Learn Something New in 2023 | |
The weather outside is frightful, and yet your New Year’s resolutions are waiting…. Access thousands of educational videos right from the comfort of your home. | | |
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Want to get ahead at work? We’re excited to offer LinkedIn Learning! Are you looking to get ahead at work by mastering PivotTables or Python? Classes are offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, among other languages.
Want to get crafty? Looking to start a daily sketchbook practice or learn to knit a scarf? Log into CreativeBug for professional ‘how do I make this’ video instruction.
Want to learn from the masters? Learn the art of storytelling from Neil Gaiman with MasterClass Presents on Hoopla. Or binge one of The Great Courses, such as Search for Exoplanets or Understand the French Revolution, using a Hoopla BingePass.
All of these learning opportunities are available with your SPL library card! Check out the Databases link at the top of our webpage.
Don’t have a PIN number? Call or email the library and we’ll set you up.
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Tuesday, January 10 at 7pm on Zoom | |
On September 14, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis (FL) routed approximately 50 asylum seekers from San Antonio, TX, to Martha’s Vineyard, MA.
Join Somerville Public Library in partnership with Watertown Public Library as Professor Sarah Sherman-Stokes, associate director of the Immigrants’ Rights & Human Trafficking Clinic at Boston University School of Law, shares the legal implications of DeSantis’s actions and current issues in asylum law and policy.
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Thursday, January 19 from 9am-9pm in the Central Library's Wellington Hall | |
Help yourself to a new puzzle!
Throughout the day on Thursday, January 19, puzzle fans can bring their old (gently used) puzzles to the second floor of the Central Library and swap them out for new-to-you puzzles. Please make sure that any puzzle you bring in has all it's pieces so that the next puzzler can see the complete picture!
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Saturday, January 21 at 2pm in the Central Library Auditorium | |
The SPL is excited to welcome Wingmasters to the Central Library with their presentation on The World of Owls!
This program shows how owls use their specialized powers of sight, hearing and flight to survive and thrive. A variety of live North American owls provides the focus of this presentation. For the birds' well-being and for the safety of the audience, the raptors are handled only by Wingmasters, and are under their control at all times. They are never flown for demonstration.
This program is intended for ages 5 and up.
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Thursday, January 26 at 7pm at All She Wrote Books | |
Join the Somerville Public Library and All She Wrote Books for a chance to read your short fiction, poetry, or an excerpt from a novel! Open to writers ages 10-18 for readings, but all ages are welcome to attend.
Please submit your pieces to Kayla (kcottingham@somervillema.gov) by January 25th.
Limit 5 minutes per reader.
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Saturday, February 4 at 11am in the West Branch Community Room | |
Death Cafes are a group-directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives, or themes, with the objective of increasing awareness of death and helping people make the most of their finite lives.
The Somerville Public Library will be hosting the West Branch Death Cafe with Alan Bingham, a retired hospice and palliative care executive who has spent many hours with terminal patients and their families.
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Thursday, February 16th at 6:30pm on Zoom | |
Join the SPL and Dos Manos Kitchen to learn to cook delicious pupusas with our live, chef-led virtual cooking class—right in your kitchen! An ingredients list will be emailed to all registered attendees one week prior to the workshop.
If you will be joining the workshop with someone else and using the same screen/device, please only register once to allow for more attendees.
Registration opens January 23rd.
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Winter Wonderland Staff Picks | |
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Set on the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia, the story centers around the disappearance of two girls. Each chapter centers on a different character until the ending brings them together.
Recommended by Jane, West Branch Manager
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Early Riser by Jasper Fforde | |
You are Charlie Worthings, a rookie Winter Consul, a member of the group of people who stay awake while the rest of humanity goes into hibernation for the winter. But a mysterious outbreak of viral dreams is sewing chaos among your charges and between that, the Villains, and the mythical wintervolk, you will have a lot to contend with if you are going to get through this winter.
Recommended by Tim, Reference Librarian
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Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran | |
This dark reimagining of Snow White is told from the perspective of the Queen, not quite evil in these pages and instead contending with a monstrous stepdaughter. The illustrations are lush and spellbinding, perfectly enhancing Gaiman's already compelling tale.
Recommended by ShanTil, Community Service Librarian
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Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan | |
It's five days before Christmas, and corporate headquarters has forced Manny to close his New England Red Lobster. With customers dwindling and snow falling, this darkly funny, elegiac book follows the final day in meticulous detail, both empathetic and tragic.
Recommended by Katie, Senior Substitute Librarian
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Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin | |
Fascinating children's non-fiction book about Wilson Bentley, a scientist who photographed thousands of snowflakes to study their individual shapes and prove that no two are alike.
Recommended by Alison, Youth Services Librarian
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In this retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," Hazel and Jack are next door neighbors and best friends until they begin to grow apart. Despite her mom telling her this is normal at their age, Hazel knows something is wrong with Jack. After Jack goes missing Hazel ventures into magical woods to save her best friend.
Recommended by Keri, Youth Services Librarian
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