The Christmas Tree Shops with Anthony Sammarco

The Christmas Tree Shop was not just an icon of New England, it was a destination with stores that boasted a diverse assortment of merchandise from seasonal decorations, home decor, housewares, food, giftware and just about everything else that the public just had to have. These were items you never thought you needed before stepping through the door, but who could resist a bargain?

Interested in learning more about the history and local charm of the Christmas Tree Shop? Come join us on Saturday, January 25th at 1pm in the Hermann room as local author Anthony Sammarco presents an illustrated lecture on his newest book, The Christmas Tree Shops: Don’t You Just Love A Bargain? After the lecture, there will be a book signing with books available for purchase by Eight Cousins.

Referred to as the “Balzac of Boston History” by the Boston Globe, Anthony Mitchell Sammarco is a noted historian and author of many books on the history and development of Boston, and he lectures widely on the history and development of his native city. He commenced writing in 1995, and his 89th book, published in 2024, was The History of the Christmas Tree Shops. He received the Bulfinch Award from the Doric Dames of the Massachusetts State House, the Washington Medal from Freedom Foundation, a lifetime achievement from both the Victorian Society and the Gibson House Museum. He is president of the Osterville Village Library; past president of the Bay State Historical League and he served as a corporator of the New England Baptist Hospital for a decade. He lives in Boston and in Osterville on Cape Cod.

This event is free to the public and is sponsored by the Board of Library Trustees. Register to attend by CLICKING HERE or by visiting/calling the adult service desk at 508-457-2555 x7.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Falmouth Public Library, Saturday, December 14th at 2:00 PM

The Original Radio performance revamped by the WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company

We cannot wait to welcome the WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company back for a live radio performance of Charles’ Dickens A Christmas Carol. The event will be held on Saturday, December 14th 2024 at 2:00 PM in the Hermann Room at the Falmouth Public Library.

The event is appropriate for all ages and will last 75 – 90 minutes. Please register on our main Falmouth Public Library Events page or call 508-457-2555 x 7. If you run into any trouble, please reach out and we’ll fix it right up!

Dickens’ iconic story of greed, compassion, magic, and redemption will come to life through acting, music, and live sound effects in this original radio play adaptation. Miserly Ebenezer Scrooge makes life miserable for everyone around him, especially his long suffering clerk, Bob Cratchit. One fateful Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business associate, Jacob Marley. A man who was as greedy and cold as Scrooge. Marley’s spirit warns Scrooge that if he continues to live so selfishly, he will spend eternity wearing the chains that his greed has built. Three more spirits visit Scrooge that night: The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come, who show Scrooge his error in valuing money over people. Scrooge, frightened by the bleak picture of his life, awakes on Christmas morning a new man, promising to change his ways.

Get into the holiday spirit with a performance by professional working actors from the WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company!

There will be a discussion regarding Christianity and how the tale of Scrooge is truly a story of redemption. A light of hope in the darkness of the winter.

New Stories about Old Bells with author Ken Peal

Neighborhood Falmouth and the Falmouth Public Library are jointly offering this program on Wednesday, October 16 at 1 pm, which is open to the public!

Author Ken Peal is continuing his investigations of bells in town that were not included in his book (Bells of Falmouth, 2023). This talk will add them to his inventory of town treasures. He is also following and participating in renovation projects. And you will hear about an important cache of artifacts that he was shown in a banker’s box in the basement of the school administration building. He will trace Teaticket elementary school and its bell through many different schoolhouses and locations – was the Zylinski house (demolished to make way for Town Fair Tire) originally one of those buildings? Copies of his book will be available to buy from Eight Cousins Books.

If you are planning to attend this event, please register with the Falmouth Public Library by going to falmouthpubliclibrary.org/events, or call the library at 508-457-2555 x 7. (note: our calendar is currently down, so call us or email us at info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org if you are unable to register online).

Neighborhood Falmouth is part of a growing national movement to promote continuing community residence for older Americans.  Neighborhood Falmouth members, staff, and volunteers work together to help older Falmouth residents continue to enjoy our multi-generational community from the comfort of their own homes .They partner with other organizations in Falmouth that provide services for seniors. Learn more about them at neighborhoodfalmouth.org or call 508-564-7543.

