We want kids to enjoy the library and feel welcome here. We also need the space to remain safe and usable for other families.

The children’s room is designed to encourage curiosity, play, creativity, movement, and community. We understand that children can be loud, energetic, excited, and occasionally dysregulated, especially in a stimulating social environment. Laughing, imaginative play, excited voices, sensory seeking, movement, and age-appropriate behavior are all normal and welcome parts of a children’s space.

At the same time, there has recently been an increase in unsafe and destructive behaviors that are making it difficult for staff to maintain a safe environment for everyone using the library.

The following behaviors are not permitted:

• Climbing on furniture or toddler toys

• Throwing toys, books, bean bag chairs, or other objects

• Damaging library materials or equipment

• Taking supplies or rummaging through cabinets without permission

• Using library items in unsafe ways

• Climbing on the retaining wall–That is not library property

• Engaging in dangerous physical behavior

• Continuous screaming or behavior that prevents others from using the space comfortably

• Children being left without appropriate supervision while staff become responsible for behavioral management

Library staff are here to support patrons and maintain the space, with that being said we are not able to provide childcare or one-on-one behavioral supervision. A majority of the time the staffing consists of only Heather and Rose, with having such a large building and outdoor space it is not possible to supervise every space at all times.

We ask that caregivers remain actively engaged and help children follow library expectations so that the space can remain welcoming and accessible to all families, including young children, neurodivergent children, sensory-sensitive patrons, and community members seeking a calm environment.

If unsafe or destructive behavior continues after redirection, staff may ask families to take a break from the children’s room, leave for the day, or certain spaces or activities could become temporarily off-limits for all patrons in order to protect everyone’s safety.

We truly value the families who use the library and appreciate your partnership in helping us create a safe, respectful, and enjoyable environment for everyone.

Thank you,
Heather and Rose
Ashby Free Public Library

Deenie Pacik Giuliano returns to Ashby with another popular fused glass workshop—this time we’ll be making sun catchers!

Everyone enjoyed making pendants, magnets, and keychains, and now we’ll be creating slightly larger pieces.

Space is limited, and because you will be working with glass, this workshop is only suitable for teens and adults, as well as tweens with adult supervision.

Please sign up at the library or via the

Google form.

I am very sorry, but the library will be closed this Saturday as I need to attend an out-of-state memorial service.

If you have books you would like to pick up, please give us a call this evening and I will place your items in the 24/7 filing cabinet outside the Children’s Room entrance for pickup.

Thank you for your understanding.

Please do not walk onto private property, go through personal belongings, open structures, or remove anything that has not been explicitly offered. What may seem harmless can create real stress and concern for neighbors.

Let’s continue to be the kind of community that is thoughtful, respectful, and appreciative of one another’s generosity. Thank you for helping keep Ashby kind and neighborly.

From the Library This Week

Hi everyone,

After an incredibly busy (and very fun!) weekend in Ashby, things are settling into a calmer rhythm here at the library.

The circus on the Common was such a highlight—yes, it was a bit windy and chilly for May, but the performances were fantastic. I even overheard someone comparing our performer to a Cirque du Soleil act… pretty amazing for Ashby Common! And of course, the duck race did not disappoint—our very own Everett Smith earned a reputation as quite the duck rescuer.

This week brings a return to our regular programming, along with a few reminders and opportunities to get involved. On Wednesday evening at 5 PM, we’ll gather for the first session of our Democracy Book Club, featuring How to Stand Up to a Dictator. We still have copies available if you’d like to join us.

Our Thursday evening Chess Club continues to grow, with new participants joining each week. All skill levels are welcome—and I’ve learned that Ashby is home to some seriously talented players. Who knew?

A quick scheduling note: the library will be closed on Saturday, May 9th due to a conflict—my apologies for any inconvenience. If you need materials, I’m happy to place them in our 24/7 pickup bin on Thursday so you can grab them over the weekend.

