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From Summer Reading to Sunflowers
July 2020 | Events & Updates
Summer Reading 2020
Celebrate summer with the Belmont Public Library! Children, teens, and adults are invited to join the library's Summer Reading program now through August 14th . 

Register with the library's new tracking tool, Beanstack , then complete activities to earn prizes like virtual stickers and postcards or entries into raffles to win gift cards for local stores including Rancatore's , Belmont Books , The Toy Shop of Belmont , Bessie Blue , Bellmont Caffe, and many more.

You have two ways to participate through Beanstack:
  • Join the Summer Reading 2020 challenge for your age group — Children's (babies through 6th grade), Teen (grades 7-12), or Adult — then explore the Activity Badges and start earning points with each completed activity. Earn 30 points to be entered in our end-of-summer raffle!
  • Check out our Weekly Challenges each week (Saturdays through Fridays)! During each themed week, try something new, check it off in Beanstack, and be entered to win a gift card to a Belmont business.

If you're not sure how to tackle one of the Summer Reading activities, we'll be posting ideas to inspire you on our Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram ! You can also email belmontpublicsocial@gmail.com and we'll suggest some ideas to get you started.

With the help and generous support of the Friends of the Belmont Public Library and the members of the Belmont Center Business Association , we are excited to provide a way to enjoy Summer Reading with the library as we do every year.

If you have any questions, please email Deb at dborsuk@minlib.net or Corinne at ccoveney@minlib.net .
Events for Adults & Teens
This summer, our events will be held virtually on Zoom — register to get the link to join! Check the  events calendar  on our website as we add more online programs.
Trivia Night
Tue. July 7 • 7:30 pm
We're excited to host our first Virtual Trivia Night for solo players and teams! Our questions are geared towards adults in challenge rating, but families can play together — we promise there are no "embarrassing" questions or content.
Registration requ ired — details here .
Knitting Club
Fridays • 12:30 pm
Bring your knitting, crocheting, or any fiber craft to a social afternoon on Zoom with fellow local crafters.
Registration required — details here .
Tai Chi Easy
Level 1: Sat. July 11 & 25, August 8 & 22 • 10 am
Level 2: Wed. July 15 & 29, August 12 & 26 • 7 pm
Tai Chi practitioner and coach, Aisling O'Shea, will guide you through this beautiful a nd low impact form of martial art and meditation. No equipment necessary; just wear comfortable clothing!
Registration r equired — details here for Level 1 and here for Level 2 .
Nonfiction Book Club
Thu. July 16 • 7 pm
D iscuss The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone, about America's code-breaking history through the prism of Elizebeth Smith's life, bringing into focus the unforgettable events that would help shape modern intelligence.
Registration required — details here.
Book Discussion: The Light Between Oceans
Wed. July 22 • 3 pm
On a remote lighthouse island off the coast of Australia, a WWI veteran and his young bride make a fateful choice when a boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a living baby. 
Registration required — details here .
Books and Bites: Author Julie Dobrow
Thu. July 23 • 11 am
Author Julie Dobrow discusses After Emily: Two Remarkable Women and the Legacy of America's Greatest Poet.  Emily Dickinson may be the most widely read and beloved of all American poets, but the mother-and-daughter team behind her enduring legacy are barely known.
Registration required — details here .
Events for Kids & Families
Farmers' Market Storytimes 
Thu. July 9 & 23, August 6 & 20, Sept. 3 • 9:30 am • All Ages
Even though we won't have live storytimes at the Belmont Farmers' Market  this year, our children's librarians invite you to virtual storytimes celebrating food, animals, and all the fun we usually have at the Market!
Registration required for each date — July 9 , July 23 , August 6 , August 20 , and September 3 .
Imagine That!: Concert with Davis Bates and Roger Tincknell
Thu. July 9 • 10:30 am • Ages 4+
Enjoy fun folk music that kids and their grown ups will love in this virtual concert with musicians and storytellers Davis Bates and Roger Tincknell .
Registration required — details here .
Sciencetellers — Dragons: Return of the Ice Sorceress
Tue. July 14 • 6:30 pm • Ages 5+
Watch in awe as our Scienceteller host leads us through a gripping story and fascinating science experiments.
Registration required — details here .
Virtual Concert with Matt Heaton
Fri. July 17 • 11 am • Ages 2-5
Sing and dance along at home with Matt's classic and original songs.
Registration required — details here.
Saint George and the Dragon presented by Pumpernickel Puppets
Tue. July 21 • All Day • All Ages
Pumpernickel Puppets  is creating a virtual puppet show just for the Belmont Library! Stay tuned to our YouTube account from 8 am to 8 pm to watch a puppet performance of Saint George and the Dragon and laugh and cheer along with the twists and jokes from home.
No registration required.
Concert with Ben Rudnick and His Trio
Thu. July 30 • 10:30 am • All Ages
Rock out and dance along at this virtual concert with  Ben Rudnick and his trio ! Ben and his bandmates will play original and classic songs for us that will have attendants of all ages singing along. 
Registration required — details here .
Have you tried Parking Lot Pickup yet?
Parking Lot Pickup is our socially-distanced appointment-based hold pickup service. What does that mean? It's our way to get books to YOU while the library building is closed to the public.

