2025 Oscar-Nominated Short Films!

The Falmouth Library is excited to present ShortsTV’s release of the 2025 Oscar-Nominated Short Films! Although the films are unrated, they target an adult audience. Enjoy complimentary popcorn during the screening.

Screenings will take place in the Hermann Room on three dates:

  • Live Action shorts will be screened on Friday, February 14th at 7:30 PM (120 minutes run time)
  • Animated shorts will be screened on Friday, February 21st at 7:30 PM (90 minutes run time)
  • Documentary shorts will be screened on Saturday, March 1st at 2:00 PM (150 minutes run time)

Please register via the library’s online event calendar.

Contact Information:
Adult Services
Falmouth Public Library
508-457-2555 x7
info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org

About the Oscar® Nominated Short Films:

Since 2006, ShortsTV has proudly brought the Oscar® Nominated Short Films to audiences across the globe.

This special release features the year’s most spectacular short films and is available to watch on the big screen for a limited time shortly after nominations are announced.

Each nominee is released in one of three distinct feature-length compilations according to their category of nomination: Live Action, Animation, or Documentary.

The theatrical release of the nominated short films is the world’s largest commercial release of short films, delighting audiences and giving filmmakers an unprecedented opportunity to entertain short film fans.

In recent years, the Oscar® Nominated Short Films have been released in over 700 theaters across the US and Canada, garnering reviews in every major news outlet, from The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Deadline to The New York Times. The films have also been released annually in a growing number of theaters around the world, including the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, India, South Africa, Mexico, Chile, China, and Australia, among others, making it a truly international release.

For more information: https://shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/




 

 

 

The Big Read Cape Cod

Tuesday, February 25 at 6:30—7:30 PM
Hermann Foundation Meeting Room

From October 2024 to May 2025, The Arts & Justice Collective will hold various literary, art and social justice events and programs centering around Claudia Rankine’s “Citizen: An American Lyric.” The Big Read Cape Cod is in collaboration with a wide range of community partners, including libraries, cultural centers, social/racial justice organizations, theaters, literary and art organizations and local artists.  This program is possible because of funding and management from the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Midwest and the Falmouth Cultural Council. 

Join us for an in-person book discussion of Citizen by Claudia Rankine, a powerful exploration of race, identity, and belonging at the Falmouth Public Library.  Let us come together across Cape Cod to reflect, connect and spark conversations that matter. 

Facilitated by local poets, Ocean Eversley and Alice Kociemba.  Ocean Eversley is an African American and Native American Aspie woman whose ideals bend towards social justice, self-love and treating people and the environment with dignity and respect.  Alice Kociemba is the current chairperson of the Falmouth Cultural Council; Alice is a long-time advocate for community engagement through the arts.  A published poet and part-time potter, she curated a long-running series, Calliope Poetry that brought local, regional and national prize-winning poets to Falmouth.


Free books upon registration.  

Please register via the library’s online event calendar

Contact: Kristin Nelson 508 457 2555 knelson@falmouthpubliclibrary.org

Grilled Cheese Social

Grilled Cheese Social

Saturday, February 8th, 2025!

Falmouth Public Library from 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM in the

Hermann Foundation Room

A grilled cheese may seem like a simple meal! Butter on the griddle, two pieces of bread and some cheese. It is certainly a delicious choice, but that can get boring after a while! Many have found their own special remedy for the “normal” grilled cheese…but bringing it up in conversation can bring out the fire in the eye. Some folks don’t use butter at all! Why not some mayonnaise! I hear it gives an extra crunch. Or maybe an obscure mustard, bacon, or even bananas. It’s sort of like your parent’s meatloaf. That meatloaf is the only meatloaf you’ll eat!

At the Falmouth Public Library – Main Branch on February 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM we will be making the grilled cheese sandwiches on our Charlie Cart– the library’s functional mini-kitchen on wheels! We will be providing a variety of bread and cheeses. Don’t forget to bring your secret ingredient(s) and share it with your friends and other library patrons! There will be a friendly competition with judges to answer the age-old question of “what makes the best grilled cheese”.

