Upcoming Programs

We are offering  virtual, in-person, hybrid, and outdoor program opportunities.   See below for our scheduled programs.

Thank you to the Friends of the EPL for their continued support of our adult programing.  Some of our talks from bestselling authors and thought leaders are brought to you in partnership with the Friends of the Eldredge Public Library and the Library Speakers Consortium.  You can view these upcoming and past author programs at https://libraryc.org/eldredgelibrary.

Free Online Courses  - From 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group

The Library 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group meets via Zoom on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, from 9:30am to 11:30am, starting Aug 6 - Dec 17. Informal networking takes place from 9am to 9:30am and 11:30am to noon.

If you are unemployed and actively looking, underemployed, seeking a new career direction, re-entering the job market after a long employment gap, or recently retired and looking for your "Encore Career," this networking group program is perfect for you! Remember, 85% of jobs are found through networking!  This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. This series is made possible in partnership through the Tewksbury Public Library. Each session is a different topic.  Find Out More and Register Today!

Topic Schedule:  Aug. 6: Self Assessment   Aug. 20: Mastermind   Sept. 3: Career Story   Sept. 17: LinkedIn   Oct. 1: Resumes   Oct. 15: Using Artificial Intelligence   Nov. 5: Networking   Nov. 19: Interview Strategies Dec. 3: Second Act Careers  Dec. 17: Marketing Plan

Thursdays, October 23, 30, November 6, 13, 20 @ 1:30-3:00 - Family History Series

Join us at the Library for an exciting five-part Family History Series, presented by Eldredge Public Library genealogist Nancy Barr, and David Martin from the Cape Cod Genealogical Society, along with educator and author Walter McClennen. Whether you’re just starting your genealogy journey or are a seasoned researcher, you’ll find valuable tips, tools, and inspiration to bring your family’s story to life.

Oct 23 : Introduction to Genealogical Research – David Martin kicks off the series with the essential skills you need to begin exploring your family tree.

Oct 30: Records from Daily Life: From Deeds & Maps to Directories & Newspapers / Resources at the EPL – Nancy Barr shows you how everyday documents can reveal extraordinary details and explores the resources available in the EPL Genealogy collection.

Nov 6:  How to Preserve and Publish Family Memoirs and Histories – Walter McClennen shares expert advice on turning your research into a lasting legacy.

Nov 13:  Immigration and Migration for Genealogists – David Martin explores how movement and migration shaped family histories.

Nov 20:  Using the Census for Genealogical Research – David Martin closes the series with tips for unlocking the stories hidden in census records.

Space is limited—reserve your spot today! Registration is required.

Saturday, October 25 @ 7:00 pm  Love Letters with Richard Figge and Sara Patton

This performance, starring Richard Figge and Sara Patton, is co-sponsored by the First Congregational Church of Chatham and the Friends of the Eldredge Public Library. Love Letters, written by A.R. Gurney, is a tender comedy-drama of a love affair spanning a half-century.  Tickets are $25.  Please call 508-945-0800 for tickets and information.                  

Wednesday, October 29 @ 2:00 pm - Author Philippa Gregory

Coined as the “queen of British historical fiction,” Philippa Gregory returns to the infamous Tudor Court with a tale that is both timely and timeless. We invite you to sit down with us for an intriguing conversation with Gregory about her newest novel Boleyn Traitor (forthcoming October 14, 2025).  With a rich tapestry of new historical insights and lyrical language honed over decades of writing, Gregory's return to the Tudors is a new definition of this most fascinating era. As the world becomes more extreme and unpredictable, Jane’s story of survival and ingenuity offers a compelling parallel, serving as both a powerful historical narrative and an echo of the challenges we face. Dr. Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists.  Her flair for blending history and imagination developed into a signature style and Philippa went on to write many bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen. Registration is required for this virtual program, which will be recorded.

