2 p.m. in the Community Room 

What exactly is the aurora borealis? Join Lou Thieblemont, Captain (ret.), TWA & American Airlines and resident astronomer for Vikin Cruise Line, for this program explaining the mysterious lights in the night sky. Find out what the ancients thought about the glow in the sky and how various battles were affected by the sudden appearance of these lights. No registration required. 

Community-Driven Placemaking at Home 

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Community Room 

 A series of three workshops led by Rachel Andreoli, owner of Love Where you Live, LLC. Learn how to design your home to reflect your personality and life story. Topics include creating memory walls, selecting decor with personal significance, and organizing spaces for connection. 

January: Community-Driven Placemaking at Home 

Learn how to create spaces that not only feel personally meaningful but also reflect and engage with the surrounding community. Topics include hosting community gatherings and supporting neighborhood relationships through home design

Second Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 

Small Meeting Room 

Being a caregiver is often a difficult, complicated, unappreciated task, but possibly one of the most important roles you will ever play. This series of five workshops will cover the basics and present an opportunity for participants to share their personal experiences and challenges for the benefit of others in a non-judgmental way. Sessions are facilitated by Glen Dunbar, a semi-retired social gerontologist. No registration required. 

January 14: In-home services, including types of agencies, costs and how to choose good providers. 

7 pm, Small Meeting Room/Zoom

The books we're reading are award winners (The Booker Prize) or have been featured in the public space as a good read. Join us as we discuss these literary gems. You are welcome to attend whether or not you have read or listened to the selection. Ages 18+. Books selected for Fredricksen Reads will be listed on the Fredricksen Library online events calendar.

January: This Other Eden by Paul Harding (2023) 221 pages.  

Inspired by the true story of Malaga Island, an isolated community off the coast of Maine and how it became one of the first racially integrated towns in the Northeast. The story features an unforgettable cast of characters amidst a story of resistance and survival. Harding is a Pulitzer Prize winning author; this book was short-listed for the Booker Prize in 2023. Registration required.

Small Meeting Room  

Join with fellow book lovers as we take a look at works from a period in a language or culture's history that was particularly creative and productive. You do not have to read the selection before the meeting date. No registration required.

January: The Awakening by Kate Chopin 

A boundary-pushing story of a Louisiana housewife who loses herself and yearns for independence from her husband and children. The 19th century critics panned Chopin's realism and questioning of societal expectations in this moving novel. 

This program is sponsored in memory of Marie Schleicher.

1:00 pm, Community Room 

Join us for an afternoon of board games, card games, games of skill and strategy. Fun for the entire family. The library has a stash of games to choose from or you are welcome to bring your own. Ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. No registration necessary. 

 BCC, Upper Level
Need hands-on help with your smartphone, tablet, laptop or e-reader? Trying to download an app or program and getting stuck? Want to use free library media resources like eBooks and audiobooks from Libby? Sign up for a thirty-minute Device Advice session for in person assistance. Bring your personal tablet, laptop, smartphone, or e-reader with you. Make sure you have all passwords you might need during the session. Registration is required.

January 23, 6:30 – 8 PM in the Community Room

Take a safari drive through Thula Thula Game Reserve and see elephants, rhinos, leopards, hippos, and if you are lucky, a hyena at night. Located in the former Zulu Empire, Thula Thula, in partnership with local communities provides almost 14,000 acres of natural land for wildlife in South Africa. Learn about their efforts to protect endangered rhinos and meet elephant land size needs.
Recommended reading by author, Françoise Malby-Anthony, owner of Thula Thula, available at the library include: “An elephant in my kitchen: what the herd taught me about love, courage and survival,” and “The elephants of Thula Thula.” Plus, “The elephant whisperer: my life with the herd in the African wild,” by Thula Thula founder, Lawrence Anthony.