Unless noted otherwise, all programs are free of charge and in person at the Roslindale Branch. Learn more at friendsofroslindalelibrary.org. All branches will be closed on Friday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day, and Thursday, November 24, for Thanksgiving.
Roslindale Branch is Open!
Branch Hours
The Roslindale Branch is open Mondays - Wednesdays 10 AM - 6 PM; Thursdays 12 PM - 8 PM; Fridays 9 AM - 5 PM; and Saturdays 9 AM - 2 PM.
BPL Library Protocols
All branches follow the latest city and state public health guidance. While there will be no capacity limits or social distancing required, library patrons are recommended to wear masks since the library serves vulnerable populations. For more information, see https://www.bpl.org/news/health-and-safety-guidelines/.
BPL COVID-19 Resources
Are you looking for reliable information about COVID vaccines? The City of Boston has put together a resource guide to help answer your questions.
BPL Jobs
Do you need a job? The Boston Public Library is hiring system-wide. They have MANY positions that need to be filled. The sooner we get the vacancies filled, the sooner we can look forward to a second late night, faster building repairs, and a less stressed staff!
https://www.bpl.org/jobs-at-the-bpl/
Gardening with Native Plants: Why and How?
Saturday, November 5, 12:30 PM
Come learn from Amy Meltzer about the interdependent relationships among native plants, insects, and birds. Hear suggestions for beginning to garden with native plants. Together, we can simultaneously.
· reverse biodiversity loss
· increase resilience in our landscapes
· and slow climate change – all while creating a beautiful garden!
Amy Meltzer has been an active member of Grow Native Massachusetts for many years and has contributed to citizen science research on pollinators and native plants. She is a member of the Elders Climate Action research team, where she developed a presentation on the intersection of climate change and biodiversity loss and how both crises must be addressed simultaneously. She is an avid native plant gardener.
November + December 2022 Book Ambassador
Candelaria Silva-Collins
Candelaria Silva-Collins will sign copies of their books at Rozzie Bound on Saturday, November 12, 11 AM – 1 PM at The Substation, 4228 Washington Street. Silva-Collins is the author of the children’s books Stacey Became A Frog One Day and Jump, Jump, Jump, Stacey. Books will be available for purchase at the event. She will be joined at the event by famed illustrator Ekua Holmes, who will also sign copies of her books.
The Roslindale Book Ambassador Program is a joint effort of the Friends of the Roslindale Branch Library and Rozzie Bound.
Online Race and Inclusion Book Discussion:
Mediocre
Saturdays, November 5, 12 & 19
9:15 - 11 AM (Morning) or 2 - 3:45 PM (Afternoon)
We will read Ijeoma Oluo's Mediocre. Through the last 150 years of American history -- from the post-reconstruction South and the mythic stories of cowboys in the West to the present-day controversy over NFL protests and the backlash against the rise of women in politics -- Ijeoma Oluo exposes the devastating consequences of white male supremacy on women, people of color, and white men themselves. Mediocre investigates the real costs of this phenomenon in order to imagine a new white male identity, one free from racism and sexism.
The discussion will happen on Zoom and will be led by local educator Josh Frank. You can get the book from bpl.org or an online bookstore like Rozzie Bound, which has the book listed on the Friends "Black Histories and Futures" adult virtual bookshelf. The Friends will receive 50% of the proceeds from each book sold. You can find the virtual shelf here: https://bookshop.org/shop/rozziebound.
We will have two sessions with 20 participants each on the three dates. Times: Morning session at 9:15-11 AM and an afternoon session at 2-3:45 PM.
To register, please email Roslindale Branch librarian Jennifer Hawes at [email protected]. Please write "Mediocre Discussion" in the subject line when you RSVP.
- You only need to register once for all three dates, even if you think you might miss a date.
- Please choose the morning or afternoon time, and you will be registered for that same time for each date.
- Jennifer will register the first 40 people, 20 each, for the morning and afternoon groups. You will get an email if you are registered. If you are still waiting for an email from Jennifer, please assume that you still need to register.
Approaching Cookbooks In a New Way plus a HUGE cookbook sale
Thursday, November 10, 6 - 8 PM
Odessa Piper, Roslindale resident and founder of L’Etoile, a pioneering farm-to-table restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin, will share her experiences and thoughts about using cookbooks. Piper turned to cookbooks in order to bake for her first restaurant job in 1972 and continued to rely on them when culinary school and chef mentoring weren’t an option when she launched L’Etoile in 1976. She ran the restaurant for 30 years, building her culinary knowledge on the principle that respect for nature and all that grows is the beginning of understanding good food. At this talk, she will discuss her takeaways: “Don’t try to be smarter than your ingredients” and “My favorite cookbooks inspired ideas, provide context, instill confidence, and reveal the science behind ingredients and cooking.” Be prepared to look at the many different ways to make the best use of all kinds of cookbooks. Bring a favorite, or pick up a new one, and be ready to share. The cookbook sale begins at 6 PM. Most books are $1, and some are giftable for the holidays. The talk begins at 6:30 PM.