Thursday, October 30 @ 7:00 pm - Taylor Swift By The Book -- The Literature Behind The Lyrics

Authors Rachel Feder and Tiffany Tatreau will deliver a fascinating presentation based on their recent book, "Taylor Swift by the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, from Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets." Taylor Swift’s lyrics are filled with literary connections. Learn about the novels, poems, and plays that influence her songwriting. Let a literature professor and a musical theater artist guide you through the Taylor Swift canon—from Shakespeare to the Brontë sisters to Daphne du Maurier! Feder, the author of five books, is an associate professor of English and literary arts at the University of Denver. This program is made possible through partnership with Tewksbury Public Library. This program is virtual; Zoom link required. This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program.

Tuesday, November 4 @ 6:30 pm - Historical Fiction Book Recommendations with Bestselling Author, Jane Healey

Love Historical Fiction but not sure what to read next? Join bestselling author, Jane Healey, monthly, for 30 minutes of pure book recommendations - the best of historical fiction out there! We're sure you'll find something to like from Jane's many enthusiastic reviews.

Jane Healey is the author of The Beantown Girls, The Secret Stealers,  and her debut, The Saturday Evening Girls Club. Goodnight from Paris is her newly released novel from Lake Union Publishing. Jane is also the host of Historical Happy Hour, a monthly webinar and podcast featuring interviews with premier historical fiction authors and their latest novels. This program is in collaboration with the Ashland Public Library. Registration is required.

Wednesday, November 5 @ 2:00 pm - Journalist Joseph Lee

You’re invited to learn from journalist and author Joseph Lee as he talks about his stirring memoir, Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity. In it, he explores Indigenous identity in proximity to land that serves as an iconic vacationing spot for the wealthy–the “island paradise” Martha’s Vineyard. Registration is required for this virtual program.

Growing up Aquinnah Wampanoag, Joseph Lee grappled with what it means to be an Indigenous person in the world today, especially as tribal land, culture, and community face new threats. Starting with the story of his own tribe, which is from the iconic Martha’s Vineyard, Lee tackles key questions around Indigenous identity and the stubborn legacy of colonialism.

Thursday, November 6 @ 4:00 pm - An Afternoon with Poet Rachel Hadas

Join us for a virtual afternoon with poet, essayist, and translator Rachel Hadas. Rachel is the author of many books of poetry, including, most recently, Ghost Guest (2023) and Pandemic Almanac (2022), both from Ragged Sky Press. A selection of her essays and criticism, Piece by Piece, was published by Paul Dry Books in 2021. Her newest collection of poems, Forty-four Pastorals is forthcoming from Measure Press later this year, and a prosimetrum (alternating poetry and prose) entitled From Which We Start Awake, is due out in 2025 from Able Muse Press. Her poem "Voyage" is included in the 2024 edition of The Best American Poetry anthology, edited by Mary Jo Salter.

Hadas’ honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship in Poetry, an Ingram Merrill Foundation grant in poetry, and an award in literature from the Academy-Institute of Arts and Letters.  She is a recipient of the O.B. Hardison Poetry Prize from the Folger Shakespeare Library and has been a Fellow at the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she has been a resident of the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.  This program is virtual; Zoom link is required.

Thursday, November 13 @ 7:00 pm - Author Amanda Peters

Join us in conversation with acclaimed writer Amanda Peters as we discuss her instant bestselling novel, The Berry Pickers, as well as her tender short fiction collection, Waiting for the Long Night Moon: Stories.  Influenced by Peters’ own Mi’kmaq heritage, The Berry Pickers is a riveting exploration of family, grief, and the bonds we share.  Registration is required for this virtual program.

Amanda Peters is a mixed-race woman of Mi’kmaq and European ancestry, born and raised in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. Her short fiction and non-fiction have been published in The Antigonish Review, Grain Magazine, The Alaska Quarterly Review, The Dalhousie Review, and Filling Station Magazine.

Tuesday, November 18 @ 2:00 pm - Author Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg, author of the bestselling books The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better, presents the ultimate guide on how to communicate and connect with anyone at work, home, and in life in his latest work, Supercommunicators. Registration is required for this virtual program.

In this groundbreaking book, Charles Duhigg unravels the secrets of the supercommunicators to reveal the art - and the science - of successful communication. He unpicks the different types of everyday conversation and pinpoints why some go smoothly while others swiftly fall apart. He reveals the conversational questions and gambits that bring people together. And he shows how even the most tricky of encounters can be turned around.

