Staff Development on Friday, April 9 |
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All SPL locations will be closed from 9 am - 2 pm on Friday, April 9 for a Staff Development training. Our Central and East Branch locations will be open for Contactless Pickup from 2 pm to 6 pm that day.
We look forward to this training, so we can be the best possible library staff for the Somerville community!
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Tuesday, April 6 at 11 am on Zoom |
Are you curious about your family’s history? Are you not sure where to get started? Join Local History Librarian Kevin for a virtual introduction to online genealogy. He’ll introduce you to basic strategies and principles and teach you about online resources available from the Library and the federal government as well other Internet resources.
This class is in collaboration with the Somerville Media Center.
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Thursday, April 8 at 5:30 pm on Zoom |
USCIS Community Relations Officer, John McCarthy, will provide an overview of common pitfalls in the application process; questions applicants tend to get wrong during the citizenship interview; and finding reliable immigration help.
This presentation is being offered as part of our Pathways to Citizenship program. The Pathways to Citizenship program is brought to you with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
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Saturday, April 10 and 17 at 10:30 am on Zoom |
This workshop will focus on writing from our 'real lives' and using both humorous and challenging life situations as the gist for creative writing.
In this active, hands-on workshop, we'll explore the craft of "writing tight" and creating interesting nonfiction pieces through a series of short writing exercises. We'll also discuss the craft of flash memoir (pieces under 1000 words) and look at some compelling examples. You'll come out of the class with a better understanding of this genre and with several works in progress to fuel (or start) your writing practice.
This program is made possible with funding from the Friends of the Somerville Public Library.
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Starts Wednesday, May 5 at 10:30 am on Zoom |
Reduce frustration and teach your baby to communicate before he/she can speak! Sheryl White of Baby Kneads teaches this 4-part class for caregivers with pre-verbal children ages 5 months and up. Space is limited!
This program is made possible with funding from the Friends of the Somerville Public Library.
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All spring and summer long, check our webpage for updates! |
Wondering what's been growing at our Library Garden at Central Library?Check out our Urban Gardening Programs webpage! We will be updating with the latest workshops from Green City Growers.
These programs are made possible with funding from the Friends of the Somerville Public Library.
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Have a laugh with the SPL! |
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April is National Humor Month! These books made our SPL librarians giggle.
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A novel set at an off-the-beaten-path bed-and-breakfast designed as a haven for readers and book-lovers, and run by twin bachelor brothers in their fifties. Funny, eccentric, and charming all at once, and a bibliophile’s delight.
Recommended by Jim, Head of Circulation
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Imagine Oscar Wilde being reincarnated as a cranky, 20th century, dyed-in-the wool New Yorker and sitting down to write a bunch of essays about it.
Sample quote: “To me the outdoors is what you must pass through in order to get from your apartment into a taxicab.”
Recommended by Ellen, Teen Librarian
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This Texas author's account of growing up in her eccentric and dangerous family and the early years of her marriage to a remarkably normal man is hilarious.
Sample quote: "This probably would have been my exact worst nightmare of bringing a boy home to meet my parents, if I’d ever had enough creativity to imagine my father throwing a live bobcat on the boy I was trying to impress."
Recommended by Kevin, Head of Reference
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Read by West herself, this compendium of clearly unbiased (read: highly subjective) film reviews is, by turns, a joyful celebration and delightful takedown of movies that even if you've never seen, you've certainly heard of. Whether writing about a much beloved film or one that people generally love to hate, West's take on each is funny and incisive, deftly juggling poking fun with making thought-provoking points. I would give this audiobook 10/10 DVDs of The Fugitive (see above: clearly unbiased)
Recommended by Jo, Business Librarian
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The book starts with a journalist covering the opening of a new Walmart and someone has accidentally caused sewage to flood the store during the opening.
Recommended by Marita, East Branch Manager
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If you like a lot of humor mixed in with your fantasy or sci-fi, you should check out this book.
It made Kerry literally laugh out loud when she read it, and nothing can beat a fantasy story with a sidekick who is a talking dog.
Recommended by Kerry, Reference Librarian
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This picture book really has no pictures! But when you read it to your favorite little one (and you MUST read it out loud) the super silly sounds and ridiculous voices coming out of your mouth will ensure gobs of giggles and guffaws. BLUURF!
Recommended by Mary, Reference Librarian
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Brian loves bananas and all fruit, but Brian is a piranha.
His friends aren't happy about his fondness for fruit.
Plus, it mentions a bum being bit, so kids will love it!
Recommended by Annamarie, Children's Librarian
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This Caldecott Honor-winner made Kerry crack up laughing on public transportation, which she always find to be the mark of an excellent book. Lots of tongue-in-cheek humor and silliness can be found in these pages as Eamon and James explore and go on adventures.
Recommended by Kerry, Reference Librarian
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Perfect for toddlers, this picture book uses cut-out illustrations to match colors to familiar objects. Much hilarity ensues when items are paired with the "wrong" color!
Recommended by Alison, West Branch Children's Librarian
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Chromebooks for our Wifi Popup! |
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Chromebooks are now available for checkout for our Wifi Popup!
You can surf the internet, apply for a library card, utilize our free contactless printing service, and more!
Chromebooks are available to borrow for up to 2 hours per day, and are available Monday through Friday 9am-12:45pm; 2pm-4:15pm, Saturday 9am-4:15pm, and Sunday 1pm- 4:15pm.
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