August 2017 Library News & Events

All programs take place at the Roslindale Branch Library and are free of charge unless noted otherwise.  Call the branch at 617-323-2343 for more information.  Learn more at friendsofroslindalelibrary.org.

Book Discussion: You Can’t Touch My Hair
Thursday, August 17, 6:30 pm
We will end our Race and Inclusion Summer Reading Series with a book discussion about Phoebe Robinson’s book, You Can’t Touch My Hair.  We invited two natural hair stylists to join our discussion on the modern nuances of black feminism today, from institutional racism to the politics of black hair. The Friends purchased a limited number of copies of the book for patrons to borrow now on a first come, first served basis.

For more information about this and other events in the Race and Inclusion series, go to friendsofroslindalelibrary.org/inclusion.

Keep Reading With Us This Summer!
The last two book discussions have been very lively and frank conversations about race and identity. All three books from the summer reading series will be available for patrons to borrow from Roslindale Library through Labor Day weekend.

American Moor Special Friends Offer!
O.W.I. (Bureau of Theatre) is offering Friends members a 20 percent discount on tickets for its upcoming production of Keith Hamilton Cobb’s American Moor in the Plaza Theater at the Boston Center for the Arts.  Funny, ironic and deeply moving, American Moor explores the process of auditioning for the role of Othello. An audition process that invariably ends up with a large black man on stage responding to white middle-aged decision makers who portend to understand how a charismatic, intelligent, black man should react in an alien society.

Tickets can be purchased at American Moor – Boston Theatre Scene. The promo code is FRBL – Promo good for all performances from now through Saturday, August 12. Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm.  Post-show discussion every Sunday & Thursday.

Computer Literacy Drop-In Clinic
Monday, August 7, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
The Friends are offering free basic computer literacy support for those who need help with Microsoft Word, Excel or Powerpoint, email and Internet issues, social media, basic computer hardware and software Issues, and how to download BPL content onto your computer or tablet   Bring your computer (if you have one) and questions for quick advice!

Natural Approaches to Autism, ADHD and other Neurological Conditions with Cindy Hebbard
Thursday, August 10, 6:30pm -7:30pm

Roslindale Village Farmers Market Book Sales
Saturday, August 12, 9 am – 2 pm, Adams Park
We will also sell books at the farmers market on September 9!  Check out some photos from last month’s book sale.

Second Saturday Play Reading Series
Saturday, August 12, Noon – 1:45 pm
Theater group O.W.I. (Bureau of Theatre) will do a play reading.  More information: officeofwarinformation.com

Now Hiring Logan Airport TSA Officers FT and PT. Recruiters’ Information Session
Monday, August 14, Noon – 3 pm

Summer Reading Club for Children
Tuesdays, Through August 15, 10:30 am

Adult Book Discussion
Thursday, August 17, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
We will be discussing The Whole Town’s Talking by Fannie Flagg.  Refreshments will be provided and newcomers are always welcome.

“City Collage” Summer Art Workshop with Michele Brooks
August 19, 10:30am -11:30am
For ages 5-12. Please register 617-323-2343

Countdown to Kindergarten Party
Wednesday, August 23, 10:30 am

Art display: Bressingham Garden Oil Paintings by Catherine Zimmerman. Artist Reception August 19, Noon-1pm

Please note: Chess Club will not be held during August. It will resume in September.

Regular Children’s Programming

Preschool Movies
Mondays, 10:30 am

Toddler Time
Tuesdays, 10:30 am

Regular Adult Programming

English Conversation Group
Thursdays, 6 pm

Spanish Conversation Group
Saturdays, 11 am

Coming Soon!

Rozzie Reads Poetry
September 19

El Dia De Los Muertos
October 28

Getting to Know You Through Our Cultures
October

Posada Navideña
December

Library Museum Passes!
Looking to do something fun and educational with your family this summer? The Friends sponsors the library’s museum pass program, which is available to any library cardholder. Reserve all passes in advance for a particular day. Plastic, returnable passes are checked out like books and must be returned to the library after your visit. To get passes, contact the circulation desk at the library or go to bpl.org.  You can also visit some of these museums for free on certain days thanks to the Highland Street Foundation.

Children’s Museum
One-day paper pass admits 4 people, with half price copay per person

DCR MassParks
Returnable parking pass for $5

Franklin Park Zoo
One-day paper pass admits 6 people, $9 per adult and $6 per child

Harvard Museum of Natural History
$6 per visitor, limited to four people

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
One-day paper pass for 4 people, $5 copay

Museum of Fine Arts
One-day paper pass admits 2 people, with $10 copay per person

Museum of Science
One-day paper pass admits 4 people for free, this doesn’t include parking fee

USS Constitution Museum
Returnable pass for 9 people, free admission

Wheelock Family Theatre
With a library card and calling the theater ahead of time, patrons can get 2 for 1 admission

Roslindale Library Renovation Update!
The contract with the architects, Leers Weinzapfel Associates, has been signed!  Here is the timeline for the next phases of the renovation:

The design phase is when the architects take the information from the completed programming study and start to create a design with the assistance of engineers. The design phase has 3 phases: Conceptual Design, Schematic Design and Design Development. In each phase, the design becomes more refined and detailed.  The design phase is where the community provides feedback and helps inform the design process.   There will be 3 or 4 community meetings during this phase. Following the Design Development phase, the architects put together construction documents.  Approximate timeline for this process is between 12 – 18 months.

