Library Hours

Monday through Friday, 9:30-5:30 with extended hours on Tuesday until 7:00pm

Saturdays 9:30-1:30

Curbside pickup is available during all open hours

Check our website for the most up-to-date information and to register for programs:  https://baconfreelibrary.org

Children’s Programs

Story Time -- Mondays and Tuesdays @ 10am -- We’ll feature a combination of stories for listening and songs for singing & dancing.  Held outside (unless it rains).

Baby Time -- Wednesdays @ 10am --  Join us for a cozy story time filled with lap bounces, rhymes, songs, and simple stories. Geared toward infants and young toddlers with their grownups. Always held indoors.  

Jammin with You -- Fridays, Oct 4th & Oct 18th @ 10:30am -- Be prepared to laugh, dance, sing, and jam your way through 30 minutes of non-stop family fun! Held outside (unless it rains)

Read to a Dog -- Saturday,  Oct. 5th, 10:00 - 11:15am -- Kids can build confidence and practice their reading skills by reading out loud to a registered therapy dog! Children ages 5 and up can sign up for a 15-minute reading session with Sophie, a gentle golden retriever who loves belly rubs, stories, and cuddles. Registration is required.

Preschool Pumpkin Party -- Friday, Oct 25th @ 10:30 - 11:30am --  Join us for some messy fall fun! We’ll have a variety of craft stations, sensory bins, and fine motor activities, all involving pumpkins. Recommended for ages 1-5 with a caregiver. Wear clothes and shoes that can get messy! This program will be outdoors, weather permitting. Due to limited supplies, registration is required. 

All Ages Programs

Featured art display:

Sept 19th - October 30th: Fran Daneault’s Quilts

Art Reception - Quilts by Frances Caruso Daneault -- Tuesday, Oct 8th @ 5 - 6:30pm -- The BFL is thrilled to welcome back former Assistant Director and Children’s Librarian extraordinaire Fran Daneault to exhibit her spectacular collection of quilts. Join us at this reception to view the quilts and chat with Fran.  Her quilts will be on display from Sept 19 - October 30.

Adult Programs

Closing the Garden (virtual) -- Weds, Oct 9th @ 6pm on Zoom --  As the gardening season comes to a close, we at the BFL are looking for advice on closing down the garden.  In this virtual program, the experts at Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens will explain why fall is the best time to get a jump start on the following year. We’ll explore pruning, seed saving, mulching, composting, and more.  This program will be held over Aoom.  Register to receive the program link.

In Conversation with Historical Fiction author Madeline Martin, author of The Booklover’s Library (virtual) -- Thurs, Oct 10th @ 7pm on Zoom --  The BFL is partnering with the Ashland Public Library to bring you author Madeline Martin. This program is for book lovers everywhere! We’re so pleased to be chatting with author Madeline Martin about her newest release, The Booklover’s Library, as well as several of her other book-related works such as The Keeper of Hidden Books and The Librarian Spy. We hope you can join us for this fun and fascinating conversation.

Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and internationally bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into more than 25 languages.  This program will be held over Zoom.  Register to receive the program link. 

French Conversation Club - Saturday, Oct 12th @ 10am -- Vous parlez français? un peu, beaucoup, pas de problèmes. Venez nous rejoindre pour parler ou pour écouter.

Even More Haunted Lighthouses of New England with Author Jeremy D’Entremont - Monday, Oct 28th @ 7pm on Zoom -- The BFL is partnering with the Ashland Public Library to bring you author Jeremy D’Entremont. Jeremy is the president and historian of the American Lighthouse Foundation, historian for the U.S. Lighthouse Society, and the author of more than 20 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He’s the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s podcast, Light Hearted. He has appeared on the popular Ghost Hunters TV show, as well as Haunted Lighthouses of America on the Travel Channel. He has also appeared on the History Channel, Public Television, and National Public Radio speaking about lighthouses. This program will be held over Zoom. Register to receive the program link. 

Adult Book & Film Clubs - registration required for all clubs

Mystery Book Club -- first Thursday of the month @ 1pm on Zoom

October 3rd: The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer

History Book Club -- second Thursday of the month @ 11am on Zoom

October 10th: The Wingmen: the unlikely, unusual, unbreakable friendship between John Glenn and Ted Williams by Arthur Lazarus

Environmental Book Club -- third Tuesday of the month @ 7pm at the library

October 15th: Crossings: how road ecology is shaping the future of our planet by Ben Goldfarb 

Tuesday Night Book Club – fourth Tuesday of the month @ 6:30 pm at the library

October 22nd: Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri 

Nonfiction Book Club -- fourth Saturday of the month @ 10am at the library & on Zoom

October 26th: On Writing: a memoir of the craft by Stephen King

Cinephile Mondays -- last Monday of the month @ 4pm on Zoom; watch and discuss films. Check the BFL website for the film of the month and to register. 

Museum Passes

The Bacon Free Library and Morse Institute Library offer passes for free or reduced-admission to 30 local museums.  Check one out and plan your next day trip!