Bachata by the Bookmobile
Summer Bachata is Back! Come out to Cushing Park for a one-hour dance lesson with J&L Dance Studio followed by 30 minutes of social dancing and light refreshments.
Events Calendar / Monthly
McAuliffe Book Discussion (Evening): The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
The McAuliffe Branch hosts two book discussion groups to discuss various fiction and nonfiction, as well as contemporary and classic literature. You can join us anytime to discuss one particular book or become a regular. Register here: https://bit.ly/mca-bookdiscussions
July 14: The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
- A 20-year-old Chinese painter named Stephen is sent to his family's summer home in a Japanese coastal village to recover from a bout with tuberculosis. Here he is cared for by Matsu, a reticent housekeeper and a master gardener. Over the course of a remarkable year, Stephen learns Matsu's secret and gains not only physical strength, but also profound spiritual insight. Matsu is a samurai of the soul, a man devoted to doing good and finding beauty in a cruel and arbitrary world, and Stephen is a noble student, learning to appreciate Matsu's generous and nurturing way of life and to love Matsu's soul-mate, gentle Sachi, a woman afflicted with leprosy.
McAuliffe Matinee: The Patriot (2000)
Peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son. (2000 | R | 2h 45m)
McAuliffe Book Discussion (Morning): Over My Dead Body by Greg Melville
The McAuliffe Branch hosts two book discussion groups to discuss various fiction and nonfiction, as well as contemporary and classic literature. You can join us anytime to discuss one particular book or become a regular. Register here: https://bit.ly/mca-bookdiscussions
July 16th: Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries by Greg Melville
- The summer before his senior year in college, Greg Melville worked at the cemetery in his hometown, and thanks to hour upon hour of pushing a mower over the grassy acres, he came to realize what a rich story the place told of his town and its history. Thus was born Melville’s lifelong curiosity with how, where, and why we bury and commemorate our dead.
Melville’s Over My Dead Body is a lively (pun intended) and wide-ranging history of cemeteries, places that have mirrored the passing eras in history but have also shaped it. Cemeteries have given birth to landscape architecture and famous parks, as well as influenced architectural styles. They’ve inspired and motivated some of our greatest poets and authors—Emerson, Whitman, Dickinson. They’ve been used as political tools to shift the country’s discourse and as important symbols of the United States' ambition and reach.
But they are changing and fading. Embalming and burial is incredibly toxic, and while cremations have just recently surpassed burials in popularity, they’re not great for the environment either. Over My Dead Body explores everything—history, sustainability, land use, and more—and what it really means to memorialize.
Musicals at McAuliffe: Hamilton the Musical
The real life of one of America's foremost founding fathers and first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Captured live on Broadway from the Richard Rodgers Theater with the original Broadway cast. (2020 | PG-13 | 2h 40m)
Veterans At Ease Coffee Hour
Join us and your local, fellow veterans on the 3rd Friday of each month for free coffee and light refreshments.
This program is a collaboration between the Framingham Public Library and the City of Framingham Veterans Services.
Baby Storytime at Main
Come sing and play with words, rhyme, and puppets!
Ages 0-2 and their caregivers, all welcome.
Kids Chess Club
This Chess Club is an informal group welcoming everyone from new players to junior chess masters! Chess boards are provided, but you can bring your own. Staff are available to help with questions, but will not be teaching chess. For Elementary and Middle School students.
1st Tuesday of every Month, 5PM | MAIN, HOMEWORK CENTER
3rd Tuesday of every Month, 5PM | MCAULIFFE, COMMUNITY ROOM
Queer Reads: Don’t Let the Forest In by C. G. Drews
The Queer Reads Book Discussion celebrates queer authors, books, and themes. This discussion meets in person every third Tuesday of the month at the McAuliffe Branch. Register here: https://bit.ly/fpl-queerbookdiscussion
July 21st: Don't Let the Forest In by C. G. Drews
- High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality―Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more.
But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won't say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork―whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew's wicked stories.
Desperate to figure out what's wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster―Thomas's drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. To make sure no one else dies, the boys battle the monsters every night. But as their obsession with each other grows stronger, so do the monsters, and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures might be to destroy their creator...
