In anticipation of our Harry Potter event on October 28, we are launching a sock drive at the Brookline Village Library. Bring NEW socks of any size to the Library’s Children’s Room to be donated to our friends at Cradles to Crayons and Pine Street Inn.
Stuffed Animal Sleepover at the Boston Symphony Orchestra!
Hello! I’m Brutus the Pomeranian. Let me tell you about a very special place that my stuffed animal friends and I visited last week—the Boston Symphony Orchestra!
After learning about so many different types of music and musicians this summer, we were SUPER excited to go to a sleepover at the BSO. We were a little worried about not seeing our favorite humans for an ENTIRE night, but the librarian was so nice, and all of the other stuffed animals were so friendly that we felt braver right away.
On the way to the BSO, we stopped at the librarian’s house for snacks. YUM! I asked her to take a photo of all of us with my camera. Since I took the rest of the pictures, this is the only photo that I’m in. Can you find me? Here’s a hint: Pomeranians are very sweet and fluffy dogs. Yep–that’s me on the left!
After we had our snacks, it was time to jump on the train! We had a lot of fun going through the turnstiles. Super Grover tried to fly over them, but the librarian made him get back in line and pay his fare—which is the right thing to do!
We got off at the Symphony stop. Dora, who loves exploring, asked me to document herself and Mommy by the station sign. Since Mommy is a gorilla, she helped Pando climb up too. Pooh didn’t need any help, but Pando never had a chance to learn to climb because she was raised by polar bears. There aren’t any trees at the North Pole!
Everyone started looking for the the entrance to the orchestra. Pooh, Elmo, ZooZoo, and Brownie found a door, but the librarian told us this was a special door just for the musicians. We were looking for a door labelled “BOX OFFICE.” Maybe visitors need to stand on boxes to speak to the people at the counter? At last, Pando found the right door!
Mommy and Mr. Monkey tried to open the door, but it was too heavy. Pando, who had the hang of climbing now, said he would help. But the door was STILL too heavy! Then Whaley said she would help. Blue whales are the largest animals on earth, so Whaley is very strong. Working together, they all got the door open at last. Whew!
Then we all got in line for tickets. Charmander and Sammy were so excited that they rushed to the front of the line. Sammy kept trying to bury her ticket to keep it safe for later, so Charmander had to carry it for her. Silly squirrel—tickets aren’t acorns!
Once inside, Nicole, our BSO friend, showed us so many interesting things! Flower Bear was fascinated by a special kind of musical instrument called a serpent—can you guess why it has that name? Scholars think serpents were invented by a French monk in the late sixteenth century. They have a mouthpiece like a brass instrument, but finger holes like a woodwind instrument. They are so interesting! Flower Bear was too small to get a good look at them, so Dora and Pooh helped out. Because Pooh is very patient, he promised to help Charmander and Elmo take a look, too.
Then Nicole showed us a room where people can stop for snacks while they wait for performances to begin. Ben the penguin started to play some songs on the piano. Super Grover and Pooh wanted to look at the way the tiny hammers struck the wires inside the piano whenever Ben hit the keys. Then Brownie jumped on the music stand and started singing and we all joined in.
The librarian thought we were so talented that we should start our own group! She took us below stage to show us the practice rooms. Ben, Owly and Stork decided they should sing their birdsongs, while Whaley, DonDon the orca, and Shirotan the seal practiced [sea shanties].
While the birds and sea animals were practicing, Pooh, Elmo, Flower Bear, and ZooZoo the monkey went to the recording studio. ZooZoo is very interested in sound engineering. She thinks that if she ever made an album, she’d win a Grammy for sure!
ZooZoo told this to Nick, the BSO’s recording engineer, who showed her HIS Grammy. Super Grover told me to take a photo of him with the Grammy right away! Lion was very impressed—he was at the Olympics in 2012, so he knows how hard you have to work to win a medal. Baby Leo was also impressed. He decided he would ask ZooZoo to record his roars, so that they could BOTH win Grammys!
Next, we went to see the BSO’s archives. It was so interesting! The archivist was working on a special exhibit about John Williams, who was a conductor at the BSO. He also wrote music for the movies Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, which Paddington thought was SO cool. Raiders of the Lost Ark is Pando’s favorite movie and Paddington is a HUGE Harry Potter fan, so they decided to become John Williams fans, too.
