Around Town

Free Program on Stress, Fatigue & Depression During the Pandemic to be Hosted by Library

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A program called “We’ve Been There: Conversations About Stress, Fatigue, Depression, Coping, and Everything in Between,” the first in a series of programs focused on mental health and wellness will be held on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Watertown Library in conjunction with Wayside Youth & Family Network, the Watertown Police, Advocates Inc. and the Watertown Community Foundation. Organizers sent out the following information:

Stressed, sad, exhausted? After a trying year, please join us as we discuss anything and everything that makes people feel isolated, sad, or anxious. You’ll learn what help is available locally and how we can support ourselves and loved ones through difficult times.

Around Town

Watertown Library Wants to Know How Accessible the Building, Materials are to Patrons

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The Watertown Library sent out the following announcement about the survey on how accessible the materials and building are to all residents:

WFPL is committed to making our building and materials accessible to all. If you use the Watertown Free Public Library or Hatch Makerspace, please take a moment to complete our accessibility survey. Your responses will help us improve on our deficits as well as build upon our successes. 

Take the survey, either online or by printing it out, by clicking here. If you choose to print the survey, please complete and return it to the Library. You may also type and email your responses to Caitlin Browne at cbrowne@watertown-ma.gov. Any responses received with identifiable information will be kept confidential.

Entertainment

This Month at the Library: Zines, Virtual Author Talk, Pet Parade

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

The Watertown Free Public Library has a full February in store! This month, we’re offering free zine making kits for all ages, hosting a Zoom talk with bestselling author Barbara Delinksy, and collecting photos for a social media pet parade. A full list of virtual programs is included below. FOR CHILDRENZine MonthFebruary 1–28 | Zines are DIY publications that can foster personal expression, storytelling, and activism.

Entertainment

Check Out Zine Month at the Watertown Library in February

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The Watertown Library provided the following announcement:

If you know, you know. But if you don’t know, it’s okay, because the library is going to teach you all about zines during the month of February. Zines are generally thought of as DIY magazine-like publications of personal expression that are printed and distributed in small batches by the creator–a little like an analog blog. They give a medium for self-expression to anyone, especially people who have historically been silenced by and excluded from mainstream publications. The Library is hoping to encourage the people of Watertown to share their voices by creating their own zines.

Around Town

Free, On-Demand Tutoring Available Through Watertown Library

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

Brainfuse HelpNow, a digital platform offering on demand learning support for all ages and levels is now available to Watertown residents through the Watertown Free Public Library. “We want to help people get through this strange and difficult time and we know that remote learning and working is a real struggle for a lot of people,” says Carey Conkey-Finn who runs the Teen Department at the library. “We’re hoping that this resource will fill a hole that COVID life has created.”

HelpNow is available to all Watertown residents with a Minuteman Library Network library card from any computer with internet connection or via mobile app. To access HelpNow, please visit the library’s website at watertownlib.org/brainfuse. For more information, contact 617-972-6436 or libraryteendepartment@watertown-ma.gov.

About HelpNow

Live Tutoring (available 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. 7 days a week): HelpNow offers live tutor access for homework help, skills building and test preparation.

Around Town

Residents Can Borrow Variety of Tools & Equipment from Watertown Library

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

Snowshoes, KitchenAid Stand Mixer, power washer — these items have nothing in common except that they are all things you can now check out with your library card. On January 6 the Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL) launched a new collection of non-traditional library materials known as the Library of Things and they’re waiting to be used. “A Library of Things is not uncommon in public libraries and there are so many reasons we’re excited to now offer our own collection” says Katie Kottas who is in charge of Circulation and Access Services. Of course it is fun, but it’s also economical. A lot of people don’t need or want to purchase items they may only use once or twice.

Entertainment

Seinfeld Trivia; Genealogy & One Book, One Watertown at the Library This Month

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The Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Library sent out the following information:

WFPL is pleased to announce Matt Haig’s novel, The Humans as our selection for One Book, One Watertown 2021! This year, we faced the task of selecting a title during this time of great uncertainty, isolation, and hardship in our community, our country and around the world.  Despite the challenges we all face, we have also observed wonderful demonstrations of bravery, selflessness, and kindness.  We wanted to find a book to help us celebrate the good we see around us.  

Matt Haig’s book is a laugh-out-loud, heart-filled exploration of what it truly means to be human.

Around Town

Hatch in January: Customize Your Phone, Fleece Hand Warmers & More

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See what’s going on at the Watertown Library’s Hatch Makerspace in January. Hatch Makerspace is located at 20 Summer Street in Watertown, MA. An extension of the Watertown Free Public Library, it is a public workshop with space, equipment, and materials available for your use. Virtual workshops are being offered during the pandemic. For more information contact Liz Helfer, Hatch Coordinator: ehelfer@watertown-ma.gov | 781-795-2309

Hatch sent out information about upcoming workshops:

Customize Your Phone’s Home Screen with Yi BinMonday, January 4, 6pmLearn how to customize the icons on your home screen using widgets, recently popularized by videos on TikTok.