One-Day Gift and Book Sale
Come to the library Saturday, December 3, between 9:30 and 1:30, to buy some gift-worthy books and/or earrings for your holiday giving. Please drop off earrings to donate toward this sale in an envelope with the front desk staff.
Attention Local Authors!
Do you have a book coming out in 2023? Please keep us updated so we can share the news with Rozzie residents in our newsletter and ask our partner at Rozzie Bound to link to the book online. Rozzie Bound generously shares a portion of sales with Friends. Please email us at [email protected] with the book title, author, format, ISBN, and a brief description.
Rozzie Bound Author Signings
The following author events occur at Rozzie Bound, 4228 Washington Street, 11 AM - 1 PM. More information: rozziebound.com.
November 5, Traer Scott
November 12 - Candelaria Silva-Collins and Ekua Holmes
November 19 - Holly Guran
Volunteers Wanted!
We are looking for book sorters, sellers, and program coordinators. Interested? Email: [email protected].
Library One-on-One Tech Help
By appointment
Get assistance with basic computer skills or your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Stop by in person or call 617-323-2343 to make an appointment.
The Films of David Lean: Oliver Twist (1948)
Monday, November 7, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Barry Marshall, Senior Affiliated Faculty member in the Visual and Media Arts Department at Emerson College, will lead a pre-and post-viewing discussion of Oliver Twist (1948). In Charles Dickens's classic tale, an orphan wends his way from a cruel apprenticeship to a den of thieves in search of a true home. It starring Robert Newton, Alec Guinness, and Kay Walsh. 1 hr 45 min.
Meet Your Neighborhood Age Strong Advocate
Tuesday, November 8, 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Age Strong's Mary Sullivan will assist older adults with applying for city services and government benefits and connect them to programs and resources. Mary will return monthly on the second Tuesday of each month from 2:00-4:00 pm. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.
Tech Goes Home Computer Class Series
Begins Tuesday, November 8
Classes are 2x a week, Tuesdays and Fridays from 2:00 – 3:30 pm
No class Friday, November 11.
In partnership with Tech Goes Home, the library offers a 6-week computer class covering basic computer skills, including Gmail, Google Drive, and more. Participants who complete all 6 weeks (15 hours) of training receive a Chromebook to keep. Those who have no working computer and who are new to computers or who have limited technology skills are eligible for the class. Enrollment is prioritized for those who are 55+ but all in need are welcome to apply. To register, call 857-342-2677 or email [email protected]. Registration is limited.
Expanding Your Family Stories: Writing Workshop with Kim Kerrigan
Tuesday, November 15, 2-3:30 pm
Learn how to make your family stories come alive with writer and educator Kim Kerrigan. In this workshop, you will discover useful tips to research your family history and learn how to shape your stories into dynamic writing. To register, email [email protected]. Registration is required; space is limited.
Growing Together Garden & Plant Club
Wednesday, November 16, 4 – 5 pm
Interested in gardening and plants but need a little direction sometimes? Passionate about plants and want to share your knowledge? Join our new monthly group, dedicated to all things plants and gardens. November’s meeting will focus on tips for starting winter seedlings indoors. No registration is required.
Have Passport, Will Travel: Saudia Arabia (Presentation)
Thursday, November 17, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
In 2021 local resident Faith Girdler visited Saudia Arabia. Learn about what she discovered on her travels as a solo woman in this fascinating country.
The Films of David Lean: Ryan’s Daughter (1970)
Monday, November 21, 1:30 – 5 PM*
*Please note that this is a 3-hour and 20-minute film.
Barry Marshall, Senior Affiliated Faculty member in the Visual and Media Arts Department at Emerson College, will lead a pre-and post-viewing discussion of Ryan’s Daughter (1970). Set in the wake of the 1916 Easter Rising, a married woman in a small Irish village has an affair with a troubled British officer. Starring Robert Mitchum, Trevor Howard, and John Mills. 3 hr 20 min.
Rozzie Reads Poetry
Thursday, November 17, 7 PM
Roslindale House, 120 Poplar Street
We'll also be on Zoom.
Featured readers: Martha Collins and Enzo Silon Surin
To sign up for a link or for an audience seat, contact [email protected]
Knit/Crochet Circle
Tuesdays, 11 AM - 1 PM
Bring your projects and enjoy the company of other crafters. Crafters of all levels are welcome.
