This month is for that special lady in your life. Many of us fell in love with libraries thanks to our mothers and maternal figures. To all of them, and all of you, we say Happy May, and Happy Mothers Day.
NEWS & UPDATES
Holiday & Sunday Hours
The Library will be closed Monday, May 28th in observance of Memorial Day.

We will suspend our Sunday hours at the end of May. Our last Sunday of the season is Sunday, May 20th.

For normal hours of operation, please visit our website

A sesquicentennial anniversary is no small feat. From now until the end of the year, the Library will celebrate its extensive past and exciting future by highlighting programs that capture the essence of the library and its place in the community. We'll also be rolling out the 150 things to do in honor of our 150th year. The first 24 "Things to Do at the Library!" are below - check them out and see if you've been taking full advantage of all your library has to offer. 

We'll also be highlighting featured programs as part of the celebration each month for the rest of 2018. The month of May is for flowers, mothers, graduations, hopefully good weather, and here at the Belmont Public Library, the art of story telling. Our featured programs bring back notable speakers from the past. More info on Stephen McCauley, Anita Diamant, and Becca Pizzi just below.

150 Years, 150 Things to Do! First 24  
*Attend a Library Trustees Meeting
*Utilize our Low Vision Reader
*Help out with our Community Puzzle in the Ref. Room
*Find the portrait of the first Belmont librarian
*Visit the 1-of-a-kind Frankenstein collection
*Start your own book club using our pre-made kits
*Join the Library's annual, all-ages Summer Reading program
*Practice speaking English at our English Conversation Circle
*Watch a movie and eat popcorn at movie club
*Watch our public service announcement and find out why the library is yours to discover
*Visit the wildlife that frequents the creek. We have otters, hawks, turkeys, and muskrats!
*Reserve a museum pass to one of twenty museums and play spaces in the area  
*Attend Sensory Storytime designed especially for those on the autism spectrum
*Use Wowbrary to stay on top of the newest books, music, and movies available
*Sign up for RB Digital (formerly Zinio) to read popular magazines on your device
*Get books delivered to you or loved ones who are housebound through Books on Wheels
*Check out Homework and Hot Chocolate for teens
*Ask our Director for a tour of the Library
*Visit the Belmont Historical Society in the Claflin Room
*Donate some books to the Friends of the Library
*Get to know your elected officials during office hours
*Download Libby, our one-tap reading app
*Read and relax in one of our comfortable easy chairs in the West Wing Reading Room
*Ask to see the completed Feasibility Study 
150th Anniversary May Celebration: The Art of Storytelling

STEPHEN MCCAULEY IN CONVERSATION WITH ANITA DIAMANT
Thursday, May 17th
7pm Assembly Room
 
McCauley will discuss his latest novel, My Ex-Life, and the writing process with longtime writing group member and bestselling author, Anita Diamant. McCauley last spoke in Belmont when he introduced Anita at her 2016 One Book One Belmont talk    on The Boston Girl .
 
My Ex-Life examines how we define home, family, and love. David Hedge's life is coming apart at the seams, so what better time to travel cross-country to help piece together t he life of his ex-wife and her daughter? Be prepared to laugh, shed a few tears, and have thoughts of your own ex-life.
 
This Friends Author Series event is sponsored by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Books will be available for purchase, thanks to Belmont Books, and signing.
 
"As always, McCauley's effervescent prose is full of wit and wisdom on every topic-college application essays, Airbnb operation, weed addiction, live porn websites, and, most of all,   people." Kirkus Review
 
"McCauley's best novel so far-and that's saying a lot." Anita Diamant
 
"A wise, ruefully funny, and ultimately touching   exploration of mid-life melancholy and unexpected second chances. Stephen McCauley is a wonderful writer, and this may be his best book yet." Tom Perrotta 
Stephen McCauley, named a Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture, has written seven novels, three of which were turned into feature-length films. Incapable of writing at home, he's committed to working in libraries.
    
Anita Diamant is the bestselling author of The Red Tent. Her 2014 bestselling novel, The  Boston Girl, was the 2016 One Book One Belmont community read. She and Stephen are part of the same writing group.
   

