The Library is excited to announce our new Easy Reader Surprise service!

The Library is excited to announce another children’s book surprise bundle- Easy Readers! Starting Monday, November 30, you will be able to pick up a surprise bundle of 10 easy readers from any Library location. No reservations necessary! 

Read on for more information on both our Easy Reader and Picture Book Surprise services!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a Picture Book Surprise? 

Visit any PLB location and ask the staff member at the door for a Picture Book Surprise bundle. A staff member will check it out to your library account and you’ll be on your way! You do not need to call ahead or request a bundle in advance- all bundles are available completely on demand. If you have items on hold that are ready for pickup, you will also be able to retrieve those in the same trip.

What is included in a Picture Book Surprise?

The Library’s Picture Book Surprise will include a bundle of 10 Children’s picture books and board books. Bundles are not packaged with different themes or topics in mind, but rather are a small selection of quality or popular children’s books great for any reader! 

How do I get an Easy Reader Surprise?
Visit any Library location and ask the staff member at the door for an Easy Reader Surprise bundle. A staff member will check it out to your library account and you’ll be on your way! You do not need to call ahead or request a bundle in advance- all bundles are available completely on-demand. If you have items on hold that are ready for pickup, you will also be able to retrieve those in the same trip.

What is included in an Easy Reader Surprise?
The Library’s Easy Reader Surprise will include a bundle of 10 children’s introductory reading materials, called Easy Readers. A common example of this type of children’s book is the Elephant & Piggie series by Mo Willems. Bundles are not packaged with different themes or reading levels in mind, but rather are a small selection of quality or popular children’s books great for beginning readers!

What if I don’t like a book in my surprise bundle, or I’ve already read it?

If you do not wish to take home one or more items in your surprise bundle, please return them through the book drop outside any Public Library of Brookline location. 

When is the surprise bundle due back to the Library?

Please note that the Library has reverted to regular loan periods; new books will be due two weeks from their checkout date and non-new books will be due four weeks from their checkout date. For the full list of loan periods, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Can I request that my surprise bundle include certain titles, or have a certain theme?

At this time, we are unable to create custom bundles which include specific titles or are based around specific themes/topics. If you are interested in receiving custom book recommendations from your trusted library staff, please fill out our BRK Recs form. Or, visit our Browse Our Collections page to find curated, catalog searches for new items that you can request online.

Can I get more than one surprise bundle at a time?
At this time, patrons are limited to one surprise bundle per type, per day, in order to ensure that the service is available to as many members of our community as possible. This means that you may request one Picture Book surprise bundle and one Easy Reader Surprise in the same visit, but not two Easy Reader Surprises, or two Picture Book Surprises.