TELL US: Were Political Posters Okay at The Library?

We wanted to get your take on a debate between some residents last week over whether certain posters are okay to show at public buildings.

  The month of September is now over, and with it goes an exhibit at the main branch of the Chelmsford Public Library that has raised some debate among local residents on Facebook over the past few days. Donated temporarily by labor organizer Stephen Lewis, a series of posters on the topic of labor rights throughout the world were presented on the walls in honor of Labor Day earlier in the month. The exhibit has been displayed at several libraries in Massachusetts as well as two state parks, and according to library officials, no money was given to Lewis to display the posters. However, the question has arisen whether it was appropriate to display images advocating for a certain viewpoint in a way that could be construed that patrons that …

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Banned Books Week Highlights Censorship in Reading

Banned Books Week is Sept. 30-Oct. 6 this year, and you might be surprised by who the most vocal challengers of books are.

  The importance of the First Amendment and the concept of "intellectual freedom" might not always be readily apparent to most kids, but Banned Books Week is an opportunity to make those lessons come alive for children—and adults. Banned Books Week takes place annually during the last week of September (Sept. 30-Oct. 6 this year). The week is an occasion for libraries and bookstores across the U.S. to help folks realize just how real and ongoing a problem censorship is. More than 11,000 books have been challenged (although not necessarily successfully censored) since 1982, the inaugural year of Banned Books Week. According to the American Library Association (ALA), the vast majority of challenges to books are initiated locally by parents, …

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5 Things You Need to Know About Shopping in Chelmsford

This week's five things features a Chanukah Fair, as well as specials at area stores and Christmas tree sales.

Getting out to do some shopping in town this weekend? Here's what you need to know. 1. Kohl's extended hours. Until tomorrow, shoppers at Kohl's will receive $10 back for every $50 spent in store. The store is also offering 60 percent of St. Nicholas Square holiday frames and candles, and 45 to 60 percent of ladies' watches. See more in their weekly ad here. With the beginning of the holiday season, Kohl's adopts some pretty lengthy hours. Here are their hours for the coming week: Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., Sat 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., Sun 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. 2. Chanukah Shopping Fair. The fair is open and free to the public and promises "great gifts for all ages." The fair will be offering toys, books, Judaica, and skin care products, among other…

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5 Things You Need to Know Today: October 19

Your daily guide to Chelmsford.

Today is Wednesday October 19, 2011. Here is what you need to know: 1. Rain showers: Today will have a high of 65 with showers throughout the day. 2. Mindful Listening: Learn more about brain fitness at the library today at "Mindful Listening" with Rebecca Shafir. 3. Murder, mystery: Each month, the Chelmsford Public Library chooses two authors to discuss. Join the MacKay Mystery Group Book Discussion tonight to get your fill of the spooky genre in time for Halloween. 4. Rainy day meal ideas: The rain may not exactly be hurricane weather, but nonetheless, we have some pretty good dinner ideas when the skies look stormy. 5. Conquer the mid-week hump: Celebrate mid-week with a happy hour cocktail at moonstones. The local lounge offers half-…

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Wally the Green Monster Visits the Library

The Chelmsford Public Library story time attracts a big crowd and hopes to keep children interested in reading.

The Boston Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster joined the Chelmsford Public Library for Dads and Donuts on Saturday morning. The event is held on the second saturday of each month but is wrapping up due to the start of school. Librarian Andrea Grant described the Wally event as a "finale" of sorts for the summer reading program. Grant said Wally is just one of the celebrities the library has welcomed to Dads and Donuts. The other was Clifford. Wally entertained the kids as Matt McLaughlin, his handler, read "Hello Wally" to the group. Wally then took time to take pictures with the children and their families. The event is designed to keep children excited about reading. As part of the event, Wally donated four books about Wally and the …

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Library Hosts Chelmsford's First "Jelly"

Local residents are invited to work together at the Chelmsford Public Library this afternoon.

These days, a jelly is more than just a spread for your bagel. It's an opportunity for those who work from home to be less isolated, bounce ideas off each other, and network. A Jelly is “basically a casual work event,” said co-organizer Anne Marie Messier.  The Chelmsford Public Library will offer a meeting space for individuals that work at home to meet somewhere outside of the house for a change of pace.  "(People can) be around other people and still know that you can get your work done,” said Kathy Cryan-Hicks, who works at the library to help organize events such as this one. Co-organizer Eric Salerno of Red Ember Marketing said according to the government, more than 10 million workers, comprising 7.4 percent of the U.S. workforce, …

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Charles Needles to Give Survival Skills Presentation

Chelmsford Public Library to host event as part of the One Book program.

Charles Needles is giving a Survival Skills presentation at the Chelmsford Public Library tonight at 7. Needles is a former Air Force pilot who attended Air Force Survival school, where he learned survival skills necessary for first aid, shelter, fire making and signaling. Needles has also travelled the world, including time spent in Greenland and Iceland, though he currently resides in Chelmsford. The event is part of Chelmsford’s One Book program, where the library chooses one book for the town to read for the year. The book chosen for 2011 was “The Hunger Games,” a tale of survival set in a dystopian future. Needles said he was asked to speak because of his connection with the town’s One Book. “That’s how we got on the subject of …

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Claire Petrillo

9:16 am on Thursday, April 7, 2011

Awesome job Mr.Needles!!! You did such a great job with the scouts and truly a gem in Chelmsford. :)   more ›

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Craft Time at the Chelmsford Public Library

The craft of the day is pizza making, complete with glue sticks, scissors, and colored paper.

The Chelmsford Public Library became a pizzeria for a morning. Well, not exactly. It hosted drop-in crafts, a weekly Tuesday morning event that runs from 10 to 11:30. This week, children had the ability to make pizzas--all out of paper. Different colored papers served as toppings and a brown paper circle was the crust base. Each week the project for drop-in crafts is different. One week children make pizzas out of paper, other weeks they construct bird feeders from bread and peanut butter. You need only to stop in to see how your children can get creative in the future.

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Kristy Medina

4:26 pm on Thursday, March 31, 2011

It was a lot of fun. We love Tuesday craft day at the library. Thank you Brandon for covering this fun event.   more ›

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IMAGE GALLERY: Drop-in Storytime at the Chelmsford Public Library

Parents and children gather on Wednesday mornings in the Chelmsford Public Library to sing songs, read stories, and play games.

Mothers and their 12 to 30-month-old children gathered at the Chelmsford Public Library to participate in Drop-in Storytime. The library holds two half-hour storytime sessions for toddlers on Wednesdays starting at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Children participate by playing games, singing songs, and playing with the other children. Parents often return to the children's room of the library when the sessions are complete.

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9 Ways to Discover Your Family History at the Chelmsford Public Library

There's help, information and vast resources available for those who wish to climb the branches of their family trees at the Chelmsford Public Library.

Are you curious about your family history? Or have you hit a “brick wall” in your research? Compiled with the help of Brian Herzog, Chelmsford's Reference Librarian, these nine tips will help you climb the branches of your family tree.  1. Hit the stacks to find books such as “The Sleuth Book for Genealogists” by Emily A. Croom or “Genealogy Online for Dummies” by Matthew and April Helm. They'll help you better understand ways to trace your family history. 2. Visit the Local History Room. Pore over records of the births, marriages and deaths for many towns in Massachusetts up through 1849, Chelmsford High yearbooks, maps and more. 3. Try your luck. Type a surname into the library catalog database to see if someone has published a history …

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