June 2021 Library News & Events
All programs are free of charge unless noted otherwise. Learn more at friendsofroslindalelibrary.org.
BPL Library Reopening!
The Central Library in Copley Square will reopen for limited service on June 1. Patrons will be able to browse for materials, use computers, make copies, and hang out in the courtyard. The second floor of the Johnson Building, including the Children’s Library and Teen Central will remain closed until June 14. On this day, all services at Copley will be available without limitations. On June 14 the library branches that are not under construction will also open for full services. While there will be no capacity limits or social distancing required, patrons using the library buildings will still need to wear masks since the library serves vulnerable populations and children who cannot yet be vaccinated. For more information, see https://www.bpl.org/news/reopening/
BPL Announces Permanent Elimination of Late Fines
Mayor Kim Janey recently announced that once approved by its Board of Trustees, the Boston Public Library will permanently eliminate late fines for patrons of all ages. This removal of late fines is supported by $125,000 of ‘revenue relief’ in Mayor Janey’s 2021 budget and will go into effect on July 1, 2021. The policy change will remove barriers and increase access to BPL resources for patrons across the City of Boston. Read more about this policy change here.
BPL COVID-19 Resources
Looking for reliable information about COVID vaccines? The BPL has put together a resource guide to help answer your questions.
Friends Summer Reading List!
It's officially summer, and we collaborated with Rozzie Bound to create a list of some of the hottest books coming out this season. We have books for adults, teens, and kids in print, ebook, and audiobook formats. Best of all, the Friends receive 20% of the sales for all books sold from this list. Get your summer reading shopping started here.
Celebrating LGBT Pride Month!
June is LGBT Pride Month, and we are celebrating with a new virtual shelf created with Rozzie Bound. The shelf features a great list of LGBT authors we think you should know about! You can find our list here. We also have a list celebrating Asian American authors, which you can also find here.
SPEAK OUT Contest for Boston Youth
Deadline: June 30, 2021
The Friends of the Roslindale Branch Library are inviting Boston youth in 3 age groups (Grades 6-8, 9-10, 11-12) to speak out about their experiences this past year. You may submit an entry in any form and any language. The name of each person who submits an entry will be entered into a drawing for $100 gift cards (we will have 3 of these prizes). When a celebration and the drawing are scheduled this summer, we will invite you to attend (outdoors, socially distanced, etc.). Please respond to one or both of these sets of questions:
1. What has the last year in a pandemic been like for you as a young person? What’s been hard? How have you found joy, strength, and resilience or learned to cope in some way?
2. What are you looking forward to with friends, school, sports, or elsewhere? What do you hope the future holds?
Submissions can be in any form - art, poetry, rap, recording, multimedia, etc. - and in any language. Email to [email protected] to submit or to arrange for pick-up/delivery. Please include your current grade, name, address, and a way to contact you by phone or email.
Send Us Your Bulb Pictures!
If you purchased bulbs in our Dutch Mills fundraiser last year, and the bulbs are starting to bloom, send us pictures! We want to share them in our newsletter. Please email us at [email protected].
BPL Summer Reading
The library is doing a summer reading program for both children and adults. The adult summer reading program starts on June 1. Sign up and download a bingo card at bpl.org/bingo. The Bingo card has 24 challenges. Complete a row on the bingo card and submit it for a chance to win a $20 gift card to your favorite independent book store. Participants will also be entered into a grand prize drawing for a $200 gift card to an independent restaurant or grocery store. Children’s Summer Reading starts on June 14. Challenge yourself to read and participate in library programs nine times throughout the summer. Pick up a bookmark to track your progress at any BPL branch, and turn it in for a chance to win books, toys, and age-appropriate activity kits. Go to bpl.org/summer for more information. Note that the website will be live closer to June 14.
Preschool Storytime Reads the Alphabet
Tuesdays, June 1, 8, 15 & 29 at 4:30
No storytime June 22
Families with children ages 3–5 are encouraged to tune in for a virtual storytime with Ms. Celeste. Each week we will focus on a different letter of the alphabet. Please register by 10 am on the day of the program with an email to receive the Zoom link. You do not need to register each child if you have multiple children. Please go to https://tinyurl.com/BPL-Preschool to register. Registering once will sign you up for the whole series so you do not need to register every week.
Ms. Celeste Goes Back To School!
Ms. Celeste is beginning an MFA program in Writing for Young People at Lesley University this month. The program is low-residency, so she will be able to continue to serve the families of Roslindale as the branch’s children’s librarian while learning to write her own picture books and middle-grade novels.
The Tempest Discussion
Tuesday, June 15, 7 PM
Our revels now are finally beginning again, and Boston’s Shakespeare on the Common will be performing The Tempest this summer, with registration for free tickets beginning in late June for July and August performances. To get you in the mood for this brave new world, John Galton will lead a discussion of The Tempest on June 15 at 7 PM. Click here to register for a Zoom full of sights, sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. You can reserve a copy of the play here or find it online here.
Race and Song: A Musical Conversation
Monday, June 14 at 3:30 PM
Join the Roslindale Library in welcoming Alastair Moock and Reggie Harris for Race and Song: a Musical Conversation about race. We will screen a recording of the conversation and performance by Reggie and Alastair at 3:30 and follow up with a live Q&A with both performers via zoom starting at 4:30. This program is suitable for grades 3 and up. Go to https://tinyurl.com/RaceAndSong to register.
What happens when two friends get together? Usually, they talk about their lives, get caught up on the news, maybe listen to each other’s points of view, and share what’s on their minds. And, if they’re musicians, they’re likely to pull out an instrument or two along the way… In Race and Song: A Musical Conversation, Alastair Moock and Reggie Harris do just that. Only, in this case, these friends of different races, ages, and social backgrounds share how they’ve seen and experienced the world in different ways. They explore issues of race, class, gender, and history with intentionality and generosity of spirit that will draw in kids and adults alike. These aren’t always comfortable topics for discussion, but the discussion –– and the discomfort –– are keys to moving forward. Together in musical conversation, and with the aid of historical and family photos, Alastair and Reggie open up to each other and frame their perspectives through music (which always helps the medicine go down!). Join these two veteran musicians and storytelling troubadours for a very special performance ––an exploration of the past, the present, and the possible.
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.
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.
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