The free AARP Tax Preparation Assistance Program for your 2024 tax return is returning to the library each Saturday from February 1 to April 5, 2025. Community members may contact the AARP tax volunteers directly to schedule an in-person appointment by calling 508-499-9495 beginning February 16 for March appointments as all February appointments are full at this time.

Black History Month

The Worcester Public Library celebrates Black History Month with events, classes, reading lists, and resources for the Worcester community.

Main Library:

Let's Talk About It

Main Library: Saturday, February 1, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Let's Talk About It is a book club for Middle School tweens/teens (ages 11-15) about the world around us to encourage empathy and finding your own voice. We'll be talking about gentrification and discussing Take Back the Block by Chrystal D. Giles. Snacks will be provided and attendees will receive a free tote bag to take home with them (while supplies last). Copies of the book are available now to check out from the Teen Space at our Main library. Registration is required. 

The Worcester Public Library will host OurStory Edutainment & The Village Worcester event: Get Up, Stand Up

Main Library: February 13, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. - Join us in celebrating one of Jamaica’s finest – Robert Nesta Marley! For his 80th birthday, we are kicking off our weekend of celebrations by returning back to where it all started – the Worcester Public Library! Join us for an all ages celebration of Bob’s music, message, and more with vendors, art, local performances, and more! For more information on this event call 508-556-0439, or email ourstoryedutainment@gmail.com or thevillageworcester@gmail.com.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day hosted by AIDS Project Worcester: Understanding Intersectionality & Inclusivity Within The Black Community

Main Library: Friday, February 7, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Each year, AIDS Project Worcester hosts National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to raise awareness and highlight the disproportionate impact of HIV in the Black communities, to increase access to HIV education, prevention, testing and treatment, to mobilize community involvement and to combat HIV, recommit to sharpen efforts to focus on research, highlight the progress made from then (40 years ago) and now, consider challenges around prevention of HIV transmission among Black people and to promote prevention, screening, testing, and treatment for individuals living with HIV and for those at risk for HIV. This event is free and open to all. Food will be provided. HIV resources will be available. 

After Dinner Reads Book Club

Main Library: Wednesday, February 12, 6 - 7 p.m. - After Dinner Reads is a book club for teens and their grown-ups to participate in together (teens are welcome to attend on their own too). Our goal is to bring different generations of readers together around the same book and to create space for conversations beyond the usual "what did you do in school today?" Each reader will have a different background and perspective to share that will hopefully bring family members closer together. We'll be discussing Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.

Bright Star Theatre: George Washington Carver & Friends

Main Library: February 15, 2 p.m. - Bright Star presents an exciting show that introduces children to incredible scientists, entrepreneurs, and groundbreakers from Black History. Black History heroes laid the groundwork for some of the most amazing discoveries of the modern era, especially when it comes to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Hosted by the incredible scientist, George Washington Carver, a man who invented thousands of uses for the lowly peanut, this show introduces students to other incredible scientists, entrepreneurs and groundbreakers from Black History. Meet Madame CJ Walker, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and more! For Ages 5-12 and their families. Sponsored by the Friends of the Worcester Public Library.

Experience Capoeira!

Main Library: February 22, 1 – 2 p.m. - Come learn about Capoeira as a culture and martial art! "In Brazil, generations of enslaved African people shared the cultural customs, dances, rituals, and fighting techniques that would combine to become capoeira. Slaves used capoeira to fight to escape and resist capture, but concealed its combative purpose through music, song, and dance." Learn about the instruments used in Capoeira music and practice a few traditional Capoeira songs. For families with Children Ages 6-11.

Worcester History Deep Dive: 290 and Laurel/Clayton

Main Library: February 22, 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. - The destruction of the Laurel/Clayton neighborhood in the name of "urban renewal" was a major and traumatic milestone in the history of the city. Join Local History librarian Alex as we trace the history of both Laurel/Clayton and its dissolution as well as the major players in what happened. For ages 18+.