And finally, if you’ve ever thought about volunteering at the library but weren’t sure how to jump in—this is your moment. Our semi-annual book sale is next Saturday, and we have… a lot of books. (Truly. We are buried.) We’ll be setting up throughout the week—organizing books, puzzles, games, and all sorts of donated treasures—and even an hour of help makes a huge difference. If you enjoy organizing, we would love to have you. You might already notice books beginning to “appear” under tables in the front rooms as we get things ready.

It’s Gluten Awareness Month, and here at the Ashby Free Public Library, gluten-free living is something we know well. Our director is gluten-free, as are several trustees, staff members, and even some of our library kids! Our collection includes a wide range of gluten-free cookbooks, and we’ve even created our own library cookbook featuring many gluten-free recipes. To all our fellow celiacs and gluten-free community members—we see you, we appreciate you, and we celebrate your efforts to find (and share!) delicious food. This month’s cooking club recipe comes at Ryland’s request of a Gluten free Favorite, and a personal favorite for me as well. It is naturally gluten free with no unusual ingredients.

Thanks, as always, for being such a wonderful community—we’ll see you at the library.

Tuesday

Legos at 4

Wednesday

Right Start Play Group at 10:30

Democracy Book Club at 5

How to stand up to a dictator

First 1/2 of the book

Bring your suggestion for next book

Thursday

Cooking Club at 4

Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Gluten free and delicious!

Art for Everyone 5:30

Chess Club 6:30

Charter School 7:00

Saturday

Closed

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The most recent grant we were so generously awarded by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation this past winter has now been officially exhausted. Given the rising cost of food, we humbly ask you to consider a donation of food items and/or a monetary donation this month to help the Community Food Pantry keep thriving.

Here is what we can especially use right now:

• SHELF-STABLE MILK: 1) quarts of Parmalat or Schreiber brands - whole is most needed while 2% is also OK; 2) 8 oz containers of Organic Horizon brand unsweetened milk - usually in pkgs of 18), and/or 3) quarts of Almond Breeze unsweetened almond milk (oat or other alternate milk is also OK)

• CANNED PROTEIN: especially white tuna (in water) and chicken; also any other canned meat or fish such as sardines, Spam, Vienna sausages, etc.)

• PEANUT BUTTER: unsweetened if possible (any other nut or seed butter is also OK).

For a list of more items that what we tend to need the most on an ongoing basis, please visit

https://www.ashbylibrary.org/support-your-community/ and click on the drop-down menu for Community Food Pantry.

Did you know that there is now a second shelving unit in the food pantry area where you can drop off non-food items? For a list of non-food items needed, please click on the link above and look at the non-food donations list.

To learn more about how you can make a monetary donation, please visit https://www.ashbylibrary.org/friends/

Every penny donated goes directly towards buying food that is stocked in our pantry. We spend the time shopping - buying the food items that are most needed any given week - so that you don’t have to! The Friends of the Ashby Library is a 501c3 nonprofit organization so your donations are tax deductible. Please help us get through the summer months!

As always, thank you to all community members who have donated recently. We truly appreciate your generosity!

Questions and suggestions are welcome anytime. Please email Brenda at ashbycommunityfoodproject@gmail.com

Warmly,

Brenda and Joe

Coordinators, Community Food Pantry

Next Week

Need more manure? Poop-a-Palooza returns Town wide Yard sale day!

Exact details to be determined as there is a funeral, but there will be more manure available by donation to support the Ashby Grange Hall. Any amount can be taken for donation that you determine. We have lots of beautifully composted manure of a mix of Ashby animals.

There are also still Got Poop t shirts. They can be purchased at the library anytime. All proceeds go to the restoration of the Ashby Grange Hall. Adult Shirts $20 Childrens sizes $15

Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration by learning more about what started it all. Enjoy a discussion of the American Revolution documentary by Ken Burns. It was standing room only the last time Samantha was here discussing the film Majority Rules and now we are in a much bigger and cooler space.

Please join us!

Hi everyone,

This is a very busy weekend all over Ashby!

