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The state of our environment is no joke. Read on to learn about library programs and materials that highlight our planet.
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NEWS, HOLIDAY HOURS, & EARTH DAY
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Holiday Hours
The Library will be closed Monday, April 16th, in observance of Patriots' Day.
For normal hours of operation, please visit our website.
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Earth Day:
April 22nd
Check out the library's Earth Day display this April, to find recommended reading on the environment.
Learn about the Library's Citizen Literacy Series, and access a curated list of climate change resources, including Belmont's
Climate Action Plan.
If reading about Earth got you down, try these other activities to celebrate the great outdoors:
- Taking a walk in Belmont's Habitat Education Center
; or
- Using the Library's Museum Pass Program to visit the New England Aquarium, a Massachusetts State Park, the Decordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Drumlin Farms, and many more!
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We are hopeful that the room will be able to open before
May 1st, but if there are further delays then the room will remain closed until the work is completed.
For additional information or to share feedback, please email
pstruzziero@minlib.net
or call (617) 993-2852.
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Goings on About Town... at the Library
Recycle Bins
On
July 1st, Belmont residents will need to fit their discarded items into a single trash receptacle (weekly pick-up) and a single
recycling receptacle (pick-up every two weeks). Samples of these wheeled carts are now on display in the Library Lobby and Reference Room. To learn more about the changes, visit
http://www.belmont-ma.gov/home/news/recycling-changes-in-belmont
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| New Trash Bin |
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| New Recycle Bin |
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Patrons with questions can also contact Belmont
Recycling Coordinator Mary Beth Calnan at
617-993-2689 or
mcalnan@belmont-ma.gov.
Bradford Development Documentation available at the Library
The Library has blueprints and other informational documentation on the Bradford Development on display in the Reference Room. According to
cushingvillage.com:
In July of 2013, the developers, Smith Legacy Partners Series, LLC, received approval from the Belmont Planning Board to build the much anticipated Cushing Village development. While Toll Brothers is now the current master developer of the project and has been renamed the overall project to The Bradford, the retail portion of the project will continue as Cushing Village and be managed by Smith Legacy Partners Series, LLC and its affiliate Starr Capital Partners, LLC.
Construction has started Spring of 2017 and completion is expected within a two year timeline. For additional information regarding the details of this transformative retail project, please take a moment to explore this site further.
For more information on the apartments being constructed at the Bradford, please contact
Toll Brothers.
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Friends Sponsored Museum Passes at the Library
A major initiative for the Friends of the Library is funding museum passes. Last year, the Friends financed passes circulated 2500 times!
We currently provide free or discounted admission to 20 venues, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the New England Aquarium, and the Zoo. Our most popular pass is the Museum of Science. Check availability and pass details at
https://belmontpubliclibrary.net/services/museum-passes/
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Museums not your thing? We also have passes for the Lowell Spinners baseball, Boston by Foot walking tours, Einstein's Workshop, and free car parking at Massachusetts State Parks. This year, celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Little Women with a free visit to Orchard House, courtesy of the Friends of the Library.
Please help us continue to fund access to some of Boston's finest institutions by
joining/donating to the Friends.
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Music on Saturday
: Mike Block returns!
Saturday, April 7th
3pm,
Assembly Room
The Friends Music on Saturday Series marks its final concert of the season this April with cellist Mike Block. Mike is a member the Silk Road Ensemble (SRE), having joined in 2005 while a student at The Juilliard School. Hailed by Yo-Yo Ma as the "ideal musician of the 21st-Century," Mike is passionate about cross-cultural collaboration through music, and committed to inspiring individuals and connecting communities. At home in a wide range of musical styles, through a multi-genre approach to composition, performance and education, he seeks to inspire audiences and empower musicians to find joy in the full world of music.
 April's Music on Saturday with Mike Block is sponsored in part by the the Belmont Cultural Council, the local branch of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency that promotes excellence, inclusion, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and sciences to foster a rich cultural life for all Mass residents.
