Upcoming Events

First Class is Monday, September 9 at 6:30PM

Join us this fall and learn the basics of genealogical research!

If you are already your family’s unofficial historian, if you have already started family research, or if you’re interested in the topic and are brand new, you are welcome to join us for this three-session class. Join us for just one class, or all three! 

Classes will include a lecture with Library Archivist Karen Urbec, followed by a question-and-answer period, and time to practice your new research skills with the library’s genealogical resources. Class members are also encouraged to attend our Monday night Drop-In Genealogy sessions each week, to further sharpen their skills.

Class Schedule

September 9: Getting Started Researching Your Family History; Vital Records

• This class will introduce the Genealogical Proof Standard, the importance of a reliable informant, and vital records–birth, marriage, and death records that are the starting point for most family history research.

October 7: Forming a Good Research Question; Census Records

• This class will briefly review the prior lesson, then we’ll learn how to create good research questions, and we’ll learn what can be found in U. S. Federal Census records.

November 4: Visiting an Archive; DNA Basics; Lineage Societies

• This class will briefly review prior lessons, then will tell what to expect when you visit an archive, the basics of DNA for genealogists, and will introduce lineage societies.

Registration Opens: Monday, August 26 at 5:00PM

Registration is required for each class. Click the button below to register for the September 9 class. If you want to register for additional classes, please visit our event calendar.

Next Session: Monday, August 26 at 6:00PM

Do you love your library and want to get more involved? Consider joining the Friends of Bridgewater Public Library!

Friends of the Bridgewater Public Library is a non-profit, charitable group formed to engage in activities that increase community awareness of Bridgewater Public Library, provide volunteer and program support, raise funds to enhance library services, and advocate for the financial support of the library.

The Friends sponsors educational and cultural programs for adults, teens and children, helps to broaden the horizons of librarians and staff with professional development and conference grants, and partners with other organizations to benefit the community at large.

The Friends are a newly-formed group and meetings are open to anyone interested in becoming a member.

The group meets monthly on the 4th Monday of the month. No registration required. Drop-in and maybe we'll be Friends!

Next Session: Monday, August 26

Calling all family historians, family genealogists, and anyone who would like to start researching their ancestors!

Bring your laptop, your notes, and your brick walls, and we’ll work together to brainstorm research plans and find new records online. The library now has a subscription to Ancestry Library Edition which gives our patrons free access to over 20 million Ancestry records.

Join us Monday nights at Drop-In Genealogy for help researching your family story. And come by the library anytime to access our expanded genealogy resources.

No Registration Required. 

Drop-In Next Week!

Socialize with friends, enjoy snacks and watch the latest streamed anime with our premium Crunchyroll subscription. Check out the newest manga and graphic novel additions before they hit the shelves!

Next Session: Friday, August 23 at 10:00AM

Summer Read & Draw Art Class! Fun and creative, social and skill building, this program is designed for children ages 3-6.

Art class sponsored by Triumph, Inc. CFCE program.  CFCE is funded by a grant awarded to Triumph, Inc. by MA EEC.

Registration is Required

To register, call Nancy at 508-822-5388 ext. 208 or email her at ntilbe@triumphinc.org.  

Next Session: Thursday, August 29 at 1:00PM

The TaleSpinners has existed for nearly twenty years and is open to all. The TaleSpinners meet on Thursdays, year round, from 1-3 PM in the Mary Jarvis Conference Room.

The TaleSpinners encourage all sorts of writing: memoir, poetry, short stories, and/or novels. The TaleSpinners write in all genres: mystery, thrillers, science fiction, romance, humor. We engage in gentle, helpful, and encouraging critiques of one another’s writing, and everyone gets a chance to share their work. We ask each writer to come with copies of his/her work for the rest of the group to write their comments and suggestions upon.

No registration required. 

Stay Up to Date

With Your Public Library

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To follow us, click on the links below to visit our profiles.

Flora T. Little

Art Gallery Presents

Our August Artist

About the Artist

At just six years old, Timi brings a burst of wonder to paper. His vibrant spirit and curious mind turn everyday play into bold expressions of life’s simple joys and heartfelt emotions of childhood.

About the Exhibit

Scribbles That Connect Worlds unveils life as seen by a child, featuring scribbles that bridge worlds and drawings that build colorful bridges. From the first toddler crayon strokes on the kitchen table to carefully illustrated recollections of preschool days, art has been a fundamental part of Timi's way of understanding and connecting with the world around him. With playful strokes of crayons and pencils, Timi translates the language of his heart into a spectrum of colors, capturing everything from playtime laughter to moments of quiet reflection. Each piece offers a glimpse into innocent perspectives, turning daily childhood scenes—from classroom giggles to playground adventures—into colorful narratives.

This exhibition is a heartfelt reflection and collection of a child’s inner world, demonstrating the depth of the sensitivity of the imagination and insights from children's first years of life. It celebrates how drawings of playtime memories and rainbow-filled skies can speak louder than words, serving as a medium to empower and inspire children across the world through the universal language of art.

Social Media:
@playventureboys | Instagram 

Book Club Bets

Need ideas for your book club?
Here are some titles sure to invite discussion!

When you place a book on hold it gets shipped to the Bridgewater Public Library free of charge. You will then be notified when it is available for pickup!
You can also look for these titles as e-books & audiobooks using the Libby App.