Hot Takes: First Time Caller by B.K. Borison
Hot Takes: Romance Book Discussion at the Main Library meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month. This discussion group will delve into the world of romance through genres such as contemporary fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, and more! We welcome all tastes and experiences in our judgement free zone. Register here for email updates: https://bit.ly/FPL-Hot-Takes
July 22nd: First Time Caller by B.K. Borison
- Aiden Valentine has a secret: he's fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore's romance hotline, that's a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.
Baby Storytime at Main
Come sing and play with words, rhyme, and puppets!
Ages 0-2 and their caregivers, all welcome.
Art Journal Jam for Adults
Bring your own art journal and prepare to get messy! Join us for this casual, unstructured session exploring the possibilities of art journals. No experience required. Some supplies are provided, but feel free to bring your favorite medium to work in. Space is limited. Registration required.
Make it Tuesday: Cat Grass Heads
Looking for a fun, low-stress way to add some greenery to your space and provide a treat your furry friend at the same time? Come get your hands dirty at the McAuliffe Branch Library.
We’ll use thin cloth, soil, and pet-safe cat grass seed to sculpt a quirky grass head creation. After some water and sun you’ll get a wild head of green hair that you can style, trim, or let your cat happily munch on! Supplies provided.
Firework Stamp Painting
Use different materials like forks and cut up cardboard rolls to stamp colorful fireworks.
Ages 2-5
Baby Storytime at Main
Come sing and play with words, rhyme, and puppets!
Ages 0-2 and their caregivers, all welcome.
Kids Chess Club
This Chess Club is an informal group welcoming everyone from new players to junior chess masters! Chess boards are provided, but you can bring your own. Staff are available to help with questions, but will not be teaching chess. For Elementary and Middle School students.
1st Tuesday of every Month, 5PM | MAIN, HOMEWORK CENTER
3rd Tuesday of every Month, 5PM | MCAULIFFE, COMMUNITY ROOM
Book Buddies: Reading to Dogs (Cosmo)
Improve your reading skills by reading aloud to your new Book Buddy. Registration required. Call 508-532-5636 or drop by to sign up for a time slot.
Registro requerido! Ligue para 508-532-5636 para se registrar. Melhore suas habilidades de leitura de maneira divertida, lendo em voz alta. Todas as idades.
¡Se requiere registrarse! Llame al 508-532-5636 para registrarse. Mejore sus habilidades de lectura de forma divertida leyendo en voz alta. Todas las edades.
Open Color
Drop in to color printed out pictures and do fun mazes and word activity sheets!
Ages 5-12
Baby Storytime at Main
Come sing and play with words, rhyme, and puppets!
Ages 0-2 and their caregivers, all welcome.
Bachata by the Bookmobile
Summer Bachata is Back! Come out to Cushing Park for a one-hour dance lesson with J&L Dance Studio followed by 30 minutes of social dancing and light refreshments.
McAuliffe Book Discussion (Evening): I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney
I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney
- "Obituary writer Bud Stanley isn’t really living his best life. He’s fallen into a funk after a divorce. (She left him for another man, who, in fairness, was far more interesting.) He’s not doing his job well. He’s given up on dating. And he’s about to be fired for accidentally publishing his own obituary one mildly drunken night (though technically the company can’t legally fire a dead person).
As Bud awaits his fate at work, he does the only logical thing: He goes to the wakes and funerals of total strangers to learn how to live again."
September 8: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
McAuliffe Matinee: Dirty Dancing
"Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances "Baby" Houseman falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle." 1987 | PG-13 | 1h 40m
Watch the trailer here.
Sci-Fi Book Discussion: Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut
Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut
- "According to science-fiction writer Kilgore Trout, a global timequake will occur in New York City on 13th February 2001. It is the moment when the universe suffers a crisis of conscience. Should it expand or make a great big bang? It decides to wind the clock back a decade to 1991, making everyone in the world endure ten years of deja-vu and a total loss of free will – not to mention the torture of reliving every nanosecond of one of the tawdriest and most hollow decades.
After the universe decides to back up ten years and all humans must live through the 1990s again, author Kurt Vonnegut finds himself trying to write a book called Timequake, which he knows he will never finish since he already did not finish it."
Book Buddies: Reading to Dogs (Ajax)
Improve your reading skills by reading aloud to your new Book Buddy. Registration required. Call 508-532-5636 or drop by to sign up for a time slot.
Registro requerido! Ligue para 508-532-5636 para se registrar. Melhore suas habilidades de leitura de maneira divertida, lendo em voz alta. Todas as idades.