Teddy and Bunny found some musical scores. Super Grover was determined to learn how to read musical notes so that he, Baby Leo, and ZooZoo could pursue their Grammy dreams. Pando and Paddington wanted to know whether any of these scores were written by John Williams. Sadly, the archivist tells us that they weren’t. These scores were composed by a man named Berlioz. You can listen to the Boston Symphony Orchestra playing the music in the photos [here]! Mr. Monkey, who already knew how to read sheet music, approves. He told us that it sounds springy, just like him!
Next the archivist took us back to the closed stacks. This is where the delicate items are stored. Bunny and Teddy wanted to get a closer look at the portrait of the man playing an oboe. Don’t you think he’s making a funny face? Mommy, ZooZoo, and Mr. Monkey, our climbing experts, were excited because they could help Bunny and Teddy get up to see the drawing. Super Grover flew up to take a look, too. He’d love it if the BSO had a portrait of himself in the archives. Maybe one day they will!
While everyone else was looking at the portraits on the walls, ZooZoo and Pando took a closer look at the stacks. There are ROWS and ROWS of shelves filled with special gray storage boxes. Pando and ZooZoo thought that John Williams should write a theme song for the BSO’s library. It might sound something like [this]. The archivist could play it whenever she walked into the stacks!
After leaving the archives, Elmo found the supplies for the BSO’s chorus, still waiting to be unpacked. He was so excited! Sugar was impressed by the beautiful stencil on the top of the trunk.
DonDon found some more traveling trunks with fancy stencils. Mommy and Mr Monkey climbed up, too, but Teddy stayed on the ground; being so high up was making him feel seasick. Luckily, that wasn’t a problem for DonDon at all.
Suddenly the librarian looked at her watch–it was time for everyone to go to their seats! We snuck around the wings of the stage while the musicians were setting up. Ben and DonDon were happy that they came already wearing their tuxedos!
Dora and Pooh slowly led everyone up the marble steps to the balcony. The stairs were a challenge for some of the smaller animals, but Lion kept everyone motivated with sports cheers.
Wow, our seats were up so high! Doesn’t the stage look beautiful?
Finally, we took our seats, ready for the music to begin. A couple of animals had to sit in Pooh’s lap, since they were too small to see over the seats in front of them. Sugar told everyone to hush–the music was about to start!
We had such a fun night. The next morning it was time to go back to the library and share all of our adventures with our FAVORITE humans. And even more exciting, we had special party favors to share with them when they took us back home: yummy cookies and a souvenir ticket!
Pack A Lunch & Learn A Bunch
The library is pleased to announce the start of a new monthly Lunch & Learn series. Starting September 27, these free classes — led by our librarians — will focus on a different topic each month. You provide your own lunch, and we’ll provide easy-to-use laptops, a great speaker, and a fun learning atmosphere. Whether you want to learn how to start a blog, use Google Drive, or build a resume, we’re sure you’ll find a Lunch & Learn session suited for you.
The Lunch & Learn group will meet on the last Thursday of each month from 12 – 1 PM, except on major holidays. Classes will be held in the Commons at the Brookline Village Library. No registration is required, and our classes are completely free. This is a bring-your-own-lunch event.
Our schedule overview is posted below. Stay tuned to this page for a detailed description of each class. Have a question about our Lunch & Learn series? Don’t hesitate to ask us.
September 27 – Google Suite 101
October 25 – Accessing the eLibrary
November 29 – Blogging 101
January 31 – Resume Writing Workshop
February 28 – Writing Cover Letters
March 28 – Genealogy 101
April 25 – Library of Things Overview
Join Team Brookline and Run the 2019 Boston Marathon
Calling all runners! Team Brookline, the official Brookline Team of the Boston Marathon, is seeking runners for the 2019 Marathon Team.
Applications now are available for interested runners to join the 2019 Team Brookline marathon team. Interested runners do not need to be Brookline residents to participate; they just need a commitment to the team and to our causes.
Team Brookline is a committed group of adult runners who train together for the Boston Marathon. When runners train and run with Team Brookline, they strengthen the Brookline community, expanding access to mental health care, literacy, the arts, youth development programs, education, and the Brookline Library Foundation.
Members of Team Brookline receive the following benefits:
- Guaranteed entry into the 2019 Boston Marathon.
- Tailored coaching all season long from a dedicated coach
- Camaraderie of training with a committed team
- Personalized training plans
- Individualized fundraising support
- Team Brookline running gear
To participate on Team Brookline, runners must commit to raising a minimum of $6,000 each, though many past runners have surpassed the minimum. There is a non-refundable $25 application fee, and selected runners are responsible for paying the Boston Athletic Association’s registration fee. Applicants will be selected based on running experience, fundraising ability, and passion for participating.
