Blog
Feb 01

February 2021 Library News and Events

February 2021 Library News & Events

All programs are free of charge unless noted otherwise. Learn more at friendsofroslindalelibrary.org.

BPL To-Go App
Patrons are now able to pick up physical items at the Boston Public Library with the new BPL To Go program. Using the library website, phone line (617.536.5400), or the BPL To Go iPhone app, patrons will be able to “order” (place a hold on) items such as books, DVDs, and CDs.

BPL COVID-19 Resources
Looking for reliable information about COVID vaccines? The BPL has put together a resource guide to help answer your questions.

Roslindale Branch Construction Update
At an all-staff meeting on January 27, the BPL confirmed that the Roslindale Branch is still on schedule to reopen in the early summer of 2021. Children’s Librarian Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri has begun the process of ordering new books for the opening day collection and is excited to fill the shelves with quality new children’s materials. Since the library has not yet hired a new Branch Librarian, the new adult collection is being developed by the centralized collection development staff.

BPL Livingroom Conversations
As a result of the success of Livingroom Conversations in 2020, the BPL is running a six-part Livingroom Conversations series revolving around self-care for 2021 with discussions ranging from physical self-care to spiritual uplifting.  Social Distance Self-Care includes simply playing around with your loved ones. It might mean having espresso along with your best-friend or arranging a breathtaking night out on the town with your mate. It implies talking adequately through the clash and tending to the feelings of your loved ones. 6 feet apart while wearing your masks, except if you’re eating or drinking. In the living room conversations, participants will be able to take turns talking to share and learn. Facilitated by library staff members, these conversations offer a simple, sociable, and structured way to practice communicating across differences while building understanding and relationships. Sign up for the February 3 event and future events here.  Registration is required. For questions, please email [email protected].

Repairing America Series

Janice P. Nimura — The Doctors Blackwell  - Feb 4 | 6 pm - 7 pm
Author Janice P. Nimura's book about two of America's first female doctors celebrates how they exploded the limits of possibility for women.

Sybrina Fulton — The Purpose of Power: We Are All Trayvon - Feb 9 | 6 pm - 7:30 pm
Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, uses her experiences to take us beyond the news cycle to give the story of the beautiful and complex child she lost.

Anna Malaika Tubbs — The Three Mothers - Feb 23 | 6 pm - 7 pm
Scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs celebrates Black mother­hood by telling the story of the women who raised three of America’s most pivotal heroes - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, James Baldwin, and Malcolm X.

Sign up for these and other upcoming events in the Repairing America series at bpl.org/RepairingAmerica

"Black Histories and Futures" Virtual Bookshelves!
We are kicking off Black History Month with our latest Rozzie Bound virtual bookshelves called "Black Histories and Futures." We carefully curated three bookshelves - adults, teens/tweens, and children - featuring over 100 fiction and nonfiction books that look at Black history makers of the past, present, and future.  Many of these books would make a great reading companion for Isabel Wilkerson's Caste (if you are reading it), or if you just want to increase your personal knowledge of Black history and racial justice. You can even order books and send them as gifts to other addresses.  Best of all, the Friends of the Roslindale Branch will receive 20% of the sales on each book sold on these three bookshelves, which will support future library programming, like our Race and Inclusion series!  You can find the virtual shelves here: https://bookshop.org/shop/rozziebound.

Rozzie Reads Poetry and Open Mic
February 18, 7 PM
To sign up contact [email protected]
Featured readers: Regie Gibson and Alexis Ivy

Some exciting featured Rozzie Reads Poetry readers coming in 2021:
March 18: Dorothy Derifield and Jennifer Jean
April 15: Bruce Weigl and Cammy Thomas

Online Race and Inclusion Book Discussion:
White Rage
Saturdays, March 6, 13 and 20
9:15 - 11 AM (Morning) or 2 - 3:45 PM (Afternoon)
We will discuss Carol Anderson's book, White Rage. Carefully linking voting rights and other historical flashpoints when social progress for African Americans was countered by deliberate and cleverly crafted opposition, Anderson pulls back the veil that has long covered actions made in the name of protecting democracy, fiscal responsibility, or protection against fraud, rendering visible the long lineage of white rage. 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 20% of proceeds from each book sold.

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 2 -3:45 PM.

To register, please email JP Branch librarian Laura Pattison at [email protected].  Please write "White Rage Book 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.
  • 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.
  • This discussion is co-sponsored by the Friends of the JP Branch Library.

This discussion is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.

