Attleboro Public Library UPDATE
December 2020-January 2021
Library Hours & Services
Building Closed Until Monday, January 11
Due to the potential rise in COVID-19 cases after the holidays, and to help keep our community safe, the library building will be temporarily closed starting Thursday, December 24th, reopening on Monday, January 11th. Staff will be working remotely during this closure, so curbside pickup will be unavailable. If you need assistance while we are away, our librarians can be reached by emailing apl_ref@sailsinc.org
Family Fun!
Virtual Family Trivia
Wednesday, December 30, 6-7pm
Join us for low-key trivia! Participants will write their answers on paper and share with the group when prompted, paper and marker will be needed to participate. Registration is required to obtain the meeting link. Please register for each session you wish to attend.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Fandom
Friday, January 29 at 3:30pm
Kids in grades 3-8 are invited to join Mrs. Brown & Mrs. Witherell as we discuss all things Wimpy Kid!  There will be games, trivia, discussions & lots of laughs!  If you've ever read (or have ever wanted to read) any of the books from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, please join us for this fun, FREE program! Register HERE for a link to the event, starting January 1.
Your Next Great Read:
At Your (Reader's) Service
Can we even believe that 2020 has come to an end? If a time traveler had visited me on January 1, 2020 and tried to tell me what the year would look like I would have laughed at them. All I can say is this: thank goodness for one of the only truly stable things in my life- books. I set a very reasonable reading goal for myself this year and am happy to say that (as of writing this in mid-December) I am currently only one book away from reaching that goal! So I thought I would shout out my top 5 favorite reads this year and, hopefully, give you something to add to your to-be-read list. It’s worth noting that these are listed in no particular order. I tried to rank them and I just couldn’t do it, they were all are so great!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give (aka THUG) follows sixteen-year-old Starr Carter as she navigates life in two parallel worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, her life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night her friend, Kahlil, died. I think Thomas' choice to portray Starr separately in both primarily black and white worlds provides a perspective that allows young people of color to see themselves in the story and also for white people to begin understanding the kind of microaggressions black people experience every day. Despite the heavy and serious nature of the themes of this story it is still really funny and heartwarming at times. It tackles huge, heavy themes but it is also a story about family, friends, and community.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
In 1913 Nell is abandoned on a ship that’s making its way from England to Australia. It isn’t until she is an adult that her father, the dock master who found her, tells her that she is not his biological child. In her quest for answers she returns to England, a quest that is passed down to her granddaughter years later. The Forgotten Garden is essentially four stories that are all wrapped up in each other. One of those stories is Nell’s and other is her granddaughters. The other two, well you’ll have to read it if you want to find out! It's atmospheric and haunting, heartwarming and tragic. There’s a twist at the end and whether you can guess it or not won’t matter because you will be engrossed by the way it revealed throughout the story.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else. But, what happens when they are unceremoniously booted from the worlds that have begun feel more like home to them than their real homes? They go to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. Everything about Every Heart a Doorway- concept, execution, characters, world building, prose- worked for me. At 174 pages, or just over 4 hours on audio, it is a quick read.
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
I don’t always read nonfiction, but when I do its true crime. Bad Blood recounts the story behind Theranos, the medical equipment company that misled investors to believe they developed a revolutionary blood testing machine and details how it’s CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, perpetuated the lie in order to bolster the value of the company by billions. It is part true crime, part "how the other half live", and all train wreck that you can't tear your eyes away from. I honestly did not expect to find this interesting. I was unaware of the Theranos scandal before this was published so my interpretation of the synopsis was: rich person dupes other rich people and gets caught. But there's a lot more to it than that and, in the end, it makes for a great story. 
Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams
This would not be a list curated by yours truly without at least one romance, so here it is. Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams is the second in the Bromance Bookclub series, which follows a group of Nashville’s most successful men in their efforts to improve their relationships by reading romance novels. Braden Mack thinks he’s got it all figured out but, despite doing everything he reads in the books, manage to make a relationship last. Meanwhile our heroine, Liv Papandreas, is fired from her restaurant job for reporting sexual harassment by the restaurant’s celebrity chef. In classic enemies-to-lovers style the two unwillingly team up and work to bring the chef down. If you think romance novels are anti-feminist then I dare you to let this series change your mind! Mack gets a lesson in real vulnerability, Liv gets a lesson in trust, the chef gets exactly what he deserves, and everyone (except the chef, obviously) gets a Happily Ever After.
