Tewksbury Public Library – Week of February 15,2026

Library To Hold 20 Programs This Week, Including Retro Video Game Playing For All Ages On Feb. 17

Event Registration

Please register online using our Calendar of Events at http://www.tewksburypl.org or by calling 978- 640-4490.  We strongly recommend registration for programs that are marked *RR.

Adult Events (In-Person)

IN PERSON: Play Retro & Modern Video Games with Hit Save!

Tuesday, February 17, 11am-7pm

Explore the history of video games together with Hit Save!, a video game history and preservation nonprofit. All ages are invited to drop in anytime during this event to play video games from retro video gaming systems (e.g., Atari 2600, NES, and PS1) and modern video gaming systems (e.g., Nintendo Switch).

IN PERSON: Book a Tech Help Appointment! (*RR)

Tuesday, February 17, 2pm-3pm

Wednesday, February 18, 3pm-4pm

Thursday, February 19, 3:30pm-4:30pm

You can book a TPL Librarian for 30 minutes to help you with your technology questions. You may book up to twice a month, one question per session. Ask about: Using Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy and other library resources; Basic computer skills; Basic tablet skills; Basic phone skills; Using email; and Using Microsoft Office and comparable programs.

IN-PERSON: Now Playing Film Club (*RR)

Tuesday, February 17, 7pm

Love chatting about movies new and old? This is the place for you! Join fellow cinephiles to dig into a selection of films and chat through the plot, themes, cast, cinematography, and more. February’s films: this month we’ll be chatting about movie musicals, specifically: Wicked (2024, Rated PG) and The Wizard of Oz (1939, Rated G). Meetings will take place in the second floor Trustees Room. DVD copies of the film can be borrowed from TPL or through our wider library network of MVLC. Please click here to access the library’s online catalog to locate a copy. We will not view the films as part of our meetings, kindly review the films on your own!

IN PERSON: Crafternoon

Wednesday, February 18, 1:30pm

Calling all knitters, crocheters, needle workers, beaders, and colorers! Bring your own craft project to the Library and work on it while enjoying conversation with other crafters. (Please, no crafts involving glue or paint.) Take advantage of the many books available at the library to get ideas for your next project or to explore a new craft. We will be meeting in person.

IN PERSON: Other Worlds Fantasy Book Group (*RR)

Wednesday, February 18, 6:30pm

The February pick for Other Worlds is Samantha Sotto Yambao’s Water Moon. Copies of the book are available at the Front Desk one month prior to meeting. We will be meeting in person, in the Trustees Room on the second floor of the library.

PERSON: AFTERNOON MOVIE — Regretting You (*RR)

Friday, February 20, 2pm

Enjoy a screening of one of Hollywood’s newest DVD releases — Regretting You. A mother and daughter must grapple with what’s left after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover themselves. Starring Allison Williams, McKenna Grace and Dave Franco. Romance/Drama/Comedy. Rated PG-13. 1 Hour, 56 Minutes. Doors will open at 1:30pm. Film will start at 2pm. Candy & water will be served. A $1 donation is suggested to help cover the costs of refreshments.

Adult Events (Virtual)

VIRTUAL: Nature Travel To Costa Rica (*RR)

Tuesday, February 17, 2pm

Explore the Pacific Lowlands and Central Mountains of Costa Rica with an eye on nature. Enjoy a cruise along the Tárcoles River to see Boat-billed Heron and American Crocodile. At Macaw Lodge and Private Reserve, see the Scarlet Macaw, Bare-throated Tiger-heron, and beautiful wildflowers. At Esquinas Lodge in southwestern Costa Rica, observe Great Curassow, Spectacled Caiman, and Tent-making Bat. At Las Cruces Biological Station, experience an incredible variety of tanagers (Silver-throated, Golden-hooded, Speckled). Visit the Talamanca Mountains to view Volcano Junco, Volcano Hummingbird, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, and Resplendent Quetzal. Gette, the retired Director of the Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport, has been leading travel programs for the Audubon since 1986.

VIRTUAL: Heart Healthy Cooking with Empty Nest Kitchen (*RR)

Tuesday, February 17, 7pm

Keep that heart healthy for your Valentine! Learn how to make Sheet Pan Fajitas with Sweet & Savory Black Beans, as well Esquites (Corn Salad). Enjoy this cooking demonstration from Chef Christine Van Bloem of the Empty Nest Kitchen.

VIRTUAL: 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group – LinkedIn (*RR)

Wednesday, February 18, 9:30am

Join us in a professional forum for networking with peers in a safe and comfortable environment conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help in your career transition. Each meeting features a new topic. Meetings include a presentation and interactive workshop on topics relevant to career transition, guest speakers, access to hiring managers, small group breakout rooms to network, and 1-on-1 coaching guidance. Participating on a regular basis will give job seekers the many tools and strategies needed for a successful job search. Each biweekly meeting is facilitated by Deborah Hope, MBA, PCIC, an experienced executive career coach. Deborah is a former Fortune 500 executive, investment banker and entrepreneur.

