It is March Madness for the Bedford Public Library System as we have lots of events going on at each of the branches and our headliner this month is our third annual Community Read, a reading program that is truly out of this world. This year our theme is outer space, and we’ll be exploring infinity and beyond with a great selection of books, movies, and programs throughout the month. Join your neighbors in this collective reading effort and check out one of this year’s titles! For this year’s picture book, we are reading Mousetronaut Goes to Mars, by Mark E. Kelly; for juvenile fiction, we are reading Space Case, by Stuart Gibbs; teens are invited to read Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, and adults can enjoy Andy Weir’s acclaimed novel, The Martian.

Bedford Business

Our early literacy programs, Books 4 Fun and Rock-A-Bye Reader, are back for another season! Books 4 Fun takes place on Tuesdays at 10:30 AM. Rock-A-Bye Reader follows on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM. Both programs repeat weekly. B4F is a fun and engaging story and craft time for children aged 3-6. RBR provides equivalent stimulation for infants and toddlers up to 3 years of age. Jumpstart your child’s language and literacy skills with these great programs!

Get ready for another astronomically awesome event that corresponds with our Community Read. On Thursday, March 16^th at 6PM, you’re invited to learn all about the night sky. Use a high-powered telescope to take a closer look at the moon, stars, and constellations at this special space-themed program. We will also have a fun space-themed craft. (Outdoor activities are weather permitting). Ages 5-YA

Tuesday, March 21^st is Family Movie Night at the Bedford Library. We are showing The BFG (PG), based on the novel by Roald Dahl of the same name. Enjoy crafts at 4:45 and the movie at 5PM. Snacks provided! The movie’s running time is 1 hour 57 minutes. We hope to see you there!

Come to the library on Wednesday, March 22^nd. Between 4:15 and 5:30 PM, teens and tweens between the ages of 11-19 are invited to participate in Fashion Club. Learn about the world of fashion, how to create your own designs, and do cool Do It Yourself projects to make or repurpose your own clothing. Materials are provided, but you may also bring your own. Fashion Club meets twice a month on the first and fourth Wednesday of the month. Another meeting is coming up on Wednesday, April 5^th!

Springtime is the perfect time to make wind chimes! Come to the Bedford Library to make some with a variety of materials and take them home. Turn trash into treasure at this upcycling extravaganza! Registration is appreciated, so call (540) 586-8911 ext. 2108 to let us know you’re coming. Ages 3-17

Forest Fun

Our early literacy programs, Books 4 Fun and Rock-A-Bye Reader, are back for another season! Children aged 3-6 are welcome to enjoy Books 4 Fun on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 AM. These sessions repeat weekly.

The Forest Library holds its Rock-A-Bye Reader session for infants up to 21 months old at 10:15 AM on Mondays, followed by a session for toddlers between 21 and 36 months at 11:15 AM. Forest holds an additional two sessions for 21-36-month-old toddlers on Thursdays at 10:15 and 11:15 AM. These sessions repeat weekly.

Stop by the library for some St. Patrick’s Day fun on Friday, March 17^th! Enjoy delightful Irish stories and a craft at 10:30 AM. Ages 3-6

Join us at the Forest Library for LEGO® Club! From 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on March 30^th, we’re exploring our imaginations with everyone’s favorite building blocks. This club meets on the last Thursday of every month. Ages 5+

Moneta Merriment

During the month of March, in honor of the 225^th anniversary of the Bill of Rights, the Moneta branch will have a display available for viewing that was produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. Only thirty displays were distributed, and we were lucky to receive one of them! Stop by anytime during the month of March!

Rock-A-Bye Reader and Books 4 Fun are back for another season. Children aged 3-6 can participate in Books 4 Fun every Tuesday at 10:30 AM. Crafts, stories, and music will keep your child engaged and entertained! Rock-A-Bye Reader takes place at 10:30 AM on Mondays and repeats every week. Infants and toddlers up to 3 years of age can enjoy stories and music at this early literacy program.

As part of our Community Read, come to the Moneta/SML Library to enjoy the movie The Martian (PG-13), the film adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel by the same name. On Thursday, March 16^th, the library is hosting two showings of the movie, one at 1PM and one at 6PM. Enjoy the movie on its own or compare it to the book.

Build with LEGOs® and meet new friends on March 25^th at the library between 10:30 and 12! Use our LEGOs® or bring your own. Take a break at 11AM to increase your reading fluency and confidence with READ: Reading Education Assistance Dogs. It’s fun to read aloud to specially trained dogs in the library.

Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 30^th; the Moneta/SML Library is showing The BFG (PG), a film based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name. Arrive at 5:30 PM for crafts, and enjoy snacks and the movie at 6PM. The running time is 1 hour 57 minutes.

Big Island Antics

Rock-A-Bye Reader and Books 4 Fun are back for another season. Rock-A-Bye Reader is a fun and educational story time for infants and toddlers up to 3 years of age. This program takes place at 10:30 AM on Mondays and repeats every week. Older children between 3 and 6 years do not have to miss out; Books 4 Fun occurs at 10:30 AM on Thursdays and repeats every week. Children can enjoy rhymes, stories, music, and crafts!

The LEGO club meets again at the library on Friday, March 17^th between 3-4PM. Build something great from your imagination, or accept the challenge of the month! If you can’t make it, come back on Saturday the 18^th between 10:30-11:30 AM for another chance. Bring your friends! Ages 5+

Come to the Big Island Library for Tuesday Teen Time! On March 28^th we are playing games and snacking on junk food from 4:30 to 6:30 PM.

Visit the Big Island Library for another space-themed STEM Club on Friday, March 31^st at 3PM. We will create our own production of Mousetronaut Goes to Mars, a story book by actual astronaut Mark Kelly; watch exciting Mars video snippets, and make some crafts. Participation is limited, so make sure to visit the library or call (540) 425-7000 to register.

Montvale Marvels

Books 4 Fun and Montvale’s exclusive early literacy program, Mother Goose on the Loose, are back for another season. Books 4 Fun takes place at 10:30 AM on Tuesdays. Children aged 3-6 can have a fine time with music, stories, and crafts in this weekly program. Mother Goose on the Loose is a story time designed to prepare your infant or toddler for a successful future of reading and writing. This program occurs on Thursdays at 10:30 AM and repeats weekly.

Stewartsville Spectaculars

Books 4 Fun and Rock-A-Bye Reader are back for another season. Books 4 Fun takes place at 10:30 AM on Mondays and repeats every week. Children aged 3-6 are invited to enjoy stories, rhythm, crafts, and music with their peers. Infants and toddlers up to the age of 3 are welcome to enjoy similar activities at the Rock-A-Bye Reader program, which occurs at 10:30 AM on Fridays and repeats every week.

Celebrate the Community Read at the Stewartsville Library with Mousetronaut Goes to Mars, a story book by actual astronaut Mark Kelly. Kids can enjoy space-related activities at this exclusive event on March 28^th between 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Please call (540) 425-7008 ext. 3 to register. Ages 5-10

For more information contact: 

Lauren Harper
lharper@bpls.org
Youth Service Librarian
Bedford Public Library System