From The Director’s Desk
I don’t know about you, but Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I love all things creepy and Halloween gives me the excuse to indulge in my guilty pleasure. As a young adult I reveled in Stephen King; Salem’s Lot, Carrie, Pet Cemetary, Needful Things (I really need to revisit those). As I got older, I continued to love horror, but expanded my reading beyond King. One of my current favorites is Stephen King’ son, Joe Hill, who wrote Horns (which was made into a film starring Daniel Radcliffe), NOS4A2 (which was made into a television series), The Fireman, Heart-Shaped Box, Full-Throttle, Strange Weather, The Black Phone, and the YA Graphic Novel series, Locke & Key (which was made into a television series), and due out this month, King Sorrow. I also love the Fantasy Horror novels of T. Kingfisher, Peter Straub (just thinking about Ghost Story gives me the shivers), William Blatty (of Exorcist fame) and Anne Rice. If I could recommend one title to you though, it would be Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt. Rarely have I been afraid to sleep at night like I did when reading this one. The setting is a small town in the Hudson Valley of New York that is being haunted by a seventeenth century witch who appears with her eyes and mouth sewn shut. The town elders have the town on lock down to prevent the curse from spreading. What happens when a group of teens go viral with the haunting is both dark and downright terrifying. Read it – but keep the lights on. You’ve been warned.
This month, instead of bringing you a guest librarian, I decided to ask the staff for their favorite horror novels to recommend to you. Here they are. Check them out… if you dare.
- Barnes, S.A. Ghost Station
- Brom. Slewfoot
- Bruce, Camilla. The Witch in the Well
- Coates, Darcy. From Below
- Coile, Mason. William
- Due, Tanarive. The Reformatory
- Gailey, Sarah. Just Like Home
- Grecian, Alex. Rose of Jericho
- Harrison, Rachel. Play Nice
- Heuvelt, Thomas Olde. Hex
- Hill, Joe. Heart-Shaped Box
- Jiang, Ai. Linghun
- Katsu, Alma. The Hunger
- Kingfisher, T. The Hollow Places
- Marr, Melissa. Graveminder
- Mitchell, David. Slade House
- Moreno-Garcia, Silvia. The Bewitching
- Moreno-Garcia, Silvia. Mexican Gothic
- Nethercott, GennaRose. Thistlefoot
- Solomon, Rivers. Model Home
- Stevens, Amanda. The Restorer
- Tingle, Chuck. Camp Damascus
Are you more interested in true crime? Join our new group, Evidence Locker. Join us for our first meeting on Sunday, October 26th from 1:00-1:30. We will meet in the Ellsworth Room to discuss the case of Steven Avery, who served 18 years in prison for the sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beernsten. He was released after 18 years and then exonerated and released in 2003, and was later charged and convicted of the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach. Catch up on his crime by watching Making a Murderer on Netflix, or listen to a podcast on Spotify or Audible, or read one of the many books on the subject.
Happy Halloween!
Nanci M. Hill,
Library Director
Adventure Pass of the Month – New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium is home to thousands of aquatic animals, from the giant Pacific octopus, to Northern fur seals, to little blue penguins. They offer a wide range of exhibits, including a shark and ray touch tank and the Giant Ocean Tank, a four-story coral reef featuring hundreds of Caribbean animals. In addition, they have an IMAX theatre and operate whale watch boat excursions in partnership with Boston Harbor Cruises from April through November. Place your hold requests for this pass by visiting our Adventure Pass page.
Our Adventure Passes are generously funded by The Friends of Hopkinton Public Library.
Library “Thing” of the Month – Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a handheld video game console that can also be connected to a television. The Nintendo Switch is capable of playing both single- and multi-player games. The Hopkinton Public Library’s Nintendo Switch comes with a console unit, a docking station, a charger, and two Joy-Con controllers. The Hopkinton Public Library also separately offers many Nintendo Switch games for three-week loans.
You can reserve this by visiting our Library of Things page. The Library of Things is generously supported by the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation.
Programs are hosted at the library unless otherwise noted.
Registration is required for many programs.
Visit our website calendar to obtain updated information and registration.
Programs are subject to change or cancellation.
For Multiple Ages
Meet the “Space”: CreatorSpace Grand Opening
Sunday, October 5 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM
We’ve been talking about it for years, and it’s finally time: our CreatorSpace is open! See a selection of our equipment, meet our CreatorSpace coordinator, and do a quick craft to get your CreatorSpace journey started! Our thanks to the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation for the initial funding for the Space.