Thursday, November 20 @ 5:00 pm - Sound Meditation with Ashley Woodworth

Join us quarterly for Sound Meditation with Ashley Woodworth, local yoga teacher and sound facilitator! Sound meditation is an integrated practice that combines a restorative setting with an emphasis on breath, mindful presence, and judicious listening. Instruments such as Tibetan singing bowls, etheric chimes, frame drums, rattles, and crystal pyramids are played during the meditation. This container empowers participants to use sound as a therapeutic tool to disconnect from the monkey mind and delve into an embodied state, disengaging from habitual patterns of thought and behavior, and initiating beneficial cognitive change.

Friday, November 21 @ 1:00 pm - Dragonflies and Damselflies with Peter Trull

Join us as we welcome back renowned Field Naturalist and educator, Peter Trull, for a science meets whimsy exploration of dragonflies and damselflies. Peter will share his photography and research of these magnificent creatures.  Come check out Peter's photography gallery of dragonflies and damselflies, located in Forgeron Hall, up through November!

Peter Trull has been involved in Research and Education on Cape Cod for about 40 years. He coordinated seabird protection and research for the Massachusetts Audubon Society. He conducted field research in Guyana and Surinam, studying the market trapping of Common Terns and Roseate Terns, working and living with local bird trappers in several coastal villages where he hesitatingly admits he’s eaten Common Terns and 15 to 20 species of sandpipers and plovers.

Tuesday, December 2 @ 2:00 pm - Scheming Wives and High-Stakes Hilarity with Author Sue Hincenbergs

Buckle up for a wild ride and join us as we sit down for an online chat with debut author Sue Hincenbergs to discuss her novel The Retirement Plan, in which murder is the name of the game. When the only thing standing between three best friends and a sunny beachfront retirement condo are their husbands, what ensues is a diabolical plan to collect on their spouses’ life insurance policies. Sue Hincenbergs is a former television producer who has worked on multiple award-winning programs ranging from sitcoms to lifestyle. Registration is required for this virtual program.

Wednesday, December 3 @ 6:00 pm - Along Route 1 - Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts

Join us for a virtual trip down Route 1 with author Susan Mara Bergman! Route 1 in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts is an unapologetic combination of historic gravity, exuberant entertainment, unexpected juxtapositions, and wonderfully kitschy roadside attractions. New England road trippers will encounter roller coasters and candlepin bowling, lobster rolls and homemade pie, colonial-era taverns and granite fortifications, and so much more!  Mile after mile, Route 1 tells a story about history, survival, loss, and change.  This program is virtual; a Zoom link is required.

Thursday, December 4 @ 2:00 pm - The Revolutionary War on Cape Cod and the Islands with David Martin

Join us for an afternoon with local author, David Martin! His new illustrated book, The Revolutionary War on Cape Cod and the Islands, prepared in time for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, brings together under one cover the facts and narratives about the often little-known histories of the Revolution on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, from the period 1761 (end of the French and Indian Wars) to 1783 (Treaty of Paris).

Co-written by 24 authors coordinated through the Cape and Islands Historians Committee, topics include: accounts of the few actual battles fought on Cape and Islands, privateering, the serious splits between Loyalists and Patriots, British shipwrecks off of Cape Cod which resulted in favorable outcomes for the Patriots, the history of African Americans and Native Americans from the region who served actively in the War, and the stories of 10 important individuals from the region who played important roles in the Revolutionary period.

Tuesday, December 9 @ 2:00 pm - The Legacy of Julia Child's Kitchen with Author and Smithsonian Curator Paula J. Johnson

Join us for a conversation that’s sure to warm your heart (and make your stomach rumble), as we delve into the legacy of cooking icon Julia Child with Smithsonian curator and public historian Paula J. Johnson, author of Julia Child’s Kitchen: The Design, Tools, Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space. The book includes interviews with chefs who knew Julia well, commentary on her favorite culinary tools and kitchen gadgets, and a stunning array of photos.  Registration is required for this virtual program.

Tuesday, December 9 @ 6:30 pm - Historical Fiction Book Recommendations with Bestselling Author, Jane Healey

Love Historical Fiction but not sure what to read next? Join bestselling author, Jane Healey, monthly, for 30 minutes of pure book recommendations - the best of historical fiction out there! We're sure you'll find something to like from Jane's many enthusiastic reviews.

