Around Town

Watertown Library Closed for 3 Weeks, Online Services Available

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Watertown Free Public Library

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

The Watertown Free Public Library will be closed to the public from March 14 – April 6 to help minimize the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19.) The Library is currently scheduled to reopen on April 7. This date is subject to change. During the Library’s closure, patrons are encouraged to keep borrowed items at home, even if they are overdue. The Minuteman Library Network (MLN) is extending all due dates until at least mid-April. Fines will be waived while the Library is closed.

Schools

Watertown Schools Now Closed Thru April 7, Tips to Keep Students Learning

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With Gov. Baker’s announcement that schools statewide will be closed through early April as a response to the Coronavirus outbreak, the Watertown Public Schools will be closed longer than first announced. Students can still keep their mind active. On Thursday, Superintendent Dede Galdston announced the town’s schools would be shut for two weeks (originally March 27). Now that has been extended to April 7 with the Governor’s announcement Sunday night, which also impacts restaurants, and gatherings over 25 people. See the Watertown School’s entire update from Sunday night father below.

Coronavirus

Town Closing Library, Senior Center, Rec Dept Until Late March in Response to Coronavirus

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In an effort to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, the Watertown Library, the Senior Center will be closed and all Recreation Department activities will be cancelled, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced Friday afternoon. Town Hall will remain open. Driscoll spoke at a special School Committee meeting held Friday afternoon. This follows Thursday’s announcement that the Watertown Public Schools will be closed through March 27. While the Senior Center will be closed from Friday, March 13 to the end of March for activities and exercise programs, some senior services will continue.

Around Town

Library Postpones One Book, One Watertown Events

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Watertown Free Public Library

The Watertown Free Public Library announced the remaining events related to One Book, One Watertown planned in March have been postponed. This year’s book is Lara Prescott’s The Secrets We Kept, and the activities kicked off last week, and several more were planned. The library sent out the following statement:

Due the unavailability of multiple presenters, the Watertown Free Public Library has made the decision to postpone all remaining One Book, One Watertown programming, which was scheduled to take place throughout the month of March. Rather than present programs piecemeal, the Library aims to present all of the programs as a group at another time. Please watch our website (www.watertownlib.org) and newsletter for updates as soon as we have them.

Around Town

Watertown Library Welcomes New Trustee, Emily Izzo

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A panorama of the Watertown Free Public Library. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Free Public Library:

On February 19, the Watertown Free Public Library Trustees and Town Council President Mark Sideris selected Emily Izzo to fill the open seat on the Library Board of Trustees. She will serve until the next election in November, 2021. A Watertown resident, Izzo works as a municipal finance law attorney with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. She is looking forward to the opportunity to expand the impact and shape the future of Watertown’s well-loved public library.

Around Town

Library Planning Events & Activities Inspired by the 2020 One Book, One Watertown Novel

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

This March, the Watertown Free Public Library will offer a wide range of special programs and events inspired by Lara Prescott’s debut novel The Secrets We Kept. Called “a gorgeous and romantic feast of a novel” by The New York Times, Prescott’s debut is the Library’s One Book, One Watertown community read selection for 2020. The Secrets We Kept is set during the height of the Cold War and weaves a thrilling tale of secretaries turned spies, inspired by true events. Throughout, the novel offers plenty of fodder for discussion with interwoven themes of love and duty, cultural propaganda, the politics of “women’s work,” and the threat of totalitarianism. The Watertown Free Public Library invites all Watertown residents to read along and explore the world of Prescott’s novel through a series of events designed to bring the community together.

Around Town

Find Out What’s Going on at Watertown’s Makerspace in March

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Hatch, the Watertown Library’s makerspace, is offering a class on computer design, is seeking artists to run workshops and has a list of ongoing classes in the month of March. The following information was provided by Hatch:

Hatch hours: Monday-Thursday, 1-9 pm | Friday-Sunday 1-4 pmHours are updated regularly online: watertownlib.org/hatch

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. Call for yarn donations! Do you have unused yarn laying around?

Around Town

Library Trustee Selected to Fill Vacant Seat on the Board

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Watertown Free Public Library

The Library Board of Trustees once again has a full quota of members after the vacancy left when a trustee elect left town before the term began. The five elected trustees and Town Council President Mark Siders selected Emily Izzo to fill the vacancy left by Mara Dolan, who moved out of Watertown after she was elected in November, according to Watertown Cable’s Watertown Weekly News (click here to see the report). The board interviewed more than a dozen applicants during two meetings in February, and voted to make the appointment on Feb. 19. Izzo works as municipal law attorney with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and formerly worked as the chief of staff for the Mass.