October 2021 Library News & Events
All programs are free of charge unless noted otherwise. Learn more at friendsofroslindalelibrary.org.
BPL Library Reopening!
All branch libraries not currently under reconstruction are now open for in-person services. All reopening plans follow the latest city and state public health guidance. 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 COVID-19 Resources
Looking for reliable information about COVID vaccines? The BPL has put together a resource guide to help answer your questions.
Buy Bulbs, Support The Friends
We are fundraising again with Dutch Mill Bulbs to earn money for our future renovated branch. All items are guaranteed to grow and bloom, and our group earns 50 percent of the profit on every sale. It’s easy! Make your selections, provide billing and shipping information, and enter the Friends in the group name. Please go to our fundraising page to make purchases. The items you select will be sent directly to the shipping address you provide, and shipping fees will be added to each order. You can even order and send them as gifts to other addresses. Orders will begin shipping on September 15.
Roslindale Library Program Survey
The Roslindale Branch is scheduled to reopen in the fall with a new head librarian. The Friends plan on collaborating with staff to bring a robust series of programs to the new space, and we are looking for community input about what types of programs would interest you. Please check any topic that would be of interest, indicate whether your interest is for adults or youth, and feel free to provide more details or other suggestions here.
Hispanic Heritage Month Ends October 15
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the latest offering on our virtual bookshelf at Rozzie Bound features books by Latinx authors or have Latinx characters for adults, teens, and children. The Friends will receive 50 percent of sale proceeds. Buy some books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/rozziebound
BIPOC Author Preorders
As part of the ongoing conversation about improving equity in the publishing industry, we have worked with Rozzie Bound to create a virtual shelf featuring upcoming books by authors of color that you can preorder now. By preordering, you help drive up sales and possible placement on bestseller lists and help make publishers pay attention to and better support and uplift authors of color and their readership. The shelf currently lists a number of books from different genres coming out this fall and early winter and will be updated regularly. Some books of note coming out soon include Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo (Oct 5), Until I Am Free by Keisha Blain, Shelf Life by Nadia Wassef (Oct 5), and Dear Memory by Victoria Chang (Oct 12). You can also ask the BPL to purchase these books. Learn more about library purchasing here.
Family Book Discussion: We are Grateful: Ostaliheliga by Traci Sorell
Wednesday, October 20, 4:30 PM
Children and caregivers are invited to join the BPL’s discussion of We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell, a picture book that follows a Cherokee family and their tribal nation through the year as they express thanks for celebrations big and small. The discussion will be followed by a craft activity using materials that can be found at home. This Community Read book discussion is a part of Reading Together, the Boston Public Library's Yearlong Reading Challenge. You do not need to be participating in the Reading Together challenge in order to take part in this book group, but we urge you to join! You can learn about the different monthly challenges, get recommendations for books to read, and find other ways to connect with your reading community at bpl.org/yearlong.
Online Rozzie Reads Poetry and Open Mic on Zoom
Thursday, October 21, 7 PM
Featured readers: Krysten Hill and Christine Tierney
For Zoom link, contact [email protected]
BPL at the Roslindale Village Farmer's Market
Saturday, October 23, 9 AM - 1:30 PM
Join branch librarian Jennifer Hawes, children’s librarian Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri, and the Friends of the Library at the Farmers Market. The Roslindale Library will have a table with information about library programs, library card sign-ups, and a children’s book giveaway and swap. Bring gently used children’s books to swap for new reading material. At 11 AM, join Miss Celeste in the children’s entertainment area for storytelling. Costumes are encouraged!
Online ‘Dia de Los Muertos’ DIY Altar Building and Music Workshop
Saturday, October 30, 11 AM - 12 Noon
Join Roslaba Solis from La Piñata for a virtual Día de los muertos/ Day of the Dead celebration on Zoom. Participants will get a custom Zoom background, interactive padlet, and more. We will recognize the indigenous peoples of America who are still here and are an essential voice in Hispanic culture and their quintessential celebrations like Dia de Los Muertos. This program will include a DIY altar-building workshop and interactive traditional Meso-American music where participants will be taught how to sing and play Meso-American music and rhythms. Participants will be invited to use commonplace home goods to put together “ofrendas.” Register for this event here. This event is co-sponsored by the Roslindale Village Main Street.
Preschool Storytime Reads the Alphabet
Tuesdays, 4:30 PM
Join Children’s Librarian Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri on zoom for Preschool Story Time for ages 3-5. Each week we will read 2-3 stories and do songs and fingerplays to build early literacy skills. Please go to https://tinyurl.com/BPL-
Bouncing Babies in Adams Park
Tuesdays, 10 AM
Join Children’s Librarian Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri at Adams Park for Bouncing Babies storytime for ages birth to two. Miss Celeste will share stories, rhymes, and fingerplays designed to help build early literacy skills. Bring a mat or blanket to sit on. Miss Celeste will also have some yoga mats for seating, but as the program is popular she often runs out. In the event of rain, the program will be canceled. Follow the Roslindale Library on Facebook for up-to-date information about whether or not storytime is canceled.
Future Readers 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 1000 books together before the child begins kindergarten. The Club includes programming like Preschool Storytime and Bouncing babies as well as an app to track the books you are reading with your little one and opportunities to receive free books to keep. We want your help to make the Future Readers Club even better! Please respond to our survey as we plan FRC programming for the fall and beyond. More info: bpl.org/future-readers-club.
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.
Attention Local Authors!
Do you have a book coming out in 2021 or 2022? Please keep us updated so that we can share the news with Rozzie residents in our newsletter and ask our partner at Rozzie Bound to link to the book online. Rozzie Bound generously shares a portion of sales with the Friends. Email us at [email protected] the book title, author, format, ISBN, and a brief description.
Volunteer Restockers Needed
The Roslindale Community Library network needs some volunteers to keep some of our business and home-based little libraries stocked. You can take responsibility for one or more. It involves checking every few weeks and picking up and delivering books as needed.
Calling all newly installed little library owners!
The Friends maintains a map of available little libraries in Roslindale and if you recently installed your own, you may not be on it. If you would like to be listed, please email your address to [email protected].
Little Library Program at the Food Pantry Seeks Volunteers
Since early January, the Friends have been setting up a Little Library at the Roslindale Food Pantry. The Pantry runs out of the Congregational Church (25 Cummins Highway) from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every Saturday. The Pantry serves between 75 - 90 individuals/families every week. Before the Pantry opens, our volunteers set up a portable bookshelf and stock it with adult, young adult, early reader, and children’s books. The volunteer is responsible for returning to the church at 4:00 p.m. (at the close of the Pantry) to break down the Little Library and store the shelf and books. If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please e-mail Laura Sitterley at [email protected]. You do not need to commit to a certain number of Saturdays a month. Thank you!
The Makey Makey demo table at the Roslindale Village Farmer's Market on September 12 went great! We made a piano out of some veggies and got lots of kids playing it. People were definitely interested in the idea of Makey Makey workshops at the library!
Seeing America Slowly
If you missed Alan Wright's great presentation on September 20, or want to rewatch it, here is the YouTube video. Please share the link with others who are interested in cycling and climate change issues.
BPL Online Resource Highlight: MA RMV Driving Test
Whether you’re planning a fall foliage tour or a visit to the Berkshires, you’ll need a driver’s license, a motorcycle license, or a CDL. And the first step to getting it is to pass a written learner’s permit exam. Our practice tests include hundreds of questions based on the RMV manuals that resemble those on the official learner’s permit exams.
Comments are closed.