The Beverly Public Library will be spending the week of October 20-26, 2019, celebrating its Friends of the Beverly Public Library group as part of the 13th annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week.

The Friends of the Beverly Public Library was established in 1975 and have raised over $25,000 each year for the library. Currently over 350 community members contribute annually to the Friends, raising funds for the Monday Mornings lecture series, Summer Sounds concert series, children and teen summer reading events, all ages crafting programs, museum passes, the Teen Annual Poetry Contest, and much more.

“The library has always played such an important role in my life and in my family’s life,” said Friends president Thalia Lewandowski. “I truly enjoy being able to give something back – and being an active member of this group is fun!” Other officers of the Friends are Amy Whelan, Andrea Connor and Maria Decker.

“The Friends of the Beverly Public Library play a critical role in supporting the mission of the library,” said library director Anna Langstaff. “We couldn’t do all that we do without the financial support of the Friends. I think most patrons would be surprised to learn how many of the services and programs they enjoy are supported by the Friends.” 

Please visit our support page to find out how to become a member of the Friends.

Thanks to a generous donor, the library has acquired a Topaz Desktop Video Magnifier. This easy to use machine can assist you in seeing printed type, pictures, handwriting and other small details. Just place an item on the moveable reading table, adjust the magnification level and display colors, and documents will display in large size on the screen. This new machine is located on the second floor of the library. Anyone can use it. For help, ask a Reference librarian.

Sundays, November 3, 10, 17, 24 from 1 – 4:30 PM
Fogg Room, Main Library

We’re excited to be hosting NaNoWriMo Write-Ins this November! Bring your laptop, notebook, or scribe to the Fogg Room and get those creative juices flowing with your fellow writers. Julia Mohler, the NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison for the North Shore, will be on hand to provide encouragement and general information on NaNo, along with optional timed writing sprints.

Check out www.nanowrimo.org to join virtual write-ins, track your word count, find writing tips, and interact with fellow NaNoWriMo participants. Free and open to writers of all ages. Questions? Contact Ona at ridenour@noblenet.org.

We are excited to announce a new collection of popular titles. Don’t want to wait for that new James Patterson or Nora Roberts novel? Stop by and check out the Lucky Day collection. Items are available in person only, first-come, first-served. No holds can be placed on these items. Lucky Day titles have a three week loan period with no renewals. Today could be your lucky day! Questions? Contact Lisa at ryan@noblenet.org.

Thursday, October 17 at 7 PM
Sohier Room, Main Library

Get in the Halloween spirit! Join Dan Tremblay of Heritage Films for this haunting mixed-media presentation of his experiences filming the show Ghost Stories of New England. Curious about paranormal activity? Come see clips of local ghost tales, including explicit video of ghosts seen and recorded at Gettysburg. Free and open to adults. Questions? Contact Ona at ridenour@noblenet.org.

Monday, October 7 at 7 PM
Sohier Room, Main Library

Beverly Public Library is excited to partner with Historic Beverly to welcome Michael Cormier, author of the new play Saltonstall’s Trial (running at Beverly’s Larcom Theatre from October 17-27), for a presentation that will cover the infamous witch trials from a local point of view.

Beverly’s historic connection to the witch trials is rich and complex, and Cormier will explore the ways in which names like Hale, Herrick, Rootes and Tookey figured into the tragedy that took more than twenty lives and ruined countless others. This is a rare opportunity to hear the story behind the hysteria through the eyes and minds of Beverly’s forefathers.

Michael Cormier, a Haverhill native, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern University and a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University. He visited Salem at age 12 and has been fascinated with its history ever since. In 2016, Cormier decided the time had come to tell the story of one of the witch trials’ unsung heroes, Nathaniel Saltonstall of Haverhill. Saltonstall was the only judge brave enough to quit the witch court in protest and become a vocal opponent of the trials.

There will be time for a Q&A after the presentation. Free and open to adults. Questions? Contact Ona at ridenour@noblenet.org.