OPEN PUBLIC FORUM
Sunday, May 19th at 2pm
Assembly Room
Come and meet with the Library Building Committee, Director, and Architectural Team to see the latest designs for spaces in a new Library.
All are welcome as we delve further into design work, your feedback is needed.
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SHARE YOUR MOON MEMORIES
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. We will be celebrating this milestone during the summer, and as part of our celebration we will be interviewing people who have first-hand memories of this historic event. If you would like to be interviewed about your memories of the moon landing please contact,
nmccolm@minlib.net
or
jtzouvelis@wickedlocal.com
.
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Save the Date: Summer Reading Kick-Off Party!
Be sure to mark your calendars for the start of Summer Reading! We will be kicking things off with an all-day event on
June 25th
. The Summer Reading theme this year is
A Universe of Stories
and our party will be space-themed with events for all ages (kids, teens, and adults). Get ready to unleash your inner interplanetary discoverer at our event and all summer long!
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MUSEUM PASS NEWS
We now have print-at-home passes for these five area museums:
Boston Children's Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art
,
DeCordova Sculpture Park
,
Einstein's Workshop
,
John F. Kennedy Museum
, and the
Plimoth Plantation
.
When you
book these passes online
, you will see an option to print, or email the pass to yourself for printing later. Don't worry if you don't have email or a printer, you can still come in to the library, as always, and we will be happy to print your reserved pass for you. You can still reserve any of our passes by phone or in person, if you prefer.
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May is for the Birds - Friends' Series
Wildlife photographer Peter Christoph will present three talks - sharing his award-winning images, knowledge, and skills.
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The Art of Bird Photography
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Birds of the New England Swamp
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What Happened to the Birds of J.J. Audubon?
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Tuesday, May 14th
at 7pm
Assembly Room
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Tuesday, May 21st
at 7pm
Assembly Room
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Thursday, May 31st
at 7pm
Assembly Room
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Movie Club:
The Blues Brothers
Viewing: Friday May 17th
6:30pm, Assembly Room
Discussion: Thursday, May 30th
7pm, Flett Room
Dial M for Movies is the Library's movie club, hosted by Library Director Peter Struzziero. Join Peter for the film viewing - with popcorn of course - then come back later in the month to discuss the film.
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Belmont Cookbook Club
Tuesday, May 7th
7pm, Assembly Room
Tuesday, June 11th
7pm, Assembly Room
Try our new Cookbook Club, run by Librarians Ellen Girouard and Chris Tremblay. May's selection is
Everyday Cook by Alton Brown
, multiple copies of each book will be made available at the library. Choose a recipe to make and bring it to our potluck and discussion of the book.
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Registration is open for the May meeting and will open for the June meeting on May 7th. We will need a list of the ingredients used by all participants. We will be in contact the week before each meeting to find out what everyone is making! If you have any questions, contact Chris at
ctremblay@minlib.net.
Happy cooking!
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Senior Book Discussion Group--The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan
Friday, May 10th
11am, Beech Street Center
The senior book discussion group is co-sponsored by the Belmont Public Library and the Belmont Council on Aging.
All are welcome to attend.
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Books and Bites
Monday, May 13th
11am, Assembly Room
Author Maryanne O'Hara will speak on her novel
Cascade
. In this novel, set in Massachusetts in the 1930s, the fictional small town of Cascade is about to be swallowed up by a new reservoir. Desdemona (Dez) Spaulding is an aspiring artist who lives in Cascade with her husband. Her late father owned a small but well-regarded Shakespeare theater in the town and Dez is desperate to save her father's playhouse. When a major magazine publishes Dez's series of painted postcards that portray the upcoming flooding of Cascade, her small-town life starts to change.
Cascade
offers a look at the surprising twists and turns life can take.
Cascade
was selected as a 'Must Read' and Fiction Honors Winner by the Massachusetts Center for the Book.
A graduate of Emerson College's MFA program, Maryanne O'Hara was a longtime associate editor at
Ploughshares
magazine. Her short stories have been published in
Five Points
,
The North American Review
,
The Crescent Review
, and
Redbook
.
