Storytimes near MEMORIAL HALL LIBRARY

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

An early literacy storytime with songs, rhymes and stories for babies from 0 to 18 months with their caregivers! Please review all registration information below! Please register for only one weekday storytime per week. Please register all children and all adults who will be attending this program. Please cancel your registration using the confirmation email sent to you after registering or by calling us at (978) 623-8440. Please try to arrive as close to the start time as possible.

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

Stories and songs for ages 18 months - 3 years and their caregivers! Please review all registration information below! Please register for only one weekday storytime per week. Please register all children and all adults who will be attending this program. Please cancel your registration using the confirmation email sent to you after registering or by calling us at (978) 623-8440. Please try to arrive as close to the start time as possible.

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

This is a pilot program for the summer with only a few spots. Kids must be able to commit to attending weekly. Are you a wanna be author? Do you like writing poems, short stories or are you working on your first novel? This program may be for you. We are encouraging beginner writers ages 9-11 to sign up for a chance to learn about writing skills, narrative writing and editing with us! Participants will work on a short story for the six meetings and then share their finished story at a Writer's showcase on August 20th at 7pm. Stories will be compiled into an anthology and added to our Children's Room collection. There are limited spaces for this program which will meet on Thursdays from 2-3pm from July 9-August 13th culminating in the showcase on the 20th. Questions? Please reach out to Beth Kerrigan at bkerrigan@mhl.org . Due to the nature of the program we need kids who can commit to every meeting.

Memorial Hall Library, Memorial Hall

Join us for table-top role-playing - no experience necessary! Join our D&D campaign! No role-playing game experience is necessary. Right now, running two sessions that alternate Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:45 pm, and this session is the Blue Group. The room opens at 3:00 pm and the campaign starts at 3:30! If would like to play, please email Anna at ya@mhl.org.

Memorial Hall Library, Alcove 1

A book club for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Join us to enjoy good stories and fun conversations. The Next Chapter Book Club meets every other Thursday. New members are welcome. Readers and non-readers at all levels are welcome to join in the fun. We will read a book aloud together, taking turns, discussing the plot and characters, making connections, and making friends. We sometimes read short stories that can be completed within the hour, but also choose longer books, based on the interests of the group, that may take several meetings to finish. Please register to let us know you are coming. If you have any questions about the club, please contact Nicole at 978-623-8451 or nkramer@mhl.org.

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

Sign up for a monthly book group at the library! Ages 9-10 years can sign up for a monthly book club! Please only sign up children who are attending the program.

Memorial Hall Library, Memorial Hall

Ages 5-18 can meet up with their Pokémon cards to trade and battle! Learn more about the rules of Pokemon Club, recommendations for parents/caregivers, and what Pokemon trading cards are all about by clicking here! Pokemon fans can bring their cards and trade, battle, or just hang out! This is a drop-in program, so no registration required! This program is for ages 5-18 years old only. Children under 10 must have an adult with them at all times in the library.

Memorial Hall Library, Children's Room

Kid's entering grades 1-3 can practice reading with a big kid! Each child can sign up for one session per week to practice reading with a buddy. Please note this is not a program to teach reading. Each session is 30 minutes long. Please cancel if you cannot attend with the link in the confirmation email or by calling 978-623-8440

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

The Writers Group meets monthly on the second Thursday of each month. In our writing workshop, participants take turns submitting original pieces of any genre. The group reads several submissions during a month, sharing genuine feedback, constructive criticism and encouragement at the next meeting. A writing exercise is explored in each meeting and samples of writing may be used to illustrate technique or strategy. We welcome newcomers at any level of accomplishment or ambition. Questions or comments: mhlwritersgroup@gmail.com

Memorial Hall Library, Children's Room

Kid's entering grades 1-3 can practice reading with a big kid! Each child can sign up for one session per week to practice reading with a buddy. Please note this is not a program to teach reading. Each session is 30 minutes long. Please cancel if you cannot attend with the link in the confirmation email or by calling 978-623-8440

Memorial Hall Library, Alcove 1

Stop by during our open drop-in tech help hours to get one-on-one assistance on anything tech-related. Our Reference staff are happy to help with things like: computer and device use browsing the internet safely email setup and management library catalog and databases getting ebooks and digital audiobooks Open Drop-in Tech Help is available on a first-come, first served basis.