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APRIL & MAY FRIENDS AUTHOR SERIES
 Margot Livesey discusses
Thursday, April 19th
7pm, Assembly Room
New York Times
bestselling author Margot Livesey offers a masterclass for those who love reading literature and for those who aspire to write it. Through close readings, arguments about craft, and personal essays, Livesey delves into the inner workings of fiction and considers how our stories and novels benefit from paying close attention to both great works of literature and to our own individual experiences.
"Livesey writes with wisdom and insight about the craft of writing, proposing to expose what the professional author conceals that the apprentice fiction writer needs to know." Publisher's Weekly
"A smart, unpretentious guide.... Would-be writers will find this both useful and inspiring, while general readers can simply enjoy Livesey's keen insights and engaging prose."Kirkus, Starred Review
 Margot Livesey
is the New York Times bestselling author of
Mercury, The Flight of Gemma Hardy
,
The House on Fortune Street
,
Banishing Verona
,
Eva Moves the Furniture
,
The Missing World
,
Criminals
, and
Homework
. Her work has appeared in the New Yorker, Vogue, and the Atlantic. Born in Scotland, Livesey currently lives in the Boston area and is a professor of fiction at the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
Stephen McCauley in Conversation with Anita Diamant
Thursday, May 17th
7pm, Assembly Room
The Library is pleased to be hosting bestselling novelists Stephen McCauley and Anita Diamant for a night of conversation about McCauley's latest novel,
My Ex-Life
, which 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 the life of his ex-wife? Be prepared to laugh, shed a few tears, and have thoughts of your own ex-life.
"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.
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Introduction to Italian Genealogy
Tuesday, April 10th
7pm,
Assembly Room
Genealogist Shellee Moorehead will show you how to use home sources and other U.S. documents, to find your Italian ancestor's home town, an essential starting point for your research.
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BOOK DISCUSSIONS & AUTHOR TALKS
Belmont Book Discussion (makeup date)
The Sympathizer
Wednesday, April 4th
3pm, Flett Room
Join us for a discussion of
The Sympathizer,
by Viet Thanh Nguyen. 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
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 Books and Bites
Nina Sankovitch to discuss
The Lowells of Massachusetts: An American Family
Monday, April 9th
11am, Assembly Room
Refrements Served
Author Nina Sankovitch will speak on her book
The Lowells of Massachusetts: An American Family. This multigenerational biography explores the Lowells of Massachusetts. They were settlers in the New World in the 1600s, revolutionaries creating a new nation in the 1700s, merchants and manufacturers in the 1800s, and scientists and artists flourishing in the 1900s. The Wall Street Journal says of The Lowells of Massachusetts: "A stirring saga...Sankovitch has made a compelling contribution to Massachusetts and American history."
 Nina Sankovitch is a graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School. She is the author of Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading and Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Celebrating the Joys of Letter Writing. She has written for The New York Times, has served as a contributing blogger to The Huffington Post, and blogs about books, letters, and life on
www.readallday.org. She lives in Connecticut with her family.
 Senior Book Discussion Group
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
Friday, April 13th
11am
Classroom A, Beech Street Center
The senior book discussion group will discuss the novel
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute. 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 & 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.
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Movie Club
Frankenstein (1931)
Viewing: Friday, April 13th
6:30pm, Assembly Room
Discussion: Tuesday, April 17th
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. This month we're watching a film based on Peter's faaaaavorite book: Frankenstein.
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Tai Chi at the Library
Saturday, April 21st
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 April? Join us in May or June!
Saturday, May 19th, 10am
Registration optional but appreciated
Saturday, June 23rd, 10am
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 Knitting Club
Fridays, 12:30-2:30pm
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!
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The Birds and 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.
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 Early Childhood Information Fair
Saturday, April 7th, 9:30-11:30am
Beech Street Center
266 Beech Street, Belmont MA
Considering childcare options for your infant, toddler, or preschooler? Come talk with directors & teachers from various preschools and day cares in and around Belmont at this open house at the Beech Street Center. Kids are welcome!
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 Saturday Sing-Along with Mariana Iranzi
Saturday, April 14th
10:30am, Assembly Room
Enjoy some great music with Mariana for a multicultural musical adventure in Spanish and in English. For ages 2 to 5.
