Category: Programming

Library Appreciation Week 2026 Winners

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Thank you to those of you who stopped by the library this week and took time to enter our various raffles! We appreciate each and every one of you! Unfortunately, there can only be one winner per raffle item.

A congratulations goes out to the following winners for the following prizes:

Basket 1: Ari N.

Basket 2: Olivia D.

Basket 3: Vincent B.

Basket 4: Meredith N.

Basket 5: Sallie T.

Gummy Worm Jar (count: 34): Alyssa K.

Would You Rather 200 Piece Puzzle: Isha K.

Would You Rather Star Wars Family Feud Game: Cindy R.

Once again, thank you to everyone who participated!

Sincerely,

Blaisdell Memorial Library Staff and BML Friends of the Library

New Mah-Jongg Session

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Starting Friday, September 19th, the Mah-Jongg club will be holding a second weekly game session at 10am, in addition to their usual Wednesday 11:30am meetings!

Beginners and those looking to learn the rules for the first time are particularly welcome to Friday’s game, for the opportunity to learn step by step with fellow players.

Please contact the library if you have any questions.

April Vacation Specials

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April 29th through May 3rd

Make the most of this April Vacation with a bonanza of excitement for families and kids of all ages!

Meet Snoopy the Bunny!

Tuesday, 4/29 – 1pm

Come meet Snoopy the Rex Rabbit to get up close and personal with an incredible bunny! Kids will have the chance to observe, learn about, and even gently pet Snoopy as they get to know him. Snoopy the rabbit is hypoallergenic. This program requires advance registration.

Comm. Coffee Hour: NE Fiddle Ensemble Performance

Wednesday, 4/30 – 10am

End the month right! Join BML in welcoming the New England Fiddle Ensemble (previously the NH Fiddle Ensemble) for a very special coffee hour performance! The NE Fiddle Ensemble is a locally-based community orchestra consisting of musicians of all kinds. We’re absolutely delighted to have them and to invite patrons of all ages and their families to this free event!

BML Movie Day: The Wild Robot

Wednesday, 4/30 – 3pm

Kids and parents are invited to join the library for a presentation of the movie, “The Wild Robot”, adapted from the book of the same name! When the robot Roz is washed up on a uninhabited island after a shipwreck, Roz has to learn how to care for and cooperate with the island’s animals to survive. 

Admission is free. Please note that The Wild Robot is rated PG.

Bunny Crafts

Thursday, 5/1 – 10am to 12pm

Hop into springtime fun! Drop by the library to play and make bunny-themed crafts and sewing that you can take home and admire.

Peter Rabbit Storytime Party

Friday, 5/2 – 10am

Come in for a special story hour before the next session begins! Read the classic tale of Peter Rabbit, play, and enjoy cookies as well as the garden snacks that bunnies love!

NH Turtle Rescue

Saturday, 5/3 – 11am

A library patron favorite! The turtle experts of Nottingham’s own NH Turtle Rescue return to talk about local turtles and how you can be a good neighbor to them!

Turtles of NH

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Saturday, May 3rd at 11am

A patron favorite presentation returns to BML!

New Hampshire is home to seven native species of turtle and more than half of them are listed as endangered or threatened in the state. Join local wildlife rehabilitators Dallas and Drew of New Hampshire Turtle Rescue to learn more about our native species, meet a special turtle guest, and learn how we can be good neighbors to them.

This program is drop-in for all ages.

Afternoon Program Sign-ups

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BML’s current programming session of story hours and afterschool clubs will be ending on Saturday, April 19th with our Family Story Hour. After this point, there will be a two week break for planning and April Vacation activities before the final spring session begins.

All sign-ups for our afterschool programs, including STEAM, Middle School, and Lego+ Club will be open from Tuesday, April 22nd until Saturday, April 26th. Parents or guardians should call or email the library to sign their children up during these days. We are unable to accept any names for future sessions after April 26th. We do not currently offer online sign-ups.