Hi everyone! 🌸✨

This is a very busy (and fun!) weekend all over Ashby! 🎉

Tonight at the library: 📚
🎲 Dungeons & Dragons at 5:30 PM
💬 A discussion of resources for special education parents during Free Family Night
🎬 Our Free Family Movie, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, at 6:00 PM

Please join us—we’d love to see you! 💛

Saturday: 🌷
🗳️ Town Meeting at the Elementary School begins at 9:30 AM. I’ll be there, so the library will be covered by an out-of-town volunteer until I arrive.
🌱 The rescheduled Preschooler Sensory Box Workshop, Lola Plants a Garden, will take place at 11:00 AM. There are still spaces available—come join the fun! (Originally scheduled for April.) 🌼
🎥 At 2:00 PM, Samantha deManbey, a film scholar and maker from Fitchburg State, will join us to discuss the first two episodes of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution documentary. If you haven’t watched it yet, it’s streaming on PBS! 🍿
🌿 Saturday, May 2 is also Ashby Day at Mason Brook Nursery to benefit the Friends of the Council on Aging. It’s the perfect time to pick up some plants and support a great cause! 🌻

Sunday: 🌞
🦆 At 1:00 PM, Duckmaster Doug will host the annual Duck Race at Willard Brook in support of the Ashby Land Trust—don’t miss it!
🎪 At 4:00 PM on the Common, join us for a Mini Circus—fun for all ages! 🤹‍♀️✨

We hope to see you at some (or all!) of these wonderful events! 💖

TONIGHT

Session 2: Support Resources and Advocacy

Friday at 6PM

During Free Family Movie Night

Dungeons and Dragons 5:30PM

Free Family Movie Night 6PM

SATURDAY

Saturday at 11

Join Miss Pam for a fun Sensory Box Workshop. Spaces are still available. Please join us. Everykid brings a sensory box home for lots of fun at home.

Saturday at 2

Movie discussion The American Revolution Documentary

If you have not watched it yet you can stream it here

SUNDAY

Sunday May 3rd at 4PM

Thank you to the Ashby Fire Department for coming over today to help ensure everyone knows how to safely evacuate the building in case of a fire or other emergency. With the library busier than ever—and more small humans in the mix—it’s so important that we all know where to go and what to do.

Thank you for helping keep us safe. We are truly grateful for all that you do.

Thursday April 30 at 6:30 Matt York

Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash and the Forging of Americana Music

New England-based musician and author Matt York presents a "Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash: Songs & Stories" tribute show. The performance highlights their friendship, musical impact, and contribution to Americana music. York has been nominated for Best Country Artist at the Boston Music Awards and frequently performs at libraries.

Supported by the Ashby Cultural Council

Film Discussion The American Revolution

Please Join us Saturday May 2nd AT 2PM

Free public discussion of episodes 1 and 2 of The American Revolution directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.

The Ashby Free Public Library invites you to join a free public discussion of episodes 1 and 2 of The American Revolution. These first two episodes focus heavily on the role of Massachusetts residents and reasons the war began. Participants should watch the episodes in advance to the discussion. Free Refreshments.

The series is available to stream for free through your library’s Kanopy subscription or on the PBS website. You can also find it on DVD at your local library or through interlibrary loan.

The discussion will be led by documentary filmmaker Samantha deManbey.

The American Revolution premiered last Fall on PBS and has sparked many conversations about our country’s founding. Ken Burns co-directed this 6 part series with directors Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt.

This event is sponsored by the Ashby Free Public Library, Mass Humanities, and The Smithsonian on Main Street.

Our Neighboor has an abundance of free firewood available on site. If you are in planning for next winter and would like to gather some free firewood, it is available.

Thank you

The beautiful spring weather is finally here! If you can pull yourself away for a bit, stop by the library to pick up a book to enjoy outside in the sunshine.

We also have some wonderful events coming up this week:

Thursday evening – We’re excited to welcome Matt York back to Ashby for a special performance: “Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and the Making of Americana Music.” Matt has delighted audiences every time he’s visited, and this will be his first performance in our newly expanded space—don’t miss it!

