Listen to a picture book, then do a simple craft.  Three-and-four-year-olds are generally not accompanied by caregivers.

 

Drop in; no registration required.

 

Miss Christine from Little Bee Yoga Co. is excited to share the magic of yoga with John Curtis Library families!!  This fun class provides a beautiful bonding experience between the adult and child. Each class is 45 minutes. The class is geared toward children ages three to six years, but all ages are welcome to participate.  Please bring a yoga mat or towel.

 

Build with Legos for an hour. Finished creations may be put on display in the Children's Room. For ages four years and older.

 

Drop in; no registration required.

Simple picture books, big books, finger plays, songs and movement for children 18-35 months with a parent/caregiver.

 

Drop-in, no registration needed.

 

Bring a stuffed animal to spend a fun-filled night at the library!

 

Drop off Thursday, February 12 and pick up Friday, February 13.  You'll be sent pictures of what all the animals did during their sleepover party.

 

Please register.

For Teens (Ages 13+) AND adults!  Come join us and create a decorative wooden snowman! You’ll decoupage a theme onto your snowman and choose from many embellishments to make it uniquely yours. Design options include Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, paw prints, snowflakes, and more—there’s truly something for everyone. This will be a fun, easy class, and absolutely no artistic ability is required.

 

Space is limited, so be sure to register early. Registration closes Monday, February 2, 2026 at noon.

 

 

One of the top-charting female vocalists of the late 1950s and early 1960s, she amassed over 100 million records sold, placing her among the best-selling musical artists in history. Enjoy videos of some of Connie’s most memorable numbers such as “Who’s Sorry Now?”, “Stupid Cupid”, “Lipstick on Your Collar”, “Among My Souvenirs”, and “Where the Boys Are.” Examine her career from a teen songstress growing up in an extremely strict household in Newark, NJ through a series of devastating personal tragedies which, with great dignity and strength of character, she managed to overcome and resume her recording and performing stardom. Led by Rich Knox, a retired school teacher and administrator, who lectures on musicals, films, and opera to libraries across the country.

 

Please register.

 

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

 

Monday, February 2 at 7:00 pm
 

What happens when you put together bestselling Vegan Cookbook writer, Nava Atlas, and New Times Cartoonist, Bob Eckstein? You get Inspired by Cats: Writers and Their Mews(es) with distinctive illustrations and charming stories celebrating the pawsitively purrfect relationships between renowned authors and their beloved cats! Bob was with us last year, discussing his book, "Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums" so he says that, this time, they can discuss vegan recipes, cats, great writers, museums, and whatever! If any/all of that appeals to you, we hope you'll join us!

 

Please register.

 

Note: This program will be recorded and a link will be sent to all registrants soon after the program. It will be available on YouTube for one month. 

 

What started off as eclectic cottages scattered on the cliffs of the resort town of Newport, RI, developed into a row of American palaces, each outdoing the next, in the 1890s. See nearly one hundred vintage and contemporary photographs while learning how the “new” wealthy of the Gilded Age financed some of the most extravagant homes in the nation, many of which are public museums today, including the Breakers, Marble House, and Belcourt. Led by Ginny Poleman, owner of New York City Encounters. A graduate of Cornell University, Poleman is a licensed New York City Sightseeing Guide, a trained docent for the Municipal Art Society, and a trained educational guide at Manhattan’s largest art museum.

 

Please register.  If you missed Part #1 on January 6, watch it HERE.

 

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

 

 

Discover the untold story of Thomas Joseph Kendrick, a senior spymaster who saved lives and shaped history during WWII, blending daring spy networks and daring rescues in Nazi Germany, all while operating in the shadows of MI6 secrecy.   Under the guise of “British Passport Officer,” he ran spy networks across Europe, facilitated the escape of Austrian Jews, and later went on to set up the “M Room,” a listening operation which elicited information of the same significance and scope as Bletchley Park. Yet the work of Kendrick, and its full significance, remained largely unknown.

 

Please register

 

Please note:  We will NOT be recording this session. 

 

Just in time for Valentine's Day, something for you and your loved ones! Learn how to make Mini Cheesecakes with Raspberry Sauce with our favorite chef, Heidi McIndoo!   Recipes will be sent out prior to the program so you can cook along if you'd like. 

 

Heidi McIndoo is a nutrition consultant, spokesperson, author and freelance writer with 25 years experience as a registered dietitian.  She’s the author of When to Eat What and the co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to 200-300-400 Calories Meals. In addition, she has written for several magazines including, All You, Today’s Diet & Nutrition, Parents, Family Circle, Self, Prevention, Fitness, Shape and Woman’s Day. 

 

Please register.

 

Note: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

 

Tuesday, February 10 at 6:30 pm
 

Not sure what to read next? Join Jody (aka @RedReadReviews) for 30 minutes of pure book recommendations - every genre and interest! We're sure you'll find something to like from Jody's many enthusiastic reviews.

 

Jody is an Instagram reviewer and Book Club leader. Lover of all books! We know that Jody will travel far and wide to meet the authors she loves, reads voraciously, and talks about books as if they are her best friends. We can't wait to hear what she'll be recommending - be ready for your TBR pile to fall over! We'll send out a list of all recommendations for those who register. 

