We'd Like to Introduce You to Our Friends!
The Friends of the Somerville Public Library are...
a nonprofit community membership organization supporting the mission of the Somerville Public Library and its branches!

The Friends help the SPL provide programs, services and materials not covered by the library's normal operating budget. The Friends are also entirely staffed by community volunteers.

Some of the wonderful library benefits that are made possible by the Friends include the free or reduced-price passes in our Cultural Passes program, licensing fees for movie screenings at the library, and programming assistance.

The Friends also organize book sales to fundraise for the library - and are currently running a book box sale!

Friends of the Somerville Public Library Book Box Sale
By appointment only, $10 per box. Choose a box sorted by genre from over 30 different categories. Boxes vary in size. Each box has at least 30 books. To make an appointment email friendssomervillepubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Christina Heinrich, the President of the Friends of the SPL on her experience getting involved with the Friends
I volunteered at a Friends book sale for the first time in 2017, the year I moved to Somerville from Chicago, and quickly joined the board. As a newcomer to the city, I was interested in volunteering with the Friends to learn more about the community. While I work as a research librarian at Tufts University's health sciences library by day, I think public libraries are incredibly valuable for the free information, space, and enrichment they provide to communities.

I became the president in 2020, and it's been exciting to see the organization change and grow over the five years I've been involved. Somerville's Friends board skews a bit younger than many Friends organizations, and much like the library and the city, we're interested in creative ways to engage the community and increase access to the library programming and resources we support.

Volunteer with the Friends
Interested in volunteering with the Friends of the Somerville Public Library? We'd love to hear from you! Email friendssomervillepubliclibrary@gmail.com to get in touch and learn more about participating in the organization.

You can follow the Friends on Facebook or Twitter to learn more about their work and find volunteer opportunities.
Upcoming Programs
Tuesday, March 8 at 7pm on Zoom, registration required
When you start a new job, some of your first decisions may be about saving for retirement and choosing a health insurance plan. How much should I put into my retirement account? Which investments should I choose? Which health insurance plan will serve my needs and be affordable? The choices can be daunting. Join us to gain some important insights on how to make these essential decisions.
Sunday, March 13 at 1:30pm at the Central Library Auditorium, registration required
Get cozy and crafty with us at the SPL!
For our March craft we will be making embroidered bookmarks! We'll provide all of the craft supplies you need to help you create bookmark. In previous months, we have had two time slots for Getting Cozy; due to the anticipated length of this craft and our increased capacity for the Auditorium, there will only be one time slot available this month.
Wednesdays (March 16-June 15) at 6:30pm on Zoom, registration required
This 14-week beginner ESOL/civics class is for adults interested in improving their English skills in order to apply for US citizenship. ESL & citizenship workbooks will be provided and can be picked up at any SPL location.
Wednesday, March 23 at 6:30pm at the Central Library Children's Room, registration required
Chapter Chatter is a brand new book club for kids ages 9-11! We will meet once every month in the Children's Room at the Central Library. Our March book is Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. Copies will be available at the circulation desk at the Central Library.
Thursday, March 24 at 6:30pm at the Central Library Auditorium, registration required
Join us for a screening of A League of Their Own (1992). And always remember, there's no crying in baseball!
Saturday, March 26 at 3pm at the Central Library Auditorium or on Zoom, registration required
This concert features diverse musical styles ranging from Blues and Jazz to Latin, Brazilian, Caribbean and Middle Eastern. We will groove to soulful jazz and blues music composed by the likes of Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith. The group strives to educate and share the stories from these women’s lives and their culture with audiences. Women in World Jazz will share information about the composers and their music, as well as engage the audience with a Q&A and discussion at the end of the program.
We are delighted to announce an open call for artists and art exhibitions for 2022! We welcome exhibits that represent Somerville's cultural diversity and vibrant artistic community. Submissions will be accepted from now through March 31st. Works in all media will be considered, including photography and three-dimensional art that can be hung, with the exception of sculptures. Somerville residents or organizations serving the Somerville community are encouraged to apply.
Our Favorite Book-to-Screen Pairings
Not every book-to-screen adaptation can be a success...
but here are the pairings that SPL librarians love!