Friday – Join us for a very special movie screening. Ruby Gilman,the teenage Kracken

We’re also thrilled to share that we’ve been awarded our fourth round of the ALA Libraries Transforming Communities Grant, thanks to the tireless work and great ideas of Rose Smith. This year, we will continue focusing on supporting children with neurodiversity while expanding programming for teens.

To kick things off, we’ll be hosting two talks this week on these important topics. We hope you’ll join us as we continue working to make our library more accessible and welcoming for everyone in our community.

Saturday, May 2nd is Town Meeting, so the library will not be fully open until the meeting concludes. (I will not be at the library to notarize anything) We appreciate your understanding as the community gathers.

Our Sensory Box program for toddlers at 11:00 AM will go on as scheduled, no matter what—after all, toddlers don’t vote! 😊 Join Miss Pam for a fun, hands-on session featuring “Lola Plants a Garden.” This special program was rescheduled from April, and we’d love to see you and your little ones there to create your own sensory box together.

Sunday brings a full day of fun in Ashby!

At 1:00 PM, head to Willard Brook for the Duck Race supporting the Ashby Land Trust. Which duck will win this year? (We hear there’s a whole flock of contenders!)

Then at 4:00 PM, don’t miss a truly exciting event—a mini circus is coming to town! The big top will be set up on the common, featuring high-wire tricks and daring feats sure to delight audiences of all ages.

We hope you’ll join us for these wonderful community events—it’s shaping up to be a fantastic weekend!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Warmly, Heather

Thursday at 6:30

Session 1: Understanding Development and Autism

Tuesday at 10:30

Session 2: Support Resources and Advocacy

Friday at 6PM

During Free Family Movie Night

Friday May 1st

Dungeons and Dragons 5:30PM

Free Family Movie Night 6PM

Circus on the Common

Sunday May 3rd at 4PM

🌱 Grow Your Garden. Grow Your Community. 🌱

This spring, you can do more than just plant a garden—you can help something bigger grow right here in town.

We’re offering garden-ready manure (any quantity for donation), along with:

• 🎨 Hand-painted watercolor greeting cards

• 👕 “Got Poop?” T-shirts

• 🪱 Nutrient-rich worm compost

Every donation goes directly toward restoring the Grange into a vibrant community center—a space for connection, events, and shared resources.

🌎 Celebrate Earth Day locally!

• Support the Friends of the Council on Aging at Townsend’s Earth Day plant sale (at the high school)

• Join Ashby Clean-Up Day and help keep our town beautiful

• Pick up supplies at the Ashby Market and be part of the effort

Whether you’re planting tomatoes, sending a thoughtful card, or just love a good “Got Poop?” shirt, your support makes a real difference.

👉 Stop by, donate what you can, and help us grow something meaningful—together.

It’s going to be a fun and busy School Vacation Week at the library!

Don’t worry if you haven’t RSVP’d—we still have space in our programs, and we’d love to have you join us. Rose has put together an incredible lineup of activities, from art and science to movement and hands-on fun—there’s truly something for everyone.

We’ve even added a special family astronomy program on Thursday night to celebrate Space Week! Plus, you can pick up a space kit to build your own spaceship and explore the physics of spaceflight at home.

Come be part of a week full of creativity, curiosity, and fun at the library—we hope to see you there! 🚀

Teddy Bear Clinic Wednesday at 10:30

Bring your favorite stuffie and join us for a special Teddy Bear Clinic hosted by the Nashoba Boards of Health!

This fun, hands-on program gives children a chance to play doctor with their beloved stuffed friends while meeting real, caring health professionals. It’s a gentle, engaging way to help ease medical anxiety and build comfort and confidence around doctor visits—all in a warm and welcoming environment.

