New Bedford Free Public Library

Make new friends by joining our Scrabble group and expand your vocabulary!

Join us for tea as we discuss our favorite authors and books. A different tea will be featured every month (with alternative teas available.) CONTACT: Wilks Library 508-991-6214LOCATION: Wilks Branch

Celebrate Earth Day with Sensory Play with Miss April!Join us for fun activities on: Save the Ocean, Plant a Garden, Nature Scavenger Hunt, We Love Our Earth, Recycle Builds, & More!Join us after the event to march in the AHA Project Planet Parade!All families are welcome for this free program with no registration required. The activities are designed for ages 2-10 years old and are available while supplies last. Hope to see you there!For more information please visit: www.childsplayparentjoy.com

Dr. Frank F. Sousa (University of Massachusetts Lowell)Restoring Eça de Queirós's Last Masterpiece: The Critical Edition of A Cidade e as Serras (The City and the Mountains) from 1901.Lecture in Portuguese and Q/A in English and PortugueseThursday, April 9th, at 5:30 PM

Women’s Fund SouthCoast

All ages are welcome for our weekly story time and craft event. No registration is required for this free program.

For fluent Russian speakers - Read a book of your choice. Think of a recipe inspired by that book. Talk about the book and the recipe in Russian. To sign up, please contact wilksref@sailsinc.org

Youth Services: Build with BlocksWhat can you build?All ages are welcome with no registration required.Hope to see you there!

Get some one-on-one tech help from your friendly library staff.

Join us every Friday for story time filled with fun tales and crafts that spark imagination and early learning!

Create colorful bracelets to share with your friends—or keep for yourself! Drop in to design your own unique accessory using fun beads, strings, and lots of creativity.

Visit Youth Services to bring home a new art explorers kit for kids. Available while supplies last

Stop by each week for a fun, self-guided craft—no sign-up needed! A new kids' craft will be ready on the table (located in the Children's Room) every Monday for you to make anytime during the week.

Children of all ages are welcome to join us for stories and crafts.LOCATION: Wilks LibraryCONTACT: 508-991-6214

LOCATION: Main Library - CreateLab

Visit Youth Services for drop in paint to create your masterpiece with washable paints.There is no registration for this free youth program and is available while supplies last.Hope to see you there!

A weekly arts and crafts club for middle school and high school age patrons.

Join us at Wilks for family book club with the school department's family engagement

*registration recommended; supplies limitedCreate a sweet spring home for your feathered friends while enjoying a relaxing, hands-on crafting experience perfect for all ages!

Looking to lower your utility bills or access no- to low-cost upgrades for your home? Stop by the library during office hours to meet with the City of New Bedford’s Energy Advocate. You’ll be able to talk in-person about ways to save energy and reduce costs. Feel free to bring your most recent utility bill.Call 508-991-6193 to schedule an appointment, or drop in. The Office Hours schedule is as follows:02/10: Main02/24: Wilks03/10: Casa da Saudade03/24: Lawler04/07: Howland Green

Turn off the phone and come to the library. Share what you like to do and learn from others. Build community at the library!

Meeting of the South Coast Bikeway Alliance

A book club for busy adults! Join us the second Tuesday of every month via Zoom for a book club. Every month we will decide on what to read next!Link: tinyurl.com/NBMZoomBookApril - Spread Me - Sarah Gaileyinsey has the perfect job as the team lead in a remote research outpost. She loves the isolation and the way the desert keeps temptations from the civilian world far out of reach.When her crew discovers a mysterious specimen buried deep in the sand, Kinsey breaks quarantine and brings it inside. But the longer it's there, the more her carefully controlled life begins to unravel. Temptation has found her after all, and it can't be ignored any longer.One by one, Kinsey's team realizes the thing they're studying is in search of a new host—and one of them is the perfect candidate.April 14th at 7pm via zoom:Meeting ID: 853 4389 0381Passcode: 864771

Join us for Sing-Along Story Time — where songs and stories come to life!

Bring your toddler by the Lawler Branch for some stories and fun activities!