STORYTIME WITH BECCA PIZZI
Wednesday, May 23rd
3pm, Assembly Room
 
Seven marathons, seven continents, seven days, yes that means Antarctica too! You'll have the chance to ask two time World Marathon Champion Becca Pizzi all about it and hear her read stories about good sportsmanship and working hard. Recommended for ages 5 and up.
 
 
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY 
Friends Annual Meeting
Thursday, May 24th
7-8:30pm, Assembly Room
 
We hope to see you at our annual meeting! We will hold an abbreviated business meeting to report on Friends activities and finances and to elect officers. From 7:30 - 8:30, we're excited to present the following talk: Who's Who and What's Next? Speakers from the Trustees, the Foundation, and the Building Committee will explain their unique mission and lay out the process forward to a new building. Public welcome, so please join us whether you are a current member of the friends, or just looking to learn more. 
 
Spring Beautification -Volunteers Needed!
Sunday, May 20th
2-4pm 
 
Thanks to efforts by Susan Black (Friends) and Lucia Gates (Garden Club), aided by a band of community volunteers, we've made a lot of beautification progress on the library grounds over the last year. Help us continue this effort by pitching in Sunday, May 20th from 2-4pm. We'll be transplanting ground cover from the woodland garden to cover bare spots around the building, spreading grass seed, weeding, and planting some bushes. We could really use some strong arms and backs for digging. Up for it? Please email         belfriendslib@gmail.com to let us know if you can help.
EVENTS & PROGRAMS 
BOOK DISCUSSIONS & AUTHOR TALKS
Senior Book Discussion Group
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Friday, May 11th
11am, Beech Street Center
266 Beech Street
The senior book discussion group will discuss the novel  Jane Eyre  by Charlotte Bronte.  The senior book discussion group is co-sponsored by the Belmont Public Library and the Belmont Council on Aging.  All are welcome to attend. 
  
Books and Bites 
Eric Hurowitz discusses Massachusetts Town Greens: A History of the State's Common Centers
Monday, May 14th
11am, Assembly Room
Refrements Served
Author Eric Hurwitz will speak on his book Massachusetts Town Greens: A History of the State's Common Centers. This book explores the history of the state's remarkable town greens and provides a guide to current events. In addition to speaking about his book, Eric Hurwitz will present a PowerPoint slide show of beautiful photos of the town greens of Massachusetts. Books will be available for purchase and signing. 
 
Eric Hurwitz holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Suffolk University in Boston, MA and spent 20-plus years as a reporter, assistant editor, and public affairs specialist in the public and private sectors.
 
Belmont Book Discussion
A Gentleman in Moscow
Wednesday, May 16th
3pm, Flett Room
Join us for a discussion of   A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles.  This group meets in the Flett Room on the third Wednesday of every other month. No registration is required and all are welcome. Click  here for a full list of the Belmont Book Discussion  book selections and dates for 2018.
 
Books & Bites and the Belmont Book Discussion are made possible by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Click  here  t
o learn how to join the Friends or renew your membership. All are welcome to attend these free events. The Assembly Room is handicapped accessible.
Movie Club  
Dick Tracy (1990) 
Viewing: Friday, May 11th 
6:30pm, Assembly Room 
Discussion: Tuesday, May 15th 
7pm, Assembly 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. This month we're watching a film by requested by club members, Dick Tracy!
Tai Chi at the Library 
Saturday, May 19th 
10-11am,  Assembly Room

Join us for tai chi at the Library. Tai chi practitioner and coach, Aisling O'Shea, will guide you through this beautiful and low impact form of martial art and meditation. NO equipment necessary, just bring yourself and wear comfortable clothing.  
   
Can't make it in May? Join us in June!
Saturday, June 23rd, 10am
 


Town Day 
Saturday, May 19th
9am-4pm, Leonard Street, Belmont

Come visit our table and grab some gently used, 50 cent books, just in time for Summer Reading! We'll also have fun freebies and our favorite Friends of the Library and staff on hand to tell you aaaaaaall about our resources.
 
