Thursday, Sept. 25
Baby Storytime
10-10:30 a.m.
Tech Lab, Main Library
For parents and caregivers with children ages 0 – 18 months.
You’re never too young for storytime! Join Miss Meeghan for stories, songs, and sensory play that helps babies develop language, social, and motor skills.
Registration is required due to space limitations. Register at peabodylibrary.org.
Toddler Storytime
11-11:30 a.m.
Tech Lab, Main Library
For parents and caregivers with children ages 18 months – 3 years.
Miss Meeghan will guide toddlers and their parents and caregivers through stories, songs, and lots of movement that help build important social and early literacy skills.
Registration is required due to space limitations. Register at peabodylibrary.org.
Sutton Room Drop In
2-4 p.m.
Sutton Room, Main Library
Stop by the historic Sutton Room to browse current issues of genealogy magazines, see the Audubon prints now on display, or learn how to use the archives.
Learn more about our collection at peabodylibrary.org/localhistory
TACO Thursday – West Branch
4-5 p.m.
Community Room, West Branch
Earn community service hours by participating in Teen Advisory and Community Organization, or as we like to call it, TACO!
Each Thursday, teens can come to the teen room at the West Branch Library and help better the Peabody Institute Library. Teen volunteers will will be given tasks that help the library in some way. As compensation, teens receive one hour of community service hours, and free food the first Thursday of the month.
Please fill out a Teen Volunteer Application at the start of this program if this is your first meeting. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. If you have questions, please email Teen Librarian Amory at AThomas@noblenet.org, or call the West Branch Library at 978-535-3354.
West Branch Nonfiction Book Group
4-5 p.m.
Alcove, West Branch
Want to learn more about worldly events? Join us to discuss this month’s nonfiction read! This book group meets on the LAST Thursday of every month at 6PM in the reading alcove of the West Branch Library.
We will be discussing “The Half-Known Life” by Pico Iyer, and picking up our next book, “The butchering art : Joseph Lister’s quest to transform the grisly world of Victorian medicine” by Lindsey Fitzharris.
Please email Alex at APappas@noblenet.org, or call the West Branch Library at 978-535-3354 for any questions.
Drop In Crafts in the Children’s Room
5:30-7 p.m.
Children’s Library, Main Library
Come to the Children’s room for a different craft each week! Supplies provided! No registration needed. Open to children ages 4 and up.
Felted Owl Face with Pop Up Art School at the West Branch
6-7:30 p.m.
Community Room, West Branch
In this fun and beginner-friendly class, you’ll learn how to needle felt the expressive face of an owl using soft wool roving and a barbed felting needle. Step-by-step instructions will guide you as you sculpt tufts of wool into feathery textures and create a wise owl’s face with large, glowing yellow eyes.
Learn the joy of needle felting with Pop up Art School in a friendly environment. You’ll gain the basic skills of needle felting, walking away with a finished piece, and the confidence to continue your felting journey independently.
This program is free and open to the public. For ages 13+. Registration is required as space is limited. Please visit us online or at the Public Service Desk or call the West Branch Library at 978-535-3354 for more info.
Friday, Sept. 26
South and West branch are closed.
Saturday, Sept. 27
Kids: Make-Your-Own Mason Jar Aquarium
10-11 a.m.
Children’s Library, Main Library
Children aged 6 to 12 can join Miss Katia in making your own mason jar aquarium! She’ll show you how to turn a simple mason jar and fish toys into an undersea world for you to keep. Registration is required.
Drag BINGO Brunch! (for adults)
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Tech Lab, Main Library
Adult Drag BINGO is back to the PIL, but this time we’re adding brunch! Come eat some bagels or other brunch food, and enjoy a free drag brunch with BINGO, performances, and other fall-themed fun, with Peabody’s own Maxine Harrison!
Sunday, Sept. 28
South and West branch are closed.
Monday, Sept. 29
Main, South, and West branches are closed.
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Toddler Storytime
10-10:30 a.m.
Community Room, South Branch
Join Amy and her puppet animal friends for storytime, which will include books, songs, and movement! This program is open for parents and caregivers with children ages 18 months to 4 years.
Registration is required due to space limitations. Register at peabodylibrary.org.
Children’s Yoga
10-11 a.m.
Tech Lab, Main Library
Ready for some morning movement and relaxation? Miss Katia hosts a fun yoga session for children every Tuesday morning. Wear comfy clothes, bring a yoga mat if you have one, and a water bottle to stay hydrated. Like all of our Library programs, this event is free and open to the public. Non-Peabody residents are welcome.
Registration is required due to space limitations. Register at peabodylibrary.org.
Learn to use Ancestry.com
2-3 p.m.
Public Computers, Main Library
Learn how to use the Ancestry online database to explore your family’s history. A librarian will help you search genealogical records, including census records, birth, death, and marriage records. Bring in family names and any locations or dates that you know to start your search. You can continue your Ancestry research at home for free using your library card! Sessions are by appointment only and registration is required. Register at peabodylibrary.org.
