LIBRARY NEWS: Wilmington Library Announces Cuts To Statewide Databases Due To Elimination Of Federal Funding

Below are announcements from the Wilmington Memorial Library:

Library Closure
Wilmington Memorial Library will be closed Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

Adult Programs

Drop-in Tech Help
Tuesday, July 1, 2pm
Wednesday, July 2, 2pm
Thursday, July 3, 2pm
Saturday, July 5, 2pm
Have a tech question that’s been bugging you? Stop by Drop-in Tech Help.

Needleworkers at Night
Monday, June 30, 6-8pm
These nighttime sessions are perfect for anyone who does any kind of needle craft but can’t make it to Needleworkers during the day! Drop-in.

Slice and Dice- A Pizza and Table Top Game Night
Tuesday, July 1, 6-8pm
Join Librarians Mary and Marie for Slice & Dice, our monthly pizza and table top game night for adults. Each month, we’ll kick off with a featured game, followed by open play where you can explore our game library or bring your own favorites to share with the group!

Puzzle Race!
Thursday, July 3, 6-8pm
Put your team’s puzzling skills to the test as you race to complete a 500-piece puzzle in 90 minutes! The first team to complete a 500-piece puzzle will take home all the glory (and a prize). All Ages.

Self-Serve Lemonade Bar
Saturday, July 5, 11am
Summer is underway! Stop in for a glass of lemonade with some tasty mix-in and syrup options. Pairs well with a beach read! While supplies last.

Youth Programs

Retro Family Gaming Night with One Up Games
Monday, June 30, 4:30-7:30pm
One Up Games is bringing a walkable, playable museum to our library! Players will learn about the history of gaming. From old to new, check out gaming consoles throughout history and even try the consoles for yourself! All Ages

Outdoor Preschool Storytime
Tuesday, July 1, 10am
Storytime has moved outside for the summer! Time for Twos includes books, rhymes, music and movement for ages 3-6. Ages 3-6

Mindful Movement
Tuesday, July 1, 4pm
Join library pals as we flow through children’s yoga poses, mindful movements, and read some books to help us grow in mindfulness and peace. Grades K-2

Dnd 101 For Teens
Tuesday, July 1, 6pm
New players who wish to join our library campaign (or who just want to learn about the world’s most popular roleplaying game) should attend our 101 sessions, held monthly. Grades 6-12

Outdoor Time for Twos
Wednesday, July 2, 10am
Storytime has moved outside for the summer! Time for Twos includes books, rhymes, music and movement for children aged 2. Age 2

Book Making Club for Grades 1-3
Wednesday, July 2, 4pm
Over a 6-part weekly series, young book makers will explore different styles, mediums and book types for developing characters, narrative voice, plot and more! Grades 1-3

Tie Dye
Wednesday, July 2, 6pm
Bring a piece of clothing or fabric to tie dye at the library! This fun family tradition is back again! This year, bring something white – a shirt, socks, a hand towel, a headband – and tie dye with us on the front lawn of the library! All Ages

Outdoor Baby Time
Thursday, July 3, 10am
Storytime has moved outside for the summer! Baby Time includes books, rhymes, music and movement. Ages 0-23 months

Family Movie: The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Thursday, July 3, 3-5pm
Wear your pjs and bring something comfy to sit on for this special library event! Watch a movie and enjoy delicious popcorn! All ages

Pokémon Card Trading
Saturday, July 5, 10am
Come by the library to trade cards! This event will focus on Pokémon trading cards, but attendees can bring any cards they wish to trade. Grades K-5, siblings welcome.

Additional Information

WML’s Summer Reading is Back!
The Summer Reading Program is here! Register and log your reading online at wilmlibrary.beanstack.org or grab a paper log at the library. Throughout the summer you can collect prizes and raffle tickets by reading and completing activities. This year’s theme is Level Up at Your Library, running from June 23rd to August 13th.

Save the Date: Author Talk with Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Join author Jarrett J. Krosoczka on July 22nd at 6pm, as he shares his popular books, including kid’s graphic novel series, Lunch Lady and teen graphic memoir, Hey, Kiddo, with a live drawing demo, Q&A, book signing, and meet-and-greet. This event is for all ages and will be held at the Wilmington Senior Center.

Cuts to Statewide Databases
Beginning July 1, 2025, Massachusetts residents will experience significant reductions in access to statewide research databases due to the elimination of federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), following Executive Order 14238. While the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), Massachusetts Library System (MLS), and Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) are striving to preserve key services, including support for eBooks and the Commonwealth Catalog, many valuable resources will no longer be available.

IMLS provides grants to libraries of all 50 states to support the work of all types of libraries in the U.S. In Massachusetts, the MBLC administers federal grant funding to libraries around the state for many projects, including statewide research databases. As a result of the cuts, MBLC has lost over $3 million dollars of federal funding for fiscal year 2026. For more information about the MBLC’s funding cuts please visit: https://wilmlibrary.org/econtent/research/.

The staff at the Wilmington Memorial Library apologizes in advance for any inconvenience this change may cause. The following statewide databases will no longer be available: Boston Globe Article Archive (1980-present), Britannica Moderna, Gale Academic OneFile Select, Gale General OneFile, Gale Health and Wellness, Gale in Context: Biography, Gale in Context: Elementary, Gale in Context: Environmental Studies, Gale in Context: Global Issues, Gale in Context: Middle School, Gale in Context: Science, Gale in Context: US History, Gale in Context: World History, Gale Interactive Science, Gale LegalForms, Gale Literature Resource Center, HeritageQuest Online, Peterson’s Career Prep, Peterson’s Test Prep, Science Database (ProQuest), and Transparent Language Online.

Book Store Next Door
Regular hours are back at The Book Store Next Door! The bookstore is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am-4pm.

Museum Passes
The library has discounted passes to your favorite Massachusetts museums, attractions, and state parks. Find the full list by visiting http://www.wilmlibrary.org/services/mp.

WML In-Person & Virtual Programming
Registration is required for most in-person programs and is required for all virtual programs, as you will need to register in order to receive the Zoom link. You can register on our website at www.wilmlibrary.org or by calling (978) 658-2967.