Elementary-Level ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Classes
Wednesdays, 12:45 – 2:00 PM
This class is for speakers of other languages who know some basic English and would like to learn more. Students will expand their vocabulary and grammar, as well as practice conversation and writing. Register by emailing [email protected] or calling 617-859-2446. Please note that this is a class rather than a conversation group.
Games People Play
Fridays, 3 – 4:30 PM
Backgammon, Bananagrams, Blokus, Catan, Cribbage, Password, Scrabble, Telestrations, Ticket to Ride, Yahtzee, anyone? Boost your brain and meet new friends with our variety of board games. Feel free to bring along a favorite game! No registration is
required. Email [email protected] for more information.
Online Spanish Conversation Group
Saturdays, 11 AM - 12 PM
A casual conversation for Spanish speakers of all levels. Email [email protected] to get on the group's email list.
Anime/Manga Society
Mondays, 4 – 5:30 PM
Watch Anime, discuss Anime and Manga, and try some Manga drawing. For ages 9 - 14. No registration is required.
Baby/Toddler Storytime
Tuesdays 10:15 to 10:45 AM
Best for ages 0-2 - Join Miss Celeste for a short book, bouncing songs, baby sign language, and many movement activities to promote early literacy.
Teen Time
Tuesdays at 3:30-5:30 pm
Join fellow teens ages 12-18 to chill at our after-school program with crafts, games, music, and more.
Preschool Storytime
Wednesdays, 10:30 - 11 AM
Best for ages 3-5 - Miss Celeste will read two to three stories, sing songs, and do activities that promote early literacy and school readiness skills. Note: if your family includes multiple children, please pick one storytime to attend each week. Pick the one that works best for you and your family.
Explore and Play
Fridays, 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Best for ages 0-2 - Meet new friends and explore different stations full of sensory toys, including shakers, bells, and other noisemakers, blocks and magnates; play dough; tunnels and playmats, and more! This is an informal playgroup, so feel free to drop in late or leave early to suit your family’s needs.
Kids Club: STEM
Tuesdays, 4:30 to 5:30 PM
Ages 6 and up - Welcome to Kids Club! Each month we will explore a different theme. In September, we focus on STEM with books and activities that dive into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
Lego Club
Wednesdays, 4:30 to 5:30 PM
Ages 4 and up - Welcome to LEGO Club! Come build with the library’s collection of LEGO and DUPLO blocks.
Art Explorers
Thursdays, 4:30 - 5:30 PM
Learn about the life and work of famous (and not so famous) artists with Miss Celeste! We will explore painting, collage, clay, and more! After reading and listening to a short biography and looking at the artist’s work, kids will have an opportunity to make their art inspired by the artist of the week.
Memory Kits
Memory Kits are now available for public use. A collaboration between the City of Boston’s Age Strong and the library, the kits are for use with those who have dementia, memory loss, or cognitive impairment and are intended to stimulate conversation and create positive interactions between caregivers and loved ones. The kits can be loaned for two weeks with a Boston Public Library card. There are three themed kits: Arnold Arboretum, Pets, and Roslindale History. Each kit contains conversation cards, a journal for caregivers to share their thoughts and experiences, art supplies, information for caregivers, and an assortment of picture-based books, DVDs, and music CDs.
Thinking About Writing a Book?: The Publishing Landscape for Aspiring Authors
Thursday, December 15, 6:30-7:45 PM
Are you a first-time author with a book idea but doesn't know how to get published? Few people who aren’t seasoned veterans of the traditional publishing process understand how a book goes from a little germ of an idea you think up in the shower to a real, live, hefty object sitting on the shelf. This workshop, led by literary agent Sarah Khalil of Kneerim and Williams, will take attendees through the lifecycle of a book and how literary agents fit into that process, including tips on how to find one. Co-sponsored by Rozzie Bound.
Roslindale Friends Co-President Constance Martin wrote a book review of The Woman in the Library.
Writer Hannah Tigone is sitting at a table in the Boston Public Library’s ornate Reading Room when a woman screams. She had been eyeing the three people adjacent to her as a possible source of inspiration, and the mysterious scream startles them into a conversation, then a spontaneous and enthusiastic friendship. But one of the four is a murderer. This is a story within a story: Hannah is Australian, writing a novel set in Boston from far away during the pandemic, corresponding with Leo, a fan who is based there and provides fact-checking on the chapters she sends him as well as commentary on his own attempts to become a published author. It is a variation of the locked room mystery where it seems improbable that a crime could have been committed.
Read the full review here.
BPL Online Resource Highlight: National Geographic Magazine
Full reproductions of National Geographic magazine (1888-present) and National Geographic Traveler (2010-present) and searchable collections of books, maps, images, and videos.
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