Activist Kids Book Club
Saturdays, 4 PM
The Activist Kids book club will continue through February. Through the 26-week Activist Kids Book Club, we will focus on a different page in A is for Activist, read other picture books about the issues and movements discussed in the book, learn about kid activists throughout history and today, and talk about what we can do to make our world a little more just for everyone. This group is best for kids ages 6 and up. We will send out a Zoom link on the day of the program.  Curious about what we have been reading? Check out the Activist Kids Book Club book list. Register for the whole Activist Kids Book Club here:  https://bit.ly/35KunCy.

On February 6, we will be welcoming a special guest. Levi is a 13-year-old activist who is one of 21 young people represented by Our Children's Trust in a lawsuit suing the U.S. Government over its inaction regarding climate change. Levi and his fellow plaintiffs believe that young people in the country have a constitutional right to a healthy environment. Levi will talk about his role in the case and his work as a climate activist. Questions can be directed to the Roslindale Branch Children's Librarian Miss Celeste at [email protected].

Davey the Clown
Saturday, February 13, 11 AM
The Roslindale Library is once again thrilled to welcome Roslindale's own Davey the Clown to our online library! Join him for a morning of fun with juggling, unicycling, songs on the accordion, and other clown antics performed in Davey's living room. This interactive performance will have your kids laughing themselves silly. Register at https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/60143b1460a86b2f00b9f451

Preschool Storytimes
Tuesdays, 4:30 PM
Miss Celeste kicked off Preschool Storytime this year with an alphabet themed series. Each week she introduces a puppet version of the letter of the week and gives the opportunity to guess the character’s favorite food, animal, and other items. This helps promote letter recognition and phonetic awareness. We read stories and sing songs to develop early literacy skills in a fun and playful way. Please go to https://tinyurl.com/BPL-Preschool to register.

Online Spanish Conversation Group
Saturdays, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Join this casual Spanish conversation group for all levels.  It is currently accepting new members into the group.  To join, email [email protected] with "Spanish Group" in the subject line.

Help keep our Community Library Network supplied!
The Friends have a team of volunteers who restock the business based and home-based libraries that we put up in anticipation of the library being closed for renovation.  What a help they have been for our community during these COVID times too!  BUT we need more book donations to keep the libraries stocked.  Please drop off gently used, recent, fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books at 631 South St. or email [email protected] for a pickup.  No oversized books or textbooks, please.  Many thanks.

Children’s Book Bundles
Roslindale Children’s Librarian Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri and Jamaica Plain Children’s Librarian Barbara Rhodes are working together to create custom book bundles for kids to pick up at the Jamaica Plain library. We know it is hard to know what books to choose for your kids without browsing the shelves. Since the library buildings will remain closed for the time being due to escalating COVID cases in the city, book bundles are the next best thing to browsing! Fill out one of our request forms, or email the information to [email protected], and we will prepare a stack of books just for your kid!

After-hours Book Drops Are Now Open
While the Roslindale Book drop is still unavailable due to the ongoing construction, the after-hours book drops at the other city branches are now open. You can return books at your convenience.

Virtual Homework Assistance Program
The Boston Public Library’s Homework Assistance Program has gone virtual this year. Students in grades K-8 can meet with high achieving high school students on Zoom to get help with school assignments. There are four different Zoom rooms for different areas of the city. Roslindale is in Zoom 3. The Homework Assistant Program can be accessed via computer, smartphone, tablet, or telephone.

Online Resource Highlight:
Civil Rights Database & Anti-Slavery Manuscripts

Civil Rights Database
Containing hearings and committee prints, legislative histories on the landmark legislation, CRS and GAO reports, briefs from major Supreme Court cases and publications from the Commission on Civil Rights, this database allows users to educate themselves on the ways our civil rights have been strengthened and expanded over time, as well as how these legal protections can go further still. Click Here.

Anti-Slavery Manuscripts
The Boston Public Library's Anti-Slavery Collection represents one of the largest institutional holdings of special collections materials related to the 19th-century abolition movement, a half-century fight to end the slave trade in the United States and free enslaved African Americans. Many leading anti-slavery activists of the period had ties to New England and women played notable, visible roles within the movement as organizers, fundraisers, and advocates. Look through a guide to our anti-slavery manuscripts, as well as some in-depth posts looking at specific pieces of the BPL collection. Click here.

Corporate Donations!
Thanks to recent donations from Google and John Hancock, we are able to continue doing online programming during the pandemic.  We welcome donations large and small to help defray costs to keep us going.  If you work with a company that offers donations and corporate matches to 501c3 nonprofits like the Friends, please consider contacting your human resources or external giving department and email us at [email protected].

Holiday Shopping with the Friends!
If you are doing more Amazon shopping during the lockdown, please consider registering with our Friends' AmazonSmile account.  For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the Friends receive 0.5 percent of the purchase price year-round.  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.  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!

