Fall 2009
HORA DEL
POETRY READING
CUENTO BILINGÜE
WITH JASEN
~ BILINGUAL
SOUSA & BOOKS
STORYTIME
OF HOPE
FRIENDS OF
THE LIBRARY
BOOK SALE
The Friends of the Library will hold
a book sale at the Central Library on
Friday, October 23rd from 2 to 4 pm;
Saturday, October 24th from 10 am
to 4 pm; and Sunday, October 25th
from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. There will also
be a preview on Thursday, October
22nd from 5 to 8 pm for members of
the Friends who have joined at the
$50 level or higher.
Hora del cuento con Elizabeth Jose,
licenciada de la Universidad de
California en Santa Cruz. Hace siete
años que estudia español. Ella estudió
en Concepción y Santiago en Chile y
trabajó en una biblioteca en
Jacaleapa, Honduras. Ahora mismo
enseña en la comarca de Boston.
Recomendado para familias con
niños de 3 a 7 años.
Tres sabados
sabados a las 3 de la tarde:
17 de octubre
21 de noviembre
19 de diciembre
You can get incredibly good deals on
new and used books, movies, and
music and show your support for the
Library!
Proceeds from the book sale help
support library programs for adults
and children, including the popular
“museum membership” program
which allows Somerville residents to
visit local museums free or at a
discount.
Thursday, October 22nd, 5 - 8 pm
(Book Sale Preview)
Friday, October 23rd 2 - 4 pm
Saturday, October 24th, 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday, October 25th, 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Storytime with Elizabeth Jose,
graduate of the University of
California, Santa Cruz and current
Somerville resident. Elizabeth has
been studying Spanish for over 7
years. She studied abroad in
Concepcion and Santiago, Chile and
worked briefly for a rural library in
Jacaleapa, Honduras. She currently
teaches in the Boston area.
Recommended for families with
children ages 3-7.
Three Saturdays at 3 pm:
October 17th
17th
November 21st
December 19th
On Thursday, October 15th at 7 pm,
the Central Library welcomes Jasen
Sousa and Books of Hope for a joint
reading.
Somerville native Jasen Sousa is the
author of six hip hop inspired poetry
books that have sold thousands of
copies and impacted the lives of
young people all around the world.
He is also the founder of J-Rock
Publishing, a publishing house that
specializes in producing books for
young adult readers that are written
by young adult authors. J-Rock was
founded and created for the
purpose of giving young people a
voice with the written word.
Books of Hope is a Somerville
writing and performance program
for youth ages 13-23 that promotes
expression and creativity through
poetry, short story, memoir,
dramatic, and non-fiction writing.
Youths attend weekly workshops
that focus on literary craft, public
speaking, entrepreneurship, and
community service. This intensive
training combined with guest artists
and field trips expands their
awareness. Youth then write and
design books that are shared with the
public through reading events and
are sold to benefit the young authors.
This reading is free and all are
welcome to attend - we hope to see
you there!
READING
GROUP FOR 6 - 8
YEAR OLDS
THE GOLDEN
AGE OF
MOVIES
This fall, homelearners between
the ages of 6 and 8 are invited to
participate in a reading group at the
Central Library.
The group will meet on Tuesdays at
1:00 p.m. The formal part of the
reading group will last about an hour,
but the room will be available until
3 pm for those who want to stay for
more stories, board games, or other
forms of quiet play. Depending on
the participant’s skills and interests,
there will be opportunities for
discussion, reading aloud, and
implementing participants' ideas.
ESL CLASSES
ESL classes are in session at the
Library!
On Mondays, classes meet at the
East Branch (Session One, 6:00-7:00
pm; Session Two, 7:15-8:15 pm.)
On Tuesdays class meets at the
Central Library (6:00-7:15 pm.)
On Thursdays, classes meet at the
West Branch (Session One, 6:00-7:00
pm; Session Two 7:15-8:15 pm.)
Beginning in October, the Central
Library will be showing a series of
films from the golden age of movies.
The schedule is:
Thursday, October 8th:
Casablanca
Anyone who wants to improve his
or her English is welcome to come.
Classes are free, and registration is
not required. There is no waiting
list - just come! For more
information, please call Marylin
Eastwood at (617) 623-5000 or email
her at meastwood@minlib.net.
Thursday, October 29th:
Psycho
Thursday, November 5th:
Ninotchka
otchka
Nin
Thursday, November 19th:
The Third Man
Thursday, December 3rd:
To Kill a Mockingbird
The fall program is organized into
three discrete sessions:
•
•
•
Session one, running through
October 14th, will use stories to
illustrate concepts in literature
such as irony, symbolism, and
allegory.
Session two, including all four
Tuesdays in November, will use
drama to bring stories to life.
Session three, Tuesdays in
December, will use stories of the
season to illustrate memoir,
folktale, poetry, and other literary
genres.