¡Se requiere registrarse! Llame al 508-532-5636 para registrarse. Mejore sus habilidades de lectura de forma divertida leyendo en voz alta. Todas las edades.
Baby Storytime at Main
Come sing and play with words, rhyme, and puppets!
Ages 0-2 and their caregivers, all welcome.
Friday Cool Down Matinee: The Goonies
"A group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate's long-lost treasure." 1995 | PG | 1h 54m
Watch the trailer here.
Kids Chess Club
This Chess Club is an informal group welcoming everyone from new players to junior chess masters! Chess boards are provided, but you can bring your own. Staff are available to help with questions, but will not be teaching chess. For Elementary and Middle School students.
1st Tuesday of every Month, 5PM | MAIN, HOMEWORK CENTER
3rd Tuesday of every Month, 5PM | MCAULIFFE, COMMUNITY ROOM
Queer Reads: You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian
You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian
- "The 1960 baseball season is shaping up to be the worst year of Eddie O’Leary’s life. He can’t manage to hit the ball, his new teammates hate him, he’s living out of a suitcase, and he’s homesick. When the team’s owner orders him to give a bunch of interviews to some snobby reporter, he’s ready to call it quits. This grumpy shortstop can barely manage to behave himself for the length of a game, let alone an entire season. But he’s already on thin ice, so he has no choice but to agree.
Mark Bailey is not a sports reporter. He writes for the arts page, and these days he’s barely even managing to do that much. He’s had a rough year and just wants to be left alone in his too-empty apartment, mourning a partner he’d never been able to be public about. The last thing he needs is to spend a season on a forced proximity assignment, writing about New York’s obnoxious new shortstop in a stunt to get the struggling newspaper more readers.
Isolated together within the crush of an anonymous city, these two lonely, opposite souls orbit each other as they slowly give in to the inevitable gravity of their attraction. But Mark has vowed that he’ll never be someone’s secret ever again, and Eddie can’t be out as a professional athlete. It’s just them against the world, and they’ll both have to decide if that’s enough."
McAuliffe Matinee: Who Framed Roger Rabbit
"When a cartoon rabbit is accused of murder, he enlists the help of a burnt out private investigator to prove his innocence." 1988 | PG | 1h 44m
Watch the trailer here.
Book Buddies: Reading to Dogs (Ajax)
Improve your reading skills by reading aloud to your new Book Buddy. Registration required. Call 508-532-5636 or drop by to sign up for a time slot.
Registro requerido! Ligue para 508-532-5636 para se registrar. Melhore suas habilidades de leitura de maneira divertida, lendo em voz alta. Todas as idades.
¡Se requiere registrarse! Llame al 508-532-5636 para registrarse. Mejore sus habilidades de lectura de forma divertida leyendo en voz alta. Todas las edades.
Craft Ladies: Decorative Canisters
Come create your own version of the famous blue check canister with jars, napkins and Mod Podge! Space and supplies are limited. Registration is required and opens on August 1. Register here.
McAuliffe Book Discussion (Morning): I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney
I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney
- "Obituary writer Bud Stanley isn’t really living his best life. He’s fallen into a funk after a divorce. (She left him for another man, who, in fairness, was far more interesting.) He’s not doing his job well. He’s given up on dating. And he’s about to be fired for accidentally publishing his own obituary one mildly drunken night (though technically the company can’t legally fire a dead person).
As Bud awaits his fate at work, he does the only logical thing: He goes to the wakes and funerals of total strangers to learn how to live again."
Musicals at McAuliffe: The Unsinkable Molly Brown
"A poor, uneducated mountain girl leaves her cabin in search of respect, a wealthy husband, and a better life in this fictionalized biopic of Margaret "Molly" Brown, who survived the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic." 1964 | NR | 2h 8m
Watch the trailer here.
Veterans At Ease Coffee Hour
Join us and your local, fellow veterans on the 3rd Friday of each month for free coffee and light refreshments.
This program is a collaboration between the Framingham Public Library and the City of Framingham Veterans Services.
Baby Storytime at Main
Come sing and play with words, rhyme, and puppets!
Ages 0-2 and their caregivers, all welcome.
Monday Matinee: Marty Supreme
"Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness." 2025 | R | 2h 29m
Watch the trailer here.
Hot Takes: Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
NEW LOCATION! Hot Takes will now meet in the J Program Room at the Main Library.
Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
- "Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, aka her archnemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her—and Viola has no idea why.
When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.
But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one."