MHL Virtual Programs

Join us for a yearlong series in which “America’s Preeminent Presidential Doodler”, Heather Rogers, shares facts, factoids, and fun illustrations about the presidents of these United States. This month, our focus turns to Andrew Jackson: Into dueling (and had a bullet near his heart to prove it). Blamed John Quincy Adams for his wife’s death. Last president to conveniently die at the same place where his funeral was held and he was buried (his swearing parrot was kicked out of his funeral). Don't you want to know more (especially about that parrot!?!)? In 2026, journey through Heather's sketchbooks as she shares some of her favorite tidbits, doodles, observations, and stories about the first 12 presidents. Heather Rogers isn’t a historian, an academic, or an impartial storyteller… but she has read more than one book about every U.S. president. Out of spite. She was dubbed “America’s Preeminent Presidential Doodler” by one of her favorite biographers and she’s been repeating it ever since. When she’s not reading or doodling history books, she’s a freelance graphic designer, illustrator, and content creator. To keep her interest during her accidental spite project, Heather Rogers filled hundreds of sketchbook pages doodling her way through presidential biographies. Doing so heightened her curiosity and turned her into an insufferable presidential nerd. Along the way, she discovered unexpected threads connecting seemingly unconnected people, times, and events. She can’t get enough of the weird trivia, coincidences, and quirks. Like the fact that English wasn’t the first language of the first president born in the U.S. Or that a three-part plan was proposed to bring George Washington back to life. Don’t even get her started on William Henry Harrison – he was only president for a month, but she could talk about him for hours. *All illustrations for this series have been created by Heather Rogers and are her property therein. This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. This program is supported by the Friends of Memorial Hall Library and is in partnership with the Ashland Public Library and many other MA and NH libraries.

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

Play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in the Activity Room! Play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in the Activity Room! Open to tweens and teens in grades 4 and up. Drop by for a little bit or stay the entire time!

Memorial Hall Library, Children's Room

Kid's entering grades 1-3 can practice reading with a big kid! Each child can sign up for one session per week to practice reading with a buddy. Please note this is not a program to teach reading. Each session is 30 minutes long. Please cancel if you cannot attend with the link in the confirmation email or by calling 978-623-8440

Memorial Hall Library, Children's Room

Kid's entering grades 1-3 can practice reading with a big kid! Each child can sign up for one session per week to practice reading with a buddy. Please note this is not a program to teach reading. Each session is 30 minutes long. Please cancel if you cannot attend with the link in the confirmation email or by calling 978-623-8440

Memorial Hall Library, Outside

Join us for an outdoor storytime on the back steps of the library - weather permitting! Ages 0-5 years and their caregivers can drop by for an outdoor storytime at the library! Kids and families will sit on the steps outside of the lower level entrance of the library. This program will be moved indoors in the event of poor weather and our website's events calendar will be updated by 9:30AM the day of the program with registration slots.

Memorial Hall Library, Memorial Hall

Discover familiar and forgotten favorites with works by Beach, Bernstein, Gershwin & the unpublished Piano Sonata of Aaron Copland as we celebrate 250 years of American spirit. Born and raised near Cincinnati, OH, USA, D.J. Cleavinger grew up exploring musical theatre, studio art (earning three gold medals in the National Scholastic Competition), and various genres of choral singing through churches, schools, and the Cincinnati MayFestival Youth Chorus. He completed his Bachelor of Music at Miami University of Ohio in 2021, and his Master of Music at Boston University in 2025, where he studied with Pavel Nersessian. D.J. has performed in recitals and summer intensives in Austria, Germany, Puerto Rico, Spain, and across the United States. He is Director of Traditional Music at Faith Lutheran Church in Andover. This concert is funded by the Friends of Memorial Hall Library . Seating is available on a first-come basis. Doors open at 1:45pm.

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

Beginner level D&D for kids in grades K-2! Please note that kids must have a caregiver with them during the session. This session is for kids in grades K-2 and their families! If there is space, registration will open for any players who would like to drop in for this session. If you're interested in joining a group or have any questions, please email Olly in the Children's Room at omcintyre@mhl.org ! Kids in grades K-2 must have a caregiver with them at all times during the session to assist them with gameplay. This program is geared towards kids who want to learn more about tabletop RPGs or get more hands-on experience playing - no previous experience necessary! This game will be family-friendly and a way for new players to creatively explore interactive storytelling . Dice and other supplies will be provided!

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

Drop by the Activity Room to play some games and make some new friends. Games aren't just for kids. Want to play board games with other adults? Learn a new game, or play an old favorite. Gamers are welcome to bring their own games to share with the group. The Board Games Club will meet on the second Sunday of the month during library open hours. All are welcome.

