Director's Update, December 26, 2021 - January 2, 2022
12/26/2021 • 2 years ago
The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 2 years ago.
Dear Patrons,
Winter holiday greetings and Happy New Year! This update covers two weeks of library offerings. I think the best New Year’s gift we can give you is to share the happy news that we will be able to resume Tuesday and Wednesday O’Connell Branch hours and Friday and Saturday Valente Branch hours in January. Book drops at these sites will also be open. As soon as we can, we will share Boudreau reopening news.
Branch Hours Update
The O’Connell Branch will resume Tuesday and Wednesday hours, resulting in a return of a five full days of service every week with three nights of service, on Monday, January 3.
The O’Connell Branch’s regular hours are:
Monday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Tuesday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Wednesday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Thursday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Friday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
The Valente Branch will resume its Friday and Saturday hours, resulting in a return to a weekly six days of service, on Monday, January 3.
The Valente Branch’s regular hours are:
Monday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Tuesday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Wednesday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Thursday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Friday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Saturday, 1p.m.- 5 p.m.
The latest information about library hours is available here.
Baby Lapsit (Virtual)
Monday, December 27
10-10:30 a.m.
Enjoy time with other parents, caregivers, and babies to learn, play, and develop language and motor skills. Come prepared to sit with your baby in your lap. Registration is required.
Outdoor Programs for Kids
Weekly outdoor programs for young children will be offered (weather permitting) at our Central Square, Collins, Main, O’Connell, O’Neill, and Valente locations:
- Outdoor Baby Lapsit: Just for you and your baby! Enjoy time with other parents, caregivers, and babies to play and develop language and motor skills.
- Outdoor Sing-Along: All ages are invited to sing and dance!
- Outdoor Songs & Stories: All ages are invited to sing, dance and share a story!
- Outdoor Story Time: All ages are invited to join us for a half hour of stories!
Please see our December and January calendars for all outdoor youth program details. Registration is not required.
Wellness for Seniors: Let Your Yoga Dance (Virtual)
Monday, December 27
11-11:45 a.m.
Breathe, stretch, and dance your way to a blissful body, joyous heart, and a steady, quiet mind! Open to all levels and abilities. Registration is required for each session.
XR Lab 101 (Main)
Tuesday, December 28, 5-6 p.m.
Wednesday, December 29, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Extended reality (XR) opens the door to worlds and experiences outside the everyday through virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality equipment. Test drive our Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality glasses, Structure Sensor 3D scanner, Merge headsets, and more. Registration is required.
Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main)
Wednesday, December 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 30, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Anyone who has completed Hive training and is badged to use equipment or studio(s) can reserve Hive equipment or studio spaces. Staff will assist participants as they are able. Make reservations. Learn more about becoming a badged maker.
3D Printing 101: Design and Creation, Part 2 (Main)
Wednesday, December 29
3:30 -5p.m.
Learn how to create objects in digital space and make those creations using our Sindoh 3D printers in this two-part series. In Part 2 of this workshop, you will create your very own designs and practice setting up your own 3D print construction.
Note: This is a badging course for 3D printing. Only those who sign up for Part 1 of this series can participate in Part 2. You will be badged at the end of this Part 2 workshop. Registration is required.
You must complete The Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 and create a free Tinkercad account at www.tinkercad.com before you can participate in this program. (Parents may need to assist users under the age of 18 to create an account before arriving.)
Hive Safety Training and Glowflorge 101 (Main)
Thursday, December 30
6-7:30 p.m.
In this workshop you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. You will also create your Hive badge ID using our Glowforge laser cutter and then use it to cut and engrave your own creations. Registration is required.
All makers must sign The Hive User Agreement and Waivers to participate.
Eric Nguyen Presents Things We Lost to the Water
Wednesday, January 4
6-7 p.m.
Join Eric Nguyen as he presents his debut novel, Things We Lost to the Water, a captivating story about an immigrant Vietnamese family who settles in New Orleans and struggles to remain connected to one another as their lives are inextricably reshaped. Shortlisted for the Crook's Corner Book Prize and named one of the “Fifteen Books to Watch for” by the New York Times. Registration is required.
Lamp x the CPL Present: A Book Club Walks into a Bar (Lamplighter/Virtual)
Wednesday, January 5
7-8:30 p.m.
Join us virtually to discuss Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. A limited number of copies of the book are available at the Main Library Q&A Desk. The e-book and digital audiobook are available through OverDrive, or the Libby app. Registration is required.
Family STEAM Night (Virtual)
Wednesday, January 5
6:30-7:15 p.m.
Families with elementary school children are invited to join us virtually for hands-on activities focused on Science, Technology, Arts, Engineering, and Math. Adults and children will learn and play together! We will be exploring beautiful symmetry and math in art using materials you have at home.
Registration is required. Need a laptop or hotspot to participate? Call the Library Tech Bar at 617-349-4425.
Beginner ESOL (Virtual)
Tuesday, January 4, 1-2 p.m.
Thursday, January 6, 1-2 p.m.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes occur virtually on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This week, we’ll be offering only Beginner ESOL. We’ll resume Intermediate and Advanced ESOL classes in the new year. Registration is required for each class.
Magic Treehouse Book Club (Virtual/O’Connell)
Friday, January 7
4-5 p.m.
Join us for the Magic Tree House book group for kids ages 5-10, which meets on the first Friday of the month. Pick up a copy of the book beforehand. Our January book is Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osborne. Registration is required. Need a laptop or hotspot to participate? Call the O'Connell Branch at 617-349-4019.
Warm regards,
Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries