Library Blog
Posted on Thu, July 07, 2022 - 08:00pm
Hello Gardeners,
We have a winner for the first round of The Great Seed Experiment! Congratulations to Connor, Nathan, and Trenton Forth (and their parents) for winning the prize for “Sprouting Reports and Documentation.” They not only created an amazing backyard garden, they also documented and…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Wed, July 06, 2022 - 08:00pm
Welcome to the special summer reading edition of the Librarian’s Lounge! I wrote a little bit about the preparations for the program last month, but now that summer reading is officially underway, I wanted to share some tips to make your summer of reading the best it can be.
Stock up on books!
This…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, June 30, 2022 - 08:00pm
When was the last time you saw a turtle? Where was it and what was it doing?
Perhaps it was swimming in a local pond or perched on a muddy bank ready to slip into the water in response to a perceived threat.
Painted Turtle, June 27, 2021, Halifax
The inland turtles of Massachusetts have…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, June 23, 2022 - 08:00pm
If you brought home seeds from the library this spring -- and planted them -- now's the time to report your rate of germination. The "Sprouting Report" has three easy questions, and one of them is your name! Submit the report online here, or stop by the library to complete a paper form.…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Mon, June 20, 2022 - 08:00pm
Most visitors to the Ames Free Library know and love Queset Garden’s reflecting pool which is a lovely spot to visit in all seasons.
Reflecting Pool at Queset Garden
As we’ve previously noted, the reflecting pool supports a robust population of American toad tadpoles throughout the spring.…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Wed, June 15, 2022 - 08:00pm
On June 17, 2021 President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act which made June 19 a federally observed holiday. However, what is Juneteenth and what are its origins? The legacy of Juneteenth began in Galveston Bay, Texas in 1865, two years after the Emancipation…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Sun, June 12, 2022 - 08:00pm
Ever been curious what your neighbors are reading or watching? Here are just some of their suggestions! As we receive more recommendations, we'll post them here on the AFL Blog.
If you would like to suggest something you've loved to your neighbors, fill out our Your Neighbors Recommend form!…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, June 09, 2022 - 08:00pm
Recently I witnessed a dust storm . . . a very small dust storm on the far side of Queset House. Disappointed that I had spooked a bird, I sat quietly in a less conspicuous place and amused myself by watching a gray squirrel scurry off with a black walnut. Then the bird returned and kicked up…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Wed, June 08, 2022 - 08:00pm
Welcome to AFL Staff Stories! Every month we'll introduce you (or REintroduce you!) to a different member of the AFL Staff and tell you a little about their favorites.
This month, meet AFL's Youth Services Specialist, Alyisha Wasilewski. Click here for Alyisha's stories.
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Tue, June 07, 2022 - 08:00pm
Summer is in the air!
Truth be told, I’ve had summer on the brain for what feels like months now, because we’re officially just weeks away from the kickoff of our 2022 Summer Reading Program! The fun starts on Wednesday, June 22nd. As always, we have programs for kids, teens, and adults.
When you…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, June 02, 2022 - 08:00pm
Neighbors don’t always get along, especially when they live in close proximity without sharing the same goals. Recently this has become apparent in the library’s neighborhood where noisy conflicts occur almost every day. Last Saturday the din could be heard inside the library building. Just listen…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Mon, May 30, 2022 - 08:00pm
The Magic of Summer
Summer is almost here & now is the perfect time to think about creating some new memories by going on an adventure or two, or perhaps you’d rather just stay home and read about them. At the beginning of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Bilbo Baggins climbed out of his…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Fri, May 27, 2022 - 08:00pm
Bird song is among the most conspicuous natural phenomena of May. If you have recently walked at the Ames Free Library or, for that matter, anywhere in southeastern Massachusetts, you couldn’t help but hear the chorus: resident birds, newly-arrived migrants, and passers-through are all singing. …
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Sun, May 15, 2022 - 08:00pm
Who doesn’t love spring? Milder weather, longer days, and the return of greenery combine to lift our spirits. Between April 29 and May 5, I made not one, but two, road trips to see spring flowers. One excursion, a trip to the Wicked Tulips farm in Connecticut, offered a pleasant afternoon with…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, May 12, 2022 - 08:00pm
Good things take time to grow: A Glimpse of Nature will return next week with the promised post on spring ephemerals. In the meantime, here’s this week’s challenge:
Go for a walk in the woods.
2. Photograph one wildflower in bloom. Yes, you can use your phone!
3. Email this image along with…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Sun, May 08, 2022 - 08:00pm
Welcome to AFL Staff Stories! Every month we'll introduce you (or REintroduce you!) to a different member of the AFL Staff and tell you a little about their favorites.
This month, meet AFL's Assistant Director, Jessica Block. Click here for Jessica's stories.
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Sun, May 08, 2022 - 08:00pm
Ever been curious what your neighbors are reading or watching? Here are just some of their suggestions! As we receive more recommendations, we'll post them here on the AFL Blog.
If you would like to suggest something you've loved to your neighbors, fill out our Your Neighbors Recommend form!
The…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, May 05, 2022 - 08:00pm
Which flowers have you seen lately? Read about Lorraine’s botanical adventures in next week’s A Glimpse of Nature.
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Wed, April 27, 2022 - 08:00pm
“The Great Seed Experiment” is off to a vigorous start! Hundreds of patrons have picked up seeds for their home gardens, as well as helpful factsheets and seed journals to record their observations. This week, the library received its first photos and “Sprouting Reports” from gardeners. Spring…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Wed, April 27, 2022 - 08:00pm
From the aesthetically pleasing, to the historical, to the mundane, to the downright ridiculous, many of us are obsessed with picture taking. Why do I have 10,000 photos of the same sunrise? Do I really need to share what I had for breakfast with the whole world?
And is anyone’s life enriched by…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, April 21, 2022 - 08:00pm
Yesterday, as I did a quick inspection of the library’s grounds, the movements of a gray squirrel drew my attention. The animal was at a distance, in a tree on the opposite bank of our neighbor’s pond. I’m well accustomed to squirrel acrobatics, but something about its behavior struck me as…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Wed, April 20, 2022 - 08:00pm
Are you interested in learning more about sustainable living or climate change? The Ames Free Library has resources for all ages! Take few minutes to browse this virtual room created by staff member California Muratore to learn more.
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, April 14, 2022 - 08:00pm
We’ve all heard the proverb, “April showers bring May flowers.” Well, it’s mid April, and the “mayflowers” have already begun to bloom. I am referring to a particular flower, the species Epigaea repens, commonly known as trailing arbutus or mayflower. This early-blooming species is a lovely, but…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Sun, April 10, 2022 - 08:00pm
Ever been curious what your neighbors are reading or watching? Here are just some of their suggestions! As we receive more recommendations, we'll post them here on the AFL Blog.
If you would like to suggest something you've loved to your neighbors, fill out our Your Neighbors Recommend form!…
Category: Staff Picks
Posted on Thu, April 07, 2022 - 08:00pm
This week, the Ames Free Library is launching a home gardening project for all its patrons. We are giving away vegetable and flower seeds obtained through the University of Rhode Island and encouraging patrons to share their results with the library.
The library’s seed collection contains many…
Category: Staff Picks