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January 2025 | Events & Updates
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Library Hours:
Beech Street Center
- Monday – Thursday: 9am – 7:30pm
- Friday: 9am – 5pm
- Saturday: 9am – 3pm
Benton
- Monday: 9am – 12:30pm & 1:30pm – 5pm
- Tuesday: 9am – 12:30pm & 1:30pm – 7:30pm
- Wednesday & Thursday: 10am – 12:30pm & 1:30pm – 7:30pm
- Friday: 9am – 12:30pm & 1:30pm – 5pm
- Saturday: 9am – 3pm
We will be closed on the following dates:
Wednesday, January 1st
Monday, January 20th
Friday, January 24th
Email: askbelmont@minlib.net
Phone: 617-489-2000
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Dear Library Patrons,
Happy New Year! I’m thrilled to share that 2025 will be a year to remember. This is the year we begin a new chapter together—the year we open the doors to your brand new library. It’s the culmination of 25 years of vision, dedication, and hard work by countless people who poured their hearts into this dream. Inside the new library, you’ll find spaces designed for everyone. Quiet study rooms offer solace for focus and reflection. Teens will enjoy an expanded Young Adult Room. The historical wing will bring Belmont’s rich history to life, complete with the Belmont Historical Society and their collection. Plus, the Belmont Media Center will open its studios on site, inviting us all to create and learn the art of storytelling and broadcasting. Our new community classroom will feature maker technologies, sparking creativity and innovation. For families, the Children’s Room has been completely reimagined—bigger, better, and filled with wonder. Step outside to explore beautiful outdoor spaces, or buy a cup of coffee to sip as you decide what to explore next. Whether it’s the quiet reading room, the relaxing porch, or anywhere in between, there’s a space for you.
Our dedicated library staff will finally reunite under one roof, eager to serve you with warmth and enthusiasm. The Friends of the Belmont Public Library will reintroduce their daily book sale in the new Belmont Library Store, alongside exciting surprises for book lovers.
2025 also marks the debut of our new logo, website, and we’ll begin a new long-range plan to guide us through to the end of the decade. Your favorite groups—Knitting Club, Cookbook Club, Dial M for Movies and all the others—will return to 336 Concord Avenue, joined by new additions like a Music Club.
On a personal note, 2025 marks my tenth year as your Library Director, and I’m honored to introduce my new monthly column in the Belmont Voice – News From The Stacks. There, I’ll keep you updated on our progress, programs, and everything that makes the library a cornerstone of our community.
As we close out this final year in our temporary spaces, I want to extend heartfelt thanks to the Town of Belmont, the Council on Aging Board, the Belmont School Department, and the Friends of the Benton Library for hosting us during this transition. A special thank you to our Board of Trustees, Building Committee, Friends, Foundation, and, of course, our incredible staff. Before long, we’ll be together again in our new home—a space built with love, for you, by us all. I can’t wait to welcome you.
Kindest Regards,
Peter J. Struzziero
Library Director
Belmont Public Library
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2025 Winter Reading Challenge - Adults and Teens
The Belmont Public Library invites you to participate in our annual Winter Reading Challenge!
To participate, pick up a reading log at the Reference Desk, located at the Beech Street Center! Complete a bingo horizontally, vertically, or diagonally by finishing five activities. Each bingo sheet returned to the Reference desk by March 31st will earn a small prize and counts as ONE entry into the grand prize raffle! You may turn in multiple entries. Grand prize drawing winners will be announced on April 7th.
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A Virtual Tour of the
Edgar Allan Poe Museum
Friday, January 10th, 2pm, Zoom
Enjoy a virtual guided tour of the world’s finest collection of Edgar Allan Poe’s artifacts and personal items.
Learn about Poe’s tragic life and how it influenced his famous tales of terror. Leave with a greater understanding of the Master of the Macabre and his literary legacy.
The Poe Museum is a museum located in Richmond, Virginia, dedicated to American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The museum holds one of the world's largest collections of original manuscripts, letters, first editions, memorabilia and personal belongings. The museum also provides an overview of early 19th century Richmond, where Poe lived and worked.
The museum features the life and career of Poe by documenting his accomplishments with pictures, relics, and verse, and focusing on his many years in Richmond.
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How to Build Resilience
in the Age of Burnout
Wednesday, January 15th, 7pm
Zoom
Burnout continues to be a growing issue in our modern world, only further exacerbated during and following the pandemic. In our always-on, technology-enabled society, we are in a crisis of collective exhaustion - but it doesn't have to be this way.
