Library News
March 2026 Newsletter
Happy March, Montague!
As I write this note, blizzard conditions are whiting out the sky and sticking snow to the window screens. And yet, March is the month to plant peas. The Seed Libraries will be up and running at both the Carnegie Library and the Millers Falls Branch Library by mid-month. Stop by either location to pick up vegetable, herb, and flower seeds, donated by High Mowing Organic Seeds. Spring, somehow, is on the way.
This month, we’ll also provide long-awaited updates about funding for the Main Library Building Project. On March 5th, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners will vote to approve the state’s share of the project costs. On Tuesday, March 17th the Library Building Steering Committee, representatives from Downes Construction, Town Administrator, Walter Ramsey, Town Accountant, Angelica Desroches, and I will host a community event at the Senior Center (and via Zoom) at 6:00PM. We'll review the Carnegie’s challenges, the features included in the proposed new building, and go over project funding and the approval process.
How did public libraries in the US emerge as cornerstones of the community? What challenges do libraries now face? The Montague Center Branch will host a two-part documentary series, screening The Librarians and Free for All: The Public Library on Wednesdays 3/11 and 3/18 respectively. Kate is also launching a brand-new Afternoon Classics Book Club this month, featuring Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.
For those interested in local history, Professor Richard Little will present on the geological history of the area, covering glaciers, armored mud balls, and more at the Millers Falls Branch Library. For more recent history, join me at the Great Falls Discovery Center for a presentation on the Grand Trunk Hotel, the lost landmark that once stood on the site of what could be the new main library. The Montague Center Branch will also screen FAR OUT: Life on & After The Commune which focuses on two local communal farms and the people who built them.
Finally, Lachlan, our amazing new Community Relations Coordinator, has transformed our newsletter, making the event sections larger and easier to read. We welcome any feedback you might have on the newsletter and about library communications generally. Stay tuned for a joint communications survey from RiverCulture, the Libraries, and Parks & Rec, which will be released later this month or in early April.
Happy reading!
Caitlin
To access the March 2026 newsletter as a PDF, click here.