The library and Queset House will be closing early for Staff Development on Friday, May 16. Both buildings will close at 4:00 PM that day.
Library Blog
Posted on Thu, October 31, 2024 - 12:22pm
November/December 2024
Marie Wisz on the wall
Art always interested me and was my favorite subject in elementary school. At age 12, I enjoyed observing my friend’s dad as he painted still life paintings from setups in his studio and was very excited when he allowed me to paint my own…
Posted on Fri, August 30, 2024 - 11:38am
September/October 2024
Ines Smrz on the wall
I have been a professional artist for over twenty-five years. My life-long interest in color and design was influenced by my grandmother, who would take me for long walks in my native city of Santiago, Chile.
I began my professional art career…
Posted on Mon, July 01, 2024 - 03:15pm
Hey readers!
Are you signed up for AFL’s summer reading program yet? We have programs for all ages with great incentives to keep you reading all summer long. Get signed up today! And if you need a break from your book, be sure to join us for our Family Garden Shows and Queset Garden Concert Series…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, June 27, 2024 - 09:36am
July/August 2024
Gene Jacobs on the wall
Artist Gene Jacobs writes:
I was a founding member of the Easton Art Gallery; I have done many workshops/showings in local libraries, camps, offices, and more.
In July, I will be celebrating with you Christmas in July, The Elf on the Shelf exhibit.…
Posted on Mon, June 03, 2024 - 10:57am
Hey readers!
We’ve officially hit summer reading season! Whether you’re reading at the beach, on a plane, or just in your own backyard, be sure to join AFL’s summer reading program. We have programs for kids, teens, and adults with great incentives to keep you reading all summer long. And if you…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Wed, May 01, 2024 - 12:29pm
Hey readers!
Sometimes a story can’t be told with words alone. Use this month’s challenge to explore stories told through words and images!
May’s challenge is: A graphic novel
New to this challenge hosted by Mass Center for the Book? You can learn more about the challenge from our introductory…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, April 25, 2024 - 12:09pm
On the Wall, Fine Art & Photography, Linda Clary
My passion for the natural world is reflected in most of my paintings and photographs. I often look for the tranquil stillness and the spiritual serenity in a landscape. I recognize that the beauty of God’s natural creation has a healing…
Posted on Mon, April 01, 2024 - 11:24am
Hey readers!
Spring is in the air and so are the proverbial April showers. Celebrate the new season and Earth Day with this month’s challenge theme.
April’s challenge is: A book about nature, the environment, or climate change
New to this challenge hosted by Mass Center for the Book? You can…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Fri, March 01, 2024 - 01:34pm
Hey readers!
As we get ready to turn the clocks ahead and count down the final days to spring, it’s time to kick off a new month in the Mass Center for the Book Reading Challenge.
March’s challenge is: A book whose protagonist has a different culture or lifestyle from you
New to the challenge?…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, February 29, 2024 - 02:16pm
In the Glass Case: Maker of Baskets and Chairs, Mary Lu Love
I discovered my artistic skills thanks to my grandsons. I started by making Easter baskets; actually, I ended up making four, as I wanted to improve the results. I loved the mathematics of calculating the needed materials and…
Posted on Thu, February 01, 2024 - 05:09pm
Hey readers!
Feeling blue about the winter weather? The grass may be greener (or at least not covered in a layer of white) in warmer climates, but the yellow, pink, and purple of spring flowers is right around the corner. Keep all those colorful thoughts in mind for this month’s Mass Center for…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, January 04, 2024 - 09:29am
On the Wall, Painter, Carol Schigg
Carol Schigg on the Wall
My name is Carol Schigg. I have resided in Easton for the past 50 years and have raised my family here. I graduated from Bridgewater University and obtained my Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rhode Island College. I worked as a…
Posted on Wed, January 03, 2024 - 12:34pm
Hey readers!
We hope you’re as excited to join the 2024 Reading Challenge as we are. You can learn more about the challenge from our previous blog post or the challenge website. Each month, we’ll be sharing some suggested titles on our blog, social media channels, and in displays at the library.…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, December 28, 2023 - 05:09pm
The Ames Free Library is excited to be a reading partner for the 2024 Reading Challenge hosted by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. This 12 month, 12 book challenge features a different prompt for every month of the year. Participating is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Choose a book that fits the…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Sat, October 28, 2023 - 12:30pm
On the Wall, Fine Art, Cynthia Carmichael
Cynthia Carmichael on the Wall
Cynthia Carmichael earned her BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and worked in the fields of Therapeutic Recreation and Art Education. She is a representational artist who strives to capture the beauty of…
Posted on Sat, October 28, 2023 - 11:16am
It contains the same content as the blog but with a more attractive layout and less searching.
Subscribe here for an easy way to find our photo essays. Follow the link, checkmark the correct box, and click “submit.” To ensure your privacy, you may be asked to update your preferences. Please…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Wed, October 04, 2023 - 07:00pm
Guess what! More rain is forecast for this weekend.
If you are tempted to stay indoors on gray, gloomy days, I urge you to reconsider. I often feel this way until I actually get outside. On one recent Sunday, I donned my rain gear in low spirits, anticipating a dull outing. Then, as usual, I…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Mon, October 02, 2023 - 07:00pm
October 1 - 7 is Banned Books Week, an annual event to celebrate the freedom to read and shine a light on efforts to remove or restrict access to books across the country.
The number of books being targeted for removal or restricted access in school or public library collections skyrocketed to…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Fri, September 29, 2023 - 07:00pm
The Ames Free Library’s top nocturnal visitors – deer, rabbit, and fox – are common suburban animals, which might lead one to assume that this particular combination of mammals prevails throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. Not necessarily. Let’s look at my backyard for comparison.
Like most…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Wed, September 20, 2023 - 07:00pm
Besides deer, who else visits the library after dark? Of course, people and pet dogs use the grounds, but our focus is on wildlife. Unfortunately, my trail cam has detected only a few wild species in this area. Based on image captures, the second most common nocturnal mammal is the cottontail…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Fri, September 15, 2023 - 07:00pm
On June 29 I installed the trail cam behind Queset Garden and hoped for the best. My first set of photos included this image which encouraged me to continue. Can you identify this animal? Send your ideas to lrubinacci@amesfreelibrary.org. Next time, we’ll see a video clip of this creature and “…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Fri, September 08, 2023 - 07:00pm
No doubt about it! White-tailed deer dominate the library’s nightlife. They are the largest mammalian visitors to the library campus and, based on my trail cam’s videos, the most frequent. Indeed, deer appeared in 92% of all nighttime animal videos captured by my camera.
It’s hardly a…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Fri, September 01, 2023 - 07:00pm
Who visits the library campus after dark? Submit your thoughts on the most frequent mammalian visitors to lrubinacci@amesfreelibrary.org. Then, check back next Friday to see what my new trail cam recorded!
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Fri, August 25, 2023 - 07:00pm
Last week, several readers correctly pinpointed California as the home of my giant pinecone. “Terrific!,” I thought, “These folks traveled to the northern Sierras where they saw the same wonderful trees I did: sugar pines.” But, no. At least two readers who visited southern California…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Fri, August 18, 2023 - 07:00pm
Where do pine cones grow this large? Identify the species and its location by sending an email to lrubinacci@amesfreelibrary.org. Hint: It’s not Easton!
Category: Staff Picks