Join this interactive session to dive into the underlying drivers of burnout and learn the micro-changes you can make to push back against chronic-stress and prevent burnout.
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Papercutting Workshop:
The Year of the Snake
Tuesday, January 21st, 6pm
Beech Street Center
Classroom A
For Teens & Adults
The Year of the Dragon is coming to a close, and the Year of the Snake is just around the corner! Celebrate the Lunar New Year with an exciting Chinese papercutting workshop led by Zhonghe (Elena) Li of Wildcrane Art.
Elena will guide you through the basics of papercutting using scissors, and you’ll follow along her and share your unique stories through this beautiful art form. Don’t miss this opportunity to embrace creativity and tradition!
Zhonghe (Elena) Li, a multimedia artist based in Cambridge, MA, specializes in the traditional Chinese art of papercutting. Over the past decade, she has passionately embraced this ancient craft, using scissors as her primary tool. Li's work seeks to bridge the gap between traditional papercutting and contemporary art, addressing pertinent issues such as species extinction, climate change, and its impact on humanity's future.
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The Six Pillars of Brain Health with AARP
Monday, January 27th
2pm, Zoom
It's never too late to take charge of your brain health! In this session, you will learn about the six pillars of a brain-healthy lifestyle, discover brain boosting activities, and be inspired by others.
Get ready to understand the importance of B.E. M.O.R.E. -- (B)e Social, (E)ngage Your Brain, (M)anage Stress, (O)ngoing Exercise, (R)estorative Sleep, and (E)at Right. This session is a good overview for anyone interested in improving brain health and will provide actionable steps you can take along with resources to learn more.
Led by Ruth Levitsky, with AARP Massachusetts.
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Encounters with Killers - with Author Katherine Ramsland
Monday, January 27th, 7pm, Zoom
About Katherine's latest fiction book, Dead-Handed:
"Forensic psychologist Annie Hunter runs the Nut Crackers investigation agency. They accept unique, twisted, and complex cases, including those with paranormal aspects. As an expert, she performs psychological autopsies and court assessments, but she can also evaluate a psychic, exhume a body, and connect with any forensic expert she might need for her cases."
Dr. Katherine Ramsland, most recently, taught forensic psychology and criminology at DeSales University in Pennsylvania, where she was the Assistant Provost. She has appeared as an expert in criminal psychology on more than 250 crime documentaries and magazine shows, is an executive producer of Murder House Flip, and has consulted for CSI, Bones, and The Alienist. The author of more than 1,800 articles and 73 books, including The Forensic Science of CSI, The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds, How to Catch a Killer, The Psychology of Death Investigations, The Serial Killer’s Apprentice, and Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, The BTK Killer. She was co-executive producer for the Wolf Entertainment/A&E four-part documentary based on the years she spent talking with Rader. Ramsland consults on death investigations, pens a blog for Psychology Today, and is currently writing a fiction series based on a female forensic psychologist who manages a private investigation agency. Dead-Handed is book #3.
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Children's & Teen Programs | |
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Storytime
Littlest Ones (ages 0-2): Wednesdays at 9:30am
Beech Street Center
Multipurpose Room
All Ages: Thursdays at 10am
Beech Street Center
Multipurpose Room
Preschool (ages 2-5): Tuesdays at 10am, Benton Library
There will be no storytimes December 23rd - January 3rd
Storytime will resume the week of January 6th.
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Little Builders
Monday, January 13th, 10am
Benton Library
Come build with us! We will provide building toys of all kinds for your little ones to play and create with. Recommended for ages 2 to 5.
Toys courtesy of the Friends of
the Belmont Public Library.
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Pajama Storytime
Thursday, January 16th
6:15 - 6:45pm
Benton Library
Wind down with pajama storytime!
Children of all ages and their caregivers are welcome as we curl up with some cozy books and relaxing rhymes.
Don’t forget to bring a favorite stuffed animal to join in the fun!
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Joey’s Junior Book Club for Kindergarten Through Second Grade
Monday, January 27th
3:30 - 4:15pm
Benton Library
Join our monthly book club just for new readers and their grownups! Read the book at home, and then gather at the library to discuss the story and do fun activities.
This month's book is School for Magical Monsters: Rise of Pegasus by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams.
This program is for kindergarten, first, and second graders and their grownups. Space is limited. Please register.
