As you saw in the January issue of MethuenLife, our director, Krista McLeod is retiring after serving the Nevins Library for 34 years. Our staff will miss her, as will many in the community. The library will be closing at noon on Friday, Feb. 13 for a special event in her honor. We wish Krista many more years of good heath, time with friends and family, and much deserved rest and relaxation!

Krista McLeod

Planning for Medicare

Are you approaching Medicare eligibility? Join us Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6:30pm as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts representative Heather Hurd talks to us about health-insurance information outside of employer-sponsored coverage, an explanation of Medicare, the Medicare enrollment timeline, Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans and programs available to early retirees, and COBRA. Please make sure to reserve your seat by registering on our online Calendar of Events or by calling (978) 686-4080.

The Art Spy:
A Virtual Program

Join us on Zoom on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7pm as author Michelle Young discusses her new book “The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland,” which was longlisted for the 2025 American Library of Paris Book Award. A riveting and stylish saga set in Paris during World War II, “The Art Spy” uncovers the true story of how an unlikely heroine infiltrated the Nazi leadership to save the world’s most treasured masterpieces. Please register for this program on our online Calendar of Events to receive your Zoom link to attend.
Presidents Day
The library will be closed Monday, Feb. 16 in observance of Presidents Day.

After-school
clubs for teens

• Book Babble: Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 4pm. This month we’ll be discussing “Threads that Bind” by Kika Hatzopoulou. In a world where the children of the gods inherit their powers, Io, a descendant of the Greek Fates, must solve a series of impossible murders to save her sisters, her soulmate and her city. Pick up your copy at the Main Desk.
• Teen Anime Club: Thursday, Feb. 5 at 4pm.
• Teen Arts & Crafts Club: Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 4pm.
• Teen Gaming Club: Thursday, Feb. 12 at 4pm.
• Teen Movie Club: Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 4pm.

Cultural Cookbook Club

Cultural Cookbook Club invites participants to explore new flavors and traditions from around the world through food. Each month features a different cuisine, with participants preparing and sharing a homemade dish inspired by that culture. Participants are required to provide a list of ingredients with their dish. Sampling is optional, and the library is not responsible for monitoring or managing food allergies or sensitivities. This group meets the first Monday of the month. This meeting’s theme is: Lebanese Cuisine. Cultural Cookbook Club will meet Monday, Feb. 2 at 6:30pm.

From the
Children’s Room

February might be a short month, but it’s still full of great programs to keep your kids engaged and entertained! This includes a wonderful program with Little Groove Music, who visited last year and put on a fantastic event for infants and toddlers up to 18 months old: a music class that is tailor-made to help them learn through sight, sound and touch – using real instruments in an immersive experience that fosters their love for music.
And while we’re on the subject of infants and toddlers, if you’re a new (or new-ish) parent then you’ll want to take advantage of our weekly New Parent Meet-Up sessions every Thursday morning, where you can connect with others in the community, share experiences and build your support network in a friendly, welcoming space. (Both of these programs are part of our Growing Readers initiative, generously supported by the Castle Fund of Methuen.)
Other special programs this month include “Cocoa & Coloring” — there’s nothing like a cozy afternoon activity to occupy some vacation time, so we’ll offer coloring pages and markers for kids aged 11-14 to express themselves, along with cocoa for a warm winter treat. And 8- to 10-year-olds won’t want to miss our new Pokémon Club, which accommodates all levels of experience, including instructions for beginners. (Please note: Kids should bring their own cards, but no trading will be allowed during the program.)
We also have some fun reading experiences to offer: Parents and young readers will enjoy our “Book Bonding” book group, where caretakers and children (aged 5-7) read a book of their choice together and then come to the book group to tell others about their book and hear about what other participants have read; we also have a “Page Turners” book group for ages 8-11, for a more independent experience. And speaking of reading together, Murphy the Dog is back this month to listen to kids read aloud to him – a fun way to build kids’ enjoyment and confidence in reading.
As ever, we’ll also have our usual variety of preschool programs, storytimes (including bilingual programs and an Adaptive Storytime), science and history programs, crafting, teen activities and more – keep an eye on the Youth Services Department calendar and Facebook page to keep track of what’s in store!
Happy February, and Happy Reading!

For an extensive list of Nevins Memorial Library happenings, check out nevinslibrary.org.