Nappy's Puppets Presents Jack and the Beanstalk
Wednesday, April 18th
10:30am, Assembly Room
Join shadow puppeteer Jim Napolitano for the story of Jack and his many adventures from Jack B. Nimble, Jack Horner, Big Jack and Little Jack to the popular
Jack and Beanstalk.
 Imagination Station Craft Program
Thursday, April 19th
10am, Flett Room
Bring your creativity and enjoy using the library's collection of craft supplies to make all sorts of works of art. For kids ages 4 and up.
Parenting Workshop: Kindergarten Readiness
Tuesday, April 24th
6:30pm, Assembly Room
This workshop provides parents with tips and strategies for preparing your child for kindergarten. Come to this workshop and find out what teachers really expect your child to be able to do at the beginning of the school year. Parents will be provided with tips and strategies to help their child be more prepared for the transition to Kindergarten. Presented by Megan Olowinski, M.A. CCC-SLP Speech and Language Pathologist. Brought to you by the Coordinated Family and Community Education Grant.
 Infant Toddler Sing-Along with Matt Heaton
Thursday, April 26th
10:30am, Assembly Room
Join local musician Matt Heaton for this sing-along for babies and toddlers up to 24 months.
Celebrating Planet Earth: Every Day is Earth Day
A Workshop for 1st & 2nd Graders
Thursday, April 26th
10:30am, Assembly Room
Have you ever wondered when you throw something away? where is this "away?" How about the food you eat? what does it take to get to your plate? Join us in finding answers to these questions. Hear inspiring stories of kids around the globe taking action to protect planet earth and enjoy turning Trash-to-Treasure crafts! Registration required; registration will begin on April 1st.
Stay tuned for our workshop for 3rd and 4th graders on May 3rd!
Sensory Storytime
Saturday, April 28th
9:30am, Flett Room
Designed for children ages 3 and up with autism spectrum disorders, sensory integration issues, and other developmental disabilities. If your child has difficulty sitting through one of our other storytimes, this program might be just what you are looking for.
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Writing Real Software in Python
Friday, April 6th
3-4:30pm, Flett Room
ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME. No experience necessary.
Want to learn how to code real, useful software? Want to understand how web based applications work? This free 12 week course for teens will take them through the process of building a working web application from scratch, using the programming language Python.
Email Teen Librarian Rachel Moir, rmoir@minlib.net to register. For ages 13 to 18.
 Homework and Hot Chocolate
Wednesday, April 4th
1:30-3:30 pm, 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.
Teen Advisory Board
Thursday, April 19th
3-4:30 pm, 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.
 Girls Who Code
Monday, April 2nd, 9th, and 23rd
4:15-6:15 pm,
Assembly Room
Girls Who Code clubs equip girls in grades 6 to 12 with concrete technical skills that will provide the foundation for futures in technology. Email Teen Librarian Rachel Moir at
rmoir@minlib.net
to sign up.
Creative Writing Presentation
Wednesday, April 4th
6 pm, Flett Room
Students from the Creative Writing class with Lynette Benton will present the pieces they've been working on over the course of the class, with light refreshments provided.
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Belmont Gallery of Art Fairytales, Folktales & Fables
Opening Reception
Friday April 6th
6:30-8:30pm
Belmont Gallery of Art
19 Moore Street, 4th Floor
Wine, and light refreshments
This eclectic vibrant exhibit features work by over 30 artists who interpreted fairytales, folktales and fables from around the world through a variety of 2 and 3 D media, including paper sculpture, assemblage, painting, printmaking, textiles and photography.
There is also an art filled Special Events Weekend April 21-22 that includes a Collage
Workshop with artist Carol Wintle and a Gallery "Brunch" Talk on Paper Art featuring artists who use paper in unique ways to create.
Belmont Gallery of Art Events are free and open to the public.
Visit www.belmontgallery.org for more info.
Wheelchair accessible. Contact Rebecca Richards, admin@belmontgallery.org.
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