Popular Fiction Book Club: Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Main Library: February 26, 7 - 8 p.m. - Join us to discuss newer popular titles! Registration required, for ages 18+.

Black History Collaboration Quilt

Main Library: February - Throughout the month of February, visit the Children's Center to color squares of a paper quilt that portray famous faces in Black history. The resulting quilt will be an inspiring work of art! For ages 5-12.

 

Burncoat, Goddard, Roosevelt, and Tatnuck Magnet Branches:

Lyric Lab

Tatnuck Magnet Branch: February 3, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Burncoat Branch: February 7, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Goddard Branch: February 13, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Roosevelt Branch: February 24, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Join us for a fun and engaging celebration of Black excellence focusing on poets in the Black community. We will listen to poetry and explore hands-on poetry projects inspired by the powerful voices of Amanda Gorman, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and Nikki Giovanni. For ages 6-11.

Inspire & Create

Goddard Branch: February 4, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Roosevelt Branch: February 6, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Burncoat Branch: February 11, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Tatnuck Magnet Branch: February 26, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Inspire & Create is a look at the inspirational and significant impact of Black culture on the art world. Join us for exciting and engaging art projects focusing on the works of Alma Woodsey Thomas, Faith Ringgold, Charles McGee, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Come let your creativity shine while learning through making! For ages 6-11.

Hair Care Workshop

Tatnuck Magnet Branch: February 5, 3 – 5 p.m.

Burncoat Branch: February 7, 3 – 5 p.m.

Goddard Branch: February 10, 3 – 5 p.m.

Roosevelt Branch: February 12, 3 – 5 p.m.

Dominique Skipwith, a hairdresser with twenty years or experience, will be teaching a two hour workshop at the branches about maintaining healthy hair, creating fun braided styles, and helping teens to build confidence in styling their own hair.

Recipe Swap

Tatnuck Magnet Branch: February 19, 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Burncoat Branch: February 21, 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Goddard Branch: February 24, 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Roosevelt Branch: February 26, 3:30 – 5 p.m.

In honor of Black History Month, teens will participate in a recipe swap at the branch libraries. They can come in with a family or cultural recipe in mind, make and decorate a recipe card, and swap it for someone else's.

 

Frances Perkins Branch:

Gee's Bend Quilt Craft Kit to celebrate Black History Month

Frances Perkins Branch: February - Children under 11 are invited to take home a Gee's Bend quilt craft kit to celebrate Black History Month while supplies last. The women of Gee's Bend created a unique art form recognized internationally. They used craps of fabric and old clothes to make colorful and geometric quilts. Bring back your finished masterpiece to be featured at the library in our own quilt.

 

Great Brook Valley Branch:

Black History Month Display

Great Brook Valley Branch: February - In celebration of Black History Month we will have an exhibit of quotes from famous Black historical figures all around the library as well as a display of books featuring Black characters and written by Black authors.

 

Virtual:

True Crime Book Club: A Devil Went Down to Georgia by Deb Miller Landau

Zoom: February 5, 7 - 8 p.m. - Please join our ongoing book club to discuss popular books in the true crime genre. Registration required, for ages 18+.

I Am Nobody’s Slave: An Author Talk with Pulitzer Prize Finalist Lee Hawkins

Zoom: February 18, 2 p.m. - We welcome you to our conversation with journalist and author Lee Hawkins as he talks to us about the examination of his family’s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience in this riveting memoir, I Am Nobody's Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free. 

 

Book Display at the Worcester Senior Center:

Throughout the month of February, WPL will host a Black History book display at the Worcester Senior Center. These books are not part of our collection and are yours to keep — they do not need to be returned to the library. A special thanks to the Friends of the Worcester Public Library for their generous donation of these books.

 

Other WPL Black History Month Resources:

See WPL's Reference Blog for links to additional community activities:

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