April 2020 Library News & Events
All programs are free of charge unless noted otherwise. Learn more at friendsofroslindalelibrary.org.
All programs are free of charge unless noted otherwise. Learn more at friendsofroslindalelibrary.org.
While all the physical BPL branches are closed, the online library is open and ready to welcome you during this difficult time.
Online Resources at BPL.org
There are many ways to use the Boston Public Library while it is closed. You can sign up for a BPL library card at bpl.org/get-a-library-card to get an eCard. The eCard provides access to millions of ebooks, audiobooks, movies, newspapers, magazines, journals, databases, and other online resources, including OverDrive, Kanopy, and Hoopla. All you need is a computer and an internet connection to access these resources and then log in to bpl.org with your eCard or physical library card.
A note on borrowed and donated books: The BPL is unable to have patrons return borrowed books at this time. Please don't return them at any dropoff boxes at any of the branch libraries until the library system reopens. Also, don't leave any donated books on the ground outside any branch libraries. Instead, please leave your gently-used donated books in any little library in the Roslindale Community Library Network.
Today is National Census Day!
One of the few things that isn't canceled is the Census. The U.S. Census Bureau is urging residents to complete the Census online or over the phone to lessen the need for in-person, door-to-door outreach while the country grapples with the coronavirus outbreak, preferably by today. It’s available in 13 languages at my2020census.gov or by calling (844) 330-2020. Additional toll-free numbers in other languages can be found online. If you already received a mailer, it contains a Census ID number you can use to log in online, which the Census Bureau recommends as the fastest method. You can still respond online even if you haven’t received the number or lost it. It takes only ten minutes to do and can be done while social distancing at home!
Online Adult Book Discussion: The Interestings
April 16, 1 PM
Roslindale Head Librarian Becky Manos plans to facilitate her April Adult Book discussion on April 16 at 1 PM. We will be using Uberconference.com. Please let Becky know if you are interested in participating. She will forward you information about how to connect. We will be discussing The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer. If you need the book and want to read online you can try Hoopla which is available through the BPL website with your library card. Contact Becky at [email protected].
Online Race and Inclusion Book Discussion:
How To Be An Antiracist
Saturdays, May 2, 9 and 16
Morning (9:15-11 AM) and Afternoon (1:30-3:15 PM) Sessions
Our planned May discussion on Ibram X. Kendi's book, How to be an Antiracist, will now be done remotely on Zoom. Antiracist is about understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society—and in ourselves. The discussion will be led by local educator Josh Frank. We would usually recommend borrowing the ebook version from bpl.org. However, because there is a long waitlist for the ebook there, we encourage you to buy either the ebook or the physical book from our local independent bookstore Rozzie Bound in its online bookshop at https://bookshop.org/shop/rozziebound. Customers will have to pay for shipping (which takes about 5 days), but all books are sold at a 10% discount. Rozzie Bound is also donating sale proceeds to support its April community partner RoslindaleCares.com, a mutual aid group created by RISE to help the community deal with COVID-19.
Because this is a very popular book, 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 1:30-3:15 PM.
To register please email JP Branch librarian Laura Pattison at [email protected]
---You only need to register once for all three dates, even if 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.
----Laura 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 do not get an email from Laura, please assume that you are not registered.
These online discussions will happen on all the dates, even if the library miraculously reopens in May.
The discussion is co-sponsored by the Friends of JP Branch Library.
Online Spanish Conversation Group
Saturdays, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
This group is doing its weekly meetings on Zoom. It is a fun, casual group of Spanish learners of all levels and native speakers learning to speak to each other. To join the group, email [email protected].
Big Library Read
If you want to participate in an online book discussion happening right now, the digital book club on Overdrive, Big Library Read, is featuring Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic: A Comedian’s Guide to Life on the Spectrum with no waitlists or holds on the ebook or the audiobook now through April 13. Share your thoughts about the book with readers around the world. The discussion board will be available until April 20.
Remote Resources for Families and Youth
The children’s librarians across the BPL have been working hard to compile information and resources for families with children at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Remote Resources for Families and Youth libguide includes tips for talking to kids about Covid-19, lists of ebooks for children and teens available through the BPL, DIY storytimes, links to special read aloud and draw along with children’s authors and illustrators, and more. The DIY storytimes include links to YouTube videos of favorite storytime songs as well as links to specific picture book ebooks to check out from the library. The guide will continue to grow so check back frequently!
Facebook Live Storytimes
Our children's librarian Celeste held her first Facebook Live Bouncing Babies storytime at 11:00 on Friday, March 27. Caregivers could log in and follow along with books, songs, and bouncing rhymes. The video will continue to be available on the Roslindale Library Facebook page until the end of the school year. Follow us on Facebook to find out when the next FB live storytime with a BPL librarian will be. The Remote Resources for Families and Youth libguide will also have links to recorded storytimes.
Ebooks for kids ready for chapter books
Celeste created a booklist of chapter books available as ebooks through the library. These books are great for second and third graders who are starting to read chapter books independently, but also make a fun read-aloud for the whole family.
Library Celeste YouTube Channel
Celeste has also created a personal YouTube channel for recording favorite storytime songs and activities. This is a side project, not part of her official work with the Boston Public Library and the channel is not affiliated with the BPL. However, she thought some of you might be interested in checking out Library Celeste!
Facebook Updates
Becky will be posting on Roslindale Branch Library Facebook Page to give you links to some fun and/or informative options available online through the BPL website. Please check the site and "like" us to keep updated. You will need to access the BPL.org website with your library card and pin or sign up for an online ecard to experience many of the options.
Send Us Your Recommendations!
Since many of you are social distancing at home, you may have found more time for reading or using the many free online resources offered on bpl.org. Send us your recommendations for any books you are reading or online resources you are using. Maybe you are reading a book you found in one of our little libraries around Roslindale, or you watched a great movie on Kanopy, or learning a new language on Mango, or read an international newspaper on Press Reader, or acquiring a new skill through the BPL's Lynda.com portal. You can either send us a list of what you are reading/using, write a short review, or send us a picture of what you are reading at [email protected]. We will post them in the next newsletter and on our website.
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