Visit brooklinelibrary.org for more information or to register online. All libraries in Brookline will close at 5 p.m. New Year's Eve, Dec. 31; and will be closed New Year's Day, Jan. 1.
We read LGBTQ+ themed books, play games, craft, watch films, and more. Choose your own adventure each month and make new friends! This group is for adults and meets every fourth Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Brookline Village Library. The next meeting is Thursday, Dec. 27.
Tween DIY: Finger knit a beanie hat!
Prepare for the winter chill and finger knit your own stylish winter hat! We will be focusing on how to complete the hats we began last month, although first-time attendees (grades 5-7) are welcome. Join us in the Rabbit Hole at the Brookline Village Library on Thursday, Jan. 3 from 5-6 p.m.
Did you know the Brookline Village Library has a new tween space? There will be two "Meet the Tween Librarian Events" in early January: an after-school event for children on Jan. 3 at 3 p.m., and a family event (for tweens and their families) on Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. Come by and meet the new tween librarian, Abbey Stephens, learn about the space and the new collections, and enjoy some nice treats!
Registration begins for 90-Second Moviemakers!
Want to make movies? Registration has begun for this 8 session class! On Jan. 7, children aged eight and up will begin creating their own 90-second movie retelling their favorite book. Classes will meet on Mondays from 4-5 p.m. beginning Jan. 7 and ending March 11, excluding Jan. 21 and Feb. 28. Patrons may register on the library website. This program is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Brookline Public Library.
After a holiday break, free English conversation groups will again meet at the library and are sponsored by the Friends of the Brookline Public Library. These 90-minute sessions are for adults who speak English as a Second Language; they focus on practical, everyday topics, explaining American culture and even cross-cultural themes. If you are a non-native English speaker who wants to have fun and meet people from all over the world while practicing your spoken English, then this is the place for you. No need to preregister or sign up. Just come!
The Brookline Village Library group will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. The Thursday morning group will meet at the Coolidge Corner Library beginning Jan. 3 at 10:30 a.m.
And the Putterham Library group will meet Thursday, Jan. 10 at 10:30 a.m. Participants must have a working knowledge of English. These conversations focus on vocabulary building, pronunciation and American culture.
Come practice your English and meet new people! We read a variety of graphic novels and graphic memoirs, and meet every second Wednesday of the month to discuss them at the Brookline Village Library in the Commons. Beginners and fluent speakers are all welcome. This club is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Brookline Public Library. The next group will meet: Wednesday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m., and we'll discuss "The Best We Could Do" by Thi Bui and "Poppies of Iraq" by Brigitte Findakly, Lewis Trondheim. Books are now available for pick up at the BV Library, circulation desk.
Join creative writing workshop leader Robert Uttaro to stretch your creative writing imaginations. For five Wednesdays in January/February and then again in March/April, he will provide teen writers the mental space, resources, and advice to get their writing flowing. Open to teens in grades seven through 12. Each session will meet at 7 p.m. in the Teen Room on the ground floor at the BV Library.
Thursdays, ongoing: Mahjong and more at the Putterham Library, 12:30 p.m. Join us for a friendly game of Mahjong or something else; co-sponsored by the Brookline Council on Aging.
Fridays, ongoing: Gentle Yoga with Keith Beasley, Putterham Library, 10:30 a.m. Gentle Yoga is designed for those seeking to increase strength and flexibility through gentle movements which may be done from sitting or standing position. Drop in. This program is generously funded by the Friends of the Brookline Public Library.
Friday, Dec. 28, 3-4 p.m.: Family Bingo at the Putterham Library during school vacation week! Bring the family (ages 6 and older) and compete for prizes in a fun-filled hour playing Bingo. All Bingo game supplies will be provided, snacks will be served. This program is generously sponsored by the Trustees of the Public Library of Brookline and the Friends of the Brookline Public Library.
The Brookline Library Music Association continues its 67th season Sunday, Jan. 13, when pianist Constantine Finehouse and violinist Daniel Kurganov perform works by Franck, Chausson and Boston-based composer Tony Schemmer, in handicapped-accessible Hunneman Hall at the Brookline Village Library. Doors open at 2 p.m. for the 2:30 p.m. concert, and seating is limited. This concert is free and everyone is welcome. Formed in 2015, the Kurganov-Finehouse Duo has been lauded by FanFare Magazine for "smoldering intensity...Kurganov's and Finehouse's recital brings together a wide variety of styles, rendered with an effervescence and panache". This coming spring, the duo will tour China. For more information about their upcoming performances in the Boston area and beyond, please visit kurganov.io. And to ensure that this series continues, please consider supporting the BLMA.
We at the Friends of the Library are hoping it was a lovely holiday for all of you who just celebrated Christmas. As the New Year is now upon us, drop by any our outposts — Brookline Village, Coolidge Corner, Putterham — and find some entertaining, dramatic, provocative or just plain fun books, DVDs, CDs, games, and puzzles to enjoy with family and friends. With thanks to you all for your continuing support, we wish you the very best of years and look forward to extending those wishes to you in person now and in 2019.
Stop by Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10-11 a.m. during our drop-in sessions at the Brookline Village Library in The Commons to ask our librarians for help with new technology, devices and software.
Become a Volunteer English Tutor!
Looking for a rewarding way to connect with the community? Become a volunteer English tutor at the Public Library of Brookline. You'll be paired with an adult English language learner and meet weekly to help them improve their English. No teaching or tutoring experience is required, and all tutors will receive training from Library staff. Interested in becoming a tutor? Ask a librarian for a sign-up form at any Public Library of Brookline location.
In the Children's Room at the BV Library, Claire Maddocks will display her dragon collection until Jan. 9.
Forty two show pieces by Sue Yang and her MFA and SMFA students as well as private students are on view in Hunneman Hall at the Brookline Village Library. Join them for their closing reception/artists' talk on Saturday, Jan. 5 from 2-3 p.m.
Nelson Hammer began painting birds in watercolor in 2014. His new exhibit realistically documents a variety of species, colors, and sizes and will be on view in Hunneman Hall from Jan. 9 through March 4.
Archival photos of the original 1950s Coolidge Corner Library are on view at this library through the end of January.
And at Putterham, for the month of January, The Women's Art and Endorphin Alliance will be displaying art work.
BV: Taste of Poetry, Thursday, Jan. 3, noon, the poetry of Jenny Xie will be discussed.
BV, Commons: (English Language Learners (ELL) Graphic Novel Club: sponsored by the Friends of the Brookline Public Library) Wednesday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m., "The Best We Could Do" by Thi Bui and "Poppies of Iraq" by Brigitte Findakly, Lewis Trondheim.
CC: (Let Them Eat Baked Goods and baked goods will be shared!) Thursday, Jan. 10, 6:30 p.m., "The Fearless Baker" by Erin Jeanne McDowell.
CC: (Mystery) Monday, Jan. 14, 12:30 p.m., "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler.
PUTT: (Council on Aging) Monday, Jan. 14, 2 p.m., "The Kill Artist" by Daniel Silva.
BV: (Mystery) Tuesday, Jan. 15, noon, "Arthur and George" by Julian Barnes.
CC: (Read and Meet) Thursday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m., "Agnes and the Hitman" by Jennifer Cruise, Bob Mayer.
CC: (Afternoon Book Group) Monday, Jan. 28, 2:15 p.m., "Untamed State" by Roxane Gay.