The CreatorSpace is for ages 10+ and adults.
CreatorSpace registration is not necessary for the Meet the Space event, but will be required for attendance at workshops and open craft hours going forward. CreatorSpace registration for individuals ages 10 to 17 requires the in-person signature of a parent or guardian. Please see our CreatorSpace Policy and get more information on our website.
Drop-In CreatorSpace Hours
Monday, October 6, 20, and 27 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tuesday, October 7 and 28 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Wednesday, October 8, 15, and 29 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Wednesday, October 8, 15, 22, and 29 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Thursday, October 9, 16, 23, and 30 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join us for Drop-In Craft Hours in the CreatorSpace! Find out more about our CreatorSpace at this link. CreatorSpace users must pre-register at the Reference Desk. All users must be over the age of 10. Users aged 10 to 17 require a parent or legal guardian’s in-person signature before they may use the CreatorSpace.
While this is a drop-in program, a CreatorSpace Card is required.
CreatorSpace Staffers:
Monday, 10:00 – 12:00 PM: Amanda; her expertise is in paper crafts.
Tuesday, 5:30 – 7:30 PM: Danielle; her expertise is in fiber arts, paper crafts, and general crafting.
Wednesday, 9:30 – 11:30 AM: Danielle; her expertise is in fiber arts, paper crafts, and general crafting.
Wednesday, 5:30 – 7:30 PM: Jak; her expertise is in fiber arts, paper crafts, and general crafting.
Thursday, 10:00 – 12:00 PM: Jak; her expertise is in fiber arts, paper crafts, and general crafting.
Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle
Wednesday, October 8 | 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Join us for the Frayed Knot Fiber Arts Circle! Bring your current project or pattern. This group is open to teens and adults of all skill levels. All fiber arts crafts (knitting, crochet, hand quilting, needlepoint, cross-stitch, finger knitting, needle felting, etc.) are more than welcome to join us! This group will meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
Do you have questions or need fiber arts materials? Looking to learn to crochet? Email Jak at jmiller@hopkintonma.gov. Registration for this event opens two weeks before the event.
Narcan Training and Community Harm Reduction with the Hopkinton Health Department
Tuesday, October 14 | 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Narcan is the brand name of the generic Naloxone and is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids. This free Narcan training will provide participants with a brief training on how to recognize an opioid overdose, when and how to use Narcan, and a free kit to take home. This event is put on by the Hopkinton Board of Health in partnership with the Hopkinton Public Library.
Evidence Locker: True Crime Club
Sunday, October 26 | 1:00 – 2:30
Dive deep into the mystery, motive, and infamous minds behind the crime! Each session, we will feature one curated true crime event. Bring your favorite books, documentaries, or podcasts to discuss and theorize with the group. Whether you’re a seasoned sleuth or just crime-curious, come examine the facts behind the headlines.
For our first meeting, we will be discussing the case of Steven Avery, who served 18 years in prison for the sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beernsten. He was released after 18 years and then exonerated and released in 2003, and was later charged and convicted of the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach. Catch up on his crime by watching Making a Murderer on Netflix, or listen to a podcast on Spotify or Audible, or read one of the many books on the subject.
No registration is necessary.
Author Talk with Brad Timm, Ph.D.
Sunday, October 26 | 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Did you know that Blue Jay feathers aren’t actually blue, they’re brown? Or that some frogs survive freezing temperatures by creating their own anti-freeze? These are just a few of hundreds of fun facts you can learn in Wildlife Out Your Window: Fascinating Facts About 100 Animals Commonly Seen in the Northeastern U.S., published in 2024 by wildlife ecologist Brad Timm. Join us on October 26th, where Brad will share with us some of his favorite facts from the book, discuss how you can help wildlife all around you, and will answer any wildlife questions you have.
Presented by the Friends of Whitehall.
Adult Programs
ELL Conversation Group – Intermediate Learners
Wednesday, October 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 | 10:00 – 11:00 AM
Intermediate Learners have mastered basic vocabulary and simple grammar and are now focused on greater comfort level in everyday conversations. At the Intermediate level, we will prioritize components of grammar, vocabulary expansion, reading comprehension, and group discussion. Reading together helps to expand vocabulary, and provides a focus for grou