Walk This Way!
The library’s monthly LGBTQIA+ Walking Group meets on the second Friday at 3:00 PM

April 18th, May 9, July 11th, August 8th, September 12th, October 10th

Except for June, when they meet on the third Friday (June 20^th)

Join the library’s monthly LGBTQIA+ walking group where we walk and talk – about art, music, sports and everything in between!  The intention behind the group is to offer a comfortable, free, and friendly outdoor activity.

*Walks will take place alongside Shiverick’s Pond Pathway and are accessible with the use of wheelchairs, walkers and other walking aids.

Walks will be short (under .5 miles), leisurely and end on the library lawn where all are welcome to enjoy more fresh air and make new friends with fellow walkers.  This event is free, inclusive and open to the general adult public.  

Registration is appreciated, but not required.  A waiver and release form will be handed out at for first-time walkers.

Register online using the library’s online event calendar or visit/call the adult services desk at 508-457-2555 x7.

We are excited to welcome Andrew Lewis and Margaret Ferri to the Falmouth Public Library for a concert in the Hermann Room! Please register by clicking here. 

In this program, Andrew and Margaret, both well-seasoned performers will focus on songwriters from the ’60s and ’70s who moved a nation. They will sing and tell some of the stories behind the songs.

This program is supported by The Falmouth Library as well as the Falmouth Cultural Council in concert with an endowment from the Mass. Cultural Council.

Get ready to grow your knowledge about bonsai!

Saturday, April 26^th at 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Falmouth Public Library, Hermann Room

Join the Cape Cod Bonsai Club for an engaging presentation on The History and Art of Bonsai. Discover how the timeless fusion of horticulture and artistry has evolved from its ancient roots in Asia to become a beloved global hobby enjoyed by people of all ages.

This insightful session will dive into the rich history of bonsai, exploring how its practices and techniques have transformed over the centuries. Attendees will also learn about the key elements of bonsai design, from the selection of trees to shaping and styling, as well as the philosophies that guide this intricate art form. Elements of bonsai style and design will also be discussed and information provided on how the novice can begin to explore this fascinating hobby.

The presentation will last about 45 minutes, followed by an interactive Q&A session. Throughout the event, attendees will have the opportunity to view several beautiful bonsai trees and a variety of tools, with plenty of time to ask questions and learn more about the craft.

As a fun surprise, a few lucky attendees will be selected to take home a bonsai tree! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the world of bonsai and maybe even bring a piece of it home!

(Please note that this class is over, it took place in April and May of 2025)

Our long-running Joy of Learning program has changed! Instead of two larger sessions in April and October, we will be offering individual classes throughout the year. This will be our inaugural class in the new format! The first session will be “Generative AI: Understanding the Basics”-it will be offered in two identical sessions taking place on Tue, April 8 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm, and Sat, April 26 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm, This is to ensure that people have a better chance of finding a session to fit their schedule. The second session will be Generative AI: Detecting and Protecting Yourself from AI Misinformation and we will offer two identical sessions on Tue, May 13 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm and Sat, May 31 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm. You can attend either or both of the two different sessions! Please register for any session you wish to attend, by clicking the links above or by calling us at 505-457-2555 x 7.

Session 1: Understanding the Basics

You are probably hearing about AI everywhere these days. What is artificial intelligence, and how is it making its way into everyday life – our social media, phones, and even drive-throughs? Join Falmouth resident Jane Stimpson, a librarian and AI trainer, to get started with understanding generative artificial intelligence. We will cover basic terminology, look at major generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini and how they are used, and discuss the many concerns about the technology. There will be time for Q&A.  

Session Two: Detecting and Protecting Yourself from AI Misinformation

Although misinformation, disinformation, and deepfakes are not new, generative AI makes it easier, faster, and cheaper to produce than ever before. Join Falmouth resident Jane Stimpson, a librarian and AI trainer, to learn about the threats that AI-generated text and multimedia pose to individuals and society, as well as tips for spotting and debunking it. This program will build on some of the ideas covered in Jane’s Generative AI: Understanding the Basics program, but you do not need to have attended that one to participate.   

Falmouth Reads Together Events Related to the title Solito: A Memoir by Javier
Zamora

April 5 at 2:00 PM in the Hermann Room: Crafting Your Family History: Compiling Your
Genealogy into a Legacy Book with presenter and Cape Cod author Kathleen Brunelle.

Program Description:
In this 90 minute class, participants will learn how to organize their family history in a
beautifully crafted genealogy book to share with loved ones. Through a combination of research
techniques, storytelling methods, and book design strategies, you’ll discover how to incorporate
photos, documents, and family traditions into a cohesive narrative.