VIRTUAL: The Political Debate Over The Size & Use Of U.S. Military Forces During The Civil War (*RR)

Wednesday, February 18, 7pm

Author Cecily N. Zander will give a presentation based on her latest book, The Army Under Fire: The Politics of Antimilitarism in the Civil War Era. Winner of The Center for Civil War Research’s 2025 Wiley-Silver Prize (best first book on Civil War history), The Army Under Fire is a pathbreaking study focusing on the fierce political debates over the size and use of military forces in the United States during the Civil War era. It examines how prominent political figures interacted with the professional army and how those same leaders misunderstood the value of regular soldiers fighting to reunify the fractured nation. Zander is assistant professor of history at Texas Woman’s University and a Senior Fellow at Southern Methodist University’s Center for Presidential History.

VIRTUAL: How To Improve Brain Health (*RR)

Thursday, February 19, 2pm

Learn researched-based tips to help protect your memory and thinking. Learn why brain health matters at ever age, discover simple lifestyle habits that support long-term brain health and create a personalized action plan you can start using right away. Led by Nicole McGurin of the Massachusetts chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

VIRTUAL: Two Centuries of Black American Painters (*RR)

Thursday, February 12, 10:30am

Explore three prominent Black American painters over two centuries. Robert Duncanson represents an American landscape painter from the mid 19th century through the American Civil War. In 1879, Henry Ossawa Tanner, was the only Black American artist at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art, becoming a favorite student of Thomas Eakins. By 1891, Tanner emigrated to Paris where he was successful at the Salon and remained in Paris except for occasional visits to the US. Jacob Lawrence represented the Harlem Renaissance of the early 20th century, especially with his Migration Series. Lawrence illustrated everyday life, as well as narratives of African-American history and historical figures. Led by art historian Martha Chiarchiaro, owner of Seeing History.

VIRTUAL: What’s Your Next Adventure?: How To Create & Complete Your Dream Journey (*RR)

Thursday, February 19, 7pm

Have you dreamed of an adventure maybe just outside your comfort zone but didn’t know how to begin? Do you enjoy learning how “normal” people do extraordinary things and what insights they learn on their journeys? UMass Lowell Professor and adventurer James Nehring will explain how everyone, regardless of age or ability, can experience the thrills and personal empowerment of a challenge met. Learn how you can create and complete your dream adventure on your own terms. Jim will share exciting tales from his adventures — cross country cycling, coastal rowing, long distance trekking — along with photos and dramatic excerpts from his new book, Everest and the Rest of Us: Four Journeys in Search of Adventure.

Teen Events (In-Person)

IN PERSON: Play Retro & Modern Video Games with Hit Save!

Tuesday, February 17, 11am-7pm

Explore the history of video games together with Hit Save!, a video game history and preservation nonprofit. All ages are invited to drop in anytime during this event to play video games from retro video gaming systems (e.g., Atari 2600, NES, and PS1) and modern video gaming systems (e.g., Nintendo Switch).

IN PERSON: Felted Penguins with Pop Up Art School (*RR)

Wednesday, February 18, 5:30pm

Transform loose wool fibers into a charming little penguin using simple needle-felting techniques and a special barbed needle. Pop Up Art School will guide you step-by-step through shaping the body, adding details, and finishing your penguin with a bright heart on its belly—perfect for Valentine’s Day gifting or decorating your winter space.  Learn the joy of needle felting with Pop up Art School in a friendly environment. You’ll gain the basic skills of needle felting, walking away with a finished piece and the confidence to continue your felting journey independently. This event is open to teens in grades 6-12.

Children Events (In-Person)

IN PERSON: Play Retro & Modern Video Games with Hit Save!

Tuesday, February 17, 11am-7pm

Explore the history of video games together with Hit Save!, a video game history and preservation nonprofit. All ages are invited to drop in anytime during this event to play video games from retro video gaming systems (e.g., Atari 2600, NES, and PS1) and modern video gaming systems (e.g., Nintendo Switch).

IN PERSON: DIY Mini Catapults (*RR)

Wednesday, February 18, 3:30pm

Join us at the library for a hands-on STEM activity! Build a mini catapult using popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and plastic spoons, then test your design by launching cotton balls. This event is open to children in grades 4-5.

IN PERSON: Preschool Playgroup

Thursday, February 19, 11am

Preschool playgroup is a weekly group where kids can meet, play, and learn. Pick up STEM and literacy skills, and have some fun while you’re at it! Sponsored by Community Teamwork Inc’s Family Resource Network. The Family Resource Network is funded by the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant (CFCE) from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.

IN PERSON: Melty Makers (*RR)

Thursday, February 19, 3:30pm

It’s time to get creative! Make the fuse Bead pattern we have available, or try your own ideas. You’ll have 45 minutes to create, then we’ll spend the last 15 minutes ironing your creations. This event is open to children in grades 3-5.

IN PERSON: JamBaby – Jammin With You

Friday, February 20, 11am

Join Jammin With You for an interactive music and movement event. It will be full of exploration crucial for early literacy skills! This event is for children ages 0-2/ Sponsored by Community Teamwork Inc’s Family Resource Network.

IN PERSON: Marble Painting

Friday, February 20, 2pm

Get creative at our Marble Painting event! We will use marbles and paint to create colorful, one-of-a-kind artwork in this fun, hands-on art activity. Dress for mess! This event is open to children in grades 1-3.