One suggestion that we can make is use different cheeses! We will have all the basics ready for your mystery …Gouda? Cheddar? Swiss? Alternatively, just plain old American cheese? Do not be scared to try something new! The beautiful aroma will fill the library.

The event is appropriate for patrons ages 8-13. There will be library staff enjoying and overseeing the event (maybe even some celebrity judges). Parents are more than welcome to join in on the fun! We will be having games and activities all about the Hermann Room while we cook up our glorious melted cheese and bread. The games may be a little “cheesy” (without the mess). The event is from 12:30 – 3:00. We hope to see you there!

Registration is required. Click here to do so! Or feel free to give us a call at 508-457-2555 x 7. Please reach out if you have any questions or problems with registering!

Winter Reading Bingo

During January and February, when the most sensible thing to do is curl up with a good book, we invite you to play Winter Reading Bingo with us at the Library!

It’s easy:

Pick up a Bingo Card at the North, East, or Main Branches of the Falmouth Public Library.

OR

Download and print out your own BINGO card.

Turn the card in to receive a small gift AND be entered into a random drawing to win a prize – a $50 gift card to Eight Cousins!

Falmouth Reads Together 2025:Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora

 

Trip. My parents started using that word about a year ago—“one day, you’ll
take a trip to be with us. Like an adventure.”


Javier Zamora’s adventure is a 3,000-mile journey from his small town in
El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, and across the U.S. border.
He will leave behind his beloved aunt and grandparents to reunite with a
mother who left four years ago and a father he barely remembers. Traveling
alone amid a group of strangers and a “coyote” hired to lead them to safety, Javier expects his trip to last two short weeks.

A memoir as gripping as it is moving, Solito provides an immediate and
intimate account not only of a treacherous and near-impossible journey,
but also of the miraculous kindness and love delivered at the most
unexpected moments. Solito is Javier Zamora’s story, but it’s also the story
of millions of others who had no choice but to leave home.

I read Solito with my heart in my throat and did not burst into tears until the last sentence. What a person, what a writer, what a book.—Emma Straub

Request a copy of Solito today via CLAMS 

Events related to this year’s Town Read!

February 7 at 2:00 PM: On Childhood Migration from Central America–In Conversation with
Javier Zamora 

The library will screen an author interview with Javier Zamora that was previously recorded by the Library Speakers Consortium.  Tune in for a special conversation with New York Times bestselling author Javier Zamora as he chats with us about his riveting tale of survival and perseverance as told in his award-winning memoir Solito.

Register here.

February 12 at 4:00 PM: Solito Book Discussion at the library

Join us at the library for a book discussion about Solito.  We will explore key themes like, the immigrant experience, identity and belonging, resilience and hope, and family and community.  

We encourage participants to reflect on how Solito resonates with your own experiences, perspectives, and understanding of the world today. Whether you’ve read the book or just started, we invite you to come with your thoughts, questions, and personal reflections.

More book discussions are being planned for different venues around town. 

Register here.

March 8 at 2:00 PM: Documentary Screening (Details to follow) 

Register here. 

March 15 at 2:00 PM: What’s Next for the Border? – A presentation by Miriam Davidson 

Miriam Davidson is a Tucson-based writer whose work focuses on border issues.  Her most recent book, The Beloved Border: Humanity and Hope in a Contested Land, tells powerful stories of atrocities and compassion at the southern border.  Davidson’s presentation will focus on the history of migration at the border, placing the Falmouth Reads Together selection, Solito, in both historical and contemporary context.  She will also share accounts of what life is like south of the border, crossing the Darién Gap and cartel violence in Mexico.  As well as discussing the environmental and cultural damage from the border wall and mine construction.  

Her award-winning journalism has appeared in the New York Times, the AARP Bulletin, the Arizona Republic, the Nation, the Progressive, and many other outlets. She attended Yale College and the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.  

Register here. 

