Reminder: Closed on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31

The library will be closed on Monday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), and Monday, December 31 (New Year's Eve.)  Be sure to stop by Saturday morning or Wednesday to stock up on books and movies for the holiday week.

Pioneer Valley Symphony Family Pass

Pioneer Valley Symphony generously donated a pass to our library for the 2018-2019 season! It admits up to two adults and two children (under 18) to the six programs.

Please stop by during library hours or call to inquire about availability. We are limiting use of the pass to once per household per season to try to give as many families as possible an opportunity to enjoy a show.

Visit the Pioneer Valley Symphony for dates, times, and locations of the performances.
https://www.pvsoc.org/

The Pioneer Valley Symphony Youth Orchestra will perform two concerts this season, free and open to the public.

• November 10, 2018, 4 pm, Greenfield High School Auditorium
• April 6, 2019, 6 pm, Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst

Closed on Veterans Day Observed

The library will be closed on Monday, November 12, 2018 in observance of Veterans Day.

Heath Veterans Memorial. Photo by Art Schwenger.

We have a DVD with 350 photos taken by Art Schwenger at the Heath Veterans Memorial Dedication Service on November 4, 2017. Stop by the Library and borrow it to view the photos on your home computer.

Friends of the Library Bake Sale - Saturday, October 6

Sweet and savory baked treats are welcomed and available for purchase by donation on the front porch of Sawyer Hall, 1 East Main Street Heath, on Saturday, October 6 from 10 am to noon.

Coffee and tea will be available to enjoy also. This is always a wonderful opportunity to meet and greet Heath neighbors while supporting your Library.

Donated baked goods can be dropped off starting at 8:30AM. BAKERS, BUYERS and EATERS are needed for the Friends of the Heath Free Public Library annual fall BAKE SALE to be a success!

A view of the sale table on Saturday, October 7, 2017:

Jack, Jan, and Don

Reminder: the Library is closed on Columbus Day

Bulletin board above the children's picture book shelves.

 The library will be closed on Monday, October 8, 2018 in observance of Columbus Day.

Another puzzle completed! Next up: Penny Candy. Join us.

Triptych Art Show

Please come to the library to view a display of triptych artworks from the Heath Senior Art workshops. It will be on display until the end of October and may be viewed during library open hours.

A reception will be held on Saturday, September 22, at 11:30 am. Light refreshments will be served.

Artwork by Sandy Clavette, Don Dekker, Kathleen Mulligan, Juliet Seaver, and Nancy Thane. The worksop was lead by Eileen Mc-Vay Lively.

Berkshire Museum Pass

The Heath Library has another new museum pass! The Berkshire Museum is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The pass admits up to 2 adults and 2 children under the age of 18. Children age 3 and under are always free. Visit https://berkshiremuseum.org/ or call 413-443-7171 for information on current exhibitions and gallery hours.

The Berkshire Museum pass was purchased for the library by the Friends of the Heath Free Public Library.

Eric Carle Museum Pass

The Heath Library has a new museum pass! The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The pass admits up to 2 adults and 4 youths (age 1-18) for gallery admission. Visit https://www.carlemuseum.org/ or call 413-559-6300 for information on current exhibitions and gallery hours.

The Eric Carle Museum pass was purchased for the library by the Friends of the Heath Free Public Library.

Beatles Sing-Along

The Sue Crawford Music Garden near the playground at the Heath School.

Friday, July 27, 10:30 a.m.

Please join us for a Beatles sing-along with Ed Fuller (Lyra's husband) at the Sue Crawford Music Garden at Heath Elementary School, in the School Library if rainy. We'll have stories and children's songs, including kid-friendly Beatles favorites!

All ages are welcome!

Ladies and Gentlemen... The Beatles!

One of the custom-made outdoor instruments at the Sue Crawford Music Garden.

~Libraries Rock! is sponsored by the Friends of the Heath Library, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.~

Contact the library for more information or to sign up: 413-337-4934 ext. 7 

Open: Mon. 3-7, Wed. 12-7, Sat. 9:30-1:30

Overdrive Magazines are Here!

Overdrive magazines

The first wave of 50 magazines is available in the CW MARS OverDrive catalog. Take a look at the "Magazine Room" for a list of the available titles: https://cwmars.overdrive.com/collection/184768

Patrons can access them either through the Libby app or through the OverDrive app. They can be read online or downloaded for offline reading.

Patrons can read a sample from any magazine before borrowing. To borrow, they have to be signed in normally.

The magazines are all purchased under a "simultaneous use" agreement. This means every magazine is always available. There's no waiting. If someone wants to read a magazine, they can.

Summer Reading Fun

Join us for rock-related crafts, stories, a geology hike, and some good old fashioned rock & roll music! Sign up at the library! All ages welcome.

Friday, July 6th, 10:30: Children's music with local musician Karen Brooks. We'll make musical instruments, read a story, sing, and dance! At the Heath Free Public Library, outside if weather is clement.

Friday, July 13th, 11:00: Hike to Tannery Falls in Savoy with local naturalist Bob Richardson. Meet at the Heath Library at 10:30 to caravan. Children absolutely must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Families and all ages welcome! Find out why this beautiful area is so special geologically.

Friday, July 20, 10:30: Musical Story Hour at the Heath Library. We'll make musical instruments, read stories, sing, and have a snack.

Friday, July 27, 10:30: Beatles sing-along with Ed Fuller (Lyra's husband) at the Music Garden at Heath Elementary School (in the School Library if rainy.) We'll have stories and children's songs, including kid-friendly Beatles favorites!

The Beatles

Sign up for the Summer Reading Program!

