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Watertown Library Partially Reopening Next Week, Will Have Hours for At-Risk Patrons

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Watertown Free Public Library

The Watertown Library sent out the following announcement:

The Watertown Free Public Library will reopen to the public on Monday, July 27. Using the Library will be a very different experience until coronavirus is no longer a major health concern. We are very excited to invite our patrons back. Unfortunately, we cannot offer all of the services that so many have been able to depend on, but it won’t be forever. This is what we can do for you now until the time comes that is safe to resume our regular services.

Around Town

Online at the Library: Baking for Kids, Teen Crafting & Wax Sculpting

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Library:

This month, the Watertown Free Public Library launched a new online classes library. In response to the new reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, Library staff have recorded many of the Library’s most popular virtual classes and guest programs so patrons can learn from home, anytime. Topics include: library streaming services, online privacy basics, smarter online shopping, “cutting the cord,” cloud storage, and more. Head to watertownlib.org/onlineclasses to see what’s available. In addition to recorded classes, “live” Library programs continue on Facebook and Zoom.

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Watertown Library Now Offering Scheduling for Curbside Pickups, Placing Holds

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Bags prepared to be delivered to patrons of the Watertown Library as part of the curbside pickup program. The Library is now offering scheduled pickups and putting holds on items.

The following information was provided by the Watertown Library:

The Watertown Free Public Library’s curbside pickup service is growing more popular with every passing week. Since WFPL launched the service on May 11, Library patrons have placed over 3,000 pickup orders for books, DVDs and other materials. On busy nights, as many as 200 book bags are delivered to patrons in the Library parking lot. In order to meet the growing demand for this service, WFPL is making some changes to the curbside pickup process.

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Virtual Library: Movie Discussion Group, Painting & Build Your Own Workshop

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

Missing Hatch Makerspace? Hatch staff and volunteers are offering a wide range of virtual workshops via Zoom, free and open to all skill levels. This week, check out Build Your Workshop with Liz and Gouache Painting with Yi Bin. Register online: watertownlib.org/calendar

Even though WFPL can’t host Movie Mondays right now, we can still enjoy films together!

Around Town

Reading Summer Fun for Adults & This Week’s Virtual Events from the Watertown Library

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Library:

Why should kids have all the fun? This summer, the Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL) is offering Summer Reading for Grown-Ups, a season-long reading challenge complete with librarian-curated reading recs and a bingo game full of summer activities. 

Even though WFPL is temporarily closed to the public, there are still many ways to check out library materials. Books, DVDs, and CDs can be ordered for curbside pickup. eBooks and audiobooks can be accessed through WFPL’s digital collection. For more information, visit the Library’s website: watertownlib.org

This year, WFPL’s grown-up bingo game encourages players to read widely from a diverse list of authors, stay active while social distancing, and chronicle the summer with lots of photos. 

Here are a few highlights:

Read about someone who survived a pandemicPost your COVID-19 experience as a poem, short story, or artRead a book by an LGBTQ authorRead a book from WFPL’s anti-racism booklistPost your pandemic playlist!Join the Library’s yoga class, via Zoom

As part of the game, WFPL is encouraging patrons to share summer reading and inspire others by posting book covers, book bingos, and summer activities on social media with the hashtag #WFPLsummer.

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Library Fines Eliminated in Watertown, Current Fines Removed

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The Watertown Free Public Library will no longer be charging fines for late materials. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

The Watertown Free Public Library has abolished overdue fines for most materials. At their May 5 Board Meeting, the Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to recommend Town Manager Michael Driscoll eliminate library fines. As a result, fine elimination was included in the FY21 budget which was approved by Town Council on June 29, 2020. 

Beginning July 1, fines will no longer be charged for items that are returned late. This applies to any Watertown or Minuteman Library Network (MLN) item checked out at the WFPL.

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This Week at the Watertown Library: Online Events, Curbside Pickup Poll & More

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The historic facade of the Watertown Free Public Library. The following information was provided by the Watertown Library:

This Wednesday at 7 PM, join us in welcoming Erik Edstrom for an author talk and Q&A session via Zoom. Edstrom’s memoir, Un-American: A Soldier’s Reckoning of Our Longest War, tells the story of his military service Afghanistan while probing his eventual disillusionment with the War on Terror. 

Also this week, Aimee is hosting Living Room Trivia via Zoom and our popular “read/watch” group will explore the world of My Antonia. Do you know a teen with a creative streak? Starting today, we’re offering free “take and make” project materials for students in grades 6-12, available for pickup at WFPL. Keep scrolling for a full list of virtual programs…

Around Town

Watertown Library’s Pride Month Reading Picks & This Week’s Virtual Events

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Watertown Free Public Library

The Watertown Library provided the following announcement:

If you didn’t make it to the Summer Reading Drive-Thru last week, don’t worry. It’s easy to participate in the Library’s Summer Reading programs from home. Head to watertownlib.org/summerreading to learn more about our programs and prizes for children, teens, and grown-ups. To commemorate Pride Month and the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, we asked WFPL staff to choose books that helped shape their views on queer politics/culture, assisted them in their process of coming out, or affected them in another way. We hope you enjoy these Staff Picks for Pride: watertownlib.org/pride

Want to stay up-to-date with everything that the Library has to offer during the COVID-19 pandemic?