Storytimes near NEWTON FREE LIBRARY

Children's Program Room

Drop in for storytimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am or 11am. We will kick-start your day with stories, songs and rhymes led by Newton Free Library children’s librarians. This event is for kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. No registration required, drop-ins welcome.

Children's Program Room

Drop in for storytimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am or 11am. We will kick-start your day with stories, songs and rhymes led by Newton Free Library children’s librarians. This event is for kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. No registration required, drop-ins welcome.

This class is for people who read the news and like to discuss it. Each week we will talk about news articles that have engaged us. These could be about major events in the United States and around the world, as well as interesting topics related to culture, lifestyle, and the arts. We will read the articles on a shared screen and discuss them. This class is for intermediate to advanced English learners. This class meets on Zoom on Thursdays at 2:00 p.m., from July 9 until August 13, 2026. The teacher's name is Naomi. For the Zoom link or more information, please contact Andrew Shapira, ELL Program Coordinator, at 617-796-1364 or newtonell@minlib.net.

Children's Program Room

We have created a Craft Club for our younger friends this summer. We will create something new each week relating to our summer reading theme, "Plant a Seed, Read"! Here is the weekly lineup: Thursday, June 25 at 4pm: Creating pipe cleaner bouquets. Thursday, July 2 at 4pm: Creating red, white, and blue noisemakers to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the USA. Thursday, July 9 at 4pm: Planting beans that can grow in the library windows. Kids will take home beans to grow as well. Thursday, July 16 at 4pm: Creating Winnie the Pooh crafts to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Winnie the Pooh books. Wednesday, July 22 at 6:30pm: Come in jammies to enjoy an indoor campout storytime. Thursday, July 30 at 4pm: Planting our own chia pet-type plants that will grow crazy hair! Thursday, August 6 at 4pm: Creating paper plate gardens. Thursday, August 13 at 4pm: Making fizzy sidewalk chalk! Thursday, August 20 at 4pm: Building fairy houses outside on library grounds (weather permitting; if it is raining, we will make different ones inside). For kids ages 3-5 and their caregiver. Please note the age restriction, projects are not meant for children under 3. Registration not required, drop-ins welcome.

Room B

Come play some board games! Bring games you've been itching to play with other like-minded folks or grab one of the Library's. You can see our selection of games on the first floor in the atrium or here in our catalog. If you've ever played and enjoyed games like Settlers of Catan, Pandemic, King of Tokyo, or Dominion, this game night would be for you! The Board Game Club meets on the first Saturday of the month and the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, with some adjustments for holidays. You can see our upcoming meetings here. You can attend any or all sessions, and new members are always welcome!

Virtual

This class is an opportunity for beginning students to feel more confident speaking in English. We will practice conversation while improving our vocabulary, grammar, and listening skills. This class is for high beginners, not total beginners with no English. The class meets on Zoom on Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m., from July 9 until August 27, 2026. The teacher's name is Patricia. For more information, please contact Andrew Shapira, ELL Program Coordinator, at 617-796-1364 or newtonell@minlib.net

Computer Lab

Stop by for a drop-in technology session with one of our librarians! Each session is: 20 minutes long first come, first serve limited to one per participant, per week We cannot assist with: Resume help Applications (e.g. job applications, grants) Website design Physical hardware problems (e.g. broken buttons, damaged disk drives) There are no reservations ahead of time. Sessions are first come first serve the day of the event. Please sign in at the 1st floor Ask Desk. If Fridays do not work for you, you may request a Tech Time appointment by submitting a form here. Please allow 1 to 3 business days for a response. We are unable to accommodate same-day requests.

Virtual

Let's Talk About Food is a class for intermediate to advanced English learners. We explore food traditions from other cultures and the ways that food provides health, social connection, and pleasure. We discuss the relationship between food and the environment, facts and myths regarding food and nutrition, the value of fresh and local ingredients, and current news about food. This class meets on Zoom on Fridays at 10:00 a.m., from July 10 until August 28, 2026. The teacher's name is Carole. For more information, please contact Andrew Shapira, ELL Program Coordinator, at 617-796-1364 or newtonell@minlib.net.

Druker Auditorium

Join the Little Beats team from the Dance Academy for 30 minutes of yoga inspired movement! This event is for kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. No registration required, drop-ins welcome.

3rd Floor Rear Arc

Practice conversation with ELL tutors at the library! This is an opportunity to develop your speaking and listening skills, learn new vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation. This activity is for English learners of all levels. No registration is necessary. Come when you can! This event takes place in person (on the third floor of the library) on Fridays at 11:00 a.m., from July 10 until August 28, 2026.There will be different teachers every week. For more information, please contact Andrew Shapira, ELL Program Coordinator, at 617-796-1364 or newtonell@minlib.net.

Computer Lab

Stop by for a drop-in technology session with one of our librarians! Each session is: 20 minutes long first come, first serve limited to one per participant, per week We cannot assist with: Resume help Applications (e.g. job applications, grants) Website design Physical hardware problems (e.g. broken buttons, damaged disk drives) There are no reservations ahead of time. Sessions are first come first serve the day of the event. Please sign in at the 1st floor Ask Desk. If Fridays do not work for you, you may request a Tech Time appointment by submitting a form here. Please allow 1 to 3 business days for a response. We are unable to accommodate same-day requests.

Virtual

In this class we will practice talking about our opinions and ideas. We will use a website to vote and learn new vocabulary, so students must be able to go to the website on a computer, smartphone, or other device. This class is for intermediate to advanced English learners. No registration is necessary. Come when you can! This class meets on Zoom on Fridays at 3:00 p.m., from July 10 until August 28, 2026. For more information or the Zoom link, please contact the teacher, Andrew Shapira, at 617-796-1364 or newtonell@minlib.net.

