Support Our Library Association, Inc.

Welcome to SOLA, the Friends of the Stoughton Public Library!

The Support Our Library Association, Inc. (SOLA) is a non-profit organization that supports the program and service needs of the Stoughton Public Library of Stoughton, Massachusetts. SOLA is the Friends of the Library group for the Stoughton (MA) Public Library. Formed in 2011, SOLA provides funds for new and existing activities, programs and other services for children and adults at the Library.

Stoughton Reads Together 2026

Stoughton Reads Together, proudly brought to you by SOLA (Support Our Library Association), the Friends of the Stoughton Public Library, is here! Stoughton Reads Together is an annual community read initiative which serves as a catalyst for bringing people together to express ideas that will spark conversation, discussion and relationships. This year's pick is The Widow's War by Sally Gunning. The children's selection is Homespun Sarah by Verla Kay, with illustrations by Ted Rand. You can find both of these books in person at the Stoughton Public Library and via the library's Hoopla and Libby apps. Please see the Stoughton Public Library's Calendar of Events to read more information on and register for Stoughton Reads Together events.

Featured Programs

- Unveiling of the 2026 Stoughton Reads Together Art Installation - Tuesday, March 17th, 3:30 PM. Join us as we welcome the Stoughton Recreation Art Club members and unveil their creative 2026 Stoughton Reads Together art installation in the Children's area. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is not required.

- Bus Trip to Old Sturbridge Village - Wednesday April 29th, 8:00 AM-3:30 PM. Join us for a day trip to Old Sturbridge Village. Old Sturbridge Village is a living museum located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, which recreates life in rural New England during the 1790s through 1830s. It is the largest living museum in New England, covering more than 200 acres. This is a paid event; the costs is $40 per adult, $25 per youth (4-17) and $10 for children under 3. Each participant must register individually, including all children. One adult chaperone for every two children is required. This trip is non-refundable and will take place rain or shine. Registration and pre-payment are required by March 27th.

- Book Discussions: Virtual Book Discussion - Wednesday, April 8th at 7:00 PM. In Person Book Discussion - Tuesday, April 14th at 2:00 PM. Registration required. Space is limited.

Adult Programs

- Raising Chickens 101 - Thursday, March 19th, 6:30 PM. Join Jen Holmes for an interactive, learning-style workshop covering the basics of backyard chicken care. Topics will include housing, feeding, egg production and local considerations. Participants will receive a chicken care and setup checklist. No live animals used. Ages 12+ only. Registration recommended but not required.

- Natural Soapmaking for Teens & Adults - Tuesday, March 24th at 3:00 PM. Join Jen Holmes for an engaging introduction to soap making where participants decorate and customize their own melt-and-pour soap using colors, scents and creative designs. Registration is required. Space is limited.

- Presentation: “13 Moons” with Mashpee Wampanoag Historian Darius Coombs - Saturday, March 28th at 1:00 PM. Join Mashpee Wampanoag Historian Darius Coombs as he presents “13 Moons.” “13 Moons” takes a historic look from 12,000 years ago until today in a slideshow format. There will also be time for Q&A at the end. Registration is recommended but not required.

- Embroidery for Beginners - Tuesday, April 7th at 10:30 AM. Join Mandy Robert in this exploratory workshop where you will learn a number of simple embroidery stitches/motifs, including a lazy daisy, a rosette and a French knot. Additional learning materials and books will be on hand if you'd like to try more advanced techniques. Registration is required. Space is limited.

- Paint Night at Stoughton Recreation Department - Friday, April 17th at 5:00 PM. Enjoy an evening out at the Stoughton Recreation Department painting a thematic scene from the 2026 book selections. This paid event costs $25. Registration is required through the Stoughton Recreation Department. Space is limited.

- Fix-It Clinic - Saturday, April 25th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Join the Stoughton Public Library and the Stoughton Public Works Department as we host our first Fix-It Clinic! This community event allows residents to come together to share their skills and repair items that would otherwise get put in our landfills. For more information please call Christine Iacobucci at 781-344-2711 or April Melito at 781-473-6293. Volunteers needed. Registration recommended.

Teen Programs

- Quill & Ink Craft Program - Monday, March 30th at 5:30 PM. Join the Historical Association of New England for a fun and engaging quill and ink craft program. Registration is recommended. Space is limited.

Children's Programs

- Clothing in the 19th Century for ages 6-12 - Thursday, March 26th at 3:30 PM. During this program led by educators at Old Sturbridge Village Museum, we will explore how clothing was produced in the late 1700s and 1800s. We will look at where these fibers came from, discuss textiles and links to slavery and learn why New England's geography contributed to its success during the Industrial Revolution. Registration is required. Space is limited.

- The Ox-Cart Man, an Interactive Reading with Old Sturbridge Village for ages 4-10 - Friday, April 24th at 2:00 PM. Explore how a country farmer visit the market and what he brings home in this interactive reading of The Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall. An educator from Old Sturbridge Village Museum will read the story and bring along objects from the story for students to hold and investigate. Registration is required. Space is limited.