Art for Everone Thursday at 5:30

Chess Club Thursday 6:30 PM

Astronomy for Beginners

Celebrate Space Week under the stars! Thursday at 7PM

Join us for an evening of discovery with astronomer Glenn Chaple, who will kick things off with a lively, accessible introduction to the wonders of the night sky. Then, weather permitting, we’ll head outside for a guided stargazing experience. Using a telescope, Glenn will help you spot and understand the constellations, planets, and other celestial sights above.

Feel free to bring your own binoculars for an even closer look—the dark skies of Ashby make for truly remarkable viewing conditions. All are welcome to step outside, look up, and explore the universe together!

Charter School Meeting at 7PM

Food Pantry News

Dear Friends and Neighbors

We remain deeply grateful for the folks who drop off food donations for the Community Food Pantry, as well as those who have made a monetary donation. Every little bit helps! Thank you!

In order that we can remain a free, viable resource for residents in the Ashby community - and especially as our current grant money is close to being exhausted at this point in time - we are in dire need of more food donations on a more consistent basis as we move forward.

Specifically, here are the Fab Five we always need on a regular basis:

• SHELF-STABLE MILK: 1) quarts of Parmalat or Schreiber brands - whole is most needed while 2% is also OK; 2) 8 oz containers of Organic Horizon brand unsweetened milk - usually in pkgs of 18), and/pr 3) quarts of Almond Breeze unsweetened almond milk (oat or other alternate milk is also OK)

• CANNED PROTEIN: especially tuna (in water) and chicken; also any other canned meat or fish such as sardines, Spam, Vienna sausages, etc.)

• PEANUT BUTTER: especially unsweetened if possible (any other nut or seed butter is also OK).

• MAC + CHEESE: any brand (Kraft and Annie’s tend to go the fastest; gluten-free is also OK)

• PASTA: any brand (any variety is fine; gluten-free is also OK)

Of course, we accept all food donations at anytime! Items like rice, beans, cereal, and pasta sauce are also always especially welcome! For a full list of what we tend to need the most on an ongoing basis, please visit https://www.ashbylibrary.org/support-your-community/ and click on the drop-down menu for Community Food Pantry.

Please remember to check the expiration dates of all items that you’re dropping off. Due to Board of Health regulations, we cannot accept any food (or non-food) items that are past their expiration date. We also cannot accept any cans with large dents (especially on the seam) or items that have been opened or used in some way.

We also accept monetary donations! Did you know that when you donate money, we use every penny to shop our little hearts out to buy items that we know the Community Food Pantry really needs at any given time? To learn more on how you can make a monetary donation, please visit https://www.ashbylibrary.org/friends/ (P.S. Write “food pantry donation” in your check memo)

Oh! And please check out the new seasonal recipes and a variety of cookbooks - all available for FREE in the food pantry area for anyone to take, whether you use the food pantry or not.

We welcome questions and suggestions anytime! Please contact Brenda at ashbycommunityfoodproject@gmail.com

Warmly,

Brenda and Joe

Coordinators, Community Food Pantry

Get ready, Ashby—our beloved AshbyFest is shaping up to be a vibrant celebration of everything that makes our community special, and we want you to help bring it to life!

All Ashby nonprofits are warmly invited to join in the fun. Whether you’re:

• 🍔 Cooking up something delicious

• 🍪 Baking sweet treats

• 👕 Selling t-shirts

• 🦆 Promoting next year’s duck race

…there’s a place for you at AshbyFest!

We’re also calling on our incredible local creators and entrepreneurs:

• 🎨 Artists

• 🧵 Crafters

• 🛍️ Vendors

Come showcase your talents, connect with neighbors, and help rejuvenate our local economy while sharing what you love. Fill out the google form here to get on the list https://forms.gle/dGk8yoj1aiiTPNdZ8

🎶 Musicians, this is your moment!

We are actively looking for local bands and performers to take the stage. Whether you’re an emerging young talent or simply young at heart, we’d love to feature your sound at AshbyFest.

📩 Interested in performing?

