Around Town

Watertown Library Turned Into Glamorous Venue for 150th Anniversary Gala

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Guests at the Watertown Free Public LIbrary’s 150th Anniversary Gala entered through a building decked out for a celebration. The normally subdued Watertown Free Public Library was transformed into a glittering, glamorous party venue on Saturday night in celebration of its 150th Anniversary. Several hundred people filled the library for the 150th anniversary Gala Celebration. Strings of lights were draped in the entryway to the library, and vases full of flowers decorated tables around the library. Several hundred people filled the Watertown Library for the 150th celebration.

Around Town

Best Selling Author Talks About Love of Libraries, Her Latest Book in Watertown

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Bestselling author Susan Orlean, right, poses with a fan after she spoke at the Watertown Free Public Library on Thursday. For writer Susan Orlean, trips to her hometown library in Shaker Heights, Ohio, had been a childhood ritual, a way of bonding with her mother as they collected armfuls of books to read and discussed their borrowed treasures on the ride home. Even today, she can remember the sights and smells of that small branch library, and the thump of the date-stamp machine as it gave the books their due dates. But for all the magic of those early visits, the adult Orlean became more of a bookstore customer than a library patron, a buyer rather than a borrower. She rediscovered her fascination with libraries around 2010, when she took her young son to visit their local library.

Around Town

Watertown Library Invites Public to 150th Anniversary Gala

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

Tucked away in the basement of Town Hall, Watertown Free Public Library first opened its doors on March 31, 1869 under founding director Solon Whitney. In those early years, the library was open two days a week, four hours a day. The library was well used, but there was intense disagreement over the value of fiction. In 1882, one trustee argued that “the modern story has no place in a town library.” Some worried that novels would corrupt the minds of Watertown youth. Much has changed in 150 years.

Around Town

Local Group Hosting Forum About Restorative Justice

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Progressive Watertown will host an event called “Restorative Justice: It’s The Law” on March 31. Organizers of the event sent out the following information:

What is Restorative Justice, How Does it Work, and How is it Used? A Public Forum and Panel Discussion moderated by William N. Brownsberger, Massachusetts State Senator. With Featured Speakers:

Margot Fleischman, Board President of Communities for Restorative Justice

Ruth Henry, Watertown Public School Educator

Lori Kenschaft, Clerk of First Parish Arlington, Educator and Activist

Peter Koutoujian, Middlesex County Sheriff

Marian Ryan, Middlesex County District Attorney

WHEN: Sunday, March 31, 2-4 p.m.

WHERE: Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Room, 123 Main Street, Watertown, MA

Produced by Progressive Watertown. Co-sponsored by Watertown Citizens for Black Lives, Watertown Community Foundation, and World in Watertown.

Around Town

Author Susan Orlean Coming to Town, Other One Book One Watertown Events

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The following announcement came from the Watertown Library:

In March and April, Watertown Free Public Library will offer a wide range of special events inspired by The Library Book by Susan Orlean. The Library Book is WFPL’s 2019 pick for One Book, One Watertown, an annual reading event designed to bring the community together. On April 4, 2019, Orlean will visit the library for an author talk and book signing. WFPL staff chose to read and promote The Library Book this year partly as a nod to the library’s 150th anniversary, which falls on March 31. Librarian Kerrianne Mcquown writes: “We chose The Library Book as our community read because it is a beautiful ode that amply illustrates the importance and vitality of libraries in our current age. Author Susan Orlean will visit Watertown to speak about her book “The Library Book.”

Entertainment

The Kelly Girls Will Perform Celtic Music at Library’s Winter Concert Series

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The Kelly Girls will perform as part of the Watertown Library’s Winter Concert Series. The Watertown Library provided the following announcement:

The Watertown Free Public Library’s final Winter Concert features the Celtic sounds of The Kelly Girls. The group will perform at the Library on Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank Room. The performance is free and open to the public. The Celtic band the Kelly Girls have quickly gained recognition as one of the most entertaining Celtic Bands in New England.

Around Town

Watertown Library Hosts President James Madison at Next Democracy Talks

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Historical interpreter Bil Lewis will portray President James Madison at the Watertown Free Public Library. Former U.S. President James Madison will be the guest at the next Democracy Talks at the Watertown Free Public Library. Historical interpreter Bil Lewis will present, in character, “James Madison and the Coming of Age of the U.S.” on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank Room.