One of the world’s oldest marathons, the Boston Marathon is a popular event for both runners and spectators. It is also one of the hardest marathons to get into. Each of the eight towns along the Boston Marathon route is given a number of race entries as a thank-you for their support of the race. In 2012, the Town of Brookline became the first town to take these invitational numbers and create its own charity program, giving members of the community a chance to run in a historic race and establishing its official Boston Marathon team: Team Brookline.
Since its inception, more than 150 runners, supported by friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, and each other, as well as local business community, have raised nearly $1.5 million to strengthen the community and make a true impact in the lives of all who live, work, or go to school in Brookline.
Applications can be found on the Team Brookline website and will be accepted until Friday, October 12, 2018.
For questions, please contact Cyndi Roy Gonzalez at cyndi@teambrookline.org.
Antique Toys in Children’s Room
Recently, a staff member at the Library discovered a treasure trove of antique toys in the Children’s Room Rabbit Hole. The majority of the toys feature characters from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and antique dolls make up the rest. Their history at the library is something of a mystery, but we believe they were donated to the library quite some time ago. In a final effort to find out who donated the toys, we are enlisting the help of you, our dedicated library patrons.
Do you know anything about the history of these toys at the library? Give us a call or send us a message. We’d love to hear from you.
Thanks to Vivien Goldman, photographer and Library Trustee, for taking these excellent photos. We at the Public Library of Brookline hope you enjoy this digital collection.
Adult Summer Reading
Summer reading is soon upon us! In addition to the activities happening for children and teens, the Public Library of Brookline will be holding two Adult Summer Reading activities: Summer Reading Bingo and Scratch Tickets/Raffle. Both of these activities will be held at the Brookline Village and Putterham Libraries. Sussman will not be participating this summer.
Adult summer reading will run from Monday July 2 until Friday August 31. Below you will find more information about each program.
BINGO
Patrons can receive a BINGO card from either the Reference or Circulation desk. Present your bingo card when you check out and we’ll give you a sticker for the corresponding square.
Note: you can get one sticker per visit to the library (even if you are checking out books that correspond to multiple bingo squares). Additionally, you cannot use the same book for multiple squares.
If the book you are borrowing will give you bingo, you will receive your winning sticker and prize when you return the book in-person.
First-time bingo winners will receive a Public Library of Brookline tote bag. After your first Bingo, winners receive a piece of candy for each subsequent bingo.
Need assistance with finding books for your bingo card? Stop by the reference desk, a librarian would be glad to help.
Scratch Tickets & Raffle
Every time you check out a book, you can receive an instant-win scratch ticket. This is limited to one ticket per patron per day. Scratch off a ticket to reveal a prize, then present it to circulation to immediately receive the revealed prize.
Prizes range from a piece of candy, to handmade bookmarks, to $5.00 Brookline Booksmith gift cards! Prizes cannot be exchanged.
Additionally, if you write down your name and email on the ticket you will be entered into our grand prize raffle. Two winners will be drawn at the end of the summer for $50 Brookline Booksmith Gift Cards.
Happy summer reading, everyone!
Computer Use FAQs
Effective July 2nd, all Public Library of Brookline computer stations in the Main Floor lab will switch to one-hour express stations. This means that all computers stations on the Main Floor are accessible without a library card.
Additionally, we now have a collection of 60 Chromebooks across all Brookline libraries. We’re excited to offer patrons more computing options than ever before.
We understand that with any change a number of questions arise. This is a great opportunity to clarify some common questions we hear about computer use at the Public Library of Brookline.
Are children allowed in the computer lab at Brookline Village?
Patrons 11 years old and up may use the lab; the Library defines teens as ages 11-18. Children in this age range who are working quietly and respectfully will not be asked to leave.
What if I want to use the computer for longer than 1 hour?
As of June 11, each Brookline library made Chromebook laptops available for in-house use. Chromebooks may be borrowed for a period of three hours and can be renewed twice. A library card is required for checkout.
What if I can’t find a free computer?
Please ask the reference staff for help with borrowing a Chromebook laptop. If none are available or you would prefer to use a desktop station, you will need to wait until one frees up. We are no longer taking reservations for desktop computers.
How will this impact using the computers and printing?
The computers themselves are not changing in any way. The difference with printing is that no matter where you were sitting you will now use the computer number to retrieve your print job from the release station instead of reentering your barcode. For instance, if you were sitting at Computer #2 in the lab when you sent a job to be printed, you will enter “2” in the box at the release station.