Children may participate in any or
all of the sessions. Registration is
required, and sessions are limited to
10 children. All sessions are free.
To register, or for further
information or if you have any
questions, please call Tammy
McKanan at (617) 591-0216.
Thursday, December 17th:
The Philadelphia
Philadelphia Story
Showtime is at 6:30 pm. This film
series is sponsored by the Friends of
the Library. Please join us!
ELECTION DAY
The East Branch Library will be
closed for the day on Tuesday,
November 3rd so it can be used as a
polling place for the municipal
election. Regular hours will resume
on Wednesday, November 4th.
VOLUNTEER!
Are you interested in helping people
to learn English? Are you reliable,
adaptable, welcoming, and friendly?
You may be just the person we’re
looking for! English classes at the
Library are informal, fun, and popular - but they can only happen with a
core group of dedicated volunteers.
We’re looking for people who can
make a weekly commitment, who
can arrive at the East Branch Library
on Mondays just before 6:00 p.m.,
and who have staying power, since
our wonderful students grow to rely
on us. You will grow to care about
them, too.
Don’t worry about special training.
If you’re willing to get people
talking, and if you are a good listener
and coach, you will do splendidly.
For more information, please call
Marylin Eastwood at (617) 623-5000
or email meastwood@minlib.net.
PATRICK
TRACEY,
AUTHOR OF
STALKING IRISH
MADNESS
ROSALITA’S
PUP
PUPPETS IN
THE HAUNTED
CASTLE
INSTRUMENT
PARTY!
On Saturday, November 14th at 2 pm,
Margaret Helfrick will be at the
Central Library to host an instrument
party!
Kids are
invited to
make musical
instruments
out of
ordinary household recyclables. Be as
creative as you want, both in
decorating and in inventing your own
On Monday, October 5 at 7 pm
instruments - anything goes! There
will be plenty of recyclable materials
author Patrick Tracey will be at
the West Branch to read from and for everyone, but you are welcome to
bring your own as well.
discuss his book Stalking Irish
Madness: Searching for the Roots This program is recommended for
children ages 6-8. It is free, thanks to
of My Family's Schizophrenia.
Library Journal says, “This harrowing the generosity of the Friends of the
Library. All are welcome to attend.
first memoir follows journalist
Tracey's search for the roots of his
family's “Irish madness,” i.e.,
schizophrenia. As he traverses
Ireland in a renovated camper, he
visits sites that may have been
cursed by the Druids, fairy mounds,
and ancient shrines, trying to
separate fact from fiction. He even
interviews the Irish research team
that first discovered the gene code
for schizophrenia. Spared the disease
himself, he records the anxiety his
mother felt about having children
and reveals his father's vain
conviction, common in the 1940s and
1950s, that a stable household and
good parenting would prevail over
mental illness. Powerfully moving,
Tracey's investigation will fascinate
anyone interested in the mysteries of
mental illness.”
All are welcome to attend this free
reading.
OVERDRIVE
Beginning in mid-October, the
Library will offer digital audiobooks
and eBooks via a new service called
Overdrive. Look for iPod compatible
titles in best-selling fiction, children’s
and young adult literature, business
and career, current events, travel,
technology, foreign language study,
self-improvement, mystery,
romance, thrillers, classic literature,
science fiction, and much more.
Please see a librarian for details.
The Central Library welcomes back
Library favorite Charlotte Dore and
Rosalita's Puppets for a performance
of The Haunted Castle on Saturday,
October 31st at 2:30 pm. Join us for
some spooky (but not too spooky)
fun with a ghost, a sorceress, a
spider...and some surprises!
This free program is sponsored by
the Friends of the Library and all are
welcome to attend. We hope you
can come!
POKEMON AND
YUYU-GIGI-OH CARD
PLAYING AND
TRADING
If you’re a fan and collector of
Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh cards and
you’re between the ages of 9 and 13,
the Library has a new group just for
you! You’re invited to come to the
West Branch on Wednesdays from
3:30 to 5 pm for card playing and
trading (no selling allowed.) Meet
other kids who like to play and trade,
and just maybe score the card of your
dreams! For more information,
please call the West Branch at (617)
623-5000 x2977.
MYSTERY
BOOK CLUB...
BABYGARTEN
Mystery is in the air...at the Central
Library’s Mystery Book Club! New
members welcome to read and
discuss all types of mysteries.
September 2nd:
Bound by Blood
by Rick Nelson
October 7th:
Ghost Walker
by Margaret Coel
November 4th:
Salvation Boulevard
by Larry Beinhart
Babygarten, an educational program
for caregivers and their babies from
birth to 18 months, is returning to the
West Branch for a fall session. The
classes involve songs and rhymes that
help babies with language acquisition
and pre-literacy skills, and provide an
Join us at the West Branch for this
environment that nurtures and
stimulates children with a wide
free 4-week workshop with Judah
variety of experiences:
Leblang, freelance writer and radio
SNAPSHOTS:
WRITING SHORT
MEMOIR PIECES
Classes will meet on Thursdays at
11 am from September 10th through
November 19th.