Join us for adult crafts.Registration required.

Join us at Rotch Jones Duff House located on 396 County St. for story time, take home crafts, and families get free admissions. There is no registration for this free program. Hope to see you there!

A meeting with seniors and disabled passengers about their transportation services.

Have your little one practice their reading and make a new friend by reading aloud to Lola, a therapy dog.Register for a 15-minute session by calling the New Bedford Free Public Library Francis J. Lawler Branch at 508-991-6216.Children of all reading levels welcome! CONTACT: Francis J. Lawler Branch 508-991-6216 nbed-lawlercirc@sailsinc.orgLOCATION: Lawler Branch

Meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.Join us for casual and friendly book discussions.

This class is for the beginner who is interested in learning how to use Google Docs (similar to Microsoft Word). We will cover:How to access Google Docs through your Gmail accountCreating a new Google Doc from a template and a blank pageAll formatting options availableCollaborative editingHow to save, download, and share your documents

Visit the New Bedford Main Library's Youth Services to bring home a free pothos library ivy starter plant!Available while supplies last!

Make new friends by joining our Scrabble group and expand your vocabulary!

Join us at Craft Café for a relaxed, no-pressure crafting session. We'll have tea, coffee, and a welcoming space - just bring your craft and your creativity! Ages 16+

Portuguese Spinner: An American Story, edited by Marsha L. McCabe and Joseph D. ThomasThursday, April 16th @ 6:00 PMCheck out your book, and join us for the Lusophone Views Book Club in English.

All ages are welcome for our weekly story time and craft event. No registration is required for this free program.

Get some one-on-one tech help from your friendly library staff.

Youth Services: Build with BlocksWhat can you build?All ages are welcome with no registration required.Hope to see you there!

Join us every Friday for story time filled with fun tales and crafts that spark imagination and early learning!

Tertúlia da Casa: An Online Discussion in Portuguesehttps://meet.google.com/ews-gfid-zxdSaturday, February 21st, 12:00 PM-1:00 PMYou are invited to join our online Portuguese book club.

Meet up with other DIY Nail Artists!Bring your favorite polish (or try something new), do your nails, share tips, and vibe with others who love the art of a good mani.Drop in! Ages 13+3rd Saturday of every month.

This is our monthly weekend craft club for elementary school aged children where they make a craft to take home.Meets on the first and third Saturday of every month.

Public meeting to facilitate community engagement via roundtable discussion with politician Seth Moulton.

Stop by each week for a fun, self-guided craft—no sign-up needed! A new kids' craft will be ready on the table (located in the Children's Room) every Monday for you to make anytime during the week.

Bring along your current project or start a new one as you chat with fellow knitters.

LOCATION: Main Library - CreateLab

Youth Services: Mobile Trustees Nature Play and Learn Spring SeriesLearn what happens to plants and animals during Spring! Activities will include: animal tracking, plant bracelets & storytelling!

Join us for classic movies on the third Tuesday of the month at 1pm.Showing in April: Some Like It Hot (1959)

A weekly arts and crafts club for middle school and high school age patrons.

Come create whimsical art with colorful sand! Bring a butterfly to life in a fun and easy way!

Looking to lower your utility bills or access no- to low-cost upgrades for your home? Stop by the library during office hours to meet with the City of New Bedford’s Energy Advocate. You’ll be able to talk in-person about ways to save energy and reduce costs. Feel free to bring your most recent utility bill.Call 508-991-6193 to schedule an appointment, or drop in. The Office Hours schedule is as follows:02/10: Main02/24: Wilks03/10: Casa da Saudade03/24: Lawler04/07: Howland Green

Turn off the phone and come to the library. Share what you like to do and learn from others. Build community at the library!

Join us for a night of community, connection, and conversation inspired by Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower.Everyone (18+) is welcome!This dystopian classic features 15-year-old Lauren Olamina living inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding social chaos and anarchy caused by climate change and economic crisis. Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of new beliefs and a startling vision of human destiny. Borrow your copy of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower at the New Bedford Downtown Library Circulation Desk. Copies have been set aside and there is no wait. A one month rental period will be provided to all Adult Book Club participants.Call 508-991-6278 with questions.