Looking for more recommendations? Check out our What Should I Read Next? reading recommendation service!
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones / Howl's Moving Castle dir. by Hayao Miyazaki
Howl's Moving Castle focuses on the story of Sophie, a young hat maker in a small village where rumors of a traveling wizard with a moving castle haunt the residents. However, after Sophie is cursed by a witch to instantly age into an old woman, she discovers that the wizard, Howl, may be her only shot at breaking the curse. The movie and the book take very different approaches to the same story, but they're both fantastic in different ways!

Recommended by Kayla, Youth Services Librarian
Endurance recounts Ernest Shackleton's 1915 exploration to Antarctica. Both the book and the movie are amazing -- true human triumph.

Recommended by Alison, West Branch Children's Librarian
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien / The Lord of the Rings dir. by Peter Jackson
Kerry's hands-down favorite book-to-screen adaptation is definitely The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, with the trilogy of film adaptations directed by Peter Jackson. Both books and films stand the test of time, with the films pioneering new technology that's still used today. Not to mention, it's a sweeping epic fantasy story full of incredible, larger-than-life characters that you can return to again and again.

Recommended by Kerry, Head of Adult Services

True Grit by Charles Portis / True Grit dir. by Ethan and Joel Coen
The Coen Brother's adaptation of the eponymous Charles Portis novel is terrifying, funny and poignant with stellar performances by Jeff Bridges and Hailie Steinfeld. And it's the Coen Brothers, need we say more?

Recommended by Kevin, Head of Reference Services
The Martian by Andy Weir / The Martian dir. by Ridley Scott
The Martian is a captivating story about astronaut Mark Watney, who has been left behind on a Mars mission and the global efforts to rescue him. The novel has many amazing qualities that were carried to the film adaptation, including its emotional hits, lovable protagonist, and easy-to-understand science fiction elements.

Recommended by Laura, Generalist Librarian

The Odyssey by Homer / O Brother, Where Art Thou? dir. by Ethan and Joel Coen
This is a very loose adaptation of Homer's epic (in fact, both of the directors claim that they have never even read the Odyssey) but it is very effective nevertheless! The beautiful cinematography, extremely catchy folk and gospel songs, and fun, surprising plot points all combine to make a wonderful film that Abby has come back to again and again over the years. 

Recommended by Abby, Generalist Librarian
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson / The Haunting of Hill House dir. by Mike Flanagan
ShanTil has watched the show at least once a year since it came out (yes, it's really that good!). Compelling and emotive cast performances, precise direction from creator Mike Flanagan, and plenty of scares make the series an unforgettable spiritual successor to Jackson's haunted house masterpiece.

Recommended by ShanTil, Reference Librarian
Stardust by Neil Gaiman / Stardust dir. by Matthew Vaughn
Stardust is about a young man named Tristran (or Tristan in the movie) who has spent his whole life in the rural English village of Wall, named such due to the large wall that lines the edge of town and is constantly guarded so no one can enter. When Trist(r)an witnesses a star fall from the sky and land on the other side of the wall, he vows to capture it for the girl he fancies, unaware that the star is, in fact, a person. The movie's plot was condensed from the book quite a bit and the ending is different, but both have a fantastic dark fairytale vibe. 

Recommended by Kayla, Youth Services Librarian
Thank you, Ann!
The Somerville Public Library extends our congratulations to Ann, who has retired after 52 years of working with the library! Ann has made a profound impact on hundreds of Somerville families in her time as a Children's Librarian and Head of Children's Services, and we wish her all the best with her retirement!
AARP Tax Assistance
AARP Foundation is offering free in-person tax assistance at the West Branch, with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 or have low to moderate income.

Tax preparation will take place Wednesdays, February 2 - April 13 from 9 am to 2 pm by appointment only.