  
The Birds & the Bees: How We Love Them, Why We Need Them
Tuesday, May 22nd 
7pm, Assembly Room












Join us for a colorful and informative multimedia presentation illustrating the beauty and wonder of our winged creatures, their interdependence with other living things, and how we can help to protect them from population decline. From nesting birds to pollinating bees in flowers, photographer Carole Smith Berney will provide information and images showing where they live, how they raise their young, and why they are endangered. A musical section with projected images will follow the narrative, with time for questions, answers, and discussion. Two guided walks later in June and July, 2018 at Habitat in Belmont will focus on local birds and bees.
  
Carole Smith Berney has received numerous grants and awards related to her wildlife photography, local advocacy efforts with the Friends of the Watertown Riverfront, her field guide of wildflowers along the River, and her nature-related multimedia shows and exhibits. She is a member of Watertown Friends of Bees, which offers programs related to protecting pollinators and educates the public about the importance of eliminating pesticides and advocating for legislation that can protect the natural world.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Belmont Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Community Health Planning Fair
Tuesday, May 22nd
5-7pm, Beech Street Center,
266 Beech Street
 
WE ALL NEED A HEALTHCARE PROXY : When you experience a debilitating medical emergency in Massachusetts, your spouse and adult children are NOT automatically able to speak for you. At 5:30, Honoring Choices founder and CEO Ellen DiPaula will explain how you can make your wishes known. Go home with a healthcare proxy form signed and witnessed (takes 10 minutes!).
 
LEARN ABOUT HEALTH RESOURCES : Prepare for your own health needs or to help your family and friends with health challenges. Get acquainted with major regional agencies that provide financial, professional, and caregiver resources, including Springwell , Veterans Administration, McLean Geriatric Psychiatry, Mount Auburn Hospital, Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, MA Senior Care, Cambridge Neighbors and more...
 
To support this important initiative, Foodie's Market will offer a free soup and bread supper for participants Sponsored by the Watertown and Belmont Councils on Aging and the Belmont Public Library. 
Adults of all ages, caregivers, family and friends are welcome!
Knitting Club  
Fridays, 12:30-2:30pm 
Flett Room
 
Do you enjoy knitting or would you like to learn how?
Drop in to the Library's Knitting Club, anytime Fridays between 12:30-2:30pm in the Library Flett Room. Bring your knitting, or other portable crafts or projects, and we can get to know each other as we knit. Jocelyn Milton, club leader, will be available for informal instruction. No sign up or registration necessary, just bring needles and yarn and we'll get you started!
FEATURED RESOURCES
Even More eMagazines  
 
We've just added "HGTV Magazine" to our collection of digital magazines. Sign up for RBDigital (formerly Zinio) by visiting our the Services tab on our website, then selecting E-Resources > Subject Guide > Magazines. The library subscribes to nearly 40 titles, including Cooks Illustrated, The Economist, and The New Yorker, to name just a few.
Even More eBooks 
 
Now, for a limited time, you have the ability to browse and borrow from neighboring Old Colony Library Network and SAILS Library Network. When you go to minuteman.overdrive.com, you'll see a link to OCLN and to SAILS. Click on one of those links, then sign in with your card and PIN, and selecting MLN as your network. Each network has many unique titles, so it's re ally worth taking a look.
 


Even More Kindle Titles
 
One of the fastest ways to get your hands on bestselling fiction and nonfiction is by grabbing one of our Kindles. We've just added thirty-six best-selling fiction and nonfiction titles, including:
 
 
Once you check out a Kindle you have a choice of more than a hundred books from a wide range of genres and subject areas. To request a Kindle, go to the Belmont Public Library home page, belmontpubliclibrary.net, and in the search box type "Belmont Kindle." To see if a specific title is available on a Kindle, type "Belmont Kindle" and the name of the book.
CHILDREN'S EVENTS    
Ea rth Day Workshop for 3rd & 4th graders
Thursday, May 3rd 
3:30pm, Assembly Room
Registration Required
Ever wondered where your trash goes or where your food comes from? Learn how you can make a difference while making Trash-to-Treasure projects!
 
Service Dog Storytime w/ Ellen & Ricky
Tuesday, May 8th
3:30pm, Assembly Room
Come meet Ellen and her dog Ricky, hear stories about people and their assistance dogs and ask all your questions about service animals! Ages 4 & up.
 
Sensory Storytime
Saturday, May 19th
9:30am, Flett Room
For children with autism spectrum disorders, sensory integration issues, and other developmental disabilities, though everyone is welcome!
 
 
Music and Movement with Rubi
Mondays, May 7th & May 21st
Two sessions each date. 9:30am & 10:15am , Assembly Room
Designed to get kids (and their grownups) moving, dancing, and having fun! Ages 2-5.
 
Matt Heaton Infant-Toddler Sing-Along
Thursday, May 24th
10:30am, Assembly Room
Join local musician Matt Heaton for this sing-along for babies and toddlers 24 months and under.
TEENS  
Boston Theater Company's Teen Touring Troupe
Saturday, May 5th 
2pm, Assembly Room
Come watch these talented teens -including some from Belmont -interpret Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost .
 
 
Homework and Hot Chocolate
Wednesday, May 9th 
1:30-3:30 pm, Assembly Room
5th to 8th graders -- eat snacks, do your homework and then relax with board games, crafts, or books!
 
   
Anime Club is BACK!
Wednesday, May 16th
1:45-3:00pm,  Flett Room
Sign-ups encouraged but not required
J oin us for episode screenings, crafts, discussions, and tasty snacks! Grades 6-12. Sign-ups encouraged but not required. 
 
Teen Advisory Board (TAB)
Thursday, May 17th
3pm, Flett Room
Teens, grades 9 and up join TAB and get community service. We eat pizza, work on a volunteer project, and plan upcoming teen volunteer programs. Email rmoir@minlib.net for more details.
 
Teen LGBTQIA+ Drop In
Tuesday, May 29th
6-7pm, Flett Room
Are  you a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, queer, intersex, or asexual teen? Or are you a teen ally? Join us for our first LGBTQIA+ drop in, where you can meet and hang with like-minded teens in a safe, welcoming environment! For grades 6-12
JUNE PREVIEW  
Lights! Smartphone! Action!
Using Your Cellphone to Share Your Life Story
Tuesday, June 5th & Thursday, June 7th
7pm, Assembly Room
 
This class is designed for beginners who want to learn how to use their smartphones to share events, personal stories, or make documentaries to share with family and friends. Taught by Emmy award winning videographer/editor/producer and Belmont resident, Bob Craigue, you'll learn simple techniques and practice shooting video with an awareness of lighting, composition, and sound. Students will use in-camera editing to trim video, and will explore simple editing software such as iMovie or Microsoft Movie Maker to edit and add effects.
Farmers' Market
Pop-up Library at the Farmers' Market
Thursdays: June 7th, July 5th, August 2nd, September 6th, and October 4th
2-5pm, Community Tent

This summer, we're back at the Farmers Market once a month to bring you bestsellers, fun activities, and information about all our resources.
 
The Children's Department will also be at the market every week to read stories at 4pm.
Summer Reading - All Ages 1960s/1970s Kickoff Party
End of June, stay tuned for exact date and time!
 
This year's summer reading theme is Libraries Rock! In addition to reading contests and activities for all ages, we'll also be hosting dozens of programs to keep you entertained,   including our popular Summer Thursday game nights, movie nights, and craft nights. Our   kickoff event is an all ages groovy 1960s/1970s party at the library. Stay tuned for more details on our kickoff party and on this year's summer reading activities!
COMMUNITY EVENTS  
Belmont Art Association - Chinese Brush Painting
Saturday, May 12th 
1:30pm - 4:30pm, Assembly Room

The second workshop in the BAA's series, supported by the Belmont Cultural Council. Master landscape painte Ma Qingxion, assisted by Linda Salter, Japanese brush painter, will lead a talk on Chinese brush painting. Afterwards, attendees 16 years old and up will be invited to try their hand at painting. All supplied will be provided. If you plan to paint, please bring an apron. 
Belmont Cultural Council Survey
The Belmont branch of the Massachusetts Cultural Council has created a quick, 3-minute community survey that all Belmontians are warmly invited to complete, either online at   https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BelmontCulture or by filling out a hard copy available on the counter at reference desk at the library.
The Council members greatly value your input to help them assess funding priorities for arts and culture programming here in town!
All programs run by the Library are free and open to the public. The Assembly and Flett Rooms are accessible to persons with disabilities.

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