April 2024 Library News & Events

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 fill the vacancies, 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/

Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who supported the Yarn Sale this year. We made around $8,000 - the largest amount ever raised - which will support library programming at the branch.

Restockers Needed
The Friends keep several business-based little libraries stocked with books in East Roslindale. This involves picking up book donations and checking one or two libraries every few weeks. If you can help with this, please contact [email protected].

Library Lobbying
Interested in helping to pass state legislation that protects library staff and services and access to books? Please email us at [email protected] to get involved.

Annual Book Sale
Thursday, May 2, 4-8
Friday, May 3, 9-5
Saturday, May 4, 9-4 (Bag of books for $7)
$1.00 a book. Great deals on good condition fiction and non-fiction. Lots of recent books. Tons of children's books. Credit cards are welcome for purchases of $5 or more.

April Events

Resume and Career Assistance
Mondays, 10 AM – 1 PM
Through May 20
Drop in and have a BPL Workforce Librarian review your resume. Registration is not required.
VITA Free Tax Preparation
Saturdays through April 13
10 AM – 4 PM

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) will be at the Roslindale Branch Library on Saturdays from January 20 through April 13, offering free drop-off tax assistance.

*The last day to submit tax documents for preparation is April 6*

• Taxpayers must show all adult individuals' Social Security cards and IDs in the tax return.
• Taxpayers will leave income documents for tax preparation.
• All documents will be returned when the taxpayer returns to pick up the completed Federal and State tax forms on the following service day. The completed tax return forms can also be emailed to the taxpayer for approval.
• The household income limit is $70,000; J1 Au Pairs and F1 international student visa holders are eligible.

For more information, contact VITA by telephone/Text: 617-838-8089 (leave a message) or email: [email protected]. Registration is not required.
Book Discussion Club: Devil in a Blue Dress (1990) Walter Mosley
Wednesday, April 3, 11 AM – 12 PM
Thursday, April 11, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Select one date to attend. Email [email protected] to join.
Cribbage Club
Wednesdays, April 3 & 17, 2:30 – 4 PM
Join us to play this unique and addictive card game, where players score points by collecting different combinations of cards and the score is kept by putting small pegs in holes in a board. Players of all levels are welcome. Registration is not required.
Roslindale Meet & Greet with Councilor Pepén
Thursday, April 4, 6 – 7:45 PM
Join Councilor Enrique Pepén for a meet-and-greet, where you can learn about his work and share priorities for the neighborhood.

Pre-Hispanic Stories with Rosalba Solis
Saturday, April 6, 2 PM
Join Rosalba Solis of La Piñata for stories from pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Rosalba has been teaching about Latin American Culture for over 30 years. This program has been generously funded by a Baxter Grant.

Family Story Time with Miss Celeste
Ages 0-5
Saturday, April 6 and 20, 10:30 AM
Join Roslindale Children’s Librarian, Miss Celeste, for stories, rhymes, finger plays, and other activities to support early literacy. This program is best for ages 0-5.

STEMout with Northeastern
Ages 6-12
Saturdays, April 6, 13, and 20, 11:30 AM
Northeastern University students lead children in hands-on STEM activities, including zip lines, Rube Goldberg Machines, and more!

Ann Turley Retrospective Exhibit Opening Reception
Saturday, April 13, 2 – 4 PM
Celebrate 60 years of Roslindale artist Ann Turley’s work with refreshments and an artist talk. The show will be on view through June 7.

Free Legal Clinics for Immigration Assistance
Thursday, April 18, 3 – 7 PM
Rian Immigrant Center’s expert legal staff and pro bono attorneys will offer free, drop-in legal consultations for immigrants. Translators will be present to assist. (Please note that attorneys cannot review or fill out forms.) Registration is not required.
Mah Jongg Club
Thursday, April 18, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Play the American-style variant of this tile-based game that originated in China and requires skill, strategy, and calculation. Players with knowledge of the game are preferred, but it is a friendly group, and beginners are welcome. Email [email protected] to register.

Rozzie Reads Poetry and Open Mic
Thursday, April 18, 7 PM
Live at Roslindale House, 120 Poplar Street
Featured Readers: Matthew Henry, Jennifer Jean, Jason Tandon
Neighborhood Roundtable: Talking with Kids about Climate Change
Saturday, April 20, 2 – 4 PM
Many children are aware of the changing climate - they may be fearful, or they may be eager to do what they can to make things better. Mothers Out Front, a nonprofit committed to addressing climate change, invites you to join neighbors and friends for an interactive discussion about these issues and have hopeful conversations with our children about the changing climate.
You, Me, and Climate Change
Thursday, April 25, 6 – 7:30 PM
Join Trevor Murphy, Design and Education Manager at Weston Nurseries, as he discusses what you can do about climate change in your landscaping and design. This includes the plant-soil connection and the importance of biodiversity and native plants. Sponsored by Roslindale Green and Clean.

All Ages Poetry Reading - Ages 6+
Saturday, April 27, 2:00 PM
The young poets who participated in our “Take a Poem, Leave a Poem” program, and others read their poems in celebration of National Poetry Month. Interested in reading? Email [email protected]

Rozzie Bound's First Anniversary Party
Saturday, April 27, 11 AM - 6 PM
Rozzie Bound, 739 South Street
Rozzie Bound is celebrating our first anniversary and Independent Bookstore Day with an all-day party with book giveaways and other surprises.
Starring Humphrey Bogart Film Series
Join Barry Marshall, Senior Affiliated Faculty member in the Visual and Media Arts Department at Emerson College, to view and discuss films featuring actor Humphrey Bogart. Registration is not required.
Monday, April 1, 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Dead Reckoning (1947) 1 hr 40 min
A decorated war hero searches for his serviceman buddy who disappeared from a train en route to Washington, D.C., where the former gets involved with a crooked gambler, blackmail, and murder. Directed by John Cromwell and starring Lizbeth Scott and Morris Carnovsky.

Monday, April 8, 1:30 – 3:30 PM
The Harder They Fall (1956) 1 hr 49 min
In his final film, Humphrey Bogart is a cynical former sportswriter squaring off against the corrupt, fight-fixing manager of an up-and-coming Argentinian boxer. This powerful exposé is based on Budd Schulberg's hard-hitting novel. Real-life prize fighters Jersey Joe Walcott and Max Baer have cameos. Directed by Mark Robson and starring Rod Steiger and Jan Sterling.

Race and Inclusion: Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H
Saturdays, May 4, 11 and 18, In-person at 9:15 – 11 AM and virtually at 2:00 – 3:45 PM 
This group now meets in person at the Roslindale Branch in the mornings, and the afternoon session will take place on Zoom. The group will discuss Lamya H's Hijab Butch Blues. When fourteen-year-old Lamya H realizes she has a crush on her teacher—her female teacher—she covers up an attraction she can't yet name by playing up her roles as an overachiever and class clown. But one day in Quran class, she reads a passage about Maryam that changes everything. From that moment on, Lamya makes sense of her struggles and triumphs by comparing her experiences with some of the most famous stories in the Quran. The discussion will be led by local educator Josh Frank. Email [email protected] to join for the morning session, and email [email protected] for the afternoon session.