Somerville Public Library logo in bold blue and green.
A pattern of rainbow ghosts. Text reads "october 2026."

Announcements

If you've been subscribed to the Somerville Public Library monthly newsletter for awhile, you may notice it looks a little different this month! In an effort to make it more accessible for all, the newsletter has gotten a little bit of a makeover. 


This newsletter lets you know about many of our events, but did you know we have even more? Visit our online calendar to explore them all!


Upcoming Closures:

All Somerville Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, October 12, for Indigenous Peoples' Day.


Note: Asterisks * next to program titles or dates indicate required registration. Click on a cover image to access the full details for that program.

Programs for Adults Programs for All AgesPrograms for Teens Programs for ChildrenStaff Picks

Programs for Adults

Floral illustrations at each corner, mimicking a decorative tarot card. Text reads "introduction to tarot at east."

Introduction to Tarot

Monday, October 5 - 6:30 PM

East Branch


Join us for a workshop led by Kate Martin of The Wellness Consortium exploring the history and basics of tarot! 
 
Whether you’re new to tarot or looking for a refresher, this workshop offers a relaxed space to learn and reflect.

Images from the referenced film. Text reads "film screening: open doom disclosure + (virtual) q&a."

Film Screening: Open Doom Crescendo + (virtual) Q&A

Wednesday, October 28 - 5:00 PM

Central Library Auditorium


Join us for a screening of the film, Open Doom Crescendo,  followed by a (virtual) Q&A with director, Terry Chiu.

Images from the referenced film. Text reads "vampyr + live score."

Vampyr + Live Score *

Oct. 14 - 6:30 PM

Central Library Auditorium
Scraps of paper collaged together with a painting of leaves and a traffic light on top. Text reads "collaging with cara foster karim."

Collage Workshop *

Oct. 19 - 6:30 PM

West Branch Community Room

Swirly lines and stripes rest in the backdround. Text reads "learn to zentangle."

Learn to Zentangle *

Oct. 25 - 2:00 PM

Central Library Auditorium
A ghost holding scissors with the moon and orange stars in the background. Text reads "getting spooky at the library."

Getting Spooky

Oct. 18 - 2:00 PM

Central Library Auditorium
Floral illustrations at each corner, mimicking a decorative tarot card. Text reads "tarot & intuition at east."

Tarot and Intuition

Oct. 19 - 6:30 PM

East Branch

A photo of a tissue paper flower. Text reads "making paper flowers at west."

Making Paper Flowers

Oct. 26- 6:30 PM

West Branch Community Room

Browse Consumer Reports Online through the Library

Icons of various consumer goods. Text reads "access thousands of free product reviews, ratings, purchasing guides, and ownership advice articles with your library card. Including expert knowledge on baby & nursery items, bed & bath items, cars, health wellness & beauty items, kitchen appliances & tools, digital security, electronics & technology, travel, miscellaneous appliances, pet items, and more! Consumer reports is brought to you by somerville public library."

Programs for All Ages

A photo of hands tending to sprouting lettuce in the dirt. Text reads "gardening workshop with Green City Growers."

Gardening Workshop with Green City Growers

Saturdays, October 3 & 24- 10:00 AM

Central Library Lawn


Join us in the Library's Demonstration Garden as a Green City Growers farmer leads a hands-on workshop designed to teach you when and what to plant, and how to maintain, fertilize, and harvest successful crops.

A knight chess piece on a chess board. Text reads "chess nights at the library."

Chess Nights at the Library

Monday, October 5 - 7:00 PM

Central Library Auditorium


Want to challenge yourself? Love the game of chess? We welcome players of all skill levels to join us! This is not an instructional class, but rather a meet up for people who are looking to play and test their skills against other members of the Somerville community. 

Check Out the New Items in our Library of Things

Text reads "take a look at our new "around the house" collection in the Library of Things! Borrow them from the central library, second floor, or view them in our catalog by clicking here. Featuring a digital film scanner in the Digital Life category, a knee scooter in health & adaptive aids, a thermal imaging camera in home monitoring, a portable scanner in home office, and a steamer in household equipment."

Programs for Teens

Examples of halloween masks. Text reads "costume workshop: mask making."

Costume Workshop: Mask-Making

Tuesday, October 20 - 4:00 PM

Central Library Auditorium


Get ready for Halloween, upgrade your cosplay, or just get creative by customizing a mask! Choose from a variety of mask shapes and decorate yours with paint, feathers, adhesive gems, and more.

A photo of a book with keepsakes pressed into it. Text reads "how to junk journal."

