Falmouth Reads Together – Permafrost Pathways and The Intersection of Indigenous Communities and Western Science
Monday, March 30th at 6:30 PM
Hermann Room
Register here: https://falmouthpubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/…
Join Dr. Sue Natali and Brooke LaRae Woods of Woodwell Climate Research Center for a thoughtful discussion on the intersection of Western science and Indigenous knowledge in climate research.
Drawing from their work in Arctic permafrost regions, Dr. Natali and Woods will explore how scientific research and Indigenous ways of knowing can inform and strengthen one another. This conversation will examine how collaboration, reciprocity, and community partnerships are shaping climate science today, and why elevating Indigenous voices is essential in understanding environmental change.
This program invites participants to consider how multiple knowledge systems can work together in response to a rapidly changing climate.
Brooke LaRae Woods
Brooke Woods (Dlel Taaneets) was raised at fish camp on the Yukon River in Rampart, Alaska. She currently develops strategies with policymakers and Indigenous communities for Woodwell’s Arctic Permafrost Pathway project, focusing on just, science-backed, Arctic policy. Her work supports Indigenous-led adaptation and relocation governance frameworks. Woods is raising her family and completing a bachelor’s degree in tribal governance of fisheries at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She previously worked as a fisheries policy analyst at the Tanana Chiefs Conference and served as executive chair for the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission for six years.
Sue Natali
I am an Arctic climate scientist whose focus on permafrost thaw is motivated by an acute awareness of the risks it poses. I have worked extensively across the Arctic, in Alaska, Siberia, and elsewhere, combining field research of permafrost and carbon cycling with remote sensing and modeling to assess current and future climate impacts across the Arctic.
I lead the Permafrost Pathways Initiative, which brings together leading experts in climate science, policy action, and environmental justice to assess the local to global impacts of permafrost thaw and other climate changes in the Arctic, in order to inform climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. I work with Indigenous communities, scientists, resource managers, and policymakers at all levels to craft just and effective strategies for limiting harm from Arctic warming.
Cosmic Dawn is the incredible true story of the James Webb Space Telescope – humanity’s largest and most powerful space telescope – on a mission to unveil the early universe, against all odds.
On Tuesday, September 23rd at 6:30pm in the library’s Hermann Room, come join us as we watch this NASA+ documentary that brings viewers on an unprecedented journey through Webb’s delicate assembly, rigorous testing, and triumphant launch, showcasing the sheer complexity and breathtaking risks involved in creating a telescope capable of peering billions of years into the past. Follow the telescope from an idea developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center all the way to the launchpad in French Guiana, with never-before-seen footage captured by the Webb film crew offering intimate access to the challenges and triumphs along the way.
This documentary screening is free to the public and all are welcome!
Cosmic Dawn is Not Rated and has a running time of 1 hour and 36 minutes. To register to attend, CLICK HERE or visit/call the Adult Service Desk at 508-457-2555 x7.
As tick-borne illnesses continue to pose a significant public health risk across the Cape and Islands, researchers are stepping up public education and outreach efforts to help residents stay informed and protected.
On Monday, July 28 from 4:00–5:00 PM, the Falmouth Public Library will host a public update on Project ITCH (Is Tick Control Helping?), a CDC-funded research initiative that aims to assess the effectiveness of common tick control methods in real-world settings.
The event will take place in the Hermann Foundation Meeting Room at the Main Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth.
The presentation will be led by Dr. Stephen M. Rich, a professor of microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Executive Director of the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases. Dr. Rich has been at the forefront of tick-borne disease research in southeastern Massachusetts, working in close collaboration with Barnstable County Extension and the Department of Health and Environment.
Now in its third year, Project ITCH is being conducted across all six New England states. The Cape Cod portion of the project includes field visits to residential properties, tick sampling, and resident surveys. The data help researchers evaluate the effectiveness of various tick prevention strategies and inform future public health efforts.
Dr. Rich will share preliminary findings from the current field season, highlight trends observed across the region, and offer guidance on effective tick control methods for homeowners and communities.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended.
For more information, contact the Falmouth Public Library at (508) 457-2555 or visit www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org.
Celebrate Love Your Lake Month with the Falmouth Public Library and Falmouth Pond Coalition
This July, the Falmouth Public Library invites residents and visitors to dive into Love Your Lake Month, a celebration of local water stewardship presented in partnership with the Falmouth Pond Coalition. Taking inspiration from the Libraries Love Lakes organization, a nonprofit based in the Finger Lakes region of New York that encourages the use of libraries to educate about freshwater issues.
Join us for two special and free screenings of pond-focused short films produced by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) on Tuesday, July 15 and Thursday, July 17 at 4:00 PM in the Library’s Hermann Room. These engaging films highlight the ecological importance of our local ponds and efforts to preserve their beauty and health. Concurrently, there will be crafts for children to complete in the Bay Room and pond lovers will lead a story hour for children in the Children’s Room (also, July 15th and 17th at 4:00 PM).
The event also features a spotlight on OLAUG – Old Ladies against Underwater Garbage, a spirited community group dedicated to restoring water quality and keeping our ponds safe—for people and pets alike.
Come learn how you can contribute to clean, thriving local waterways while enjoying an inspiring mix of science, storytelling, and community action.
For more information, contact the Falmouth Public Library at (508) 457-2555 or visit www.falmouthpubliclibrary.org.
On Monday, April 8th bring a chair or blanket and join us on the library lawn from 2pm-4:30pm for games, music and solar eclipse viewing!
In Falmouth, the solar eclipse starts around 2:16pm with a 89.3% max coverage around 3:30pm and ends around 4:39pm. A free pair of solar eclipse glasses (provided by Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries) will be available to attendees while supplies last.
