Acton Memorial Library
486 Main St
Acton MA 01720
(978) 929-6655
In the center of Acton, just beside Town Hall, sits the Acton Memorial Library. While the street address is technically at Main Street, next to Town Hall, the parking lot and entrance are behind the building and accessed from Woodbury Lane. Just through the lobby and to the left is the entrance to the Children's Room, opening a world of wonder to even the earliest book lovers.
Immediately upon entering, you’ll notice a great kids DVD collection on the right wall, with everything from Curious George to Star Wars. You can always see little fingers sifting through the selection. There's also a great selection of books on CD, with a wide selection to appeal to a variety of tastes. We like to go there to grab a set of Magic Tree House CDs to have handy in the car.
In this front section, toy collection displays belonging to young members are scattered among the stacks of picture books that sit waiting for little eyes to take them in.
There are cozy areas for small children, with a dollhouse, some ride-on toys, and plenty of stuffed animals to snuggle with. Many parents and nannies can be seen sitting on the couches reading to eager children. Check out the bulletin board displaying the smiling faces of every kindergartner in Acton, taken after each class visit to the library. It’s fun to see children proudly point themselves out to a parent or friend.
Near the children's librarian’s desk, there are a few tables set up with crayons and pictures to color. There are strings running across the room sporting the the finished creations of the young artists. I used to take my daughter there sometimes after school when she was in Pre-K, and she loved to color a picture and ask the librarian to hang it on the string with a clothespin, alongside the other masterpieces.
Beyond the librarian’s desk, you’ll find non fiction books where kids can find books on their favorites topics, from historical figures to sports, astronomy and much more.
You’ll also find fiction for grade school-aged readers, such as Harry Potter, Rainbow Fairies, and the ever favorite Captain Underpants. (Tra-La-La!)
There is a teen section located in the back left corner, featuring a great selection of DVDs, books on CD, and books. There are a few tables in this more private area so the older kids have their own space, somewhat separate from the little kids.
There is a table with computers just for kids. Let’s face it, much of their use is for gaming but older kids can use them for school projects; some PCs include software such as Word, Excel, etc. Adults are generally encouraged to use the machines elsewhere in the library but they are allowed to use the ones in the Children's Room when no children are waiting. This is handy if you're visiting during the school day and need to send a few emails while your littles read or explore.
The Acton Memorial Library provides year-round programs, such as morning storytimes, a favorite for toddlers and preschoolers. On Tuesdays, there are two storytime sessions, one for under twos and one for age 2-3, each featuring rhyming read-alouds that little ones love. (Note that these two storytimes require advance registration for each session.) The Thursday morning session is for ages 3 and up and is a drop-in program with no pre-registration; it is followed by a craft project.
Once a month, they will host a LEGO® Club, laying out thousands of LEGOs on a tarp in the conference room for aspiring master builders to create all kinds of things. It’s incredible how many big ideas come to life from little hands. Some kids team up together to build large structures, and trades are made for key pieces. It’s quite the scene!
One of our favorite programs that we’ve participated in is “Read to Molly”. Molly is a therapy dog that visits each Wednesday afternoon. Your child can sign up for a 15-minute slot to sit on a beanbag and read a favorite book to Molly. My son has been doing this since he began reading in first grade, when his little sister could not. But that didn't stop her; she found an “Elephant and Piggie” book she had memorized and/or interpreted from the pictures and told Molly her story. Molly listens intently, although she occasionally gets distracted by the treats in her trainer's pocket! Molly is very popular though, so be sure to sign up in advance!
Every month, the library features a Friday night kids-friendly movie, shown in the conference room. Past films that have been shown include “The Incredibles”, “Moana” and “Zootopia”. An adult must stay with the kids during the movie.
The library also has special summer reading programs, including craft times, LEGOs, movies and more. One thing that I found unique is a theatre program for grades 5-8 called Friday Morning Players. This program is run by librarian Clare Seaton. She gives the children a script, assigns them characters, and they spend the next hour rehearsing and bringing the story to life. At that point, younger children come in for Storytime. They enjoy the Friday Morning Players' show just before the read aloud begins. Other programs this past summer included a balloon magician, origami class, and a yoga class. Children can also log their summer reading time, whether it's independent or read aloud with parents, in order to earn rewards and enter a weekly raffle.
In another area of the library is a special historical area, the ”Not Afraid to Go” artifact collection, which memorializes Acton’s participation in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. This is a big hit with grade school kids. My son’s Cub Scout den visited this section of the library last year and were in awe of the old rifles and muskets.
The Acton Memorial Library is a wonderful place for all ages, and the Children's Room is especially magical.