Whether you’re a beginner or have already started your genealogical journey, this class will
guide you through the process of preserving your family story. You’ll learn to verify sources for
accuracy and receive tips on how to present your findings in a visually appealing way. By the
end of the workshop, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to create a personalized family history
book that celebrates your heritage and preserves your legacy for future generations. Join us and
create a cherished keepsake that will be treasured by your family for years to come

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Kathleen Brunelle is a writer, English teacher, researcher, and
historian. Brunelle is a regular speaker at libraries, organizations, and bookstores throughout
Cape Cod and Massachusetts. She is the author of She’s Gone: Five Mysterious Twentieth-
Century Cold Cases; Bellamy’s Bride: The Search for Maria Hallett of Cape Cod; and Cape
Cod’s Highfield and Tanglewood: A Tale of Two Cottages. Her work has been featured on NPR
and Spooky Southcoast, among others, and she has appeared on television shows such as
Discovery Channel’s Mummies Unwrapped and Genealogy Roadshow. She lives in Fairhaven,
Massachusetts.

This class is free and open to the public with registration.

Please register via the library’s online event calendar.

Contact: Kristin Nelson 508-457-2555 info@falmouthpubliclibrary.org

Join us on Wednesday, April 9th at 6:30 PM for a book talk with Matt Davis. He will talk about his book,  At Home in the World: Reflections of a Travel Addict and take questions from the audience. Click here for more about the book!

Please register by clicking here. 

Matt is a native New Englander who lived in California for almost 40 years He was a psychology professor and researcher at Dominican University of California and his areas of expertise included diverse topics such as natural disasters, cross-cultural norms and customs, media influences, and the psychology of travel.

An avid traveler, he has visited 35 countries, has crossed the U.S. by car on over 40 road trips, and cumulatively, has spent about two years of his life in Italy and Hawaii. He also shared his passion for travel with his students by leading several study abroad trips to Italy, Ireland,

Matt is the author of a travel memoir, At Home in the World: Reflections of a Travel Addict which chronicles many of his adventures while traveling internationally. He is a regularly featured Travel Expert for the Studio 10 TV program on WJAR Providence Channel 10 and offers lectures for various community groups on topics like America’s National Parks, A History of Venice, Italy, Pompeii’s Final Day, and Life on an Unpredictable Planet: Coping with the Threats Posed by Natural Disasters.

You can also check out his website where he showcases more of his travel writing and photography.

Falmouth Reads Together Events Related to the title Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora

Friday, April 4^th at 7:00 PM in the Hermann Room: Documentary Screening

Join us on Friday, April 4^th at 7:00 PM for a Falmouth Reads Together screening of the 2019 documentary Change the Subject.  

The power of words is incalculable.  While researching immigration, a Dartmouth College student kept encountering the term “Illegal aliens” as a library subject heading. As a person who had grown up undocumented in Georgia, she was disturbed by this institutionalized form of a racial slur.  And so she did something about it: she and other students joined librarians in petitioning the Library of Congress to change its terminology.  Change the Subject tells the story of these students, whose singular effort at confronting an instance of anti-immigrant sentiment in their library catalog took them all the way from Baker-Berry Library to the halls of Congress.  This film shows how an instance of campus activism entered the national spotlight, and how a cataloging term became a flashpoint in the immigration debate on Capitol Hill.

Librarian Jill Baron and filmmaker Sawyer Broadley co-directed the film, with significant collaboration from co-producers Óscar Rubén Cornejo Cásares and Melissa Padilla.  While the narrative driving the film is of the activism of students and librarians around a Library of Congress subject heading, the film extends into a meditation on the ways that language is often weaponized to divide and dehumanize people.   

Falmouth Reads Together will host a screening of Change the Subject with a panel discussion afterwards with film director and Falmouth local, Sawyer Broadley and co-producer Óscar Rubén Cornejo Cásares.

We are excited to welcome Jon and Li Waterman to the Falmouth Public Library for a concert in the Hermann Room on Wednesday, April 2nd at 6:30 pm! Please register by clicking here to reserve your spot, or call us at 508-457-2555 x 7.  

“A Journey through the Roots of American Popular Music” is a program of songs and stories about the origins of American blues, rock and country music, presented by singer and songwriter Jon Waterman. Check out his website by clicking here! In the show, he joined by Li Waterman on bass. The program, which also features an accompanying slideshow, explores some of the fascinating characters and events that are part of the history and the role of music in our lives.

