February 2024 Library News and Events

Speak out to Support Strong Public Libraries Statewide
At the Boston Public Library Trustees meeting held in Roslindale in November, BPL President David Leonard highlighted several important bills pending at the Statehouse. We have decided to stick a toe in the water of lobbying for policies that strengthen our libraries by inviting you to call our State House elected officials and urge them to support these bills. The legislature must take action by February 7, or these bills will die this session.

Please call or write the following offices and ask these elected officials to support passing the following bills by bill number.  “S” is for the Senate version, “H” for the House.  Talking points are included below.  Then please let us know if you made calls by emailing us at [email protected].  If you would like to be more involved in future efforts like this, let us know that, too.

State Senator Michael Rush at 617-722-1348, [email protected]
State Representative Rob Consalvo at 617-722-2030, [email protected]

Bill S.2447 / H.4235
An Act protecting against attempts to ban, remove, or restrict library access to materials

• Attempts to ban books are often accompanied by threats to library personnel.
• An alternative to banning books is to make sure parents have an opt-out choice for their children regarding available books.
• Teachers and librarians are professionals who are trained to assess the grade-level appropriateness of books.
• Book banning, prompted by a small number of parents, means other parents need to pay for books for their children.
• Book banning gives authority for reading material for all children to just a small number of parents.

Bill S.2188 / H. 3239
An Act modernizing library access to electronic books and digital audiobooks

• Public libraries often need to pay five to six times as much for an e-book compared to a hard copy.
• When a new release hits bookstores, a library is permitted to purchase one digital copy, but then they must wait until two months have passed before purchasing more copies.
• E-book licenses expire, making it difficult for libraries to maintain or expand their collections for patrons.
• In response to concerns that library lends are taking away from publisher sales, some publishers have introduced new policies that limit when libraries get access to new releases.   Major publisher companies, such as Amazon and Macmillan, have curtailed libraries’ access to electronic materials.
• E-books and audiobooks are critical alternatives for people with visual or learning disabilities and/or who are unable to travel to physical libraries and/or cannot afford to buy them.
• Authors Alliance is pleased to add its support to an effort to restore balance to the e-book market.

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/

Yarn Sale!
Thursday, March 7, 5–8 PM - Opening Night
Friday, March 8, 10 AM - 4 PM
Saturday, March 9, 10 AM - until yarn runs out
Yarn and craft supplies at deep discounts. Also, we will offer $5/bag all day on Saturday, March 9. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. All proceeds from the sale will go towards programming and other initiatives at the Roslindale Branch! Donations of yarn and all textile crafts are accepted at the library through March 4.

February Events

Housing Rights Workshop
Thursday, February 1, 5:45–7:45 PM
A City Life/Vida Urbana presenter will share information about signing rental agreements and offer solutions to common housing concerns. Hosted by Casserly House with Spanish and Haitian Creole translation by the City of Boston. RSVP (name, language) by text (617) 383-4539 or email [email protected].

Banned Book Club: The Color Purple
Thursday, February 1, 6:30–7:30 PM
We will read Alice Walker's The Color Purple, which is regularly banned or censored for many reasons, including religious objections, homosexuality, violence, African history, rape, incest, drug abuse, explicit language, and sexual scenes. Co-sponsored by Rozzie Bound. RSVP: [email protected].