Edward Gorey “Sinister Cozy”

A Talk with the Director of the Edward Gorey House, Gregory Hischak

On Tuesday, October 22nd, we welcome Gregory Hischak, the Director of the Edward Gorey House and Museum to speak on Gorey’s achievements and his wonderfully amusing oddities. The presentation will run from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM in the reading room in front of the fireplace. He will be giving a presentation of Gorey’s natural creepy and hilarious artwork in his books, theater sets, and many other mediums.

Terrible things unfold in an Edward Gorey Book—children are swept out to sea, abducted by murderous insects, fall into unsavory company, or get carried off by giant birds. Sometimes they die of boredom. Edward writes, and draws, about everyday life and, for reasons that will likely come up in this presentation, his books are a delight and extremely funny. Mostly. Gorey’s work as a book artist, an illustrator, and designer is frequently categorized as Whimsically Macabre, though we prefer the term “Sinister Cozy”. His work looks a hundred and thirty years older than it is yet he consistently remains thirty years ahead of us at all times.

Please come join us on this spooky evening with “Sinister Cozy”. Registration is required.

Register here!

Hope to see you soon!

Paranormal Activity with Don DeCristofaro

Don DeCristofaro, a professional ghost and paranormal activity investigator, will be joining us on October 17th at 4:30 in the Library’s Herman Meeting Room. He has worked in the Lizzie Bordon house, as well as the house that inspired the hit movie The Conjuring

His most recent investigation of paranormal activity is on the USS Salem. The USS Salem was a World War 2 Heavy Cruiser. He spends at the least once a week there using the technology that has been developed. 

The presentation will include showing the tools that they use to monitor possible “other worldly” guests. Since Don has been investigating the USS Salem, Don became to have “relationships” with those have who have passed on and left behind. 

At the end of the presentation, Don is offering his very own expertise and advice to any patrons who may have suspicion that there is another room mate who never pays there rent. All ages event! You can give us a call, email a request or register online!

Please come! Registration is required.

Author Talk with Victoria Atamian Waterman, Who She Left Behind

Join us in the Hermann Room on Wednesday, July 24th at 5:30 PM for a book discussion with Victoria Atamian Waterman.  She will read from her book, Who She Left Behind and take questions from the audience. Click here to register.

Victoria Atamian Waterman is an Armenian-American storyteller and speaker who draws inspiration from the quirky multigenerational, multilingual home in which she was raised with her grandparents, survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Her empowerment of today’s women and girls makes her voice ideal for telling the little-known stories of yesterday’s women leaders. Her TED Talk, “Today’s Girls are Tomorrow’s Leaders” has been seen by thousands of viewers. When she is not writing and speaking, she is reading, puzzle-making and volunteering. Victoria lives in Rhode Island and is enjoying this next chapter of life with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Visit her website and blogs to learn more at victoriawaterman.net.

This event is free to the public and registration is required as seating is limited. Register by clicking here or visit/call the adult services desk at 508-457-2555 x7.

Get Hyped for CapeCon!

We have 3 programs this coming June to get ready for CapeCon!


Pokemon Snap Hunt starts on June 4thpokemon

Hunt the library for 20 different pokemon! Some include the elusive Charizard, Gengar, Magikarp, Mew, and of course! Pikachu! Take pictures of you with the pokemon and for every five pokemon you snap, come show Professor Clint so that he can reward you with an official gym badge! There are 20 pokemon hiding around the library…A badge for every 5 snapped! Can you snap them all??? The Professor would love some photographs hanging around the Young Adult room for all to study.


Demon Slayer

Anime on the Big Screen

Every other Wednesday from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM in the YA Room we will be showing numerous episodes of anime like…

6/5: Spy Family

7/3: Demon Slayer

7/13: Dragon Ball Super

7/31: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

8/14: Trigun

8/28: One Piece

No need to register! Just come on in! Check it out on our calendar!

 


 

Zoom Talk – Magical Girls and Fighting Dreamers: Queer Representation in Manga and Anime

Tuesday, June 18th at 7:00 EST

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We are thrilled to be partnering with the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood for this fantastic program! Join fellow anime-enthusiast and MML Youth Services Librarian Dina Delic to learn about the history of queer representation in manga and anime! This program will give an overview of queer representation throughout various series, from The Rose of Versailles to Yuri on Ice, and will answer your most pressing questions: What is shipping? What is the difference between yaoi and yuri? Why are the greatest love stories in anime always platonic?

