Around Town

Learn About Watertown Citizens Who Made History at New Library Display

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The portraits of eleven prominent figures from Watertown’s history have hung from street lamps along the town’s main thoroughfares since last July. Now, visitors can learn the stories behind the faces on the banners by exploring a new interactive digital display at the Watertown Free Public Library. In the display, photographs and documents from the library’s local history collection combine with biographical information to create a more complete portrait of each of the eleven banner subjects. The wide-ranging influence of these artists, entrepreneurs, activists, inventors, and explorers extends from patents to pulpits, architecture to abolition, Common Street to the U.S. Supreme Court. Some of their works—handwritten manuscripts, larger-than- life sculptures—are too fragile to touch, but all can be “handled” in digital format on the library’s interactive display.

Around Town

Watertown Library to Close for 2 Days During 4 Weeks of Carpet Replacement

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The carpets at the Watertown Free Public Library will be replaced beginning Monday, March 13 and installation will continue until Friday, April 7, library officials announced. This four week project will impact access to certain parts of the building. We will remain open for the duration of the project with the exception of Thursday, April 6 and Friday, April 7 when the library will be closed both days. During the installation patrons can expect limited access to areas of the building on weekdays from opening at 9 a.m. until around 3 p.m. after which all areas of the library should be accessible. Library staff will do as much as possible to help retrieve materials from any areas that are affected.

Government

Replacement of Library Carpet, Flooring Approved by Town Council

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With more than 3.5 million visitors since 2004, the carpets and flooring at the Watertown Free Public Library are showing their age. They will be replaced in a month-long project approved by the Town Council Tuesday night. Library Director Leone Cole said the library welcomes more than 30,000 visitors a month. So the carpeting and vinyl flooring needs to be replaced. The cost of the project is $259,400, and the town will borrow the money needed for the project, said Town Manager Michael Driscoll.

Entertainment

Watertown Library Kicks off Winter Concerts with Singer, Storyteller, Musician

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This year marks the Watertown Free Public Library’s fifth year hosting free concerts featuring a variety of musical styles performed by talented area artists, the library announced. Performances will be on the second Sunday of the month from December-March. All concerts are free and open to the public. The series kicks off with popular singer and harpist Kate Chadbourne, this Sunday, December 11 at 2 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the library. Kate Chadbourne is a singer, storyteller, and poet whose performances combine traditional tales with music for voice, harp, flutes, and piano.

Letters

LETTER: Simple Sign at Watertown Library Warms the Heart of a Resident

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Editor,

This morning I walked through the doors of the Watertown Library and was heartened to see a simple black and white sign in the door stating “The Watertown Free Public Library welcomes and serves everyone.”  

In these divisive times it was a welcome reminder that I live in a community that is diverse and that I believe takes pride in that diversity.  This diversity was evident to me in the families that came to the door trick-or-treating on Halloween, in the number of different languages spoken in the schools and in my work as a tutor with Project Literacy. As a white woman, I am unlikely to face discrimination in Watertown and I can’t presume that there is no discrimination or acts of harassment in our town.  But in general, Watertown feels like a welcoming community and my hope is that we will all look for ways to foster that sense of community as we move forward in 2017.  

Joan Blaustein
Riverside Street

Around Town

Watertown Library Offers Intro to Computer Class for Seniors

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The Watertown Free Public Library announced it will offer a three hour introductory computer class specifically for seniors who wish to learn the basics of using a computer. There will be plenty of time for questions. The class will be held Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Space is limited, so please visit the Adult Reference Desk at the library or call 617-972-6436 to register.

Around Town

Access the Watertown Library on a New Cellphone App

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Library users now have the ability to carry the Watertown Free Public Library in their pocket with the Minuteman Library Network app, the library announced. Users on the go can use the app to search the catalog and place holds, keep tabs on their library account, renew or freeze their items and manage holds. Users have access to a digital library card on their phone. The app provides access to thousands of eBooks, streaming movies, digital magazines, and premium subscription resources for lifelong learning. The app is customized for each library in the Minuteman Network – it’s like having 43 different apps, each with its own unique resources, events and social media.

Entertainment

Author of Book About Bob Dylan Going Electric to Speak in Watertown

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Local author Elijah Wald will speak about his latest book “Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night that Split the Sixties,” the Watertown Free Public Library announced. Mr. Wald’s writing has challenged fans of some music icons with previous books like ‘How the Beatles Destroyed Rock’n’Roll: An Alternative History of American Popular Music’ and ‘Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues.’

Join us to see how Mr. Wald views Bob Dylan going electric at the beloved Newport Folk Festival, and why it changed our popular culture. “Dylan Goes Electric!” Book Talk with Elijah Wald

Wednesday, Oct.