Join us for Sing-Along Story Time — where songs and stories come to life!

Bring your toddler by the Lawler Branch for some stories and fun activities!

Join us for Freaky Friday (2003) Runtime 97 minutes

Try your hand at painting a different scene every month.Due to the complexity of some of the projects, signups are limited to ages 8+.Limited supplies; please sign up by calling the Wilks Library at 508-991-6214.LOCATION: Wilks LibraryCONTACT: 508-991-6214

Make new friends by joining our Scrabble group and expand your vocabulary!

January 22The Book Club for Troublesome Women – Marie Bostwick February 26The Adventures Huckleberry Finn – Mark TwainMarch 26James – Percival EverettApril 23Lula Dean's little library of banned books – Kirsten MillerMay 28Warmth of Other Suns (nf)June 25A train in winter – Caroline Moorehead July 23Killers of a Certain Age – Deanna RaybournAugust 27Broken Country – Clare Leslie HallSeptember 24The Pull of the Stars – Emma DonoghueOctober 22The God of the Woods – Liz MooreNovember 19Better living through birding – Christian Cooper (nf)December 17Secret War of Julia Child – Diana ChambersLOCATION: Wilks LibraryCONTACT: 508-991-6214

Looking for a quiet space to read and unwind? Join our Silent Book Club, where you bring your own book, relax, and enjoy silent reading time with fellow book lovers.

Have money questions? Talk to a financial planner! Sign up for a free 30-minute session by calling the Wilks Library at 508-991-6214.LOCATION: Wilks LibraryCONTACT: 508-991-6214

Exposição Bibliográfica / Bibliographic Exhibit (April 23rd-July 23rd, 2026)You are invited to the opening of the Bibliographic Exhibit 250 USA: Portugal-USA Friendship on Thursday, April 23rd, at 5:30 PM.

Want to learn Magic: the Gathering or just looking for a place to play?Join us the 4th Thursday of every month at the Main Library downtown! Feel free to bring your own cards or use the Library's collection of cards and supplies donated by patrons and MagiKids.All patrons in grades 6-12 and accompanying caregivers are welcome!

Workshop on local history with the New Bedford Historical Society. Please reach out to the New Bedford Historical Society for more details.

All ages are welcome for our weekly story time and craft event. No registration is required for this free program.

Get some one-on-one tech help from your friendly library staff.

Youth Services: Build with BlocksWhat can you build?All ages are welcome with no registration required.Hope to see you there!

Join us every Friday for story time filled with fun tales and crafts that spark imagination and early learning!

Enjoy a relaxing, drop-in space to color, chat, and de-stress. This program is open to all ages and offers cozy coloring pages and materials - or feel free to bring your own!

CPR Class

Join MaryEllen Cecil, Special Collections Library Assistant, for a demonstration of the features and record collections of the world's largest online family history resource that is available to patrons for free at New Bedford Libraries!Questions? Contact MaryEllen at nbmhistory@sailsinc.org

Want to practice speaking Russian? Join our online, Russian book club. Read any book you want, in any language. Then speak about it in Russian. To join, please email wilksref@sailsinc.org

Live music making history live! "A Journey Through the Roots of American Popular Music” by Jon Waterman is a unique performance experience combining music history, storytelling, and original songs inspired by his research. Waterman successfully transforms fascinating tales from history into an evening-length performance that feels personal, contemporary, and politically relevant. A must see for anyone interested in American history or American music!This program is supported in part by a grant from the New Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Visit Youth Services to bring home a new art explorers kit for kids. Available while supplies last

Stop by each week for a fun, self-guided craft—no sign-up needed! A new kids' craft will be ready on the table (located in the Children's Room) every Monday for you to make anytime during the week.

Children of all ages are welcome to join us for stories and crafts.LOCATION: Wilks LibraryCONTACT: 508-991-6214

LOCATION: Main Library - CreateLab

This month's read is Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake! Copies are available at the Main Library circulation desk.