This event is weather permitting.
Solar Eclipse Viewing Party Flyer
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at (508) 457-2555 x7 or by email at info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org
Join the Falmouth Osprey Project’s Kevin Friel and Barbara Schneider on Tuesday February 20 at 11am in the Hermann Room for a presentation about the project’s work.
The Falmouth Osprey Project formed in response to the 2021 nesting season, which saw 9 fires and power outages directly linked to the fact that ospreys love to nest on utility poles. Since then volunteer teams have helped build replacement nesting platform sites on nearby non-utility poles so that the birds can nest safely, without the risk of electrocution. The Osprey Project has also worked with Eversource to help identify utility poles that need nest deterrants installed, since ospreys like to return to their nests year after year. The project has been successful enough in Falmouth that other Cape towns with many ospreys have looked to it as a model! Kevin and Barbara will share interesting facts about ospreys and their habits as well as many excellent photos, like the one illustrating this blog post.
This presentation is appropriate for all ages, although small children should be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited, so we encourage you to register.
We have a bounty of virtual programs, shared with us by other Massachusetts libraries! Just click on the links to register, and you will receive the Zoom links before the events. Please note that these are virtual only and do not take place at the Falmouth Library. View the list below, and scroll down for full descriptions and registration!
Certified KonMari Consultant, Kerry Adams, will lead us through a presentation on what the KonMari Method is and how to successfully implement the method into your life. Grab a notebook and join us from the comfort of your own home.
The KonMari Method of organizing was developed by Marie Kondo, world acclaimed Japanese organizer and author of the best selling books, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, and “Spark Joy”, as well as star of the Netflix series, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”. Rather than discarding things in a negative way, it’s about keeping the things that you love, the things that support your vision for the lifestyle you want. You’ll learn to focus your intention, discover what supports your goals, and respectfully leave behind the things that don’t. This has been generously shared with us by the Eldredge Library in Chatham, and is also sponsored by the Board of Trustees. Please note that this event is virtual only, and does not take place in the library.
Thursday, January 11th at 7 PM, What Works in Community News, click here to register
Journalism professor and author Dan Kennedy will discuss his new book, What Works in Community News: Media Startups, News Deserts, and the Future of the Fourth Estate, which serves as a groundbreaking study of the journalism startups that are solving the local news crisis one community at a time. Local news is essential to democracy. Meaningful participation in civic life is impossible without it. However, local news is in crisis. According to one widely cited study, some 2,500 newspapers have closed over the last generation. And it is often marginalized communities of color who have been left without the day-to-day journalism they need to govern themselves in a democracy.
Dan Kennedy is a professor in the School of Journalism at Northeastern University and a nationally known media commentator. He was a panelist on the GBH News television program Beat the Press (1998–2021) and also served as a weekly columnist for the network. Dan is a recipient of the Yankee Quill Award from the New England Academy of Journalists and the James W. Carey Journalism Award from the Media Ecology Association. This event has been shared with us by the Tewksbury Public Library, Please note that this event is virtual only, and takes place when we are closed.
Thursday, January 17th at 7 PM, Fierce Females: Women in Art, click here to register!
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Women have long been the subject of art, often depicted as nothing more than objects of desire. How do images of women change when women become the creators? This program examines the history of women in art in brief and then explores the lives, careers and works of several major women artists from the Renaissance to the twentieth century, including Artemisia Gentileschi and Mary Cassatt. We are offering this via the Sargent Memorial Library in Boxborough, and we thank the Library Board of Trustees for sponsoring it. Click here to register on their site, and receive the Zoom link! Please note that this event is virtual only, and takes place when we are closed. |
Monday, January 29th at 7 PM, Challenges of Being a Debut Author click here to register!
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This time, we welcome authors Lauren J. A. Bear, Rita Chang-Eppig, and Nishita Parekh to our virtual stage. We’ll be talking all about getting into publishing, the pitfalls, challenges, and roadblocks as well as the excitement, fulfillment, and reader enthusiasm that makes it all worthwhile. Bring your questions as this will be in a Q&A format. The Zoom event has been shared with us by the Ashland Public Library. Please note that this event is virtual only, and takes place when we are closed. Tuesday, January 30th at 7 PM, Food Waste, Food Insecurity, and the Globalization of Food Banks So many of us are passionate about finding ways to reduce food waste so we’re thrilled to be hosting author and professor Daniel N. Warshawsky for a virtual discussion of his new book Food Waste, Food Insecurity, and the Globalization of Food Banks“. The Zoom event has been shared with us by the Ashland Public Library! Click here to register. Please note that this event is virtual only and does not take place in our library! |
Join us for one or both of the following events with Dr. Lawrence Millman.
On Wednesday November 15, at 6:30 in the Hermann Room, mycologist-author Lawrence Millman will be discussing his two most recent books as well as signing copies of them. Fungi of Naushon is the first ever account of the fungi on nearby Naushon Island, while Foraging With Jeeves & Other Offbeat Mycological Excursions is a collection of essays and stories — think science (the Salem witchcraft fungus), satire (a fungal Faust), and ethnography (how the Cree use a certain fungus as an insect smudge).
As a follow-up to his Author Talk, on Thursday November 16 at 1pm Dr. Millman will lead a fungal foray in the Beebe Woods. The focus of the foray will be on fungal ecology and identification, not on edibility. Although the date is a bit late in the season for many fungi, you’ll still find a variety of different species, some of which will be in quite unusual places.
Bring a hand lens or magnifier if you have one and a sense of curiosity. Dress appropriately for the weather and be aware that bad weather may cancel this event. We will meet in the Parking Area at Beebe Woods.
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