Around Town

Share Your Photos and Stories With as Part of the Watertown Library’s Local History Project

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

The Watertown Free Public Library’s Local History Collection includes photographs and artifacts dating back to the city’s founding, but there is a problem — there exists very little record of what happened in Watertown during your lifetime. That’s why the Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL) is embarking on a mission to collect stories and images from Watertown’s recent history, from 1950 to the present day, to preserve them in the Local History Collection. “When people in the future try to figure out what happened in Watertown in the 1980s, 90s, or recently, what will they find?” asks Local History Librarian Caroline Littlewood. “That’s up to us. We are experts on our own experiences, and our own personal histories.

Around Town

Watertown Library Now Offering Pickup from Lockers 24/7

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Watertown LibraryWatertown Library staff show off the new lockers available to patrons. They can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Watertown Library provided the following announcement:

Lockers at the Library? That’s right. The Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL) is launching a new outdoor pickup option which will make it easier for anyone to pick up materials twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Entertainment

Watertown Library Has Host of Activities Inspired by “One Book”

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Free Public Library:

In January, the Watertown Free Public Library announced Braiding Sweetgrass, as it’s pick for One Book, One Watertown 2022. Now, the Library is drawing on author Robin Wall Kimmerer’s themes of environmental stewardship and Indigenous wisdom to deliver a full month of workshops, artwork, and music — all designed to complement the book and bring the community together. You are invited! And don’t worry, you don’t have to read Braiding Sweetgrass to participate. (Though it is highly encouraged!) Whether you want to want to radically rethink your relationship to the land, green your energy footprint, or share Indigenous history with your kids – there are so many ways to participate in One Book, One Watertown this year.

Around Town

Council Thanks Retiring Watertown Library Director with Proclamation

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Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. Watertown’s Library Director is retiring after more than a quarter century overseeing one of the most popular features of the City. To express their gratitude, the City Council passed a proclamation honoring Leone Cole. Under Cole’s leadership, the Watertown Free Public Library underwent a major renovation and expansion in 2006, preserved Watertown’s historic books, documents and photos, and increased funding by more than 200 percent. During her 27 years, Cole also increased support for Project Literacy (which teaches immigrants English and helps them apply for citizenship), added the Hatch Makerspace, and started the path toward adding a bookmobile to the Watertown Library’s offerings.

Around Town

Library Trustees Seek Public Input on Hiring New Library Director

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Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. The following information was provided by the Watertown Library:

The Watertown Free Public Library is hiring a new Library Director and the Board of Trustees is seeking input from Watertown residents. There are two ways to get involved:

1. Complete the community survey at bit.ly/DirSurvey222. Serve on the Preliminary Screening Committee.Two residents will be selected.

Around Town

Library Seeks Residents to Take Part in Watertown Collective Memory Project

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The Watertown Free Public Library is launching a project called the Watertown Collective Memory Project and you can be a part of it! The Watertown Collective Memory Project (WCMP) is “a yearlong initiative to build a digital collection of stories and photographs from Watertown’s recent history, up to the present day, that captures the full breadth and diversity of our community,” as Local History Librarian Caroline Littlewood described it. Though the project is led by Littlewood and other members of the Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL), they are encouraging other local organizations to contribute and will be relying on volunteers to help run the project. The Historical Society of Watertown and Watertown Cable Access Television are both partners in the project as well. 

The WCMP first got started as part of a refurbishing of the WFPL’s digital history records and has since developed into a community-wide project to build a collaborative and accessible digital history of the town. For Littlewood especially, who started her position at the WFPL during the COVID-19 pandemic, this project has come to mean much more than uploading files.

Around Town

Library in February: First Watertown, USA Summit, Author Talk, History of Hip Hop

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The Watertown Free Public Library previewed the events coming up in February:

Here’s one of the more delightfully quirky programs we’ve ever hosted: On Tuesday evening, 2/8, join WFPL for Watertown Where?! — the first-ever Watertown, USA summit. We’ll meet up virtually to swap local history stories and share what makes our Watertown unique. Watertowns represented include MA, NY, SD, CT, MN, and TN. 

Also coming up: Jerald Walker will join us virtually to discuss his award-winning essay collection, How to Make a Slave, and the acclaimed Illstyle & Peace ensemble will present The History of Hip Hop at the Library for children grades K and up! Library News

We’re wishing happiness, good health, and relaxation to Library Director Leone Cole as she retires from WFPL after 27 years. The Library as you know it today wouldn’t be possible without Leone’s steadfast commitment to providing exceptional library service.

Around Town

Community Members Will be Part of Search for the Next Director of the Watertown Library

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Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Library will be looking for a new leader with longtime Library Director Leone Cole announcing her retirement. Cole has made her mark on the Watertown Free Public Library, said Chair Leanne Hammonds. “Leone Cole is retiring after 27 years as library director,” Hammonds said. “She has done incredible work at WFPL and she will certainly be missed!”