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The Peabody Institute Library has plenty of programs for people of all ages this month, headlined by author Bill McKibben’s “The Flag, The Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at his Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened” virtual presentation on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 12-1 p.m.
McKibben will do a deep dive into local history and his childhood growing up in Lexington. He now lives in Vermont with his wife, writer Sue Halpern.
Like many Americans, McKibben grew up believing – knowing that the United States was the greatest country on earth. As a teenager, he cheerfully led American Revolution tours in Lexington. He sang “Kumbaya” at church. And with the remarkable rise of suburbia, he assumed that all Americans would share in the wealth.
But 50 years later, he finds himself in an increasingly doubtful nation strained by bleak racial and economic inequality, on a planet whose future is in peril. And he is curious: What the hell happened?
McKibben digs deep into our history (and his own well-meaning but not all-seeing past) and into the latest scholarship on race and inequality in America, on the rise of the religious right, and on our environmental crisis to explain how we got to this point.
He finds that he is not without hope. And he wonders if any of that trinity of his youth – The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon -could, or should, be reclaimed in the fight for a fairer future.
Registration is required for this event to receive a Zoom link for the program. To register for this event or any other events offered by the library, go to https://peabodylibrary.org/calendar/.
Thursday, Dec. 1
West Branch Library Fiction Book Group
Join Senior Librarian Amory Thomas and fellow Peabody fiction readers from 2 -3 p.m. in the Community Room at the West Branch Library, 603 Lowell St. for the Afternoon Fiction Book discussion.
This event is held on the first Thursday of every month. Copies of the next and current reads can be checked out at the Public Services desk.
Registration is encouraged but not required, but is encouraged. Contact AThomas@Noblenet.org or call the West Branch at 978-535-3354 for more information.
We will be discussing “The Last Thing He Told Me” by Laura Dave. More information on this title can be found at the following link:
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Thing-He-Told-Me/Laura-Dave/9781501171345
Adult Game Night
Adult Game Night will be held from 6-8 p.m. in the Community Room at the West Branch Library. Drop in to play and learn about different board games, table-top games, card games and more. Drinks and snacks will also be provided. Registration is required and space is limited. This event is limited to ages 18 and up. Registration is required for this event.
Saturday, Dec. 3
Toy Snow Globes
Come make a toy snow globe in the creativity lab at the main branch, 82 Main St. Open to kids ages 4-12, the class will be held from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Supplies are included. Registration is required.
Monday, Dec. 5
Preschool Storytime and Craft
Join Miss Julianne for a Storytime and crafting from 10-11:30 a.m. Listen to her share some stories, and then follow along to create a masterpiece in the Community Room at the West Branch Library. This program helps children gain early literacy, creativity, world building, and social skills while also preparing them for a school environment. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Registration is required and space is limited.
PIL Fall Concert Series: Karen Grenier
Somerville singer-songwriter Karen Grenier makes a return trip to the main branch’s library’s Sutton Room from 7-8:30 p.m. as part of the Fall Concert Series. Grenier continues to make her mark as both a gifted songwriter and crafty lyricist. Her music resonates in the heart, leaving listeners anticipating the next song and humming her catchy melodies. A former guidance counselor for Peabody Public Schools, Grenier is currently Elementary Dean of Students for Somerville Public Schools.
“You’ve got to reach for your dreams and do what you love,” she says, it’s an attitude I’ve always tried to inspire in my students,” she said.
The concert will feature Grenier’s original work along with a few favorite songs that have inspired her along her path.
For more info about Grenier or to listen to her music, check out her website: http://www.karengrenier.com/.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Pop-Up Library at Brooksby Village
Join the library on the first Tuesday of every month from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at Brooksby Village to check out books and other items, learn about important resources, and see what your library can do for you. Each month, PIL will bring a selection of library materials, event brochures, lots of information about the library.
Two staff members will be on hand and ready to answer your questions. The event will be held in the library area in the Town Hall building at Brooksby Village in Peabody. All are welcome to stop by and say hi and take a look at all the library has to offer.
Teen Movie Night – Thor: Love and Thunder
Hang out in the teen room from 6-8 p.m. and watch the movie. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. The movie is the fourth installment of the Thor franchise. It focuses on the future of New Asgard, while Valkyrie seeks to find a worthy ruler to stand by her side, Thor reunites with his old flame Jane Foster. What follows is a love story of gigantic odds between gods and mortals. Rated PG13. Registration is required for this event.
Craft & Chat
Craft and Chat is a monthly opportunity to build a creative local community, for ages 13 and up in the Tech Lab at the main branch from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Bring your handicraft project and make some new friends, meet your neighbors, or reconnect with old friends. If you don’t have a craft to bring, or want to start something and don’t have the supplies, never fear – the library has supplies and kits for you to use here at the library.
All skill levels and interests are welcome. Instruction on knitting, crochet, and cross stitch as well as basic sewing will be provided.
Registration is encouraged but not required.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
Drop-in Tech Help
Need help using your smartphone, laptop, tablet, or e-reader? Bring your device to the library and stop by the Drop-in Tech Help desk in the Creativity Lab from 1-3 p.m. where librarians will be ready to help answer your questions.
Make your own snowflake lantern with Create & Escape
Make your own laser-cut wood lantern with a wintery snowflake pattern at the Tech Lab at the main branch from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wood, paint, tissue paper, and an LED light will be provided. Registration for this event is full but there is a waiting list. If you add your name to the wait list the library may be able to move you to the attendee list at a later date. Registrants will receive an email from the library confirming attendance.
Thursday, Dec. 8
TACO Thursday
Earn community service hours by participating in TACO, the Teen Advisory and Community Organization program.
Each Thursday, teens can come to the teen room at the Main Library and help make the library the best it can be with tasks that help the library in some way. As compensation, teens receive one hour of community service hours, and a free taco on the first Thursday of the month.
A Teen Volunteer Application must be completed at the start of this program. Registration is not required. If you have questions, please email Teen Librarian Allison Bridgewater at abridgewater@noblenet.org.
Lydia the Comfort Dog
Come say Hello to Lydia the Comfort Dog at the West Branch from 6-7 p.m. Other relaxing activities will be offered as well. This event is open to all ages. Registration is not required.
Bring Your Own Book Group
The Bring Your Own Book Group will meet at the South Branch Library on the second Thursday of every month from 7-8 p.m. Every month, we choose a theme, and you choose the book you want to read! Everyone will get the opportunity to share what they read with the group. This is a great way to discuss books you’ve enjoyed, expand your reading list to books that might be out of your comfort zone, and get new reading recommendations.
This program is open to adults and teens ages 16 and up. The theme is “Animals.” Space is limited, and registration is required. Registering more attendees than spaces available will automatically place attendees on this event’s wait list.
Saturday, Dec. 10
Family LEGO Fun
The whole family is invited to create some LEGO masterpieces at the Main Library’s Tech Lab from 10-11 a.m. LEGO isn’t only a super fun way to spend a Saturday morning, but it’s also a great way for children to gain creative and mechanical skills. Large DUPLO blocks will also be available for younger children. This event is free, but space is limited and registration
Cartoons & Crafts
Hang out at the South Branch Library for Cartoons & Crafts from 10-11:30 a.m. Participants can watch an animated movie and also put together a related craft. Pajama wearing is encouraged. This month, we will be making abominable snowman crafts. The featured animated movie will be Smallfoot (© Warner Bros, 2018) which is rated PG. Children ages 5-12 and their caregivers are welcome and registration is required.