Jane Healey is the author of The Beantown Girls, The Secret Stealers,  and her debut, The Saturday Evening Girls Club. Goodnight from Paris is her newly released novel from Lake Union Publishing. Jane is also the host of Historical Happy Hour, a monthly webinar and podcast featuring interviews with premier historical fiction authors and their latest novels. This program is in collaboration with the Ashland Public Library. Registration is required.

Friday, December 12 from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Festive Family Winter Wonderland!

Join us on the Eldredge Public Library front lawn during Chatham's Christmas By The Sea weekend for a festive, all-ages celebration! Enjoy a cozy evening of sweet treats, a family photo booth, and some reindeer games to capture the holiday spirit. Come celebrate the magic before or after the tree lighting right down the street! 

Wednesday, December 17 @ 2:00 pm - The Joys of Nature: Magical Costa Rica - Exploring the Lowland Rainforest

Join us as we welcome back Joy Marzolf, of Joys of Nature, as we explore the wildlife of Costa Rica’s lowland rainforests! For such a tiny country, Costa Rica has amazing biodiversity. Bird life in the rainforest varies widely from colorful hummingbirds, honeycreepers and red-capped manakins to large birds like great curassow and scarlet macaws. Curious troops of capuchin monkeys can be found exploring the trees as they look for food. Night brings a chance to see tiny creatures, like poison dart frogs and red eyed tree frogs, well hidden among the foliage.  This program is virtual; Zoom link is required.

Monday Craft Club

Monday Craft Club is a great way for adults to try new arts and crafts while easing stress and having a little fun. We will alternate between open crafting, staff-led projects, and art-based programming. The projects focus more on technique and joy than on the outcome, allowing all to tap into their creative freedom. Thanks to the Friends of the Eldredge Public Library and craft donations, there is no fee, and no experience is necessary. 

Monthly registration is required to save your spot and space will be limited.  Please be aware this is an 18+ club. Please visit our calendar or connect with our Youth Services department for more information on children's programming. Your space is not secure unless you receive confirmation. 

Monday, July 14 @ 11:00 am - This month's project will be Hammered Botanical Prints.  Registration is required

Monday, August 11 @ 11:00 am - Kreative Paint Party with Jackie.  Registration is required.

Monday, September 8 @ 11:00 am - Beautiful Bookmarks.  Registration is required

Monday, November 10 @ 11:00 am - Fall Garlands. Registration is required.

Monday, December 8 @ 11:00 am - Stone Bird Ornaments.  Registration is required.

Digital Resource Classes

Ready to download eBooks and Audiobooks? Get Started with Libby

Next class:  November 13 @ 11:00 am (@ the Library) and December 11@ 11:00 am (@ the Library)  Registration is required

Getting Started with Libby - Learn how to download ebooks and audiobooks from the CLAMS digital library through the Libby app by Overdrive.   Join Mike McCartney through a Zoom program or in-person and he will show you how to download items and answer your Libby questions.  Registration is required for both the zoom and the in-person program. *Libby app is currently compatible with smart phones and tablets.   EBooks can be download on another device (phone, ipad, etc) and transferred to Kindle devices.

Canvassing Canva

What's all the hubbub with Canva? Although Canva has many uses across a variety of different specializations and functional areas, its primary use is as a graphic design platform. You can use Canva to edit photos and videos, design custom graphics, and create or modify other image-, text-, and video-based projects. From Presentations and Flyers to Social Media Posts and Birthday Cards, Canva has something for everyone!

Join our Circulation Supervisor, Mike McCartney, for a guided tour of this special tool.

Next class:   December 2 @ 1:00 pm (@ the Library)  Registration is required

Google Suites

If you have a Gmail address, then you have access to Google Suites. Google Docs, Sheets, and Presentations give you almost all the same functionality as Microsoft Office but for free - and with the ability to share your work or even collaborate.  This is an in-person program, no registration is required. 

Join our Circulation Supervisor, Mike McCartney, for a guided tour of this special tool.

Next class:   November 5 @ 11:30 am (@ the Library)  Registration is required