Kids Art Club
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Community Room, South Branch
Kids ages 8 to 12 are welcome to join Art Club at the South Branch Library! This program will meet on the last Tuesday of every month from 3:30 to 4:30. Each month, we will work on a new art project, focusing on encouraging creativity. Projects will vary between drawing lessons, drawing games, learning techniques of famous artists, origami, and more!
Registration is required for each month and all materials will be provided
Family Movie Night at the West Branch
4-5 p.m.
Community Room, West Branch
Join us at the West Branch for a cozy evening viewing of a film about a fantastic furry creature stuck between responsibility and adventure while rallying against evil farmers. This film is rated PG.
Registration is not required, but is preferred to prepare the popcorn! This program is for all ages.
Kids: Four Seasons Tree Craft
4-4:45 p.m.
Tech Lab, Main Library
Summer is over, and Fall is here. The four seasons change so quickly! Miss Meeghan has a craft to share with children aged four and up to celebrate each season. You’ll make your own Four Seasons Tree by drawing and decorating four paper trees. Then, you’ll glue them together, creating a 3D tree that changes seasons when you turn it! Registration is required.
TACO – Main Library
4-5 p.m.
Teen Room, Main Library
Each Tuesday, teens can come to the teen room at the Main Library and help better the Peabody Institute Library. Teen volunteers will will be given tasks that help the library and / or your community in some way. As compensation, teens receive one hour of community service hours, and a free food the first Tuesday of the month.
Please fill out a Teen Volunteer Application at the start of this program if this is your first time participating. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. If you have questions, please email Senior Teen Librarian Amory at AThomas@noblenet.org. Register at peabodylibrary.org.
Wednesday, Oct. 1
The Short Stories of Chekhov and Hawthorne with Theo Theoharis
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Sutton Room, Main Library
Join Professor Theo Theoharis in October 2025 to discuss short stories of Checkhov and Hawthorne.
The class will read the following stories, in the order listed below:
1. Hawthorne – “My Kinsmen, Major Molineaux” (Contained in the Hawthorne story collection you can check out from the library)
2. Hawthorne – “The Artist” (Contained in the Hawthorne story collection you can check out from the library)
3. Chekhov – “Enemies” (This is a printout we can hand you at the Main Library PSD)
4. Chekhov – “The Lady with the Dog” (Also a printout).
If you would like to purchase your own copies of the stories, Theo recommends the following collections:
Nathaniel Hawthorne, Young Goodman Brown and other Tales, Publisher: Oxford, (in the series Oxford World Classics) ISBN# 978-0-1995-5515-4
Anton Chekhov, The Essential Tales of Chekhov, edited by Richard Ford, Publisher, Ecco, ISBN # 978-0-0609-5656-1
You can also potentially find the stories to read on your computer or other device at https://archive.org/details/texts – just search for the story titles.
Please register starting on September 2.
Drop In Tech Help
1-2:30 p.m.
Public Computers, Main Library
Join us in the Main Reading Room every at the Peabody Institute Library every Wednesday from 1-2:30 for tech help with: basic computer skills, laptops and computers, tablets, e-readers, smart phones, library databases and apps, word processing software, and more. Come prepared by bringing any devices you want help working with, login or account information you may need, and any specific questions you have. Chromebooks are available to practice on if you can not bring in your own device. No registration required.
Adult Yoga with Jacqui Orphanos at the West Branch
2-3 p.m.
Community Room, West Branch
Join yoga instructor Jacqui Orphanos for a relaxing all-levels yoga class. This gentle flow class will focus on breathwork, gentle stretching, functional movement and balance. Participants will be encouraged to move at their own pace & modifications will be offered. Class will close with a relaxing savasana with sound bowls, Reiki assists & optional essential oils. Beginners are welcome!
Mats and Yoga Straps will be provided. Participants should wear comfortable, easy to move in clothing & bring a water bottle.
This program is free and open to the public. For ages 18+. Registration is required as space is limited. Please visit us online or at the Public Service Desk or call the West Branch Library at 978-535-3354 for more info.
InkWell Art Class – Middle School
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Creativity Lab, Main Library
InkWell is a free youth arts program exploring a variety of 2d and 3d media. Art classes will run weekly from 3:30 to 5:30. No experience necessary! All materials provided! Bringing in sketchbooks encouraged!
Although groups are free, we do ask for a commitment to the program. This means weekly attendance (we do understand if you have to miss a group every once in a while, though) and getting to the program on time. Last class will be December 17th, in which each class will be celebrated with an end of the year art show, inviting the families to see all the artwork they’ve been doing.
All classes will be taught by local artist educator Bruce Orr. Bruce is an Art Teacher, Art Therapist, muralist, illustrator, puppeteer, builder from recycled materials and all around arts advocate. He created the “Garden City” installation in the downtown Beverly Family Dollar, painted many local murals, including the Carlton School, and was Senior Art Therapist at Raw Art Works for 13 years before founding InkWell. With over 25 years experience, Bruce is a strong believer in the arts as a catalyst for growth, healing and change.
