Use your library card to book a discounted pass to the Trustees of Reservations. There are more than 120 properties from the Cape to the Berkshires for you to enjoy. You can tour historic homes, visit art museums, meet friends at the farms, picnic, and hike for miles.
Reserve your pass here.
Has it been a while since you visited the Bedford Free Public Library? Or are you a frequent visitor but typically only use one area? Perhaps you never leave the Children’s Room or the Computer stations near the Reference Desk. Here’s a chance to explore the entire building via this 360° virtual tour. Let’s go!
Are you are parent or caregiver that visits the public library? We’d really appreciate you filling out a quick survey so we can better serve you. (This is not the survey the library was doing in November and is specific to parents and caregivers of children, tweens and teens).
Celebrate International Games Month with an informal afternoon of games. We’ll have board games, card games, and some simple role-playing games on hand. Learn a new game or play an old favorite, with your friends, family, or other members of the community. We’ll also have board games, video games, and gaming-related books available to check out.
Saturday November 22, 2pm to 4pm
Read a non-fiction book in November and you could win a prize!
Adults, teens and children who read a non-fiction book during November are invited to fill out a simple form and be entered into a raffle! Forms available at all public service desks.
Need an idea of what to read? Check out our displays throughout the library as well as social media posts highlighting staff picks.
Raffle prize basket for each age group:
Explore over 70 world languages through Mango Languages. Designed with learners in mind, this platform uses real-conversations, native-speaker audio, and cultural insights to build vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and pronunciation. Mango Languages is available both on the web and via mobile apps, and you can access it anytime – at the library or at home. Whether you’re preparing for travel, connecting with your heritage, or just challenging yourself, your library card gives you free access.
If it’s your first time using Mango, you’ll want to click the “Sign Up” button on this page. Make sure to have your library card number handy!
We are revamping our programming for adults, and we would love to hear from you!
Please let us know what kinds of free programs you would like to see the Library provide by filling out our short survey.
We have two reading programs that run from mid-September to mid-May. One for children under 5 and one for Kindergarten – 5th grade students. Both programs kick off September 20. Read on to learn more.
Preschool Reading Program (NEW: coming mid-September)
Our preschool reading program is designed to encourage families with children under 5 to spend time together and make reading a daily habit.
Reading Dragons and Friends (Returning in mid-September!)
Reading Dragons and Friends is a school-year reading program for children in Kindergarten – 5th grade.
Children earn cards for reading throughout the year. Reading Dragons cards can be used to play two games: one similar to Rock, Paper, Scissors and one similar to War. Your child will earn one set of four cards fore very 20 days they read. Listening to audiobooks, graphic novels, magazines and reading with family and friends – it all counts!
Reading must be tracked online using Beanstack. Once you are signed up simply log the minutes your child reads in the app or on the Beanstack website.
CHANGES THIS YEAR:
We’re excited to announce our membership to the Library Speakers Consortium which offers a virtual author talk series each month featuring bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors from around the world. The featured writers and thought leaders will cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres.
The free, virtual series takes place two to three times a month and includes the opportunity to ask questions to the author. A complete list of events is available on our virtual author talk series webpage.
Many thanks to the Friends of the Bedford Free Public Library for sponsoring this membership.
Meet our newest Kid Librarian, Daniel! Daniel is a rising 5th grader.
Daniel’s display, “If You Want to Read Greek Mythology” will be in the Children’s Room from August 18 – August 23.
Q+A
What are you reading right now?
I am reading book 4 of the Percy Jackson Trials of Apollo series.
What are you looking forward to this summer?
I’m looking forward to going to my grandparents’ house in July and August.
To see Daniel’s recommendations in our online catalogue, click here!
The Bedford Free Public Library is saddened by the loss of longtime Library Trustee Abby Hafer. Abby grew up in Bedford, was very proud of, and fiercely loyal to, our Library, and passionate about sustaining and growing the myriad ways we serve the greater Bedford community. Serving as a Library Trustee meant a great deal to Abby and she will be greatly missed.
Read more about Abby in the Bedford Citizen.