Star Wars rebels just one attraction at expanded library

Northborough - When the 501st Rebel Legion, its members wearing costumes from the Star Wars space adventure films, visits the Northborough Free Library Saturday Aug. 8, it will be just one more reason for area residents to visit the expanded facility.

The appearance of the rebels is part of the 1 to 3 p.m. finale for the summer's reading program for children, "Starship Adventure Summer Reading Program," that will include face painting, balloon sculpture, sidewalk chalk art and ice cream sundaes, said Children's Librarian Patricia Link. She said the sundaes are being made available through donations from Uhlman's Ice Cream, Davidian Brothers Farm and Hannaford Supermarket.

To register for this event, call the library's children's room, 1-508-393-5025 ext. 4.

While the finale winds up a summer of reading activities, it won't mean the end of programs and services at the library. Upcoming events include an appearance by Over the Top Gymnastics; Night Sky, an inflatable planetarium from the Boston Museum of Science; Space Goo and Bubble Bombs; a Mystery Book Group meeting; and a Friday morning book discussion. And that's just next week. (Visit www.northboroughlibrary. org/northborough/ events.asp for complete information.)

"We've been having busy summer," said Link. "It's much busier. The whole space is being used, which is wonderful."

The expanded library opened in March, and more people are making use of it as time goes on, she said.

"People are sitting and reading to their kids, to themselves … It's a place for people to come and meet," Link said. "The kind of summer it's been weather-wise, the library has been a very good place for families to go."

Computers are being used in all areas of the library, according to Link, and the new young adult room has been attracting teens since it opened.

"We have a fabulous young adult (YA) room. Our YA librarian really put her all into making it a very teen-friendly place," Link said. The room has four computers, comfortable chairs and even a Nintendo Wii game. "We have a lot of kids who are coming in to do their homework and they're coming to hang out. It's a very user-friendly place."

In addition to the young adult room, the library has an internet café, expanded used book sales and is completely refurbished. A total of 21 computers are available for patrons.

Thanks to a federal grant, the library also presents a series of Lifelong Access programs directed at patrons 50 years and older. Upcoming programs include a game night, a lecture on "How to be a good patient," a discussion on "Human rights in a new era: Wars for Peace?" and basic retirement planning. (Visit www.northboroughlibrary. org/northborough/lifelonglearning. asp for details.)