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Teen Advisory Board
Thursday, January 9th, 4pm
Belmont Town Hall
Conference Room #4
455 Concord Avenue
The Teen Advisory Board is open to teens in grades 7-12. Come meet with other teens and your adorable young adult librarian to help brainstorm new programs, activities, and volunteer opportunities. This is a Community Service Opportunity. Questions? Email Maya Escobar at mescobar@minlib.net or
askbelmontya@minlib.net.
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Teen Reference Hour
Wednesdays, Jan. 15th & 29th Feb. 12th & 24th, 2pm
Reference Desk
Beech Street Center
The Young Adult Librarian will be on desk to assist teens and teen-adjacent folks with research and homework questions, book suggestions, and any other teen-service-related topics!
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Ongoing Programs & Book Clubs | |
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Genealogy One-on-One Appointments
Fridays starting at 12:30pm
Beech Street Center
Reference Room
Interested in learning about your Genealogy or family history?
Meet with our Reference and Local History Librarian, Logan, to learn more about how to use the library’s online genealogy databases to discover your family’s history.
In these sessions Logan can help you get started with genealogy research, learn about the library's digital resources, or help you research a particular family member.
Registration is required, so please check our calendar for a date and time to sign up.
Please note that patrons are limited to one session per month.
Questions? Email Logan at lmanchester@minlib.net.
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Writers Group
Wednesday, January 8th, 6pm
Beech Street Center
Classroom A
If you've got something you're working on or something you want to start writing, join us!
All levels of experience are welcome.
Adults only. Please register!
Questions? Email Janina Majeran at jmajeran@minlib.net.
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Virtual Trivia Night
Wednesday, January 8th, 7pm
Zoom
Join us for an evening of Virtual Trivia for solo players and teams!
Registrants (soloists and team captains only) will receive a link to access the Zoom Meeting. On the afternoon of the event there will be a follow-up email that will include the rules and an answer sheet. Team captains should share this information with their team members.
Our questions are geared towards adults in challenge rating, but for families who want to play together, please know that there are no "embarrassing" questions or content.
Participants' videos will not need video participation, so no need to worry about having a working webcam to play. The ability to access Zoom and view slides on a screen is all you need for this fantastic trivia fun!
Since this event is using Zoom, teams who don't live together will need to communicate by some non-Zoom means - for example, texting, Facetime, Google Hangouts, etc.
Let us know if you have any questions by sending an email to askbelmont@minlib.net.
Please register for the Zoom link!
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50+ Job Seekers
January 15th, 9:30am, Zoom
Join us in a professional forum for networking with peers in a safe and comfortable environment conducive to developing new relationships and developing skills and strategies to help in your career transition.
Each meeting features a new topic. Meetings include a presentation and interactive workshop on topics relevant to career transition, guest speakers, access to hiring managers, small group breakout rooms to network, and 1-on-1 coaching guidance.
Participating on a regular basis will give job seekers the many tools and strategies needed for a successful job search.
Register for the first session below.
January 15th: Self Assessment
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Page of Enlightenment Book Club
Thursday, January 9th, 7pm
Zoom
We will discuss American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis by Adam Hochschild
Questions? Email Chris Tremblay at ctremblay@minlib.net.
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Cookbook Club
Tuesday, January 14th, 6:30pm
Beech Street Center
Classroom A
Join the Cookbook Club as we cook through a title together each month! We will be reading Quick & Simple by Jacques Pepin.
Copies of the book are available in the display across from the circulation desk. Participants should each cook a recipe of their choosing and bring it ready to eat to Classroom A at the Beech Street Center at time of the meeting.
Email Ellen Girouard at egirouard@minlib.net with any questions.
This event is a potluck as defined under the Massachusetts Potluck Law.
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Book a Trip Abroad: World Lit Book Club
Tuesday, January 28th, 6pm, Hybrid (Beech Street Center, Classroom A & online)
We will discuss The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez.
Questions? Email Logan Manchester at lmanchester@minlib.net.
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Dial M for Movies
Friday, January 31st, 6:30pm
Beech Street Center
Multipurpose Room
Join Director Peter Struzziero and fellow movie aficionados for a movie screening of Taras Bulba.
We'll bring the concession snacks, you bring yourself!
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New at the Reference Desk! | |
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Wifi Printing is now available at Belmont Public Library!
Click here to submit a file to print from home or from your phone and pick up at one of our library locations.
For more information about computer and printing services at the library, please visit our webpage.
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Now is the time to pick up seeds for spring!
Local Belmont group Mystic Charles Pollinator Pathways has generously donated new seeds to our seed library.
There are two types of seeds: ones that have to be put in the cold ground for 30 days before they will germinate, and ones that have to be in the cold ground for 60 days.
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