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Monday, May 10th 2021

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Read on for what's happening at the library.

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Libraries Re-Opening for Limited Browsing June 1

Dear Brookline Patrons:

I am thrilled to finally be able to announce the re-opening of the Public Library of Brookline. As you all know, we closed on March 14, 2020, but within two weeks of that closure began offering virtual programming along with email and chat reference services. As the pandemic wore on, we offered more and more services, adding materials pickup, telephone reference, expanded hours, hotspot and laptop loans, as well as restoring museum passes and the loan of our Library of Things.

On June 1, at 10 AM, we will open our doors to the public for browsing and in-house computer use at all three locations. Like many facilities, it will look a little different than it did before COVID. Please see the following guidelines:
  • All patrons 2 years old and older must be wearing a face covering which fully covers their mouth and nose at all times while in the library. Face coverings are explicitly described on the Town website; all face coverings must meet these requirements.
  • 6’ of social distancing will be maintained in line and in the stacks.
  • Visits are limited to one per day, and may last no longer than 30 minutes.
  • Browsing and computer use are allowed, but there will be very limited seating.
  • There are beautiful new touch screen self checks at Brookline Village and Putterham.
  • All magazines will be available to be checked out, even the most recent issue.
  • Newspapers will not be immediately available. We are working on re-subscribing to them, and hope to have them soon.
  • No food or drink will be allowed in the libraries at this time.
  • The library has a limited supply of hand sanitizer and bleach wipes at the service desks, if you would like to wipe anything down.
  • Custodians will be sanitizing frequently touched surfaces often.
Capacity limits will be strictly enforced, and will be expanded as the state expands their guidelines, and as Dr. Jett allows:
  • Brookline Village: 75
  • Coolidge Corner: 30
  • Putterham: 12
At this time, we plan to continue offering all of our programming virtually. We hope to offer some outdoor programming this summer, so stay tuned for that! All program rooms, meeting rooms, study rooms, etc. will remain closed until further notice. We are not accepting room reservations for the future yet, but will be sure to let you know when we are!

If you are interested in continuing to participate in contactless pickup, please reach out to Mutual Aid Brookline (MAB). They have been an incredible support to the community, and partner to the library, throughout the pandemic, and can deliver books to you at your home.

The staff and Trustees of the Library are so excited to welcome you back. We have beautified all of the libraries while we have been closed. Look for new paint, furniture, and our pilot program of universal multilingual signage on the Youth Services floor of Brookline Village.

I would like to thank you all for your overwhelming support and many kindnesses to library staff during the pandemic. We have been printing and copying your many notes, emails, and Google reviews and hanging them in the elevators and the staff rooms to help keep up morale!

See you June 1!

Respectfully,
Sara Slymon
Library Director

Introduction to Tai Chi and Qigong

yinyang symbol

SATURDAYS, May 15 and 22 at 9:30 AM

In these two classes, instructor Anson Rathbone will introduce a breathing and movement practice called Tai Chi Qigong 18 Forms. This set is made up of a combination of movements from Tai Chi and Qigong breathing and movements. When done regularly, the set has been shown to have many benefits for the mind and body. It is simple to learn, and the moves can be adapted to suit the needs of the individual.

Class one will be an overview of the first half of the set and class two will be an overview of the second half of the set, so participation in both sessions is recommended. Each class will have a short Q&A segment at the end.

To register, please click here!

Book Bundles for Teens, Tweens, and Kids

FINAL Teen Tween Kids bundles social media May 2021
Book bundles for older kids are back! Starting Monday, May 10, visit any Library location to check out a bundle, no reservation necessary. Simply ask at the door for a kids, tween, or teen bundle and receive five specially-selected books, a combination of fiction and graphic novels. Kids' bundles are geared for 3rd-4th graders, tween bundles are geared for 5th-7th graders, and teen bundles are geared for 8th-12th graders.
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UPCOMING EVENTS

Genealogy Series: Personal Digital Archiving

family tree

WEDNESDAY, May 12 at 3 PM

Learn the basics of archiving your personal digital photographs, audiovisual material, social media, emails, and more! Get an overview of why digital preservation is important for your personal digital materials, and gain confidence on how to safely archive them, in this workshop with veteran archivist Jessica Steytler, Public Library of Brookline Special Collections.

This workshop is part three of a series. You can attend this session whether or not you attended the previous sessions. You can also watch recordings of the first two workshops on our YouTube channel.

To register, please click here!

Virtual Magic: The Gathering

magicthegathering

WEDNESDAY, May 12 at 3:30 PM

Join us for a virtual Magic: the Gathering program and see if you can beat the librarians! Attendees will need a free account on Magic: The Gathering Arena and Discord. A computer with speakers and microphone capabilities is a plus, but not required. Those without a microphone can participate through text.

Slots are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Players will be able to view the librarian’s hand and cheer on as they face off against attendees one by one.
For tweens and teens only. Limited to 10 players.

Registration is required. Sign up on Eventbrite here!

Virtual Mandarin Storytime 网上普通话故事时间

Lamb Storytime at Home

THURSDAY, May 13 at 3:30 PM

Join us for a new world language storytime! Come and enjoy stories and songs in Mandarin with us on Zoom. This storytime is for children ages 0-5.

欢迎加入我们全新的世界语言故事时间! 来和我们一起在Zoom上欣赏普通话的故事和歌曲。这个故事时间适合0-5岁的孩子参加。

Sign up for Mandarin Storytime on Zoom HERE.
注册Zoom普通话故事时间,请点击这里.

Download this fill-in-the-blank activity for storytime here!
请点击此处下载本月故事时间的填字游戏!
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