How to Junk Journal 

Tuesday, October 27 - 4:00 PM

Central Library Auditorium


A simple, messy, and fun introduction to bookbinding and junk journaling with Lauren from Found and Flowered.

An illustration of pizza and craft supplies in the background. Text reads "teen pizza and crafts at the west branch."

Teen Pizza & Craft

Oct. 5 - 6:30 PM

West Branch Children's Room

A photof of various colorful "potions" in bottles. Text reads "potion making for teens."

Potion Making

Oct. 6 - 2:30 PM

Central Library Auditorium

Programs for Children

Musical notes border the top and bottom. Text reads "music with little groove."

Music with Little Groove

Friday, October 9 

10:30 AM - East Branch &

Wednesday, October 14

10:30 AM - Central Library

11:00 AM - West Branch


In this fun and interactive 40-minute concert, children ages 0-5 and their caregivers will move and sing along with a musician from Little Groove, a top voted music class for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in Boston!

A haunted-looking house with bat and witch accents. Text reads "halloween costume parade."

Halloween Costume Parades

Saturday, October 31

10:00 AM - West Branch &

3:00 PM - Central Library


Come in for a little Halloween fun!! Kids of all ages can come join us for a costume parade to show off their costumes before going out for trick-or-treat!


At West, there will be a craft after the parade, and at Central there will be a post-parade dance party.

A dragon and castle. Text reads "enchanted realms: a celebration of things wonderous and magical."

Enchanted Realms

Oct. 3 - 2:30 PM

Central Library Auditorium

Various crafts supplies and abstract shapes. Text reads "free choice craft-er-noon."

CRAFTernoon at Central

Oct. 7 - 2:00 PM

Central Library Children's Room

A record player with singing bunny. Text reads "little song book opera."

Little Songbook Opera

Oct. 27 - 11:00 AM

West Branch Community Room

Colorful splat shapes in the background. Text reads "fluffy goo. STEM."

Science - Fluffy Goo

Oct. 7 - 2:00 PM

West Branch Children's Room

A photo of a musician holding a guitar with a dinosaur toy on his head. Text reads "sing along with matt heaton at east."

Singalong with Matt Heaton

Oct. 26 - 11:00 AM

East Branch

A haunted house and bingo card with witches and black cats. Text reads "boo! BINGO at East."

Boo! BINGO for Kids

Oct. 28 - 2:30 PM

East Branch

Get Homework Help Online Through the Library

Text reads "back to school with somerville public library. get online homework help from these digital databases!" Including logos for gale one file high school edition, world book early learning, pebble go, britannica school, and britannica library.

STAFF PICKS: Halloween Edition

Horror, Scary Stories, and Everything in Between

We're big fans of spooky scary stories at the library! Here are some of our favorites. 

'Salem's Lot: A Chilling Classic from the No. 1 Bestseller by Stephen King

A man returns to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot, Maine, at the same time two mysterious men move into the house that captured his childhood fears and fascination. When locals begin to go missing, he and a group of friends must defeat the vampires now taking over their town. 

 - Angelina, Library Technician

Ghosts in the House! by Kazuno Kohara

Fabulous block print illustrations in orange, black, and white support this not-scary story about a house full of ghosts.

 - Alison, Children's Librarian

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

When Kara finds an impossible hallway in her uncle's curio museum, she's eager to explore. But there's something hiding behind the skin of the world she discovers, and finding her way back home might not be enough to let Kara escape it.

 - Anna, Teen Services Librarian
From Hell. Nueva Edición (Cómic / Comic Book) by Alan Moore

Set in Victorian London, this masterful graphic novel mixes history and horror, with an intricate plot involving royalty, freemasons, Scotland Yard, Jack the Ripper, and five unsolved murders in one harrowing conspiracy.

 - Carrie, Reference Librarian

In the Haunted House by Eve Bunting

"This is the house where the scary ones hide. Open the door and step softly inside." This rhyming guided tour through a haunted house is traditionally illustrated and a fun way to start the spooky season with younger kids!.

 - Felicia, Reference Librarian

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

A vampire story that takes place largely in the early 1900s, where the truest horror is colonialism. One of the most satisfying endings I've ever read.

 - Niki, Head of Teen Services

For more suggestions, subscribe to our monthly book recommendation newsletters. From popular titles to genre fiction, there's probably a list that matches your interests. Subscribe to monthly book recommendation emails here!

Fb Inst
Somerville Public Library
79 Highland Avenue | 40 College Avenue | 115 Broadway
Somerville, Massachusetts 02143
617-623-5000

https://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/