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.

 

Please note:  Storytimes will be on vacation August 25-29.

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

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

 

Drop-in, no registration needed.

 

The Poop Museum is an educational and entertaining program about poop of all kinds.  Suzie Maguire shares a wealth of information about how  animals all over the world poop, featuring videos, puppets, and props of various kinds.  Kids will laugh themselves silly while learning truly amazing poop facts.  For children of all ages.

 

Please register.

Drop-in, no registration needed.

 

 

In a world overflowing with artificial intelligence and propaganda, with research websites being deleted, funding cuts to credible programming, and entire government agencies decimated, how can you know who to believe?  Who can you trust? And how do you decide? This talk offers practical strategies to help you evaluate sources, spot misleading content, and stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.

 

Join the founder of Therapy Gardens and SeniorU, as he showcases his currently trusted websites, tools, and media platforms—both free and paid—that can make it easier to find accurate, balanced information.  You'll learn Dave's techniques for ferreting out the truth, recognizing red flags, and making smarter choices about where to spend your time and attention.

 

There will be time allocated for questions, but also for information-sharing on related topics. 

We're such fans of historical romance and we're huge fans of Shana Galen and Mimi Matthews! We can't wait to be in conversation with them as they discuss their books, writing, and the state of historical fiction in publishing. Shana's most recent book is "Don't You Forget About Me" and Mimi's upcoming one is "Rules for Ruin" - different but amazing! Hope you can join us.

 

Please register.

 

Shana Galen is an award-winning writer and bestselling author of over fifty historical romances.  Mimi Matthews is a USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of historical romances. 

 

You all know how much we love author Jane Healey, one of the best historical fiction writers our there! So, we're thrilled to be hosting her for a conversation on her most recent release, "The Women of Arlington Hall". Using her signature deep dive into research and her wonderful ability to tell a riveting story, Jane delves into the life of a female codebreaker who puts her future and her heart on the line in a stirring novel about love, loyalty, betrayal, and Cold War spy games. You're not going to want to miss this one!

 

Please register.

 

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

 

Jane Healey is the author of The Saturday Evening Girls Club, Goodnight from Paris, The Secret Stealers, and The Beantown Girls, a Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestseller. Her next novel, The Women of Arlington Hall, releases in August 2025. She is also the host of the Historical Happy Hour podcast, where she interviews fellow historical fiction authors about their latest novels. 

 

We had so much fun talking with Philippa earlier in the year that we just had to have her back. We dug deeply into "The Princes in the Tower: Solving History's Greatest Cold Case" but we had no time to discuss the King Richard Project! So, this time, we're focusing on Philippa's discovery of the grave of King Richard III in 2012. Join us as author and historical sleuth, Philippa Langley, discusses her research methods, her team, her findings, and how solving this mystery affects our understanding of the royal monarchy (in the 1500s, of course).

 

Please register.

 

NOTE: This program will NOT be recorded. 

 

Based entirely on rarely seen private letters, The Invention of Charlotte Brontë: A New Life by Graham Watson sheds new light on the dramatic events of Brontë’s turbulent last years of grief, fulfillment, and tragedy—and exposes the astonishing media scandal that followed her early death, when her friends and family battled to control how history would remember her. Join us as Graham discusses Charlotte's life, writing, and death as well as his own research and writing of this book!  Graham Watson is a specialist in the Brontës and Elizabeth Gaskell, and he is currently researching Victorian literary identities at the University of Glasgow. He has published a number of papers in Brontë Studies and has recently joined the journal’s peer-review board.

 

Please register.

 

Explore more of New York’s gilded age mansions in the Upper East Side Carnegie Hill historical district. Nestled between 5th Avenue and 3rd Avenue in the upper 80s and lower 90s, Carnegie Hill is chock full of elegant historic architecture. Highlights include the former Andrew Carnegie mansion, now the Cooper-Hewitt Museum; the former Otto H. Kahn House, now Convent of the Sacred Heart; and the former Warburg Mansion, now The Jewish Museum. 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.

 

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

 

"Sharks To Parks" begins with a presentation on predator/prey relationships using our mounted 7 1/2 foot long gold hammerhead shark named Bruce (yes, a real shark we caught fishing off of Florida 47 years ago).  We then segue into a photography-based presentation showing all of the animals, both on land and underwater, that live in and around the parks of Hanover including White tail deer, coyote, red fox, groundhog, chipmunk, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, etc. Underwater photos show Large and Smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill, chain pickerel, yellow perch, River Herring, American Shad, etc.

 

 

We hope you come and meet Bruce!

 

Love Historical Fiction but not sure what to read next? Join bestselling author, Jane Healey (and Ashland fave!), monthly for 30 minutes of pure book recommendations - the best of historical fiction out there! We're sure you'll find something to like from Jane's many enthusiastic reviews.

 

Jane Healey is the author of The Beantown Girls, a Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestseller, The Secret Stealers, which was an Amazon First Reads Editor’s Pick and a Historical Novel Society’s Editors’ Choice, and her debut, The Saturday Evening Girls Club. Goodnight from Paris is her newly released novel from Lake Union Publishing. Jane is also the host of Historical Happy Hour, a monthly webinar and podcast featuring interviews with premier historical fiction authors and their latest novels. She and her family lives outside Boston. We can't wait to hear what Jane will be recommending - be ready for your TBR pile to fall over!

 

Please register.

 

Thanks to the Ashland Public Library for sharing this program!

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.

 

Explore the complex history of contagious disease hospitals in Massachusetts from the 19th to the early 20th century, highlighting their role in shaping public health policy, immigration control, and institutional development. Often located near poorhouses, asylums, and prisons, these hospitals reveal how fear of contagion intersected with social reform, nativism, and evolving ideas about poverty and public responsibility. Led by Dr. Katherine M. (Anderson) Benson, MFA, EdD, an institutional historian and award-winning author. She has been a special educator for more than twenty years in residential treatment facilities, juvenile corrections, and therapeutic programs. Dr. Benson has written about and lectured on the history of institutional treatment in Massachusetts. 

 

Please register.

 

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

 

We are so excited to be chatting with fantastic historical romance author, Erica Ridley! And, right before her new book, A Waltz on the Wild Side, comes out - we can celebrate early! Erica also wrote The Perks of Loving a Wallflower, one of our very favorite books. AND, she also writes young adult horror and thrillers novels. What Can't she do?? Bring your questions as this is going to be a rapid fire, AMA (ask me anything) Q&A!  Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of witty, feel-good historical romance novels, including The Duke Heist, featuring the Wild Wynchesters. 

 

Please register.