Davey the Clown - Ages 0-5
Saturday, February 3, 10:30 AM
Roslindale’s own Davey the Clown visits the Roslindale library for laughs for the whole family.
Book Ambassador: Elizabeth Gonzalez James
Saturday, February 3, 1:30–3 PM
Rozzie Bound, 739 South Street
Book Ambassador Elizabeth Gonzalez James will sign her new book, The Bullet Swallower.  She is the author of the novel Mona at Sea and the chapbook Five Conversations About Peter Sellers. Her stories and essays have appeared in The Idaho Review, Southern Humanities Review, The Rumpus, StorySouth, PANK, and elsewhere, and have received numerous Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominations. She was Interviews Editor at The Rumpus and a former contributor to Ploughshares Blog. Originally from South Texas, Elizabeth now lives with her family in Massachusetts.  Co-sponsored by Rozzie Bound.
Scrabble Club
Thursday, February 8, 6 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 10, 1 – 3:30 PM
Join our Scrabble club! Players of all levels are welcome. If you have a board to bring along, that would be great (but it’s not a requirement). For ages 18 and up. Registration is not required. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Doug Sondak at [email protected].
“Love Your Library” Community Fundraiser
Saturday, February 10, 11 AM - 6 PM
Rozzie Bound, 739 South Street
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, show love and support for our local library. Ten percent of in-store book sales made on February 10 will be donated to the Friends, which supports, promotes, and enriches the library's services and programs for the public.
Free Legal Clinics for Immigration Assistance
Thursday, February 15, 3 – 7 PM
Free, drop-in legal consultations for immigrants will be offered by Rian Immigrant Center’s expert legal staff and pro bono attorneys. Translators will be present to assist. (Please note that attorneys are not able to review or fill out forms.)
Mah Jongg Club
Thursday, February 15, 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 on Zoom
Thursday, February 15, 7 PM
Featured Readers: Xiaoly Li and Anastasia Vassos
For the Zoom link, contact Vivienne Shalom: [email protected]

Family Story Time with Miss Celeste - Ages 0-5
Saturday, February 17 and 24, 10:30 AM
Join Roslindale Children’s Librarian, Miss Celeste, for stories, rhymes, finger plays, and other activities to support early literacy.
Countering the Ennui of the 1950s Film Series

Join Barry Marshall, Senior Affiliated Faculty member in the Visual and Media Arts Department at Emerson College, to view and discuss films from the 1950s. Registration is not required.

Ace in the Hole (1951)
Monday, February 5, 1:30 – 3:30 PM
A frustrated former big-city journalist now stuck working for an Albuquerque newspaper exploits a story about a man trapped in a cave to rekindle his career, but the situation quickly escalates into an out-of-control circus. Directed by Bill Wilder and starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, and Robert Arthur. 1 hr 51 min.
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
Monday, February 12, 1:30 – 3:30 PM
An unscrupulous movie producer uses an actress, a director, and a writer to achieve success. Directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, and Walter Pidgeon. 1 hr 58 min.
A Face in the Crowd (1956)
Monday, February 26, 1:30 – 3:30 PM
A female radio reporter turns a folk-singing drifter into a powerful media star. Directed by Elia Kazan and starring Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, and Anthony Franciosa. 2 hr 6 min.
Portraying Phillis Wheatley - A Sculptor's Quest
Thursday, February 29, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
The award-winning sculptor of the Boston Women’s Memorial (and many other monuments), Meredith Bergmann, will show images and talk about the 5-year process of creating her statue of Phillis Wheatley, one of the first Black and enslaved persons in the United States to publish a book of poems. Meredith’s presentation will include historical research, portrait and design issues, and feedback from the commissioning committee and the public. Q & A to follow. Registration is not required.

Race and Inclusion: The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace
Saturdays, March  2, 9 and 16, 9:15 – 11:00 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 Jeff Hobb's The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace. A compelling and honest portrait of Robert’s relationships—with his struggling mother, with his incarcerated father, with his teachers and friends—the book encompasses the most enduring conflicts in America: race, class, drugs, community, imprisonment, education, family, friendship, and love. 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.
Essence of Roslindale Art Exhibit
A variety of art by local artists is on view in the Community Room Gallery through March 15.

35th Annual Poetry Contest
Theme: WONDER
Submissions due by: March 11, 2024

How to enter:
Please include your name, address, phone number, age, and e-mail (if possible). Students: please include school and grade.

Submit poems one of three ways:

• E-mail to [email protected]
• Mail to: Poetry Contest, West Roxbury Branch Library, 1961 Centre St. West Roxbury, MA 02132
• Deliver by hand to the poetry contest drop box at the West Roxbury Branch Library

Awards Ceremony: April 29, 2024
West Roxbury Branch Library Award categories include each of grades K–8, high school, adults, and seniors.

Questions? E-mail [email protected]

Contest Sponsored by:
The Friends of the West Roxbury Branch Library
FriendsoftheWRLibrary.org