Somerville Public Library: Somerville Public Library Newsletter: April 2024

In this Issue

April is...

Programs for Adults: Pollinators, Poetry, and Persian Art

Programs for All Ages: Henna, Gardening, and Puzzles

Watch Award-Winning Cinema at Home with your Library Card

Programs for T(w)eens

Zines at the Library

Programs for Children: Poop, Puppets, and More!

Baby Sign Language at the West Branch

Baby Lapsit at our Libraries

STAFF PICKS: Novels in Verse

Announcements

Join us at your favorite library location on the afternoon of Monday, April 8, as we look to the skies to watch the moon move in front of the sun, for a partial solar eclipse.

Coming in May! The Friends of the Somerville Public Library will be hosting a book sale to benefit the library on May 3rd-5th at the Central Library.

This newsletter lets you know about many of our events, but did you know we have even more? Visit our online calendar to explore them all!

Upcoming Closures:

All Somerville Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, April 15, for Patriots' Day.

Eclipse Viewing

Monday, April 8, 2024

Central Library Party

Central Library Lawn • 2-4 PM

West Branch Party

West Branch Backyard • 2-4 PM

East Branch Party

Front of Building • 3-4 PM

Bring your eclipse glasses, or another eclipse viewer, to watch the eclipse and participate in fun activities! Registration encouraged. A limited supply of eclipse glasses will be available at the events.

Questions? Contact Keri (kbradeen@somervillema.gov), Alison (amitchell@somervillema.gov), or Meghan (mforsell@somervillema.gov) for more info!

April is...

Fair Housing Month

Discussion: Tenants and Landlords Rights
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 - 7:00 PM
Central Library Auditorium & Virtual

Join us during Fair Housing Month to learn about your rights and best practices regarding housing.

This hybrid conversation with the Somerville Fair Housing Commission is about rights for both tenants and landlords. Registration required.

Questions? Contact Kerry at keodonnell@somervillema.gov

Poetry Month

Take Home a Blackout Poetry Kit
Monday, April 1, 2024 - All Day
All Library Locations

Celebrate Poetry Month at the Library!

Take-and-Make kits containing supplies for blackout poetry kits will be available at all three locations.

Supplies are limited, so get one while they are available!

Questions? Contact Kerry at keodonnell@somervillema.gov

Earth Day

Make Recycled Magazine Bowls

Monday, April 22, 2024 - 6:30 PM

West Branch Community Room

Using discarded magazines, create beautiful bowls for holding trinkets. Ages 18+.

Questions? Contact Brigid at bblack@somervillema.gov

Autism Acceptance Month

Check out this book list, containing titles for a range of ages, curated by staff!

Programs for Adults: Pollinators, Poetry, and Persian Art

Pollinator Action Plan at West

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 - 4-6 PM

West Branch Atrium

Meet with members of the Somerville Pollinators Committee. They will have a table set up in the atrium, so stop by for a chat!

Questions? Contact Brigid at bblack@somervillema.gov

April 2&9 - 12:30 PM

Central Library Auditorium & Virtual

April 29 - 6 PM

West Branch Community Room

April 30 - 7 PM

Central Library Auditorium

Mondays - 1 PM

Virtual

April 14 - 2:30 PM

Virtual

April 18 - 7 PM

Virtual

Programs for All Ages: Henna, Gardening, and Puzzles

Wicked Good Henna at East

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 - 2:00 PM

East Branch

Stop by to receive a henna tattoo from Mandy Roberge of Wicked Good Henna! All ages welcome.

Questions? Contact Meghan at mforsell@somervillema.gov

Gardening Workshop with Green City Growers
Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 10:30 AM

Central Library Demonstration Garden

A Green City Growers farmer will lead these hands-on workshops for all ages designed to teach you when and what to plant, and how to maintain, fertilize, and harvest successful crops in the city.

Questions? Contact Kerry at keodonnell@somervillema.gov

Puzzle Palooza + Swap
Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 1:30 PM

Central Library Auditorium

Stop by the Central Library to swap out your old (gently used) puzzles for ones you have not yet done, then stay to compete to see which team can complete a 500 piece puzzle the FASTEST! Team registration required.

Questions? Contact Kerry at keodonnell@somervillema.gov

Watch Award-Winning Cinema at Home

with your Library Card

Programs for T(w)eens

T(w)een Advisory Board
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 - 2:00 PM

West Branch Children's Room

Come discuss the book of the month and have fun with other library activities!

Our April book is Dry by Neal Shusterman.

Space is limited and registration is required. Ages 12+.

Questions? Contact Alison at amitchell@somervillema.gov

Craft Hangout for Tweens

Saturday, April 27, 2024 - 2:30 PM

Central Library Teen Room

Join us for a Saturday afternoon of crafting! Shrinky dinks, friendship bracelets, duct tape wallets, mini stuffies, stress balls, perler beads, paracord, origami… so many possibilities!

Questions? Contact Ellen at ejacobs@somervillema.gov

Zines at the Library

Programs for Children: Poop, Puppets, and More!

The Poop Museum

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 - 3:30 PM

Central Library Auditorium

The Poop Museum is for those who are curious and have questions about poop, LOVE poop, or think it’s fascinating! Learn fun facts about human, animal and insect poop, many of which truly amaze and surprise.

Ages 5-12. Registration required.

Questions? Contact Keri at kbradeen@somervillema.gov

Rosalita's Puppets presents The Fairytale Olympics

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 - 11:00 AM

West Branch

Queen Emerald decides to hold an Olympics for the fairytale creatures of her kingdom, but what happens when one of the contestant cheats? With themes of sportsmanship and self esteem, this marionette show is best for children ages 3-8 and their families.

Questions? Contact Meghan at mforsell@somervillema.gov

April 3 - 11 AM

West Branch

Children's Room

April 9 - 3:30 PM

Central Library Children's Room

April 10 - 1 PM

West Branch Children's Room

April 11 - 3:30 PM

Central Library Children's Room

April 18 - 11 AM

Central Library Lawn

April 18 - 2:30 PM

East Branch

Baby Sign Language at the West Branch

Baby Sign Language Series

Fridays, April 5, 12, & 26, and May 3, 2024 - 11:00 AM

West Branch Community Room

Reduce frustration and teach your baby to communicate before they can speak with this 4-part class for caregivers with pre-verbal children ages 5 months and up.

Questions? Contact Alison at amitchell@somervillema.gov

Baby Lapsit at our Libraries

STAFF PICKS: Novels in Verse

April is National Poetry Month

Explore these stories told in poetic form and chosen for you by SPL staff! For more suggestions, subscribe to our monthly book recommendation newsletters. From popular titles to genre fictions, there's probably a list that matches your interests. Subscribe here!

When COVID-19 disrupts the world, Malian's visit with her grandparents in their Wabenaki reservation turns into an indefinite stay.

-Annie, Children's Librarian

Xiomara expresses all of her emotions on the page as she navigates high school, family, and church. Listening to the author read her NYT bestselling novel in audiobook form is amazing.

-Karen, Deputy Director

Activist and poet Walela Nehanda chronicles their journey to cancer survivorship against a backdrop of medical racism and the navigation of rocky relationships.

-Carrie, Reference Librarian

A collection of poems that perfectly captures the wonder and curiosity that comes with loving a dog.

- Cathy, Director

A darkly comedic retelling of the Theseus and the Minotaur myth, told in multiple forms of verse.

-Muhl, Generalist Librarian

Two Sámi families struggle with colonial trauma after the separation of Sweden and Norway change their lives forever.

-Laura, Generalist Librarian