No registration is needed - just come!
Babygarten is free, and is brought to
you by the Friends of the Library.
DAVIS SQUARE
CLASSIC BOOK
CLUB
MOSAIC FILMS
commentator. Judah is a columnist
for Bay Windows, and a former
contributor to the Somerville
Journal.
In this course, we will:
• Discuss the process of writing
memoir and what makes a good
story
• Look at examples of short
memoir vignettes and discuss
what makes them effective
• Refine our pieces in a workshop
format and receive supportive/
constructive feedback
• Participate in an optional group
reading at the library
In conjunction with The Art of
Mosaic 2009, a New England
Exhibition of Contemporary Mosaics
Mission: To promote the art of
taking place at The Somerville
reading books.
Museum, the Central Library is
showing a double feature of films
In existence for over 10 years, the
about mosaic artists. Antonio Gaudi - a
Davis Square Classic Book Club
film by Hiroshi Teshigahara, takes
reads classics and books which are
viewers on a spellbinding visual
destined to become classics. They
4 Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
meet one Monday each month from journey through the enchanted world
October 15th, 22nd & 29th,
of the great Spanish architect whose
7:15 - 8:45 pm at the West Branch
and November 5th
work
influenced
Picasso,
Miro
and
Library. New members are welcome
Dali. Emile Norman - By His Own
to join them for their lively
This program is sponsored by the
Design is a portrait of the self-taught
discussions.
Friends of the Library. Please call
California artist whose passion for
the West Branch to pre-register.
September 21st:
life, art, nature, and freedom inspired
The Prince and the Pauper
him through seven decades of a
by Mark Twain
changing art scene and turbulent
times for a gay man in America.
October 19th:
The films will be shown three times:
The Brothers Bulger
Monday, September 14th at 6:30
6:30 pm
by Howie Carr
Saturday, October 3rd at 2 pm
November:
Wednesday, October 28th at 6:30 pm
[date & title TBA]
WEEKLY KIDS’
PROGRAMS
HOLIDAY
CLOSINGS
The Library will be closed on:
There’s always something fun going
on for kids at the Library! Besides
books, music, puzzles, and movies,
our children’s librarians offer the
following weekly programs:
Labor Day
- Monday, September 7th
Columbus Day
- Monday, October 12th
Central Library
Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
- Storytime for 3 to 5 year olds
Fridays, 10:30 a.m.
- Storytime for 2 year olds
West Branch
Tuesdays, 11 a.m.
- Storytime (ages 2-4)
Thursdays, 11 a.m. (Sep 10 - Nov. 19)
- Babygarten (birth - 18 mo.)
East Branch
Wednesdays, 11 a.m.
- Storytime for All Ages
SING ALONG
WITH LIZA
WEST BRANCH
NEEDLEWORK
GROUP
The West Branch Library is home to
a group of needlework enthusiasts
who look forward to meeting new
people. Share patterns, ideas, yarns,
tips on getting through the tricky
parts of your project, or simply relax
in the company of new friends who
share your hobby. The group meets
every Monday (except on holidays
when the Library is closed) from 6:30
to 8:30 pm and is an informal,
drop-in group – all are welcome.
October 6th
October 13th
October 20th
October 27th
Thanksgiving Holiday
- Thursday & Friday,
November 26th & 27th
HOURS AND
LOCATIONS
CENTRAL LIBRARY
Come join us at the Central Library
for a series of sing alongs with local
performer Liza Kitchell! These
lively events are recommended for
children age 5 and younger and their
caregivers. The programs are free
and are funded by the Friends of the
Library. All are welcome.
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Veteran’s Day
- Wednesday, November 11th
79 Highland Avenue
Mon. - Thu.
9 am - 9 pm
Friday
9 am - 6 pm
Saturday
9 am - 5 pm
Sunday
1 pm - 5 pm
EAST BRANCH
MONTHLY
CHESS NIGHT
Players of all ages and abilities are
invited to Chess Night at the Central
Library one Monday evening per
month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Players
should be familiar with the game,
though some limited instruction may
be available. We hope you can come!
The next meetings will be:
115 Broadway
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
10 am - 9 pm
2 pm - 6 pm
10 am - 6 pm
10 am - 9 pm
10 am - 6 pm
WEST BRANCH
40 College
College Avenue
Monday
10 am - 9 pm
Tuesday
10 am - 6 pm
Wednesday
10 am - 6 pm
Thursday
10 am - 9 pm
Friday
2 pm - 6 pm
September 21st
October 5th
November 2nd
Reach all locations at
(617) 623623-5000 or on the web at
www.somervillepubliclibrary.org