B J Atwood-Fukuda will read from her recent work at the library on Monday, August 7, at 6:30 p.m. This will be her tenth reading at the library, featuring an excerpt from her novel-in-progress, Beautiful, which was just named a winner in the online Novel Slices contest. B J’s work appears in, among other places, the anthologies Great American Prose Poems from Poe to the Present and Free Radicals: American Poets Before Their First Books. Her novella, Nice Piano, came out in two parts in issues 15 and 16 (Fall 2021, Spring 2022) of Witty Partition, now Cable Street (cablestreet.org). Larry Millman, author and mycologist, is returning to the library for two mushroom-related events in August. First, he will lead a talk and walk seeking mushrooms and other fungi on Wednesday, August 9, at 3 p.m. Larry is very knowledgeable and informative about the local fungi and loves teaching others about them. This event will start with a short talk outside in the library’s courtyard, then participants will proceed to the walk site in their own cars. The talk will take less than fifteen minutes, and the walk will last an hour and a half. To take part in the walk, please register by emailing (whpl_mail@clamsnet.org) or calling (508-548-8961). Young readers at the library are heading to camp this summer – WHPL Camp Read-A-Lot! Participants will sign up at the library, keep track of their reading, and visit the library each week with a completed reading log to receive a special Camp Read-A-Lot merit badge! There are a total of four merit badges that can be earned, and kids can participate any time between July 1 and August 31 to complete their reading. Throughout the summer, visitors to the library will be able to work on several craft projects in the Children’s Room. We will have new camp-inspired crafts every Wednesday afternoon, from friendship bracelets to miniature tents! Come on Wednesday for help from our “camp counselor,” or stop by anytime to try the crafts on your own. To kick off our first week of Camp Read-a-Lot, we will hold a “campfire” story time on Saturday, July 8, at 4 p.m. Gather around our indoor campfire for some funny jokes and slightly spooky stories suitable for all ages! Munch on deconstructed s’mores snack mix while you listen! Join the library for a new discussion group — Cosmic Conversations. This summer, the library offers something new: Time machines. Simple machines of paper and ink, imagination and analysis, every two weeks our basement will be transformed into a pocket of the future for all who sign up. In other words, join us at the library this summer for a science fiction discussion group, geared toward readers ages 12-25. Each meeting, you’ll hear a vivid reading of strange and challenging portrait of tomorrow from some of our most far-seeing writers; discuss and debate what it means; and leave with concepts for explorations, discoveries, and further reading in the present — as well as a full belly, courtesy of the library’s snack budget! Most people have to wait decades for their future to arrive; come, peer over the horizon of time with us — every other Friday at 4 p.m. Please let us know you plan to come by registering via email (whpl_mail@clamsnet.org) or phone (508) 548-8961. There is no need to do any reading ahead of time. Each story will be read aloud and then discussed. Just bring yourself! The schedule is as follows:
Even in the future, role-playing games are still good fun; their consequences, though, may prove terrifying
• August 11 — Nine Billion Names of God
Buddhism and quantum computing have little in common . . . and perhaps it’s best they stay that way
• August 25 — The Third Level
or whpl_mail@clamsnet.org.
The Accessories and Adornments Sale this summer will be held on Saturday, August 5, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. From now until August 4, the library invites donations of women’s jewelry as well as scarves, shawls, hats, handbags, gloves, and belts. Donations of men’s ties, belts, gloves, and hats (but not baseball caps) are also welcome. As always, the library is grateful for the community’s support and generosity. Donations may be dropped off at the library any time between now and August 4 during open hours. For more information, call the library at (508) 548-8961.