Please register for this event and you’ll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails – make sure to check your spam folder for them. The email will be coming from Zoom. 

This virtual event is hosted by the Norwood Public Library and a collaboration between the several Massachusetts libraries. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library.

June Movie Showings

The library will be showing newly released movies in June! 

Scroll below to find out which movies will be playing, view the movie trailers and register to attend as seating is limited.   

All movie showings are free to the public and are supported by the Friends of the Falmouth Public Library.

Arthur the King
Friday, June 14th, 3pm-4:50pm . . . . . . REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“Over the course of ten days and 435 miles, an unbreakable bond is forged between pro adventure racer Michael Light and a scrappy street dog companion dubbed Arthur. Based on an incredible true story, Arthur the King follows Light, desperate for one last chance to win, as he convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic. As the team is pushed to their outer limits of endurance in the race, Arthur redefines what victory, loyalty and friendship truly mean.” Rated: PG-13; Running Time: 1hr 47mins


 

Killers of the Flower Moon
Friday, June 28th, 1:30pm-5pm . . . . . . REGISTER HERE
Hermann Meeting Room

“In the 1920s, innocent members of the Osage Indigenous American tribe suffer from a series of unusual, inexplicable murders. Though relegated to the margins of society, the case captures the attention of the FBI, which launches a large-scale investigation under the guidance of J. Edgar Hoover.” Rated: R; Running Time: 3hrs 26mins

Registration is required.  This movie is 3 hours and 26 minutes long and is rated R for violence, some grisly images, and language.  Children under 17 require accompanying adult or adult guardian. 

CapeCon at Falmouth Public Library

On Saturday, June 29th from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Falmouth Public Library brings CapeCon to Falmouth! All ages are welcome and encouraged! Free admission for all, and please cosplay or dress up if you like! The event will take place on the library lawn and inside the library. 

Some of the events include:

  • Voice acting with live-reads and Q&A
  • A cosplay presentation, creation station, AND a cosplay contest. Any age is welcome to participate and there will be prizes! The contest will be separated into beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
  • Comic strip making and other arts and crafts
  • Polaroid Photoshoots in front of your favorite backdrops
  • Presentation on smart collecting. This will include purchasing on a budget and keeping your comics safe! Or in Clint’s mind, his action figures and all those boxes full of boxes!
  • Presentation on how much graphic novels and manga can help someone who struggles with mental health.
  • History of Manga Presentation and Origami (prior registration suggested. Register here!)
  • Dungeons and Dragons Drop-Ins
  • Magic the Gathering Standard and Commander Drop-Ins
  • All day Nintendo Switch with a few guest retro systems!
  • A Super Smash Bros. Tournament (make sure to sign up at the gaming table the day of the event!)

Please contact Clint Johnson, the FPL Young Adult Librarian with any questions! He can be reached at cjohnson@falmouthpubliclibrary.org

If you are interested in getting involved, we would love to have you!

Registration is helpful but by no means required! 

You can register here!

Asuka

 

 

World Language Materials in the Young Adult Room

A diverse library for a diverse community.

Falmouth is a much more diverse area than meets the eye. Different economic situations, learning and mental differences, ethnic differences, and much more are often overlooked. Unfortunately, many of the overlooked persons of the community are the ones that also face economic problems. Some of these groups do not know what services the library brings to the community and providing a welcoming and safe environment

Literature and other activities bring people together. Places like the library strives to provide ALL their patrons with the materials they need. In the Young Adult room we have begun to expand a world language collection. These additions can improve mental health, social acceptance, quality of education, and communication.

So far we have books in Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Ukrainian. This collection will expand as our community expands! We will be purchasing more materials in the languages we have already begun to touch on and more like Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Japanese, and French. Some will include both English and the world language for immediate and reviewed translations (like the Shakespeare plenty of us read to make sense of his use of the English language!)

Spanish

Now two people who seem so different have read the same book and a connection is made. Also, literature is not the only way to bridge the gap. Video games, table top games, watching anime with subtitles, and arts and crafts.

The similarities start to trump the differences and show the kiddos how beautiful they each are. The library is an excellent safe place for these connections to begin and grow. We very much look forward to our growing collection and reaching every patron we can in the community.

 

Some titles just in:

-Harry Potter in both Brazilian Portuguese and Ukrainian

-I Survived Series (both graphic and text)

-Dogman Series

-The Alchemist