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!

Around Town

Meet Thoreau, Coding and Yoga at the Watertown Library in July

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The Watertown Free Public Library will be closed on July 4, but there are plenty of activities the rest of the month. The Library sent out the following information:

SUMMER READING

Summer Reading is for all ages! This week, the Children’s Room kicked off our Summer Reading program with a fun and interactive performance by the Yo-Yo People! We have a ton of fantastic programs and performances for children this summer. Teens can challenge themselves this summer by tracking their reading, leveling up to win prizes along the way.

Around Town

Meet Lynda, the Watertown Library’s Newest Online Resource

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The Watertown Free Public Library’s newest online resource, Lynda.com, is a website with more than 5,000 self-paced courses on a wide variety of topics: web design and development, leadership and business skills, Microsoft Office and other software programs, online marketing, 3D modeling, animation, video production, and much more. Lynda.com offers something for everyone: job seekers, small business owners, musicians and photographers, teachers and students, HATCH enthusiasts, and users of everyday technology. Learners can dive into comprehensive courses or pick and choose individual videos to meet their immediate needs. For career guidance, Lynda offers Learning Paths: sequences of courses such as “Become a Project Manager,” “Improve Your Microsoft Excel Skills,” or “Become a Front-End Web Developer.”

“Individual subscriptions to Lynda.com start at $19.99 a month,” notes Library Director Leone Cole. “But with the library’s shared subscription, Watertown residents need only a library card and PIN to leverage this powerful resource in pursuit of their personal, educational, or professional goals.”

Starting June 1, residents can access Lynda.com from any computer or mobile device, via a link on the library’s website.