BPL To Go
The BPL is offering limited pickup services for physical library materials at most branches when put on hold.  Library cardholders — including e-card holders — will be able to safely pick up their items much like picking up takeout from a restaurant, and return items using designated bins.  No other physical services at the library will be available, but branches will continue to offer a wide range of online programming and resources.

Library Moratorium
The Boston Public Library recently announced that is it extending its moratorium on assessing late fines through March 31, 2021. The BPL first instituted the moratorium in March 2020 in the wake of the pandemic. While originally planning to reinstate fines in September 2020, the BPL instead extended the moratorium through the end of 2020 and has now extended it for a second time through the end of March 2021.

BPL Reading Together
The Boston Public Library is launching Reading Together, a yearlong reading challenge for the year 2021. While many Bostonians remain isolated due to the global health emergency, Reading Together challenges BPL patrons to read a book each month that falls under a suggested theme. The themes were chosen to broaden perspectives and connect readers across the city throughout the year.  Readers of all ages and all language speakers are encouraged to participate in the yearlong challenge. Recommended booklists corresponding to the monthly themes are available for adults, teens, and children at bpl.org/yearlong. Readers are also welcome to choose their own books each month and to share their recommendations with others participating in the challenge.

 


Online Resources at BPL.org
There are many ways to use the Boston Public Library during this period. 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, phone or tablet, and an internet connection to access these resources and then log in to bpl.org with your eCard or physical library card.  The BPL is also offering a full listing of online services.  Send your questions to [email protected].   Please leave your gently-used donated books in any little library in the Roslindale Community Library Network.

Computer Access at the BPL
Mayor Walsh and the Boston Public Library launched two new initiatives designed to help bridge the digital equity gap in the City of Boston. The Public Computer Access program will allow residents to sign up for a two-hour appointment to use library computers in a socially distanced space within the Central Library in Copley Square. The Outdoor Wi-Fi Program provides 24-hour outdoor internet access at nine BPL branch locations across the city, allowing users to socially distance while accessing the Internet for free.


Museum Passes
The Boston Public Library also announced it is reinstating a version of the Museum Passes program, granting BPL patrons access to free and discounted passes to Massachusetts museums and cultural institutions. As museums continue to open in Phase Three of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan, the library will add more institutions to the program. For more information on COVID-19 safety requirements when visiting these organizations, patrons can call or visit their websites directly.

Printing To Go
Printing To Go, a free print-on-demand service is now available at all BPL branches not currently under construction.  Patrons can upload documents they need to be printed by filling out a form at bpl.org/printing-to-go, selecting their location, and picking up their print jobs 72 hours later at the branches, or 24 hours later at the Central Library in Copley Square. Printed items can be picked up during branch hours of operation, a reservation is not needed.  The service is limited to 10 pages per patron per day. Documents will be printed in black and white, single-sided, on 8.5" x 11" paper, and should not include personal information, such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, or other similar information. Print requests must comply with the Library’s Internet Use Procedures and Guidelines.

New WiFi Hotspots
The Boston Public Library has invested in new wifi hotspots that can be checked out from the library. If you do not have internet access at home you can check out a hotspot for three weeks. The hotspots have unlimited data and can support up to 15 devices. You can place a hold on a hotspot online or by calling your closest library branch. Since the Roslindale branch is closed for construction, you can place a hold to pick up a hotspot at Jamaica Plain (617) 524-2053 or West Roxbury (617) 325-3147, or any other branch that is convenient.

Books of the Month

Each month we feature themed booklists grouped for adults, teenagers/young adults, and children, and can be borrowed as an ebook from bpl.org!

Books about Black History and Culture
The BPL offers a wide variety of African-American fiction and nonfiction ebooks and audiobooks that you can download and read right now.

Books about Reading Together
Read together with your BPL community throughout 2021! Visit www.bpl.org/yearlong to learn more about our Yearlong Reading Challenge and how you can participate, including book discussions for these Community Read titles.

Books about Bridgerton
It's official; Bridgerton is Netflix's biggest hit show ever! You can catch up on the whole Bridgerton book series here - just in time for Valentine's Day.

Words of Wisdom

“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public." - Cornel West

Sharing is Caring
The best way to know about upcoming offsite Roslindale library programs, special events, news, and renovation updates is to stay on this email list, like our Facebook page, and regularly visit friendsofroslindalelibrary.org and bpl.org.  If you know anyone who would like to join our email list, please tell them to sign up on our website's homepage at friendsofroslindalelibrary.org.  We would also appreciate it if you forward our emails and share and like our Facebook posts with your networks to help get the word out.

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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