The Everett Public Libraries are excited to announce the third annual Great Everett Jewelry Exchange!

As you clean up your house this Fall, make a pile of your unwanted jewelry. During the month of September, bring it to the Parlin or Shute Libraries and exchange the jewelry for tickets to be used at our jewelry sale! Two pieces of jewelry are worth one ticket. 

On October 3rd, 2026, visit the Parlin Memorial Library to trade in those tickets for new treasures! Ticket holders get an early look from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Doors open to all from 1:00 to 4:00 pm where jewelry will be sold for $1 per piece. All funds go to the Friends of the Everett Public Libraries.

Have questions? Contact Kathleen at (617) 394 2300 or email slipp@noblenet.org.

This September, the Everett Public Libraries invite you to celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month and discover how a library card can hit all the right notes, no matter what your tastes are. 

With a library card, you can do more than check out books. From free classes and job resources to homework help, streaming media, and cultural events, today’s libraries connect communities to information, inspiration, and each other.

An initiative of the American Library Association, Library Card Sign-up Month has been held each September since 1987 to mark the beginning of the school year, combat illiteracy, and encourage communities everywhere to explore all the offerings that having a library card unlocks. Today, thousands of public libraries and schools nationwide participate in the month-long celebration each fall.

This year’s theme, “A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes,” is a reminder that libraries offer something for everyone—no matter your age, background, or goals. Whether you’re checking out a classic story or trying something new, finding harmony at the library’s programs, finding your focus in a study room or vibing out in a cozy nook, or composing your future with new skills, there’s a seat in the front row at the library for you, and your library card is the ticket.

At the Everett Public Libraries you’ll find:

• Video games, board games, and puzzles
• Museum passes and discounts
• CDs and Vinyls
• A Library of Things, including the yarn library, accessibility tools, and more!
• Programs and events for all ages—from storytimes and book clubs to job search support and tech help!

Join us throughout September for special Library Card Sign-up Month activities, including:

• FRED Talks – Tuesday, September 15th at 7PM
• Author Event: Jenn Bouchard – Wednesday, September 16th at 7PM
• Everett: East to West Book Club – Saturday, September 19th at 2PM
• Tune In: Music Class at the Library – Weekly on Thursdays at 3PM
• Pop-up tables throughout Everett! 

This September, B sharp and sign up for a library card! Stop by the Parlin Memorial Library or Shute Memorial Library, or visit us online at www.everettpubliclibraries.org to sign up for your card today.

On May 7th, 2026, the Parlin Memorial Library hosted the Awards Ceremony for this years’ contest, in which the three finalists from each of the three categories – youth, teen, and adult – were invited to recite their poems for the judges. The judging panel was composed of library staff, including the Parlin and Shute Children’s Librarians, Kristin McAuliffe and Valerie Terenzi respectively, Head of Circulation, Victoria Iannuzzi, and Library Director, Kevin Sheehan. 

“We were so pleased with the turnout for the contest, this being only the second year of resurrecting this annual tradition,” states Iannuzzi. The poetry contest has been a longstanding yearly competition hosted by the Everett Public Libraries, but was on hiatus for a few years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This year we decided to inspire our poets with a theme,” added Sheehan. He elaborated that “we wanted the community to ruminate on the 250th anniversary of our nation, so we provided the theme ‘250 Years of Independence’ as a suggestion to our local poets.”

The evening was filled with thoughtful expression, which the crowd of onlooking parents, friends, and fellow poets took in with heartfelt tears of joy. With compelling messages and vivid lyricism, the finalists offered unique perspectives on the last 250 years of American history. After much deliberation, the judges concluded that the winners of the contest were Arielle Louis (youth category), Lee Walsh (teen category), and Paige Anderson (adult category).

This year’s contest was generously sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Everett, who provided cash prizes for the winners at the conclusion of the ceremony. “The Everett Public Libraries have once again brought our community together in the best way — by giving people of all ages a chance to express themselves,” said Kiwanis President, Matthew G. Alphen. “On behalf of all our members, we congratulate every single one of [the finalists]. You took your spirit, creativity, your courage, and you turned it into poetry — and that deserves applause.”

The Everett Public Libraries would like to offer a special thanks to the Kiwanis Club for their support of this contest and for providing the refreshments for the evening; it is community advocates like the Kiwanis Club of Everett that allow for wonderful celebrations of artistic merit such as the Poetry Contest to continue to be a yearly tradition.

Read the winning entries here!

Lettuce and Tomatoes and Basil, Oh My!

The Everett Public Libraries are excited to announce the seasonal opening of the Seed Library at the Parlin and Shute Memorial Libraries! Now an annual tradition, the Seed Library is open to the public to peruse our collection of nearly 30 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers for check out. This year, the Library Gardening Committee has made over 1,000 packets of seeds available for free to anyone who is interested in planting them! 

“Being on the Garden Committee has allowed me to fulfill the ever growing need to participate more in urban gardening and fight back on consumerism wherever we can,” expresses Maddison, a  Library Aide  at the Parlin Memorial Library. “Having seeds at the local library is another way we can build a greener space and find others who also enjoy a porch garden.”

The libraries kindly ask that patrons limit their seed checkouts to 5 seed packets per family to get their gardens started this year. If you are interested in gardening, or think you might like to try it out, the libraries encourage you to sign up for one of the many gardening workshops available for our Gardening Series hosted by the Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens. 

The series begins on Saturday, April 25th, with a Container Gardening Workshop in the Parlin Memorial Library Meeting Room beginning at 11:30 am. Register for any of the workshops using the library calendar online, calling 617-394-2300, or asking a librarian to sign you up!

Find the seed library at the Parlin in an old card catalog!