the kind of secrets that go back decades. And some people seem to value the old ways more than human life.
The Ghost Women by Jennifer Murphy
The Ghost Women
by Jennifer Murphy

On a hot August morning in 1972, the body of Abel Montague, a student at St. Luke's Institute of the Arts, is found hanging from a tree in the forest. An ancient Hanged Man tarot card is found in the back pocket of his pants and his body has been positioned into the exact pose illustrated on the card. When Detective Lola Germany arrives at St. Luke's - a former monastery that once housed a secret order of monks who carried out witch trials and executions - she believes they are dealing with a ritualistic murder. While interviewing school administrators and Abel's classmates, Lola discovers Abel's live-in girlfriend, Pearl, seems shaken but also might be hiding something - along with her group of friends who call themselves witches. When more students are found dead, each body arranged like a tarot card, Lola realizes she is trapped in a web of power and ambition that spans centuries. Soon the lines between past and present, spiritual and tangible, begin to blur, and the only way to survive is to seek answers from places she never imagined.
Night Objects by Eli Raphael
Night Objects
by Eli Raphael

Lenny Winter is fifteen years old when she moves with her parents to an aging houseboat off the rugged coast of Washington. She imagines a quiet life spent charting constellations and chasing her dream of becoming an astronomer. Instead, a sudden tragedy shatters her world and catapults her to Blanchard, a renowned boarding school for the Pacific Northwest's elite, where wealth and tradition rule. Blanchard is dazzling, insular, and haunted by its own legends. At its heart lurks the Pascalianum Club, a secret society known to shape the school's greatest and most notorious students, and whose influence stretches far beyond campus walls. Hungry to belong, Lenny is drawn into its orbit, even as she senses that the club feeds on the very vulnerabilities she is desperate to hide. As privilege collides with grief and loyalty warps into obsession, Lenny's choices will lead to an unforgettable reckoning... and a murder investigation that will test every story she tells herself about guilt, power, hope, and who she is becoming. 

Popular in Pembroke
Some of our most requested books in August.
 
The Unknown by Riley Sager
The Unknown by Riley Sager. Struggling actress Marin Keane lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont, and former home to a commune of spirit mediums, who all vanished a hundred years back. Some locals say they simply left, others believe they were murdered, or that they were taken by something supernatural. The role means Marin and her castmates need to spend a weeklong research trip on the island, and it's not long after arriving that they realize something is wrong. They hear strange noises, notice mysterious symbols, and, after a sudden health emergency leaves the actors stranded, the disappearances begin. Is this just an attempt to derail the movie? Or has the islands alleged supernatural past come for them all.
 
If you liked this, try:
  • The Midnight Knock by John Fram
  • The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong
  • How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier. Twenty-five years ago Barb, Nicolette, and Lorelei were best friends. But days after meeting a charming drifter named Sam at Wonderland, a local amusement park, Lorelei's body surfaced in a flooded cranberry bog, not far from the site of her murder. Barb and Nicolette were shocked to learn that the man they all met at Wonderland was the Carnival Killer. After his arrest and confession Nicolette moved to the city to pursue her dreams of being famous. Barb stayed behind in Seaside, eventually becoming a reporter for the local paper. Their past safely behind them, they've both moved on with their lives. But when the Carnival Killer recants his confession and a new body washes ashore on the eve of Wonderland's grand reopening, the secrets that Barb and Nicolette have worked so hard to bury begin to resurface, threatening to destroy everything in their carefully constructed lives.
 
If you liked this, try:
  • What have you done? by Shari Lapena
  • Mister Magic by Kiersten White
  • A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

Want More Book Recommendations?
 
Did you know we have book recommendation newsletters for all ages? Sign up here to get a list of new releases and other suggestions for your favorite genre(s) delivered to your email every month.

Pembroke Public Library
142 Center Street, Pembroke, MA 02359
(781) 293-6771

https://pembrokepubliclibrary.org