Neighborhood Falmouth, Robert Reece, author of About Ben

Neighborhood Falmouth and the Falmouth Public Library are jointly offering this program on Wednesday, January 29th at 1:30 pm. Robert Reece will be discussing his novel, About Ben, which tells the story of Ben Levinson, a 23-year old medical student in 1952 who questions his future after this legs become paralyzed from poliomyelitis. Please register by clicking here

Dr. Reece is retired from his work as a clinical professor of pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine and director of child protection at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. He also directed the pediatric emergency room at Boston City Hospital and practiced pediatrics in Falmouth. He has published many textbooks and articles, and four other novels.

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 by clicking here or call 508-564-7543.

Great Zoom talks this month!

We have some great Zoom author talks this month! Click the links after the title to register and get more details, and you will receive the Zoom link, and the recording later! Please note that these events are virtual only, and do not take place in the library. This month’s talks have been shared with us by the Tewksbury Public Library.

Tuesday, January 14th 2-3 PM Armchair Tour of Mexico City, click here

Wednesday, January 15th 7-8 PM Prize-winning author Adam Haslett, click here

Tuesday, January 21st 7-8 PM Bestselling author James Grippando, click here

Thursday, January 23rd 7-8 pm Bestselling authors Scott Turow and Alafair Burke, click here

Friday, January 24th 7-8 pm Mystery author Vicki Delaney, click here

Monday, January 27 2-3PM Six Pillars of Brain Health with AARP, click here

Monday, January 27 7-8 pm, Historical Fiction author Fiona Davis 7-8 PM, click here

Wednesday, January 29th 7-8 pm Bestselling mystery writer Thomas Perry, click here

Mindfulness and Loving Kindness Meditation

Mindfulness and Loving Kindness Meditation Sessions
Tuesdays, January 14th, February 11th, March 11th and April 1st
2:30—4:00 PM
Hermann Foundation Meeting Room

January Session Registration

February Session Registration

March Registration

April Registration 


In this class, participants will practice loving-kindness meditation, which involves directing positive intentions and goodwill towards oneself and others. This practice aims to cultivate compassion, empathy, and love, fostering emotional well-being and healthier relationships. This class will also include Insight meditation, also known as Vipassana or mindfulness meditation. This technique involves observing thoughts, sensations, and experiences with non-judgmental awareness. Its objective is to develop profound insight into the nature of existence, fostering mindfulness, clarity, and a deeper understanding of oneself and reality.  Dress comfortably, bring a notebook and a meditation mat or cushion if you have one.

Class Structure:
• 10 minutes: Loving-Kindness Meditation techniques to cultivate compassion and empathy.
• 40 minutes: Insight Meditation, incorporating mindful prostration, walking, and sitting practices.
After the session, participants will have the opportunity for individual interviews—either in a group setting or one-on-one. These 10-minute discussions are intended to ensure proper practice techniques and provide personalized guidance for a deeper understanding of the meditation process.

Target Audience:
This class is designed for participants of all levels, from beginners to experienced meditators. It offers a blend of loving-kindness meditation, mindfulness practice, and shared experiences through personal reflection. Consider it a workout for the mind, open to anyone seeking greater self-awareness and personal growth.

About the instructor:
Benny is an instructor from the NMR Buddhist Meditation Center in Raynham, MA. Benny is an advanced mindfulness teacher with a profound understanding of the art and science of mindfulness. With a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the practice, he guides light for those on a journey to inner peace and self-discovery.

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.

Great Zoom lectures in December!

We have some great Zoom author talks this month! Click the links after the title to register and get more details, and you will receive the Zoom link! Please note that these events are virtual only, and do not take place in the library. 

Wednesday, December 4th at 2 PM, Unearthed: Exploring the Smithsonian National Gem Collection with Dr. Jeffrey Post, click here to register.

Join us for an absolutely dazzling presentation with the emeritus curator of the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection, Dr. Jeffrey E. Post as he talks about The Smithsonian National Gem Collection Unearthed: Surprising Stories Behind the Jewels.

Wednesday,  December 11th at 2 PM, On Pulse-Pounding, Family Driven Mysteries: A Conversation with Laura Dave, click here to register.

Join us for a captivating conversation with #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave, as she chats with us online about her newest book The Night We Lost Him

The Night We Lost Him focuses on estranged siblings who discover their father has been keeping a secret for over fifty years, one that may have been fatal.

Don’t miss these great talks!