Elections

Watertown Library’s Democracy Talks Focusing on Future of Voting Rights

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The Watertown Free Public Library’s Democracy Talks will host a talk on “The Future of Voting Rights: 2018 and Beyond,” the library announced
During the event, the sixth in the Library’s ongoing series, Professor Rachael Cobb of Suffolk University will talk about what’s at stake in the 2018, according to the event announcement. Cobb is an associate professor and chair of the Government Department at Suffolk. She studies elections, election administration, the electoral politics, civic engagement and political participation. She established the University Pollworkers Project, a non-partisan program designed to recruit college students to serve as poll workers in partnership with the City of Boston’s Election Department. The event will be on  Thursday, Dec.

Entertainment

Watertown Library Has Wide Variety of Events in October

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October is a busy month at the Watertown Free Public Library with a day to preserve your photos and letters, a citizenship class, an author talk and many more activities. The library will be closed on Columbus Day – Oct. 9, 2017 – but there are many other activities when it is open. The Watertown Free Public Library sent out the following information:

Author Talk: Ronny Le Blanc

Wednesday 10/25 | 7 p.m.
Lucia Mastrangelo RoomThere is an area known to the locals of Leominster, Massachusetts as MONSTERLAND. Here there are sightings of UFOS, Bigfoot and Orange Orbs.

Around Town

OP-ED: Library’s Girls Who Code Program Addresses Important Need

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Eight months ago my wife and I welcomed our daughter, Harriet, to the world. She has filled our suddenly sleepless lives with so much joy—and with some anxiety too. Like most parents, my wife and I worry about whether we can give our daughter all the tools she’ll need to lead a fulfilling life. Whether Harriet becomes a car mechanic, a small business owner, or a college professor, she is going to need a basic literacy in computer programming. Fluency in computer languages like HTML and CSS will soon be the low bar for employment in many industries.

Around Town

LETTER: Library’s Hatch Makerspace Has New Home, New Coordinator

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Nearly three years ago, the Watertown Free Public Library hosted a DIY Halloween Costume Bootcamp in a retail space at the Arsenal Mall, marking the opening of Watertown’s first public makerspace, Hatch. Since then, Hatch has flourished with programs, events, and, most importantly, a growing community of makers. Fast-forward to today, and Hatch has moved into its new space at the Residence at Watertown Square, hired a full-time coordinator [Liz Helfer], built up a dynamic group of volunteers and encouraged creativity among its users. Library staff have worked hard to bring this opportunity to the community, but the work would have never happened were it not for a network of generous organizations and people. First on the list is the Arsenal Project who hosted Hatch, rent and utility free, since October 2014.

Around Town

Sign Up Now for the Fourth Annual Watertown Library 5K Fundraiser

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The Watertown Library’s 5K race is back and runners and walkers can sign up now. 

Library officials sent out the following announcement:

Participants of all ability levels are encouraged to participate in the Watertown Free Public Library’s 4th Annual 5k fundraiser. We will be running through the neighborhoods surrounding the Watertown Free Public Library. The start line is located in front of the Watertown Boys & Girls Club on Whites Avenue, a short walk from the library through Saltonstall Park. See map for specifics at wfpl.racewire.com

Register online at wfpl.racewire.com

Adults (18+): $25

Ages 10-17: $20

Ages 9 and under: Free

All participants get a WFPL 5k t-shirt!

Around Town

Watertown Library Hosting Eclipse Viewing Party

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Come down to the Watertown Free Public Library to check out the solar eclipse. The eclipse will take place on the afternoon of Monday, Aug. 21. The library will have activities for the rare event from 1:30-3 p.m. While is some places in the United States it will be a full eclipse, in New England we will get a partial eclipse. The library will have activities on the front lawn of the library, located at 123 Main St., Watertown.

Around Town

Hatch Maker Space Moving to New Home, Welcomes New Coordinator

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On Thursday, July 27 Hatch will close its doors at the Arsenal Yards for the last time and prepare to make a move to its new home at The Residence at Watertown Square on 20 Summer St., Watertown Free Public Library officials announced. Located in the Arsenal Yards, Hatch has operated out of a retail space leased to them free of charge for the past three years. Of the time there, Assistant Library Director Caitlin Browne said, “We have been so grateful for the generosity Wilder Properties has extended to us. The fact that we have been able to run Hatch with almost no overhead means that the majority of our resources are going right to the community and we’ve kept Hatch a free space to users with few exceptions. We can’t thank the staff of the Arsenal Yards enough for all of the help they’ve given us over the past three years, especially General Manager Allyson Reed and Facilities Manager Ruben Olivo.”

Similar to the arrangement with the Arsenal Yards, the Residence at Watertown Square will also offer Hatch a retail space rent free.

Entertainment

Meet “Henry David Thoreau” at Free Watertown Library Event

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In celebration of Henry David Thoreau’s 200th birthday, the Watertown Free Public Library will host a free event on Thursday, July 20 from 1-3 p.m. where people can “meet” the man known for his love of nature, opposition to slavery and poetry. 

The library sent out the following information:

Henry David Thoreau is a great American essayist, philosopher, naturalist, abolitionist, tax resister, poet, and historian. His 2-year experiment in living simply yielded the ever-popular ‘Walden,’ and his brilliant and powerful essay ‘Civil Disobedience’ is as relevant today as when he penned it in 1849 (after spending a night in jail for failure to pay the state poll tax). Mr. Thoreau will visit the library to discuss his life, work, and views on the role of man, nature, and governments. He will honor us with a reading of portions of ‘Civil Disobedience.’ We understand he enjoys cake, too, so we’ll provide one. Please stop by to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Thoreau!