Our afterschool programs work using a lottery system rather than being first-come, first-serve: We prioritize any children on our waitlist from the previous session and then draw from all of our sign-ups received in the week, with remaining names being added to our next waitlist. We will contact all parents to let you know about your child’s status through the week of the 28th.

The coming spring session will be our final programming session before we reach Summer Reading.

STEAM Stations

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Tuesday, April 8th from 12:30 to 3:30pm

Want to have some family fun for National Library Week? Have some fun and explore different building activities themed around the story of the Three Little Pigs! Try making structures with building straws and more, and sew your own little pigs!

This activity is drop-in for all ages.

a man in a tuxedo, surrounded by penguins

Mr. Popper’s Penguins Book Club Party

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Saturday, March 22nd at 10am

Enjoy a classic kid’s book with your family! Mr. Popper’s Penguins has been a favorite for decades, and this book club party is the perfect chance to celebrate it. Pick up your copy of the book from the front desk through March, read it at home, then come in on the 22nd to talk about the characters, the penguins, and have some fun!

Sign-ups are required for the book club party. Please call, email, or visit the library to register.

Sourdough Baking Presentation

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Thursday, March 20th at 6pm

With a distinct flavor and incredible versatility, sourdough has become a rising star in the world of baking. Learn about its rich history and the many ways to use it at home with a demonstration by Adrienne Pasquale of Titus 2 Breads. Get a sample of your own dried starter and learn how to care for it, as well as how to use it in a simple bread.

Sign-ups are required for this program, and you may be added to our waitlist depending on patron response. Please call, email, or visit the library to register.

Baby Wrapping & Wearing

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Friday, March 14th at 10:30am

There are a variety of ways to wrap infants and carry them. Learn about some different styles of wrapping with Adrian Pasquale and trade tips and safety information with other parents to help find what can work best for you and your baby!

This program will be held after Friday’s story hour. No sign-ups are required.

Please note this is a parent-lead conversation, and not certified medical or safety advice.

A photo of the Blaisdell Memorial Library building in winter, covered in snow

February Break Specials 2025

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February 22nd through February 28th

Got some free time from school? Make the most of your vacation with special events all week long at Blaisdell Memorial Library

Saturday – 2/22

  • Sew-a-Stuffie: 10am

Practice a new skill and make a friend to take home! Children can join Miss Julie in an easy sewing project that will let them create a huggable felt teddy bear of their very own. Suggested for ages 5 and up.

Tuesday – 2/25

  • STEAM Play Stations: 10am to noon

Get out of the cold and into a bonanza of special STEAM fun! Drop in between 10 am and noon to play and learn with lots of different activity stations. All ages are welcome, with special activities for littles and a sensory bin.

Wednesday – No Kid’s Programs

Thursday – 2/27

  • Lego for Littles: 10am to noon

Lego for Littles is a drop-in time for younger children to play and build alone or together with the library’s Lego collection. The only limits are your own imagination!

  • (Pre)Teen Gaming: 10am to noon

Have some fun in the YA area of the library when you drop by for multiplayer gaming fun great for middle schoolers and up!

Friday – 2/28

  • Dr. Seuss Birthday Storytime Extravaganza: 10am

Celebrate Dr. Seuss and all his wonderful, wild worlds and stories with a special storytime! We will be reading some of his books and enjoying Seuss-themed activities and birthday treats!

  • Family Friendly Library Scavenger Hunt: 10am

How well do you know your way around BML? Find out when you join the scavenger hunt! Pick up a card from the front desk, then try to connect four squares in a row by locating things throughout the library. Once you’re done, return your card to enter a special raffle!

BONUS FUN! Saturday – 3/1

  • Family Friendly Library Scavenger Hunt (Day 2): 10am

How well do you know your way around BML? Find out when you join the scavenger hunt! Pick up a card from the front desk, then try to connect four squares in a row by locating things throughout the library. Once you’re done, return your card to enter a special raffle!

No matter the age of your family or your interests, we’ve got all kinds of fun to enjoy! All activities are drop-in, so come on down and see what you can get up to this February Break!