Memorial Hall Library

Ages 0-5 and their caregivers are invited to join us for an outdoor storytime! Please note: this program is held weather permitting. As part of our Summer Reading program, we'll be taking storytime on the road - this time, we'll be at High Plain Elementary School's Playground! Registration is not required. This program will be cancelled in the event of poor weather and our website's events calendar will be updated by 9:30AM the day of the program if we need to cancel.

Memorial Hall Library, Teen Room

This week's activity is: clothespin plant labels Stop into the Teen Room starting on Mondays at 3:00 pm, or the first day of the week, for a new activity for teens in grades 6 through 12. These are self-directed activities or crafts that teens can do anytime during the week in the Teen Room. We kindly ask that these materials be available for teens to do in the Teen Room, as opposed to bringing them home as a "take and make craft." This week's activity is: turn clothespins into cute labels for your garden!

Memorial Hall Library, Outside

Sign up to work on a messy project at the library! Ages 5-11 years can sign up for a messy project at the library! Please sign up each child who will be attending - sign-up is required.

Memorial Hall Library, Children's Room

Drop in to play with some LEGOs! Kids and caregivers can drop in to free build with our LEGOs or try our challenge prompts!

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

Beginner level D&D for kids in grades 3-6! This session is for kids in the Red Dragons group! If there is space, registration will open for any players who would like to drop in for this session. If you're interested in joining a group or have any questions, please check out this short slideshow or email Olly in the Children's Room at omcintyre@mhl.org! This program is geared towards kids who want to learn more about tabletop RPGs or get more hands-on experience playing - no previous experience necessary! This game will be family-friendly and a way for new players to creatively explore interactive storytelling . Dice and other supplies will be provided!

Makerspace

Bring your own fiber arts project (knitting, crochet, etc.) and join us for a casual meet-up to work on projects and have some fun! This group meets on the second Monday of the month in the Makerspace to let crafters work on their latest projects and enjoy the company of others. This is not an instructional workshop. Crafters supply their own materials and projects for club meetings. Monday Holidays: Meetings that fall on a Monday holiday will not be rescheduled.

Memorial Hall Library, Teen Room

Make a frame for an air plant - it doesn't even need dirt! Make a frame for an air plant - it doesn't even need dirt! Air plants will be provided for you to choose your own! Open to grades in 6 - 12. Registration opens two weeks before the date and time of the event.

MHL Virtual Programs

Loretta and Susan (Two Nerdy History Girls) will discuss the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the everyday lives of people who lived through this era. We will learn how the war upended the lives of everyday people. Loretta Chase has worked in academe, retail, and the visual arts, as well as in video, as a scriptwriter. Her bestselling historical romances, set in the Regency and Romantic eras of the early nineteenth century, have won a number of awards, including the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® and Vivian®. Susan Holloway Scott is the author of over fifty historical novels and novellas. Her bestselling books have received numerous awards and honors, and with more than four million copies of her books in print, she has been published in nineteen foreign countries around the world. She has also written under the pseudonyms Isabella Bradford and Miranda Jarrett. Together, they were the originators of the infamous blog. Check out previous blog posts: twonerdyhistorygirls.blogspot.com Due to limited space, if you know you cannot make it live, please do not register with zoom but please fill out THIS FORM to receive the video link instead. This program is in partnership with the Ashland Public Library. Look out for additional virtual America 250th programs on Monday evenings.

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

An early literacy storytime with songs, rhymes and stories for babies from 0 to 18 months with their caregivers! Please review all registration information below! Please register for only one weekday storytime per week. Please register all children and all adults who will be attending this program. Please cancel your registration using the confirmation email sent to you after registering or by calling us at (978) 623-8440. Please try to arrive as close to the start time as possible.

Makerspace

Learn how to get started with 3D printing! Learn how to get started with 3D printing. We'll discuss how to find and create 3D prints, how to set up the file, and how the 3D printers work. Stick around afterwards if you'd like to 3D print something to pick up later.

Memorial Hall Library, Activity Room

Stories and songs for ages 18 months - 3 years and their caregivers! Please review all registration information below! Please register for only one weekday storytime per week. Please register all children and all adults who will be attending this program. Please cancel your registration using the confirmation email sent to you after registering or by calling us at (978) 623-8440. Please try to arrive as close to the start time as possible.