January 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.
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.
Friends Virtual Open House
Monday, January 25, 7 PM
You have probably seen news of the ongoing library renovation or information about events, and this is an opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at what the Friends do. Please "stop by" to learn about the Friends’ goals, the status of the renovation, the events we plan, information about how you can be involved (with as little or as much time as you have available. We’d like to know what you and your household would like to see from the Roslindale branch. We look forward to seeing you virtually in January and would value your participation in planning several fun celebrations (in person, we hope) for when the library reopens. Please RSVP by Sunday, January 24 at [email protected] to get the Zoom link on January 25.
Rozzie Reads Poetry and Open Mic
January 21, 7 PM
To sign up contact [email protected]
Featured readers: Alondra Bobadilla and Boston Youth Poet Laureate Susan Eisenberg
Some exciting featured Rozzie Reads Poetry readers coming in 2021:
February 18: Regie Gibson and Alexis Ivy
March 18: Dorothy Derifield and Jennifer Jean
April 15: Bruce Weigl and Cammy Thomas
Online Race and Inclusion Book Discussion: Caste
Saturdays, January 9, 23 & 30
(FULL)
Registration for this program is now closed, as both the morning and afternoon sessions are at capacity. It's an important book, and we hope you will still read the book on your own if you didn't get into this program! Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings. She is also the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Warmth of Other Suns. The discussion will be led by local educator Josh Frank. You can get the book from bpl.org (which has a very LONG waitlist for the print book), or get the ebook or audiobook from Overdrive.com. You can also get it at an online bookstore like Rozzie Bound, which will be donating ALL sales from this book to the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, a Dorchester-based nonprofit that serves as "a center of healing, teaching, and learning for family and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss." As a matter of fact, Rozzie Bound will donate all its proceeds from its "Racial Justice Bookshelf" to the Peace Institute. You can find the virtual shelf here: https://bookshop.org/shop/rozziebound.
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 "Caste 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.
Activist Kids Book Club
Saturdays, 4 PM
Calling all kids interested in working to make the world a better place! 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 better place for everyone. This group is best for kids ages 6 and up. We will send out a Zoom link 24 hours before the program and again an hour before it starts. To make sure you get a link, please register by 10 AM on Saturday. Register once for the whole 26-week series here: https://bit.ly/35KunCy. You will receive reminders and the Zoom link every week. Questions can be directed to the Roslindale Branch Children's Librarian Miss Celeste at [email protected].
Preschool Storytimes
Tuesdays, 4:30 PM
Children’s Librarian Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri continues her weekly Preschool Storytime series on Zoom. Join us every Tuesday at 4:30 for songs, stories, and fingerplays that reinforce early literacy and school readiness skills! Register at bpl.org/events. Preschool Storytime is part of the Boston Public Library’s Future Reader’s Club! The Future Readers Club is for children ages birth to kindergarten and their caregivers, a club to support reading aloud to the very youngest children with a goal of reading 1,000 books together before the child begins kindergarten. You can register for our app to track your reading and review books here.
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.
Renovation Update
The new awning has been placed where the expanded entrance will be.
Comments are closed.