Musician and songwriter Jon Waterman has been performing his original throughout his life. His music is influenced by intriguing characters and stories from history, the roots of the music he loves, and the diversity of the human experience. His song “Sultana” which tells the story of the Civil  War steamboat disaster was selected to be featured at the Sultana museum in Marion,  AR. Waterman has presented his programs “A Journey Through the Roots of American  Popular Music” and “Cro-Magnon Blues: History and Legends Through Song” in venues  around the country, both in person and virtually. Li is a classically trained guitarist and singer who formerly fronted the Rhode Island band Alien Tesh.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Falmouth Cultural Council, a local council that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Learn more about the Falmouth Cultural Council by clicking here. 

We are excited to welcome Davis Bates to the Falmouth Public Library for a concert in the Hermann Room on Wednesday, March 19th at 3 pm! Please register on our online calendar by clicking here to reserve your spot, or call us at 508-457-2555 x 7.  Everyone ages 8 and up are welcome!

The Falmouth Public Library will celebrate St Patrick’s Day, Celtic culture and the impending arrival of spring with performance by Davis Bates.   The program will involve the audience in a variety of cultural traditions.  It will include traditional songs and tales from Ireland, Scotland & Wales, sea songs & chanteys, ghost stories and family tales.  There will also be plenty of sing-alongs, a short lesson in how to play music with spoons from a kitchen drawer, and an appearance by an Irish dancing wooden dog named Bingo. Learn more about Davis on his website by clicking here!

Pete and Toshi Seeger called Davis “thoughtful, creative, human, and a fantastic storyteller.”  Davis’ traditional and participatory performance style empowers and encourages audiences of all ages to join in the fun and to take the songs and stories home with them to share with others.  He also encourages listeners to remember and share stories and songs from their own family and cultural traditions.

Davis Bates has been singing and telling stories for over forty-six years, in schools, libraries, colleges and community settings around New England and across the country.  His recording of Family Stories won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award and was named one of the year’s best Audio Recordings by Booklist Magazine.  Davis has also served as director and consultant for several local and regional oral history and folk arts projects.  Davis lives in the village of Shelburne Falls, MA, and when he is not collecting or learning stories, he spends his time gardening and working with the Clapping Hands Farm Arts Camp in North Carolina and volunteering with the Family Table Collaborative on Cape Cod.

We thank the Library Board of Trustees for sponsoring this concert.

We are excited to welcome the Modernistics Trio (Ted Powers, vocals, tap-dance, and guitar, Peter H. Bloom, flute; and Dave Zox on double bass) back  to the Falmouth Public Library on Thursday, March 13th at 2 pm!  Please register on the calendar to reserve your spot! Click here to register. We thank the Board of Library Trustees for sponsoring this concert.

The Modernistics Trio will perform a festive show called “Gems by George and Ira Gershwin”! All of the arrangements are by The Modernistics Trio, treating the audience to unusual and captivating renditions of well-known tunes and seldom-heard treasures. Lots of variety! The Trio will celebrate George and Ira Gershwin with swinging songs, tap-dance numbers, and exuberant instrumentals. Among the many audience favorites are Nice Work If You Can Get It, I Got Rhythm, Love is Here to Stay, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off, Slap That Bass, and other great music by the Gershwin brothers.

Ted Powers, vocals, tap-dance, guitar, ukulele, and harmonica, has been entertaining audiences in the U.S. and abroad for over 30 years. His career in jazz, blues and pop includes several years as a solo performer in the south of France and tap dancing in the U.S. with Jimmy “Sir Slyde” Mitchell. Ted has performed with Billy Novick, Ray Santisi, and other notables. Acclaimed for his wide-ranging artistry and his mastery of the Great American Songbook, he performs extensively as a soloist, and with large and small ensembles across the Northeast.

Flutist Peter H. Bloom, praised for “exquisite melody” (JazzImprov) and “infectious brio” (The New York City Jazz Record), has performed in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and is featured on 48 CDs. He has shared the stage with Sheila Jordan, Charles Neville, Jimmy Giuffre, Ricky Ford, Geri Allen, Jaki Byard, and other jazz legends, and is a veteran of the famed Aardvark Jazz Orchestra (51st season). Bloom’s latest CD, Exuberant Ellingtonia, has been hailed as “a treasure trove” (Textura Magazine, Ontario). His playing has been called “wonderfully smoky and mysterious” (EarRelevant), “brightly gorgeous” (Gapplegate Music Review), and “a revelation for unforced sweetness and strength” (The Boston Globe).

Bassist Dave Zox has performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Artie Shaw Band, Herb Reed and the Platters, Phil Woods, John Abercrombie, Kenny Werner, Garrison Fewell, and other illustrious artists. Dave played for many years with Boston’s legendary Al Vega Trio and with pianist Harvey Diamond. He serves on the faculties of Northeastern University, Phillips Academy in Andover, and the Ipswich Public Schools.