Reach out to our Talent Manager, Rebecca Anderson, at raanderson2014@outlook.com

Let’s come together to celebrate community, creativity, and connection. AshbyFest isn’t just an event—it’s our event. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it!

Ho All,

Sarah Jane Nelson is back in Ashby with a friend and new music for our enjoyment. Through an interweave of tunes, songs and stories, the High Strung Strummers will take the audience on a tour of America’s waterways—includingrivers in Ohio, Missouri, West Virginia, and Kentucky. They may even stop by a Louisiana Bayou to play a twin fiddle waltz! Cathy Mason is an award-winning fiddle player and a much sought-after instructor. She regularly appears at contra dances and other events across the country. Sarah Jane Nelson is a folklorist and the author of Ballad Hunting with Max Hunter. A multi-instrumentalist, she loves playing music asmuch as she loves writing about musicians. Their twin fiddle music is rich with harmonies, and they particularly enjoy playing for library audiences! A perfect concert for a rainy day. Please join us tonight at 6:30.

📚 This Week at the Library

• Fiction Book Club
  Wednesday, April 15 at 5:00 PM
  We’re reading Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy.

• Suspense Book Club
  Thursday at 6:30 PM
  This month’s pick is Do You Remember? by Freida McFadden.

Mark your Calendar

• Democracy Book Club
  Wednesday, May 6
  We’ll begin How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Maria Ressa, starting with the first half of the book. This discussion will take place over two months.

🤝 Get Involved

• Friends of the Ashby Free Public Library Meeting
  This week at 5:30 PM
  Ashby Fest will likely be on the agenda! There are still openings for bands, individual performers, and vendors, so if you’re interested, now’s the time to get involved. The Friends are also always looking for new members—it’s a great way to support the library and connect with the community.

🌱 Charter School Update

There is no charter school meeting this week, but if you have questions, feel free to reach out to Heather or Rose anytime. We’re happy to share a handout or get you connected to the Google Drive and SisuAshby Substack.

Thanks, everyone—and here’s hoping this beautiful spring weather sticks around! 🌷

Hi friends,

We finally have spring, and it is so lovely to see the daffodils and other signs of the season beginning to bloom.

Rose has put together many plans for a fun spring vacation for the kids at the library, and we’re excited to share those with you. We also have a full year of events and activities ahead as we begin celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

If you’ve been hearing some rumblings about the plans for a new charter school in the Ashby Elementary School building but haven’t been able to attend the meetings, please feel free to speak with Heather or Rose anytime. We have literature available and are always happy to chat, answer questions, and help get you signed up for the Substack, Google Drive, or working group. Things are moving forward quickly, and we are hopeful about what lies ahead.

Thank you all for your great ideas, energy, and expertise—we truly appreciate this wonderful community.

Warmly,
Heather

Tuesday

Lego Club at 4PM

Wednesday

Right Start Play Group at 10:30

Bereavement Support Group 12:00

Join Karen for support for any of life’s losses. Brought to us from the Nashoba Boards of Health. Karen is a wealth of information in comfort.

Thursday

Art for Everyone at 5:30

Fiber arts Series: Weaving at 5:30

Chess Club at 6:30

High Strung Strummers

Thursday April 16th at 6:30

The High Strung Strummers are excited to bring their “Follow the Water” program of old-time American fiddle tunes and songs to the Ashby Library on Thursday, April 16 th at 6:30 PM. Through an interweave of tunes, songs and stories, the High Strung Strummers will take the audience on a tour of America’s waterways—including rivers in Ohio, Missouri, West Virginia, and Kentucky. They may even stop by a Louisiana Bayou to play a twin fiddle waltz! Cathy Mason is an award-winning fiddle player and a much sought-after instructor. She regularly appears at contra dances and other events across the country. Sarah Jane Nelson is a folklorist and the author of Ballad Hunting with Max Hunter. A multi-instrumentalist, she loves playing music as much as she loves writing about musicians. Their twin fiddle music is rich with harmonies, and they particularly enjoy playing for library audiences!

Mark Your Calendars For April Vacation