December 2018 Library News & Events
All programs take place at the Roslindale Branch Library and are free of charge unless noted otherwise.The library will be closed on December 25 and January 1. It will be open 9 AM - 2 PM on December 24 and 9 AM - 5 PM on December 31. Call the branch at 617-323-2343 for more information. Learn more at friendsofroslindalelibrary.org.
Kids Winter Crafts
Saturday, December 1, 10:30 AM-Noon
Kids of all ages are welcome to make a winter scene to hang at the library or bring home.
Silk Holiday Floral Arrangements with Jan G. Louissant
Saturday, December 1, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Registration required. Call 617-323-2343
Posada Navideña and Holiday Mini-Craft Fair
Saturday, December 15, 10:30 - 12 PM
A true Mexican and now Roslindale tradition - the Nativity re-enactment of Joseph and Mary seeking lodging. Come dressed warm and ready to carol for “Posada” or “Shelter" around the Village accompanied by Mariachi Estrella de Boston and expect to be greeted with goodies for the children, warm tamales, champurrado (hot chocolate) and other Mexican treats. The Friends will also host a mini-craft fair, selling handmade items made by the Friends and a small amount of yarn and other arts and crafts to make your own last minute holiday gifts!
We will depart from the Roslindale Library at 10:30 am sharp to Adams Park and other participating businesses. We will return to the library to end our celebration where the Friends will greet us with books, piñatas and goodie bags for the kids. Everyone will also be able to decorate holiday ornaments with Sherry Eskin. Check out a quick video of the mariachi band singing Feliz Navidad. Please join us!
Knit/Crochet Circle
Wednesdays, 1:30-3 pm
Come to the library to craft and have pleasant conversation with your neighbors in this weekly drop-in social group. All levels of skill are welcome.
Rozzie Reads Poetry Discussion
Thursday, December 11, 7 - 9 pm, Roslindale House, 120 Poplar Street
We will be reading and discussing poems from Ruth Stone's In the Next Galaxy. You are welcome to attend even if you haven't read the collection.
Adult Book Discussion
Thursday, December 20, 1:30-2:30 pm
We will be discussing A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Newcomers Welcome. Enjoy refreshments. Meet new friends.
Weekly Children's Programming
Preschool Movies
Mondays, 10:30 am
Toddler Time
Tuesdays, 10:30 am
Creative Drama
Tuesdays, 4-5 pm
(Time may be changed to 4:30)
Lego Club
Thursdays 4:30-5:30 pm
(for children ages 4 and older, with caregivers )
Homework Help
Mondays - Thursdays, 3:30- 5:30 pm
Weekly Adult Programming
English Conversation Group
Thursdays, 6 pm - 7:30 pm
Spanish Conversation Group
Saturdays, 11 am - 12 pm
Coming Soon!
Between the World and Me
Book Discussion
Jan 5, 12 & 26
A People's History
Book Discussion
February & March
Limited call for book donations and the yarn sale prior to renovation closing
We are awaiting a revised community meeting and construction schedule but it looks like the branch will be open at least through this spring. Therefore, the Friends could use some book donations for our daily sale shelves in the rotunda. Please bring in small batches of your recent fiction and non-fiction in good condition. We are also planning to host our annual yarn sale this spring and we need donations of yarn, fabric and other crafting notions from the community. Lastly, we welcome donations of giftable handmade items - hats, scarves, etc - from the community to sell at our Holiday Mini-Craft Fair on December 15. Give your donations to the staff at the circulation desk. All sales from books, yarn and handmade crafts will support the library.
Holiday Shopping with the Friends!
If you do any shopping on Amazon this holiday season, please consider registering with the Friends' AmazonSmile account. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the Friends will receive 0.5 percent of the purchase price. There is no additional cost to the Friends or to AmazonSmile customers. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for donation” on their product detail pages. The shopping experience is identical to Amazon.com with the added benefit that the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate that percentage to the Friends! The percentage might seem minuscule, but this adds up if you are a regular Amazon customer who makes purchases several times a week or month, especially during the holidays.
Of course, if you just want to donate directly to the Friends, you can do so on our donation page or become a Friends member. Every dollar and cent counts!
Roslindale Library Memory Journal!
The BPL is running the “Love Letter to a Library” public art collaboration throughout the library system with a banner on the side of the building. This project is meant to encourage patrons to share their memories of the library and its importance in the community. The Roslindale branch will be closing soon for renovations and it is even more important to record the memories of Roslindale community members. A memory book is available now in the library rotunda for patrons to share their memories.
Growing the Network of Free Community Bookshelves
Do books inspire you? The Roslindale Branch of the Boston Public Library will be closing for renovation in 2019. While this is going on, we would like to ensure our neighbors of all ages access to books to celebrate the joy of reading and encourage positive community interaction. Here is one idea that we would like to propose: Adding more yard and business based little free lending libraries!
A first step is to find out what we have already and we could use your help. Please email us at [email protected] with any answers to these questions.
- Do you have a book sharing shelf or little library on your street? At what address or business?
- Can you recommend new business locations for library shelves?
- Would you be interested in learning how to build a little library for your yard?
- Would you be interested in volunteering to help grow and maintain this project?
- Do you know of organizations that would support this project through donations of books or materials?
- Do you have other ideas?
We would love to hear from you!
Join the Friends Race and Inclusion Committee!
We have heard how much you appreciate the programming we have been offering including the Globe Spotlight Team discussion, presentations by Hoda El-Sharkawi and Rev. Irene Monroe, and our popular book discussions with Josh Frank. We also have created book lists and reviews. Our programming will not stop once the library building closes for the renovation and we have more ideas about celebrating and uniting our community. If you are interested in helping to plan and produce educational events, discussions, and presentations related to race, ethnicity, religion, and culture with us, email [email protected].
Read a Book, Suggest a Book, Review a Book
We maintain a wide variety of topical books in our race and inclusion mega reading list for adults, teens/young adults, and children. We also welcome any book suggestions, especially ones for teens and children, to add to this mega list, which is mostly comprised of titles recommended by community members like you! This book list is meant to be a community resource that encourages thoughtful conversation, education, and respect for diversity. Also, if you read any of the books listed and want to write a review, let us know. We will consider review submissions for publication in our newsletter and website. Send your book suggestions and reviews to [email protected].
Volunteers Wanted
We are looking for volunteers for a number of Friends' and library programming. 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 booklists grouped for adults, teenagers/young adults, and children, and can be borrowed from the Roslindale Library!
Books about Holiday Traditions
Want to learn more about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Posada Navideña, Epiphany and even Festivus and how others celebrate these traditions around the world? We have a booklist for that!
2018: A Year in Books
Did you miss any of our booklists from the past year? We have compiled them all on one page for your perusal.
Words of Wisdom
“One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Support the Friends!
We are a volunteer-run organization. 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 donating, 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!
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