Find downloadable books and audio on Libby and hoopla
Elise LaForge is the Reader Services Librarian at APL and she is here to help you live your best reading life. If you’d like a custom reading recommendation or if you’d just like to talk books you can reach her at elaforge@sailsinc.org.
Learning at Home
Brainfuse Online Tutoring
Looking for support for at home learning? Have a student attending school who needs additional tutoring support?2020 has presented unique challenges to learners of all kinds and the library has found a way to help! Starting in January, Brainfuse, will be free with your Attleboro Public Library or Attleboro High School library card! Brainfuse is a “on-demand, anywhere online learning” platform that offers live, real time assistance from trained tutors, a writing lab, academic & standardized test prep, as well as a whole library of lessons, videos and tests to support learning in a variety of subjects, in English and Spanish. Brainfuse tutors work with learners of all ages to help them understand concepts and reach the answers, not provide them. Brainfuse’s tutoring and education support services can be used by youth and adults with active library cards. Need a card? Visit here to sign up for a temporary card.
Attleboro's eLibrary
Your library provides resources online that you can't get anywhere else! Create FREE accounts when you log in with your library card number and explore! Resources for education and entertainment are just a few clicks away. Take practice exams for school or career with Learning Express Library, express yourself with CreativeBug, learn something new with Universal Class, and so much more! Questions? Contact the Reference Department at apl_ref@sailsinc.org while the building is closed. 
Upcoming Virtual Events
Be Kind to Your Mind: Guided Meditation and Relaxation
Monday, January 11, 2021 6:30pm
While keeping our bodies healthy is important, it is equally as important to take care of our minds- especially during these challenging times. The library would like to help give you some tools to do just that. Join us for a virtual guided meditation and relaxation session with mindfulness specialist Amy Rutledge. Amy will teach us a little about the benefits of meditation and guide us through a 30-minute meditation session. Although this session will be presented via Zoom participants' cameras will be turned off, so you can simply relax in the comfort of your own home. Amy will take questions at the end of the session. Register HERE to receive the Zoom link. 
Neighbors in (virtual) Dialogue 
Wednesday, January 13, 2021 6-8pm
Our discussion topic for January will be racism as it relates to the education system. Please join us as we share our varied perspectives on systemic racism in our community and in the world. The format of small group discussions led by trained facilitators ensures that everyone has their voice heard. Please share far and wide! The more voices participate, the better for our community.
Registration is required and ends one day before the event. The Zoom link will be emailed to registered participants the morning of the event. 
Attleboro Be Heard Coalition Meeting
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 6pm
Attleboro Be Heard is a diverse coalition of educators, parents, students, and community members working together to increase community engagement, improve the Attleboro Public Schools, and actively listen to all voices to enhance our role as the center of the Attleboro community.
At this meeting we will reflect on notes gathered from previous conversations and discuss our next steps. Register by clicking HERE or by emailing beheard@attleboroschools.com
Virtual Events at the Library
Library staff will continue to bring the community its regularly scheduled virtual events while the building is closed. Visit our online calendar to learn more about and to register for virtual book groups, Genealogy Club, English Conversation Circles, Take & Make kits (at the end of the month) and more. Mrs. Brown will be LIVE on Facebook Wednesday afternoons at 3pm - just log on to listen and say hello!
Community News
Winter 20201 Tutor Training
Becoming a tutor at The Literacy Center is a rewarding way to give back to your community in a meaningful, lasting way. Each year, more than 120 people tutor over 150 students at The Literacy Center, providing an invaluable amount of hours in support of our students' goals.  Tutors often help students with: Reading & Writing, Basic Math, Computer Skills, Career readiness and resume development, English pronunciation & conversation, Citizenship exam preparation, High School Equivalency Exam Prep, Trade-specific and industry exam prep.
No background or experience is necessary, just a willingness to help and an eagerness to learn. All tutors receive comprehensive training prior to being matched with a student. Our Volunteer Coordinator will work with you to find the a match for your skills and ability. 
Library Renovations
What's Going On?
More scaffolding has gone up and more is coming! Roof demo will start soon, depending on the weather. Inside, some staff have moved their work spaces and are settling in to their temporary "homes." We're working closely with the contractors to ensure that services to our patrons run smoothly. More details on the renovation can be found on our website.
For all the latest updates, visit attleborolibrary.org
Attleboro Public Library
74 North Main St
Attleboro, Massachusetts 02703
(508) 222-0157
attleborolibrary.org