And don't forget to visit The Storybook Trail at the Bradley Lessa Memorial Playground at 1258 West Street in Stoughton! Coming this spring, you can read Homespun Sarah by Verla Kay at the Storybook Trail, which allows patrons to enjoy a beautiful walk in the woods while reading our Stoughton Reads Together children's companion book. Each sign has a single page from a book to read.

SOLA Partners with The Imagination Library of Stoughton

SOLA (Support Our Library Association), the Friends of the Stoughton Public Library, are proud partners with Imagination Library of Stoughton. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Republic of Ireland. Inspired by her father's inability to read and write Dolly started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts millions of free books each month to children around the world. In 30 years the Imagination Library has registered over 3,197,250 children and gifted over 307,982,906 books.

The Imagination Library is proud to announce that largest-ever shared book reading study — analyzing data from more than 86,000 caregivers across five countries — confirms what so many families already know: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library dramatically strengthens early literacy skills.

Children enrolled in the program in the U.S. are

- 11x more likely to be interested in books

- 15x more likely to join in during shared reading

- 9x more likely to initiate shared reading

- Nearly 3x more likely to demonstrate concepts about print, with increases in counting and describing images

By mailing one free, high-quality book each month to children from birth to age five, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library helps build strong reading habits, meaningful family bonding moments, and a lifelong love of books.

Together, we're putting books into children's hands and opportunity into their futures.

Learn more, donate or enroll your child today.

SOLA Membership Drive

To celebrate Stoughton's 300th birthday in 2026, SOLA (Support Our Library Association, Inc.), or the Friends of the Stoughton (MA) Public Library, has launched its membership drive with a goal of 300 members. Your membership underwrites popular library programs like the Summer Reading Program and Stoughton Reads Together, allows the library to offer a wide variety of discount or free passes to area attractions and enables the outfitting of the library to serve the building and community's needs even better. Click on the Join Us link above to become a member today.

Ways You Can Support Your Local Library and Its Friends Group

Did you know that the Stoughton Public Library's Friends group, the Support Our Library Association, Inc. (SOLA), provides financial support for library programming, equipment, furnishings and more? SOLA is a proud sponsor of annual events like Stoughton Reads Together and the Summer Reading Program. SOLA also steps in to provide the library with the funds for other programs and needs like extra display shelving, study and sensory nooks and A/V equipment that allows SMAC to record and broadcast community forums and meetings. As you participate in the focus groups and survey to help the library with its 5-year plan, consider supporting your library by

- Donating directly to SOLA. Make a one-time or recurring donation through the Donate link above.

- Joining SOLA. Fill out a membership form by clicking Join Us above.

- Purchasing a leaf on the Community Giving Tree at the library. Learn more through the Donate link above.

- Shopping the used media shelves. Located on the library's middle level, all purchases go to SOLA to support its mission.

- Following SOLA and the Stoughton Public Library on Facebook and Instagram. Like and share posts to your personal page and interested groups.

Stoughton Public Library Museum Passes

Did you know that thanks to SOLA the Stoughton Public Library is able to offer a variety of passes and discount coupons for local attractions and activities? Take the family to the Easton Children's Museum or Boston Children's Museum; the Buttonwood Park Zoo, Roger Williams Zoo or Zoo New England (Franklin Park and Stone Zoos); and the New England Aquarium or the Museum of Science. Stroll through history at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, the Salem Witch Museum and the USS Constitution Museum. Enjoy getting out into nature with the Boston Harbor Islands Ferry, the Mass Parks Pass (DCR) and the Trustees of Reservations. Spend some time contemplating art and more at the Christian Science Publishing Center, Institute of Contemporary Art, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. You can even check out a one-week family guest pass to Old Colony YMCA! Football fans, you will soon be able to visit the Patriots Hall of Fame. All you need to reserve a pass is an active Old Colony Library Network (OCLN) adult library card. Only one reservation may be made per family per day and must be used for the day of reservation. The museum passes offered, admission fees and attraction hours are subject to change without notice; please confirm admission hours, fees and offers by contacting the museum or attraction directly. Reserve your pass in person at the circulation desk, by calling the library at 781-344-2711 or online.

Library Visitor Information

The Stoughton Public Library is fully open to the public during normal library hours: 9 am - 9 pm Mondays through Thursdays and 9 am - 5 pm Fridays and Saturdays. (The Library is open on Saturdays from September to the middle of June.) Reserved materials are available at the library circulation desk only. To request library items, place holds online using the card catalog, call in requests with your library card ready or send an email with your request and library card information. Bookdrops are open 24/7 for library item returns only. The library is only accepting the following donations at this time: 1 bag or 1 small box of donated books and/or DVDs that are in excellent condition (clean, no smell or damage) and recent bestsellers that can be sold on the ongoing sale table. The library does not accept textbooks, magazines, newspapers, old books, encyclopedias or dictionaries.