Current appointment hours: Monday through Friday, 10 am-12 pm & 2 pm-4 pm. We will expand these hours in future phases.

Before you come to the library: Request materials, get a notice that your materials are ready, then book an appointment.

Then, at the library during your appointment time : Come up to our tent, take your bag (library staff will be there to help you), and enjoy your day!

Please wear a mask or face covering and remain at least 6 feet from staff and other patrons throughout the pickup transaction.

To learn more and schedule a pickup, visit our  Parking Lot Pickup page. Still curious? Read our  Frequently Asked Questions , email blmparkinglotpickup@minlib.net , or call 617-993-2871 (Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm).

Our sincerest thanks go to Trader Joe's for donating over 3000 paper bags (so far!) to our Care Packages and Parking Lot Pickup efforts these past few months and into the summer.
Your thoughtful notes
Quotation marks over stacks of books in front of a pink wall.
Many of you reached out to share your delight at the library's reopening plans, starting with our Parking Lot Pickup service. Thank you!

"Thank you all for this encouraging news about the gradual reopening of our beloved Library. I'm one of the many who has truly missed being able to come in, not only to choose books but also to enjoy and appreciate all the help and goodwill we receive from you all. I look forward to the gradual reopening as you've outlined it and to the newsletters to keep us connected while we wait." — anonymous

"Just wanted to say I really appreciate you taking this initiative. We love our library!" — William

"Thank you for organizing a way to reopen the library. As an avid reader, the library is a major piece of my life and I am so glad to be able to draw on its resources again." — anonymous

"Delighted to hear from you! I look forward to the library reopening." — Dianthe

"I’ve certainly been missing the Library, Looking forward to getting some new books." — Eric

"I just want to tell you how much the library has helped me over this time. But I still really want a hard copy of a book in my hands, so thank you for this curbside pick up option. Let's celebrate when this is all over and we get to our new normal. Thank you." — anonymous

We love hearing from you! To share your thoughts, email Peter Struzziero, Library Director, at pstruzziero@minlib.net or send us some snail mail at 336 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA 02478.
The Belmont Library Sunflower Challenge
Photo of a sunflower in a field
Starting Wednesday, July 8, come to the library during our Parking Lot Pickup hours (currently Mon-Fri, 10 am-12 pm & 2 pm-4 pm) and ask for a free packet of sunflower seeds. Plant them and share a picture with the library when your sunflowers grow!

Please send your photos to belmontpublicsocial@gmail.com or tag @belmontlibma on Facebook , Twitter , or Instagram .

Seeds are first come, first served while supplies last.
Stay informed
Be wary of news reports that sound dangerous, sensational, or too good to be true. Always check the source, verify the information in other places, and seek advice from trusted experts.

Learn the facts from the World Health Organization with these COVID-19 myth busters .

Read about what didn't happen in the news with weekly updates from the AP in their Not Real News series.

Avoid coronavirus scams — learn more from the FTC .

Dial 2-1-1 or chat online to ask general COVID-19 questions — open 24/7 with translators in multiple languages.

Belmont's COVID-19 informational phone line: 617-993-2222 Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm
The Belmont Public Library building is closed to the public, but library staff are available Monday through Friday 9am-5pm to answer questions and connect you to resources.

Need to get a library card or reset your password/pin? Click here .

Questions? You can Ask A Librarian or call the library for:
Parking Lot Pickup: 617-993-2871
Reference: 617-993-2870
Circulation: 617-993-2855
Children's: 617-993-2880

Trusted Health Resources