Libraries in Rehoboth-Seekonk, MA

New England's Rehoboth-Seekonk area, as remarkable as it is for its unique role in early American history, also boasts a number of equally interesting libraries. Having been a regular denizen of both school and local libraries throughout my adolescence, I recently felt compelled to write on the subject. Here is a guide to three local libraries, located in Rehoboth, Seekonk and Swansea.

Blanding Library, located on Bay State Road between Rt 44 and 118, features a strong emphasis on the arts as well as literature. Every year they present Arts in the Village, a performing arts series consisting of appearances/performances by highly distinguished, award-winning musicians. The 2008-09 season, which wrapped up on April 11, featured artists such as marimbist Fumito Nunoya, the Chiara String Quartet, and the Boston Trio, and was held in the historic Goff Memorial Hall, located directly next to Blanding. There's also contra dancing, poetry readings, lectures on the history of Rehoboth and New England, book club selections, and countless other educational and artistic programs.

Blanding is not without accommodation for its younger visitors. If you go downstairs, you'll find a separate, kid-friendly section with bean-bag chairs, small tables, and a selection of books, magazines, videos and comics just for children and young adults. Cat's Corner offers a story and crafts hour for kids ages 3 through kindergarten, plus one-day discounted and free passes to places like Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence Children's Museum, Mystic Aquarium and the Lizzie Borden Museum.

There are other perks to hold your interest as well. For example, don't miss out on this year's book and bake sale, held on May 2 in the Goff Hall. It's a great opportunity (as I have personally found) to walk away with a giant stash of books for just a few dollars. And the SAILS library network offers downloadable electronic books for use on your computer and MP3 player.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:30am-8pm; Friday-Saturday 10am-4pm. 124 Bay State Road, Rehoboth, MA; (508) 252-4236; www.blandinglibrary.org.

Seekonk Public Library is another library not to be missed. It has an interesting past, having first consisted in 1825 of a private reading group of women who collected 70 books and called themselves "The Female Benevolent and Library Society." It has since grown into a thriving community center, with an extensive calendar of events and programs. Like Blanding, it is also part of the SAILS library network, which means you can find and request books that are currently unavailable (or lost) from other libraries in the network. Other offered services include museum passes for members of Friends of the Library - you can visit Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, Sports Museum or Museum of Science, or various parks and beaches in Massachusetts - and a variety of activities for kids, teens and families, such as toddler-preschool storytime hours, parent/child book clubs, monthly family nights with music and speakers, and much more.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 10am-8pm; Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday 10am-4pm. 410 Newman Avenue, Seekonk, MA; (508) 336-8230; www.seekonkpl.org.

Finally, Swansea Public Library, located on Swansea's Main Street, offers unique, educational activities. If you've got a nose for news (or at least always find yours in a newspaper), you'll delight in the Newshounds' weekly discussion group, established recently to provide an avenue to read local, regional, state and world newspapers among friends. If you're more for mystery and intrigue, consider joining the Swansea Sleuths, a book club that convenes monthly to discuss the latest page-turner - next month's featured book is Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs. Or there's spring storytimes, book clubs for kids and teens, or a showcase of the latest blockbuster films, complete with brief online reviews.

Exciting new events are planned for the spring at Swansea Library. May 16 is their annual plant sale, featuring donated plants and gardening items on the library's front lawn. Then on May 20 and 27 is "Every Stitch has a Story," a two-part program with Chris Peter that explores the connection between crafts and storytelling. Finally on June 27 is the book and bake sale, to be held from 9am-12pm at Christ Church Hall.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm and 6:30-8:30pm; Friday-Saturday 10am-5pm. 69 Main Street, Swansea, MA; (508) 674-9609; www.swansealibrary.org.