Children ages 12 and under: pick up a reading log from Don or Lyra. Keep track of the books you read with your family this summer. At the end of the summer, bring back your log to the library to receive prizes and enter a free raffle!

~Libraries Rock! is sponsored by the Friends of the Heath Library, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.~

Contact the library for more information or to sign up: 413-337-4934 ext. 7 

Open: Mon. 3-7, Wed. 12-7, Sat. 9:30-1:30

Bake Sale (and more): Saturday, May 26

The Friends of the Heath Free Public Library

Memorial Day Weekend Bake Sale 

Saturday, May 26, 2018

10:00 am – Noon 

On the front porch of Sawyer Hall 

If you would like to bake something for the sale please deliver it Saturday morning.

Please come and support your library by treating yourself to some of the best baked goods in town!

Other events in Heath Center on Saturday, May 26

HEATH TOWN-WIDE TAG SALE from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Heath Town Common. Bargains from your neighbors' spring clean-out.

HEATH COMMUNITY CAFE AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm in Heath Community Hall. Heath Parks & Recreation Commission & Heath Rural Connections are hosting a cafe with live music, coffee, tea, and FREE ICE CREAM!!! Stop up for some fun with friends, family, and our wonderful Heath community. Music by the Uncles of the Pioneers (John Clark and Dennis Avery.)

See you in Heath Center this Saturday!

Ukulele Reminder

The Heath Free Public Library invites you to the CHILDREN’S UKULELE PROGRAMS with Julie Stepanek. She’s coming to Heath this Saturday with her ukuleles for you to play!

Julie Stepanak

• Two programs on Saturday, May 5:

10:30 a.m. Ukulele Story Time (for ages birth to 5.)
11:30 a.m. Family Ukulele Program for all ages.
Both May 5th programs at the Community Hall in Heath Center.

Join us for these fun, free programs!

For more information and to let us know you plan on coming, please call 413-337-4934 ext. 7.

Heath Free Public Library, 1 East Main St., Heath, Ma 01346.
Hours: Mon. 3-7, Wed. 12-7, Sat. 9:30-1:30.

Sponsored by Mohawk Trail Regional Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Program, which is funded through a grant from the MA Department of Early Education & Care.

It's a Library Party!

You’re Invited to the Grand Re-opening of the Children’s Library at the Heath Elementary School.

Friday, April 20th, 2018, 3:00-5:00 p.m.

The whole community is welcome! It’s a Library Party!

We're celebrating with:

• stories read by our beloved former Heath School Librarians
• kid's music with Karen Brooks
• cupcakes

Come and sign out books from this beautiful collection!

The Heath School Library will be open every Friday from 3:00-5:00 p.m. beginning April 20th and throughout the summer!

For more information contact Lyra at heath.library@gmail.com

Children's Ukulele Programs

The Heath Free Public Library invites you to three CHILDREN’S UKULELE PROGRAMS with Julie Stepanek. She’s coming to Heath this spring with her ukuleles for you to play!

Julie Stepanak

• Friday, April 13, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. Ukulele Story Time at the Heath Library, presented during our regular preschool story hour.

• Two programs on Saturday, May 5:

10:30 a.m. Ukulele Story Time (for ages birth to 5.)
11:30 a.m. Family Ukulele Program for all ages.
Both May 5th programs at the Community Hall in Heath Center.

Join us for one, two, or all three of these fun, free programs!

For more information and to let us know you plan on coming, please call 413-337-4934 ext. 7.

Heath Free Public Library, 1 East Main St., Heath, Ma 01346.
Hours: Mon. 3-7, Wed. 12-7, Sat. 9:30-1:30.

These programs are sponsored by Mohawk Trail Regional Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Program, which is funded through a grant from the MA Department of Early Education & Care.

Sugaring Season

Commercial and backyard sugarers in Heath are boiling furiously in the early days of March to keep up with the good sap runs brought on by the perfect sugaring weather.

If you are interested in learning more about sugaring come to the library and check out a book or DVD.

Snow Day!

The library will be closing at 4 pm, Wednesday, March 7, due to the snowstorm.

New Books in February

A few of our new books in February.

Adult Fiction

Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves

Cruel Winter by Sheila Connolly

Green by Sam Graham-Felsen

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

Need to Know by Karen Cleveland

Elmet by Fiona Mozley (2017 Man Booker Prize Finalist)

pH by Nancy Lord

Adult Non-Fiction
iGen by Jean M. Twenge, PhD
A New Map of Wonders by Caspar Henderson
Social Media Wellness by Ana Homayoun
The Food Forest Handbook by Darrell Frey & Michelle Czolba
Mushrooming Without Fear by Alexander Schwab

Children's Books
every color soup by Jorey Hurley
Barkus by Patricia MacLachlan

Take a look at all the new titles added to our online catalog in the last 14 days (link).

Dust of Snow

 The Library is closing early at 4:00 pm today, Wednesday, February 7,  due to the snowstorm. The poem below was shared with us by our friend Jane.

A row of Hemlock trees seen through the rear window of the library during today's snowstorm.

Dust of Snow by Robert Frost

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.

Love My Photo!

2/21/2018 Photos on display at the library.

Do you have a favorite photo taken with your cell phone camera? Kids, nature, food, pet, selfie? If you love it, we want it!

Share your photo with the library and we'll post it on our walls on Valentines Day and display it through the end of February.

Barbershop Duet

Bring a printed copy (5 x 7 or smaller) or email it to heath.library@gmail.com and we'll print a 4 x 6 copy and add it to our display. Put Love My Photo in the Subject line of your message. Photo caption optional.

Sneaking a peek at the 2017 solar eclipse from the front porch of Sawyer Hall.