Bid for construction Summer/Fall 2018
Start construction early 2019

Seeking Roslindale School Parent Volunteers to Help with Library Card Campaign
If you are a parent of a preschool or elementary student who attends school in Roslindale, we would like to invite you to help connect your school with the Roslindale Branch Library for the purpose of signing up students for library cards and scheduling library tours for classes (weekdays) or families (Thursday evening or Saturday). For more information or to volunteer to help with this campaign, please contact [email protected].

The Children’s Immigrant Story Project Display
RISE (Roslindale is for Everyone) donated to the Roslindale Branch Library six children’s books to add to our children’s picture book collection. The books discuss issues of immigration and separation from a child’s point of view. Rachel Lerner, Jaime Pullen and Larry Bayer have planned the “Children’s Immigration Story Project”.  They will create and post a display in the library’s street window from August 12-September 30. The library’s ABCD Summerworks student, Mya Joseph, is helping with putting together the display and encouraging children who visit the library to draw pictures that may be included in the display. On Saturday, September 16 at 11 a.m. there will be a special family story time and project.

Job Opportunity: ESL Facilitator
The Roslindale Library is looking to hire a facilitator for the English Conversation Group on Saturday mornings.  Preference for someone with experience teaching ESL.  A stipend will be provided and negotiable. Please send a resume to [email protected].

Call for Artists!
Artists are invited to participate in a special exhibit at the Roslindale Library in October 2017. The theme of the exhibit is “Getting to Know You Through Our Cultures.” The cultures of Roslindale come from all over the world. We seek art that gives a visual of some aspect of these cultures and heritage, whether landscape, food, people, transportation, etc.  Deadline to enter is August 31. Email an image of your proposed art piece to [email protected] (subject line: Roslindale Library Exhibit) along with the following information: your name, address, telephone, the title of art, art medium, the size of the art piece, culture it represents and a paragraph about yourself and your culture.

Looking for Summer Reading?
In addition to the race and inclusion summer reading series, you can also choose from a wide variety of topical books from our race and inclusion mega reading list for adults, teens/young adults, and children.  A new book list on disability rights and accessibility issues was just added.  Borrow one of these books today!

Photos From New York Public Library

Are you vacationing out of town this summer? If you are and happen to visit a unique, interesting local library, please take pictures and send them to us.  We might feature them here in the newsletter and our website!

This month we received photos from Laurel Davis who visited two public libraries in New York City recently.  She went on a tour of the Schwarzman Research library in Manhattan.The Copley library was a direct inspiration for architects John Carrère and Thomas Hastings when designing the New York library in 1908.  The tour was led by volunteer and Friends of New York Public Library member named Hilda, whom Davis said gave a very thorough history of the library’s historic building.

Davis also said she visited the Schomburg Center for Black Culture, another research library in Harlem, which is currently hosting a yearlong exhibit on the black power movement.  This library is best known to be the final resting place of writer Langston Hughes, whose ashes are buried underneath the center’s atrium named after him.  According to the Schomburg’s website, the floor design of the Langston Hughes Lobby is a public art installation call Rivers and “is marked by a brass cosmogram bearing song lines, texts, and literary signs paying ancestral tribute in the tradition of African ritual ground markings, weaving a web of connections between people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, the past and the present.”

See the slideshow here.

Volunteers Wanted
We are looking for volunteers for a number of Friends’ and library programming, including new members for our decoration, renovation, and race and inclusion committees.  Please view the job descriptions on VolunteerMatch.  If you are interested in any of the positions, contact us at [email protected].

Books of the Month
Each month we feature themed book lists grouped for adults, teenagers/young adults, and children, and can be borrowed from the Roslindale Library!

Books about Caribbean Heritage
During this time of the year, there are many parades and festivals throughout the city celebrating the cultures of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and other islands in the West Indies. Check out this book list that features books written by Caribbean authors and/or about the Caribbean experience.

Books about Summer
Of course, we would have a list featuring books that take place in the summer! Whether you are looking for a beach read or a book to take on vacation, you will definitely enjoy this list.

Words of Wisdom

Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you. – Langston Hughes

Support the Friends
All the work we do for library programming, publicity, and building improvements is done with support from the community. There are many ways to support the Friends, like making a donation, becoming a Friends member and even shopping on Amazon!

Contact the Friends!
For information about the Friends, contact us.  We also share information about upcoming events, photos from past events and other library news on Facebook and on our blog!