Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library

10/21/2026

The Library will be closing early at 4:00PM to prepare for the haunted library tours. All sessions are full but you can join the waitlist at https://www.manchesterpl.org/events/

10/20/2026

Le Cine - French Movie and Discussion Club
Tuesday, October 27 at 5:30—7:30 PM
Registration is encouraged but not required at https://manchesterpl.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/le-cine-french-movie-and-discussion-club-5/

Join us once a month as we watch a French Film and discuss in either French or English. Movies will be shown with English subtitles. Feel free to bring a covered non-alcoholic beverage. We will supply the snacks!

This month we are showing: Antoinette dans les Cévennes (My Donkey, My Lover & I)

Rated: Not Rated Run Time: 1 Hour and 36 Minutes

Synopsis: Antoinette, a schoolteacher, is looking forward to her long planned summer holiday with her married lover Vladimir, the father of one of her pupils. When she learns that Vladimir has to cancel because his wife organized a surprise hiking vacation, Antoinette decides to follow their tracks, accompanied by a protective donkey named Patrick.

"My Donkey, My Lover & I" was nominated for 11 film awards and won one César for Best Actress in 2021.

Registration is encouraged but not required so we can bring enough popcorn!

10/20/2026

This Saturday! We can't wait to see all the little goblins!

Save the date! Annual Wobblin Goblin Festival at Masconomo Park. Saturday October 24, 10am-11:30am. 🎃

10/15/2026

Mystery Book Group: "Winter Counts"
Friday, October 30 at 10:30—11:30 AM

The Manchester Mystery Book Group usually meets on the last Friday of the month at 10:30AM. This October we are meeting a week early due to the Halloween holiday and we are reading "Winter Counts" by David Heska Wanbli Weiden. This meeting will occur in person and on Zoom. Email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Physical copies are still available at the circulation desk as well as a digital audiobook on the Libby app. Sign up for Libby for free using your library card.

New members are always welcome.

10/13/2026

Tonight at the FPC Community Hall - for a perfect program for a rainy evening!
Registration is encouraged but not required at https://bit.ly/4xLugBt
Discover "Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire" with Author Aaron Mahnke
Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00—8:00 PM
The Book Shop of Beverly Farms will be at the event with copies of Exhumed along with some of Aaron's other books for sale.
Massachusetts Center for the Book

10/11/2026

Check out October's email newsletter at conta.cc/4zi1Hgf
You can sign up to get the newsletter straight to your inbox days early at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/SRmnhkM

10/10/2026

Whether you have 5 minutes or over an hour, there are things you can do to push back against censorship. Check out resources and ideas at https://bannedbooksweek.org/let-freedom-read-day/
Banned Books Week
American Library Association
and

10/09/2026

The library will be closed Monday, 10/12 in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ / Columbus Day. The virtual library is open 24/7 from anywhere at manchesterpl.org/resources See less

10/06/2026

Presidential Series with Doodler Heather Rogers: John Tyler (Virtual)
Friday, October 9 at 10:30—11:30 AM
Register at https://manchesterpl.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/presidential-series-with-doodler-heather-rogers-george-washington-hybrid-10/
This program will be recorded and all registrants will receive the recording
Welcome to our yearlong series in which “America’s Preeminent Presidential Doodler”, Heather Rogers, shares facts, factoids, and fun illustrations about the presidents of these United States. This month, we'll be learning about John Tyler: He was one of two presidents to be widowed while in office … and remarry while still in office. He had an explosive meet-cute with his second wife. He had more kids than any other president! Don't you want to know more? In 2026, journey through Heather's sketchbooks as she shares some of her favorite tidbits, doodles, observations, and resurrection stories about the first 12 presidents.
This program is sponsored by the Manchester By The Sea Friends of the Library and is in collaboration with a multitude of MA and NH libraries.

10/05/2026

Check out a banned book at your public library today!

Let books be.

Today kicks off , an annual observation started more than 40 years ago in response to a sudden surge in the number of attempts to censor or remove books in libraries, schools, and bookstores. Sound familiar?

Today, libraries continue to face record numbers of challenges to the books on their shelves. And contrary to common narratives suggesting that concerned parents are driving these challenges, data from ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom suggests otherwise – 92% of these challenges came from pressure groups and government officials in 2025.

For this year's Banned Books Week, we remind our communities that a handful of people running organized censorship campaigns should not be allowed to dictate what the rest of us can read, and that the joy and creativity of reading is not only an act of resistance, but a freedom that must be protected.

Find ways to get involved and spread the word, censorship data, and events throughout the week at https://bit.ly/4yvixbB.