 

Please register

 

Wednesday, February 11 at 6:00 pm
 

Hear about the best romance book recommendations with BIPOC/LGBTQ+/Neurodivergent/Disabled etc. characters or by representative authors. Join book store owners (and twin sisters!), Lily and Hannah Barrett, quarterly for 30 minutes of pure romance book recommendations - that are by diverse authors or have inclusive storylines! We're sure you'll find something to like from Lily and Hannah's many enthusiastic reviews.

 

Please register. You can sign up for one session or for all!

 

Read My Lips Boston is a pop-up diverse romance bookshop based in the Boston area. They partner with breweries and cafes to host mobile shops with love stories starring those identifying as BIPOC, disabled, queer, big-bodied, and members of other groups historically underrepresented in the romance genre. They started Read My Lips because they believe everyone deserves to be seen as the hero — not typecast as a villain or sidekick based on white, cis, hetero, straight-bodied and abled standards.  We'll send out a list of all recommendations for those who register.

 

Love SciFi but not sure what to read next? Join bestselling author, Elizabeth Bear, quarterly for 30 minutes of pure book recommendations - the best of Science Fiction books out there!  We're sure you'll find something to like from Bear's many enthusiastic reviews.

 

Please register. You can sign up for one session or for all!

Elizabeth Bear is the Hugo, Sturgeon, Locus, and Astounding Award winning author of dozens of novels; over a hundred short stories; and a number of essays, nonfiction, and opinion pieces for markets as diverse as Popular Mechanics and The Washington Post.  

 

We'll send out a list of all recommendations for those who register. We will also be recording our meetings.

 

 

Author Michelle Young will discuss her new book, The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland. The Art Spy uncovers the true story of how an unlikely heroine infiltrated the Nazi leadership to save the world's most treasured masterpieces. The book was longlisted for the 2025 American Library of Paris Book Award. Young, an award-winning journalist and author, is a graduate of Harvard College in the History of Art and Architecture and holds a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, where she is a Professor of Architecture. 

 

Please register.

 

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

 

 

Join French art historian Tosca Ruggieri to discover more about the rich and fascinating Art Nouveau movement born in Nancy, France. The École de Nancy was a group of artists and designers active in the city of Nancy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The École de Nancy sought to create a new style of decorative arts that broke away from historical models and focused on the natural forms found in plants and flowers. The artists and designers of the École de Nancy worked in a variety of media, including glass, ceramics, furniture, textiles, and architecture, and they sought to integrate these different forms of art into a cohesive whole. Some notable members of the Ecole de Nancy were Louis Majorelle, Émile Gallé and Henri Sauvage. Their work helped to popularize the style and influence a new generation of furniture maker, glassmaker, ceramists and architects. Led by art historian and tour guide Tosca Ruggieri, owner of Art with Tosca.

 

Please register.

 

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

 

Boston Light – the first established Light Station in colonial America – began lighting the way for safe navigation into the fledging maritime port of Boston in 1716. The Fresnel Lens in the lantern room and fog signal apparatus situated on Little Brewster Island at the entrance to Boston Harbor continues as an active Coast Guard maintained aid-to-navigation, today. However, its notoriety in the maritime community as the “the last manned Coast Guard Light Station” in the country has come to closure with the retirement of Sally Snowman, its 70th keeper. A power-point presentation provides photos of Boston Light’s 307 years of history and a few photo anecdotes of Sally’s experiences as a 21st Century Keeper.  Sally Snowman, Ph.D., Keeper of Boston Light 2003-2023, is an educator, author, and a USCG Boston Light historian. Husband, Jay Thomson and Sally have co-authored two books: Boston Light - A historical perspective (1999) and Boston Light - Arcadia Images of America (2016); and Sammy the Boston Lighthouse Dog written for children by Sally (2005).

We are also thrilled to welcome Jeremy D'Entremont to the conversation.  He is one of our favorite speakers on lighthouses and is great friends with Sally and Jay.

 

Image credit: USPS by Daniel Afzal

 

Please register.

 

RECORDING NOTE: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

 

 

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're all about John Adams: His vice presidency was the only time the president and VP were from different parties. He was the first POTUS to live in the White House; and he never enslaved anyone. 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.

 

Please register. 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.

 

MEETING INFORMATION – In-Person (John Curtis Free Library, 534 Hanover Street, Hanover, MA – Trustee Room) and Virtual (information below)

 

https://hanover-magov.zoom.us/j/88073300181?pwd=SFYzcDJrNE45eWVEZG1WUTJVYnBndz09

 

Telephone: Dial one of the following phone numbers: 929-205-6099; 312-626-6799; 301-715- 8592; 346-248-7799; 669-900-6833; 253-215-8782. If you are a dial-in participant and would like to ask a question, please press *9 to enter the question queue. If you are a dial-in participant and would like to mute/unmute, please press *6 to toggle.

 

Meeting ID:  880 7330 0181         

Passcode:  jcfl 

 

The Friends of the John Curtis Free Library will be having a “Buy One, Get One Free” sale running February 9-21!!

 

Get one item of equal or lesser value when you buy one item. This includes all  hardcover and paperback books and puzzles!

 

Come on in and stock up to get through the last (hopefully!) few weeks of winter!