Above: The revamped SYFS & Library book group will continue to include self help book topics, but eliminate what may have been a barrier for some interested in participating. (images cropped from flyers)
The Southborough Library and Southborough Youth & Family Services is partnering again to resume the “Shelf Help” group they launched last fall. But there are big changes in the format.
Community members are no longer pushed to pre-read in order to participate. (Of course, those interested in pre-reading the featured book are welcome to do so. The library and SYFS staff members are happy to help registered participants get their hands on a copy of the book.)
Plus, the group’s focus is now expanded to also discuss supplemental reading/media. The registration page for August explains:
Everyone is welcome. . . the conversation is open to all. No prior reading is required. In the weeks leading up to the event, we’ll also share a range of related resources—including podcasts, articles, and videos—to help engage with the topic from multiple angles.
Under the original format for the group, organizers tried to make participating easy by breaking up the reading into smaller sections of the book each meeting. That meant one book was stretched over three months.
The revamped format will focus on a new topic each month. And some months will feature novels related to “mental health and emotional well being” rather than self-help books.
But first up, is another self-help book to help some parents who may be struggling.
On Tuesday, August 26th from 7:00 – 8:00 pm, the group will discuss Breaking Free of Child Anxiety & OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents by Dr. Eli R. Lebowitz.
The sign up page for the meeting describes:
This research-based guide offers practical tools for supporting children with anxiety and OCD and introduces strategies that reduce stress for the whole family just in time for the start of school!
The August discussion will take at the Library.
Future meetings will also take place on Tuesdays from 7:00 – 8:00 pm, but not always in person:
- September 30th at the Library — Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Hg (a novel)
- October 28th at the Library — Where to Draw the Line: How to Set Healthy Boundaries Every Day by Anne Katherine, M.A.
- November 25 over zoom — A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (a novel)
Anyone with questions or who needs accommodations can contact SYFS at 508-481-5676 or ebrideau@southboroughma.com.