All are welcome to attend this free program. Refreshments will be provided. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
This program made possible by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Click
here
to learn how to join the Friends or renew your membership.
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Belmont Book Discussion - The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve
Wednesday, May 15th
3pm, Flett Room
Join us for a discussion of Anita Shreve's "The Stars Are Fire." Based on the real event of Maine's largest fire in state history, this novel follows Grace Holland, a young, unhappily-married mother, as she rebuilds her life in the aftermath of a devastating fire.
This group meets on the third Wednesday of every other month. No registration is required and all are welcome.
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Active Learning for Infants
Wednesdays
10:30am, Flett Room
Every Wednesday, unless otherwise noted.
For infants up to 12 months and pre-walkers, this short program of songs and rhymes is focused on engaging with your baby and meeting new friends.
Storytime for 1s
Thursdays
9:30am and 10:30am, Flett Room
For walkers and toddlers under 24 months. We'll share simple stories, songs, and nursery rhymes, and end with time to play.
Storytime for 2s and 3s
Tuesdays
9:30am and 10:30am, Flett Room
Come listen to stories and rhymes, sing, and even dance! For 2 and 3 year olds.
Preschool Storytime
Wednesdays
9:30am, Flett Room
We'll read longer books, sing and dance, and make simple crafts. For 3-5 year olds with a longer attention span.
Early Literacy Playgroup
Fridays
10:30am, Flett Room
This parent and child group supports your child's language and literacy development. You'll play, read, sing and take home new ideas! Presented by educators from the CFCE grant program; for children age 4 and under.
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Music and Movement with Rubi
Monday, May 6th
9:30am and 10:15am, Assembly Room
For children ages 2-5, this active program will get kids (and their grownups) moving, dancing and having fun!
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Stories and Snacks
Wednesday, May 8th
2:30pm, Flett Room
Who says being read to is just for little kids? Join Children’s Librarian Rachel and munch on some yummy snacks while listening to fun stories in this program just for kids ages 7 and older. RSVP’s appreciated!
RSVP online
or call 617-993-2880.
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Read to Elvis
Tuesday, May 14th
3:30pm to 4:30pm, Flett Room
Sign up for a fifteen minute slot to read to Elvis the Dog, a registered Reading Partner from Dog Bones. Choose your favorite book and have fun reading out loud to Elvis!
Recommended for kids in kindergarten and up. Register
online
or call 617-993-2880.
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Duct Tape Network
Saturday, May 18th
2pm, Flett Room
Join the Duct Tape Network for an afternoon of design challenges. Use all kinds of materials to bring your ideas and inventions to life while learning new design skills!
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Game Night
Monday, May 20th
6:30pm, Assembly Room
Join the Belmont Youth Commission and Belmont Public Library in celebrating Unplugged Week by participating in Family Game Night! Use our great selection of board games and have fun with the whole family!
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Matt Heaton - Babies and Toddlers Concert
Thursday, May 23rd
10:30am, Assembly Room
Join acclaimed local musician Matt Heaton for this sing-along for babies and toddlers up to 24 months with both original songs and classic favorites.
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Baby Sign Language
Wednesday, May 29th
10:30am, Flett Room
Learn how to reduce frustration and help give your baby the ability to communicate before he/she can speak. Review research and benefits, learn and practice several signs, and learn how to teach your baby signs through games, songs and more!
For parents/caregivers with pre-verbal children ages 2 months and up.
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Homework and Hot Chocolate
Wednesday, May 1st,
1:30pm to 3:30pm, Assembly Room
Middle school students--come and eat snacks, do your homework and then play games, do crafts, or read books. Once a month on Wednesdays (usually the first Wednesday of the month.) Free, drop-in for 5th-8th graders.
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Boston Theater Company's Teen Touring Troupe presents Macbeth
Saturday, May 4th
2:00pm to 3:30pm, Assembly Room
Step right up! Join ringmaster Duncan, the daring trapeze artists Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and more, under a big top full of magic and mystery: the Scotland Circus. Boston Theater Company’s Teen Touring Troupe, featuring actors in grades 8-12, brings Shakespeare’s classic tale of ambition, power, and destiny to the stage in a new and innovative setting. When a trio of otherworldly witches inform Macbeth of a prophecy that he will rise to glory, is it within his power to make it come true? Or to stop it? Recommended for ages 8 and up. Approximate run time is 1 hour.