Teen Area

Join us for an afternoon of taste testing in the Tween/Teen Area! This Food Friday--birthday flavored snacks. We will taste test 5 to 7 snacks that are birthday cake flavored. Afterwards, participants will rank their favorite snack and the snack that tastes most like birthday cake! This is a chance to talk food and meet new people. For grades 5-12.

Children's Program Room

Drop in anytime in the hour for self directed activities and games. For kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. No registration required, drop-ins welcome.

Teen Area

Learn how to crochet a flower this summer with students from Newton South High School! At the end of our time together, we will donate each flower to a local hospital. Crochet for our Community is a great opportunity to learn a new hobby, make new friends, and give back to your community! We meet weekly on the following Saturdays: 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1, 8/8, and 8/15. Participants are registered and required to attend ALL 6 sessions. For those entering grades 6-12.

Christopher Robin has planned a picnic for his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. But where is everyone? Can you search the Hundred Acre Wood to help find Christopher Robin’s friends and bring them to the picnic? This will run ALL day EVERY day for a week, Monday, July 13 - Saturday, July 18, to celebrate Winnie-the Pooh's 100th Birthday! For families with kids of all ages. This is an activity for families to do together! No registration required, drop-ins welcome.

3rd Floor Rear Arc

In this class we will learn idioms, practice using phrasal verbs, and have conversations about many topics. It is a great opportunity to improve your vocabulary and speaking skills! This class is intended for intermediate to advanced students. No registration is required. Come when you can! This class meets in person (on the third floor of the library) on Mondays at 10:00 a.m., from July 6 until August 31, 2026. The teacher's name is Robin. For more information, please contact Andrew Shapira, ELL Program Coordinator, at 617-796-1364 or newtonell@minlib.net.

Children's Program Room

This is a lapsit program with movement, songs, and stories appropriate for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers. You will help your children learn how much fun it is to come to the library! For babies and toddlers ages birth - 23 months and their caregivers. No registration required, drop-ins welcome.

3rd Floor Rear Arc

This class is for advanced English learners who are interested in improving their reading and writing skills by analyzing short stories and poems. Students are expected to complete assignments every week. The teacher is a retired professor of journalism. This class meets in person (on the third floor of the library) on Mondays at 2:00 p.m., from July 6 until August 31, 2026. The teacher's name is Bill. For the Zoom link or more information, please contact Andrew Shapira, ELL Program Coordinator, at 617-796-1364 or newtonell@minlib.net.

Local History Room (Special Collections)

Do you have questions about the Newton Free Library's local history collections? Would you like to take a tour of our Local History Room? Come and visit us on the third floor during office hours! For more information email newtonpublicservices@minlib.net.

Druker Auditorium

Join for another fun program with Esther Gomez from SPANISH FUN! In this program, participants will use their imaginations to play while learning about countries that love soccer. From geography and fun facts to traditions, dances, food, and music, every moment offers new discoveries. We are thrilled to share our passion for soccer with you. For kids ages 5-9. No registration required, drop-ins welcome.

Teen Area

Sit back, eat Japanese snacks, and enjoy a special screening of Cosmic Princess Kaguya (2026). Rated PG. Runtime 142 minutes. For those entering grades 6-12.

Christopher Robin has planned a picnic for his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. But where is everyone? Can you search the Hundred Acre Wood to help find Christopher Robin’s friends and bring them to the picnic? This will run ALL day EVERY day for a week, Monday, July 13 - Saturday, July 18, to celebrate Winnie-the Pooh's 100th Birthday! For families with kids of all ages. This is an activity for families to do together! No registration required, drop-ins welcome.

Children's Program Room

Drop in for storytimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am or 11am. We will kick-start your day with stories, songs and rhymes led by Newton Free Library children’s librarians. This event is for kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. No registration required, drop-ins welcome.

Virtual

Looking for a book club that reads a variety of mystery genres, from police procedurals to classics to international works? You’ve come to the right place! Come join the Murder by the Book Club on Zoom for good conversation and discussion. Please check back for the book title. Registration is required. If you have any questions, please contact Erica at newtonpublicservices@minlib.net A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants one hour before the event starts.

3rd Floor Rear Arc

We will discuss a variety of topics depending on students' interests, which could include life in the United States, cultural differences, current events, and raising children. This is an opportunity to practice speaking, so be prepared to participate! This class is for high beginner to intermediate students. No registration is required. Come when you can! This class meets in person (on the third floor of the library) on Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m., from July 7 until August 25, 2026. The teacher's name is Niki. For more information, please contact Andrew Shapira, ELL Program Coordinator, at 617-796-1364 or newtonell@minlib.net.

Children's Program Room

Drop in for storytimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am or 11am. We will kick-start your day with stories, songs and rhymes led by Newton Free Library children’s librarians. This event is for kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. No registration required, drop-ins welcome.

Teen Area

Feeling bookish? Designing your very own tiny library out of a 3D printed bookshelf and miniatures. Registration required. For those entering grades 6-12.

3rd Floor Rear Arc

A conversation group for English learners of all levels. No registration is necessary. Come when you can! This class meets in person (on the third floor of the library) on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., from July 7 to July 28, 2026. The teacher's name is Manya. For more information, please contact Andrew Shapira, ELL Program Coordinator, at 617-796-1364 or newtonell@minlib.net.