Welcome 2021: New Year, New You
January 2021 | Library & Community News
Pickup hours:
Monday – Thursday | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Friday & Saturday | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Holiday Hours:
Closed Monday 1/18 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
New! Winter Reading Challenge for All Ages!
The Scoop on Library Services
Holds Pickup: We're now offering a more contact free model for pickup of library materials through windows on each floor.

If you would like to call before leaving home & ahead of your arrival at the library, your materials will be prepared for you in advance.

  • For children’s materials, please call the Children’s Room at 617-993-2880
  • For adult and YA materials, call Circulation at 617-993-2855
  • For requests, museum passes, and printing, call Reference at 617-993-2870
Food for Friends: The Library continues to accept food donations for the Belmont Food Pantry. If you are looking to make donations, please place them in the bin next to the library's front entrance during our pickup hours. 

Book Donations: The Friends of the Belmont Public Library has suspended book donations until further notice. The Friends appreciates your support through your donations of gently used books, DVDs, and puzzles, and hope to be able to accept donations again soon.
Great Belmont Magazine Takeaway
Out with the old, in with the new! We are happy to announce the Great Belmont Magazine Takeaway! Various 2020 magazine issues have been packaged up and are available for you to take home to peruse at your leisure.

How it works:
  • Pick a magazine bundle
  • Take your bundle home & enjoy - they are yours to keep, no returns!

You will find the magazine bundles next to the library's front entrance, weather permitting & while supplies last!
New Additions to the Library of Things
The Belmont Public Library now has wifi hotspots and Rokus with Disney+ subscriptions available for checkout as part of the Library of Things collection! WiFi hotspots let you connect to the internet without needing a home internet setup. Rokus are digital media players that connect to your TV/monitor and allow you to access the streaming content available on Disney+, like your favorite movies and TV shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.

Place a hold on a wifi hotspot here.
Place a hold on a Disney+ Roku here.
The fine print:
  • Limit one hotspot/Roku per library card
  • These Library of Things items can be borrowed for up to 1 week
  • As part of the Library of Things, hotspots & Rokus must be returned during contactless pickup hours with their charging cords, instructions and carrying case
  • If a hotspot remains out beyond its due date, internet access will be shut off
Oh, And One More Thing...
bring all returns to the outside dropbox
When visiting the library, please bring all returns to the outside dropbox. We cannot accept returned library items at our points of service. Returned library items will be quarantined for 72 hours before we check them in, so items will remain on your library account for a few days after you return them.

Of course, there are a couple of exceptions! If you are returning items from the Library of Things or vinyl LP records, bring them to adult circulation pickup window; there is a table there for you to leave these fragile returns.
Visit the Library - Online!
We're bringing our shelves to you with Library Latest. Each post highlights new materials or a part of the collection our staff thinks you should check out! Our most recent updates have featured selections from our various streaming services, top titles of 2020 and the best of our knitting collection to pique your crafty interests.
Try Something New in the New Year
Did you know? You can sign up for our online book clubs, movie discussions, or author talks, then come pick up your materials for these events at the library. Whether it's nonfiction, cookbooks, fiction or a classic movie, there's a group for you!

Cookbook Club: Tue., January 12 • 7 pm
Belmont Book Discussion: Wed., January 20 • 3 pm
Nonfiction Book Club: Thur., January 21 • 7 pm
Dial M for Movies: Mon., January 25 • 6 pm
Featured Events for Adults & Teens
Wed., January 27 • 7 pm
Sat., January 30 • 3 pm
Featured Events for Kids
Sat., January 16 • 2 pm • Ages 8+
Wed., January 20 • 3:30 pm • All Ages
Fri., January 22 • 9:30 am • Ages 2-5
News from the Friends
First-time donors to the Friends of the Belmont Public Library can receive a free handmade mask, while supplies last. Click here to join the Friends.

The Friends of the Belmont Public Library extends a huge thanks to Kelly Brothers Landscaping for their services to our Library Beautification Program. The Kelly Brothers Landscaping team truly went above and beyond with the weeding, pruning and mulching. Ultimately, these efforts play a huge role in maintaining the library’s presentation to the community!
About the Belmont Library Foundation
The Belmont Library Foundation was established to undertake promotional and fundraising activities for the Belmont Public Library, including support for the construction of a new building and the creation of an endowment to fund ongoing library needs. To learn more about the Belmont Library Foundation, please visit www.belmontlibraryfoundation.org and follow us on social media.

We welcome your feedback and involvement in the Library Project. Please email David Stievater to get involved, volunteer, or donate.
Community News
Belmont Public Schools Online Registration for School Year 2021-2022 opens January 29, 2021!

  • For elementary school (Burbank, Butler, Wellington, Winn Brook) registration for K-4, click here
  • To enter Kindergarten, the child must be five years old on or before September 1st of the year they will attend school
  • To enter Grade 1, the child must be six years old on or before September 1st of the year they will attend school

  • For Chenery Middle School and Belmont High School Registration for Grades 5-12, click here

  • Important registration information for current BPS families
  • You do not need to register a grade 1-12 existing Belmont Public Schools student again
  • You do need to register your incoming kindergartner even if you are a current Belmont Public Schools family. This is important to ensure placement of your incoming kindergartner at the same elementary school as your grade 1-4 child. Please complete your registration and submit all required documents for your incoming kindergartner by April 9.
  • Current Wellington preschool families will be emailed registration instructions

  • For grade K-4 families new to Belmont Public Schools
  • We are pleased to announce BPS offers free tuition for kindergarten
  • Please see the K-4 registration page on the BPS website for registration information and paperwork deadlines for school placement dates
  • Please also see our Elementary Information Presentations on the BPS registration page (posted when registration opens online). These presentations give general information about Belmont Public Schools, registration, health requirements, and food services.

If you have any questions regarding your registration, please contact the school you registered with.
Stay Informed
Massachusetts residents are advised to stay home between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am. Read more: MA Stay-at-Home Advisory

Locate COVID-19 testing sites across the state on this interactive map.

Trusted Health Resources
We're available Monday to Thursday, 9 am-6 pm and Friday and Saturday, 9 am-5 pm to answer your questions and connect you to resources.

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

Questions? Ask A Librarian or call us:
Reference: 617-993-2870 or -2871
Circulation: 617-993-2855
Children's: 617-993-2880

Click the "Questions?" box on our website to reach your librarians!