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Fortnite Tournament
Monday, May 6th
3:00pm to 6:00pm, Assembly Room
Fortnite comes to Belmont Public Library! Do you have what it takes to come out on top in our battle royale? Come and find out! And yeah, there will be prizes.
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Teen Advisory Board
Friday, May 10th
3:00pm to 4:30pm, Flett Room
Attention teens, grades 9 and up! Looking for a new community service opportunity? Join the teen advisory board. Meetings are held once a month during the school year on Friday afternoons, but you don't have to attend every month. We eat pizza, work on a volunteer project, and plan upcoming teen programs. Please email
rmoir@minlib.net
for more details.
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Learn to Play Magic: The Gathering and Open Play
Monday, May 13th
3pm to 5pm, Flett Room
Beginners, join us to learn how to play Magic the Gathering! We’ll provide the cards—which you can keep. Veteran players, we will have open play as well, and access to a deck building toolkit and lands if you need to round out your deck!
For grades 6 to 12.
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Level Up: Teen Gaming
Tuesday, May 29th
3 to 4:15pm, Flett Room
Join us for an afternoon of gaming on the new library Nintendo Switch and SNES Classic! We’ll have Mario Kart both old and new for you to try, as well as the brand new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate! For grades 6 to 12.
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Dungeons and Dragons
Monday, May 20th
3 to 5pm, Flett Room
Ever wanted to embark on your own epic quest? Here's your chance! The library is launching a Dungeons and Dragons campaign for teens! Beginners are welcome, and dice will be provided. For grades 7 to 12. Space is very limited,
sign up required.
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Creative Writing Club
Tuesday, May 21th
3 to 4:30pm, Flett Room
Working on your first novel? Love to write? Or maybe you just want to try your hand at it? Join us for our new monthly Creative Writing Club! We’ll have writing challenges, time for you to share your writing if you want, and group writing games, plus an old school typewriter for you to try out, snacks and good company. For grades 6 to 12.
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Learn to Make Comics with Cara Bean!
Wednesday, May 22nd
2:30 to 4:30pm, Assembly Room
Do you love comics? Ever wanted to learn how to make your own? Join us for this awesome workshop with local comic artist and teacher Cara Bean. No matter your skill level, you can create amazing characters, surprising stories, and rad comics!
For grades 6 to 12.
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Teen Make: Button Bonanza
Friday, May 31st
3:15 to 4:30pm, Flett Room
The Belmont Public Library Teen Advisory board presents our new series: Teen Make! Join us to use the library button machine. For grades 6 to 12.
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We just took a look at our historical financials and are proud to report that the Friends have contributed over $500,000 to Library programs, equipment and fixtures over the past decade. Please help us continue to enhance all the Library has to offer by
joining the Friends today.
Come visit the Friends of the Library at Town Day! We’ll have children’s books and summer reading for sale. Saturday May 18 in Belmont Center.
We’ll also have books for sale at the Belmont Farmers Market on Thursday, June 20 from 4-6:30pm. We’ll be bringing over lots of cooking and gardening books for that event.
And, of course, we always have a great selection of books available at our Everyday Book Shop, located on the main floor of the Library near the circulation desk.
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Can you spare 2 hours to help beautify the Library grounds and garden beds? Please help the Friends with a spring clean-up on Sunday May 19 from 3-5pm. Sign up
here.
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The Singing Trooper
Tuesday, May 14th
1:15pm, Beech Street
The Beech Street Center is excited to welcome back “The Singing Trooper.” During his 20-year career, Sgt. Daniel M. Clark performed while representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. During his tenure with the state police, he performed at more than 2,500 federal, state, local, and military functions.
Clark is a Massachusetts icon and has sung with the Boston Pops and has presented the national anthem for the New England Patriots, the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Celtics. He has performed for President George and First Lady Barbara Bush, Sail Boston: The Tall Ships, and most recently the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC. He also appeared on national television Fox News, National Geographic, and was featured in People Magazine.
ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND HIS AFTERNOON PERFORMANCE. Cost: Free, but donations are greatly appreciated.
This event was generously sponsored by The Residence at Watertown Square.
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Mother's Day Tea
Tuesday, May 7th
1:15pm, Beech Street
The Beech Street Center is excited to host our first Mother’s Day Tea Party with the Tea Leaf Shop and Café in Waltham. Tea Leaf owner, Sally Collura is providing all that we need to enjoy a leisurely afternoon that will include two varieties of tea, lavender and chocolate chip scones with jam and fresh whipped cream, and cucumber and chicken salad finger sandwiches.
While you’re sipping and sampling, Sally will share some of her knowledge about tea and tea parties. We’re also encouraging participants to bring a cup and saucer of their own so we can learn about the origin of your tea set and who the manufacturer was. All are welcome to attend this event, but please register in advance. This is your Mother’s Day! Cost: $5.
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Author Stephani Schorow and the Tragedy of the Cocoanut Grove Fire
Tuesday, May 7th
5:30pm, Beech Street
This 1942 nightclub fire killed nearly 500 people and burned through the heart of Boston. Stephanie recounts the events that led to the fire, its investigation, and its enduring mysteries. New information continues to come forward and Stephanie brings the latest to life. She also leaves time for people to share their stories of the Grove, making for a moving, interactive event.
Currently a Boston-based freelance writer and journalism instructor, Stephanie is the author, co-author, or editor of eight nonfiction books. Stephanie has worked as an editor and reporter for the Boston Herald, The Associated Press, the Stamford Advocate, the Twin Falls Times-News and the Shelbina Democrat, as well as numerous other newspapers and news organizations. She writes restaurant reviews for the Boston Globe North section and currently teaches writing and communication at Lasell College. Schorow is now trying her hand at fiction, currently working on two projects, a novel about four women (and their cats) in the 1980s and a young adult fantasy novel. Cost: Free, but donations are greatly appreciated.
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Kentucky Derby Party
Friday, May 3rd
12-2pm, Beech Street
Get your fedoras, fascinators, and big hats ready because we’re celebrating the Kentucky Derby! We’ll be watching live coverage of horses and fashion. Before and after lunch we’ll be serving up mock mint juleps, cheese and crackers, fruit, and a few other Southern treats. We’ll also be awarding win, place, and show prizes for those with the best hats so make sure you dress up!
Please call or sign-up at the front desk. Cost: Free, but donations towards food and drinks are always appreciated.
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Writing What's Missing
Tuesday, May 21st
4:30pm, Beech Street
Have you ever read a book and felt something was missing? Has your story not yet been told?
Join local author, Sarah Marie Jette, for an intergenerational book event at the Beech Street Center in Belmont. Sarah Marie’s book, What the Wind Can Tell You, is currently on the New England Children’s Booksellers Advisory Council’s 2018 Windows and Mirrors list. Sarah Marie will discuss representations of diversity in children’s literature as well as writing strategies, including ways to get started and ways to get unstuck. Come with ideas and ready to write! This event is open to everyone.
Please make sure to call 617-993-2970 or sign-up at the front desk. Cost: Free.
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Innovative Lecture Series on Nutrition and Health
Tuesday, May 28th
1:15pm, Beech Street
Our widely popular innovative lecture series on nutrition and health with the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University continues this month. The Beech Street Center is excited to welcome Dr. Kyla Shea presenting "Nutrition for Healthy Bones: the Calcium Conundrum."
Please join Belmont Council on Aging Board Chair Dr. Chao-Qiang along with fellow researchers and staff as well as scientists and students. These lectures are open to everyone no matter your age or community, so please encourage friends and family to attend. Cost: Free, but donations can be made to the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center by either clicking
here
or mailing donations to Tufts University Office of Development. If you are interested in making a donation, please speak with Dana Leavitt at the front desk or call 617-993-2977.
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Belmont Public Library Newsletter brought to you by:
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