Chromebooks can only offer wireless printing at this time. Anyone can use this service as long as they have an email address. There’s a link to the wireless printing signup page in the Chrome “Quick Links” list, as well as a bookmark to the FAQ page that explains the process. If you need assistance printing, don’t hesitate to ask a librarian.
What if I want to listen to music or watch videos?
That’s fine by us as long as you use headphones. If you don’t have your own, you can purchase a pair from us for $2 or ask to borrow a pair if we have any available. Check with the reference staff.
What if I don’t want to or can’t use a laptop?
If Study Room C is not booked, there is an accessible computer station available for patrons to use at Brookline Village.
We also have mice to lend out to patrons who have difficulty using a trackpad. Also, there are a number of robust accessibility options built into Chromebooks, which may be accessed via the bottom right section of the taskbar. If you need assistance using the Chromebooks accessibility options ask a Reference Librarian.
Is there a daily use limit for computers?
No. We have never had one and will continue to not enforce one at this time.
How will this impact the Girls Who Code program and other upcoming library technology classes for patrons?
Library technology classes will no longer be confined to the computer lab to run their programs. Instead, because they only need computers with access to a web browser, tech classes can use a Chromebooks to set up wherever there is a free space.
Do you have a question you don’t see answered here? Don’t hesitate to send us a message. We’re eager to help address your questions and concerns.
Relocated Resources and Meetings
Since Coolidge Corner is now closed for renovation, a number of resources and regular meetings have been relocated. This page will provide a brief overview of where resources and services are now re-located.
We also have recently updated information about the Public Library of Brookline’s extended summer hours and the Sussman House Satellite Library.
Russian and Chinese Collections
The Russian and Chinese Collections from Coolidge Corner are now at Brookline Village. This collection includes Chinese and Russian books, magazines, DVDs, and children’s books.
The children’s books are located in the Children’s Room, while all other Chinese and Russian materials are in the Commons. Both of these rooms are on the ground floor of Brookline Village.
Book Groups and Other Meetings
Additionally, here is the most up-to-date list of new/revised meeting locations:
- Read and Meet Book Group will now meet at Brookline Village, 2nd Floor Conference Room the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM
- Let Them Eat Baked Goods will now meet at Brookline Village, 2nd Floor Conference Room the second Thursday of the Month, at 6:30 PM
- And The Award Goes To… will now meet at the Brookline Senior Center, 2nd Floor the third Wednesday of the month at 2:00 PM
- Mid-day Monday Mystery will now meet at Webster Bank (297 Harvard St) the second Monday of the month, 12:30 PM
Extended Summer Hours
In addition to the Sussman House satellite library, the Public Library of Brookline is proud to announce revised service hours and relocated resources to better serve its patrons.
Starting June 16 we will offer extended summer hours. You can always find our most up-to-date hours on our website. For your convenience, the extended summer hours for Brookline Village and Putterham are below.
Please note: the Brookline Village branch will be closed on Saturday, June 16th as it hosts the annual Tee-Off at the Library.
Brookline Village
- Monday – 10 AM – 9 PM
- Tuesday – 10 AM – 9 PM
- Wednesday – 10 AM – 9 PM
- Thursday – 10 AM – 9 PM
- Friday – 10 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM – 5 PM
- Sunday – 1 PM – 5 PM
Putterham
- Monday – 10 AM – 6 PM
- Tuesday – 10 AM – 9 PM
- Wednesday – 10 AM – 6 PM
- Thursday – 10 AM – 9 PM
- Friday – 9:30 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday – 9:30 AM – 5 PM
- Sunday – 1 – 5 PM
Sussman House Satellite Library
While the Coolidge Corner branch is closed for renovation we’ve opened up a satellite library hosted by the Sussman House.
This mini library is open Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM. It is located at 50 Pleasant St, directly across the street from the Coolidge Corner Library.
At the Sussman House satellite library you can:
- Pick up holds
- Pick up and reserve museum passes (for Coolidge Corner only)
- Browse and check-out a small collection of popular books, DVDs, magazines, and newspapers
- Access the Internet via our new Chromebook laptops (starting June 11)
- Return library materials after-hours via our book drop
Please note: there is no WiFi or Public Printing at the Sussman House. Additionally, the Sussman House satellite library is a small space with a very limited collection. We encourage patrons looking for a larger space or more robust collections and services to visit the Brookline Village or Putterham Libraries.
Additionally, to better serve your needs, the Brookline Village and Putterham Libraries will offer extended summer hours. As always, you can access our most up-to-date hours and location information on our webpage.
Looking for more information about where Coolidge Corner book clubs will now meet? Or where the Russian and Chinese Collections now are? See this post for more information
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