Bestselling author B.A. Shapiro will discuss her new book, Metropolis: A Novel, on Wednesday, July 27 at 7PM via Zoom. Shapiro will be interviewed by Gary Braver, a bestselling and award-winning author of eight critically acclaimed mysteries and medical thrillers.

About The Book: The New York Times bestselling author of The Art Forger delivers a spellbinding and moving novel about what we hang on to, what we might need to let go, and how unexpected events can lead us to deeper truths. Six people, six secrets, six different backgrounds. They would never have met if not for their connection to the Metropolis Storage Warehouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts. When someone falls down an elevator shaft at the facility, each becomes caught up in an intensifying chain of events. Was it an accident? A murder attempt? Suicide? As her characters dip in and out of one another’s lives trying to find answers and battling societal forces beyond their control, B. A. Shapiro both questions the myth of the American dream and builds tension to an exhilarating climax. Taut and emotional, Metropolis is impossible to put down and impossible to forget.

About The Author: B.A. Shapiro is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including Metropolis, The Collector’s Apprentice, The Muralist and The Art Forger, which won the New England Book Award for Fiction, among other honors. Her books have been selected as Community Reads throughout the country and have been translated into over a dozen languages. She holds a PhD in sociology and has directed research projects for a residential substance abuse facility, worked as a systems analyst/statistician, headed the Boston office of a software development firm, and served as an adjunct professor teaching sociology at Tufts University and creative writing at Northeastern University. She likes writing novels the best. Barbara splits her time between Boston and Naples, Florida. Learn more about B.A. HERE.

Register directly on Zoom HERE. This virtual event is a collaboration between several libraries.

Learn how to read the landscape, search for wildlife, and understand the ecological relationships between species you may be familiar with on Wednesday, July 27 at 11AM via Zoom. From the rolling dunes of Cape Cod to the rocky North Shore, the beaches of Massachusetts offer unique opportunities for life to converge. How do horseshoe crabs, least tern, ribbed mussels, and people interact on the coastline?

Explore best practices when combing the beach in search of wildlife clues and leave with recommendations from Mass Audubon Teacher-Naturalists on the best places to explore. Led by Douglas Lowry, the Adult Education Specialist for Mass Audubon’s Southeast Region. He’s also a Senior Field Instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School.

 Register directly on Zoom HERE. This virtual event is a collaboration between several libraries.

Learn how to build relationships that will help your career using both conventional & unusual methods on Monday, July 18 at 2PM via Zoom. Discover effective communication techniques and explore calendar management and research tools. Learn why job seekers should always consider themselves in marketing and sales. Discover how to better market and sell yourself. Led by Ray Mascola, business development advisor, coach and owner of “Targeting Sales Growth.”

Register directly on Zoom HERE. This virtual event is a collaboration between several libraries.

This presentation on Thursday, July 14 at 11AM via Zoom describes some of the common beneficial and pest insects that gardeners encounter in New England. Not all insects are bad for the garden. In fact, we rely on many to rid us of other unwanted invaders. We will take a look at their habits and their life cycles as we discuss how their presence affects the success of our garden year. 

Led by Bonnie Power, who has been a Massachusetts Master Gardener since 2016 and a serious outdoor/indoor gardener most of her life. Curious and research-oriented by nature, she has many horticultural interests and areas of expertise. Bonnie holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Zoology, which informs her perspective on the management of garden insects. She also volunteers at Garden in the Woods, a Native Plant Trust botanical garden in Framingham, where she is a guide.

Register directly on Zoom HERE. This virtual event is a collaboration between several libraries.

Learn the story of the Pack Horse Library initiative, a little known program of FDR’s Work Progress Administration (WPA) on Tuesday, July 12 at 2PM via Zoom.

Its mission, carried out almost entirely by women, was to deliver and distribute reading materials to the far off corners of Appalachia during the darkest hours of the Great Depression. Led by Jeffrey Urbin, Education Specialist at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Register directly on Zoom HERE.  This virtual event is a collaboration between several libraries.

Join Leanne Rodd, Director of Talent for FlexProfessionals Boston and Certified Career Coach (BCC) on Monday, July 11 at 2PM via Zoom to help you develop a plan for exploring options and moving forward using a design-thinking framework for both career exploration and exiting a role that no longer fits.

Career transitions can be challenging in the best of times. Add a layer of economic uncertainty, and they can feel overwhelming. If you find yourself considering a career transition – whether chosen or by circumstance – there are steps you can take to help you decide whether now is the right time, plan your path forward, set attainable goals, and keep your momentum. FlexProfessionals delivers the power of an untapped, highly-qualified talent pool to growing businesses while providing meaningful opportunities for professionals seeking part-time and flexible work options. 

Register directly on Zoom HERE. This virtual event is a collaboration between several libraries.