August 11, 2020

Dear Belmont Library Patrons,

Your involvement in our new programs and services has been the best compliment we could ever receive. I must thank you all for the feedback we have been receiving too. The messages of kindness, appreciation, and encouragement during this time have been the fuel we need to continue our efforts to provide you the best library experience possible.

We have expanded our Parking Lot Pickup service to include more slots per hour and an additional 30-minute slot. The service is available Monday – Friday from 10 am – 12:30 pm and 2 pm – 4 pm.

The library is also offering our Books on Wheels service for homebound residents, now with the support of our new community partner Belmont Helps. All community members are welcome to enjoy our virtual programming on Zoom. Look at our calendar to discover upcoming events for you and your families.

It is time for us to begin work on a new 5-year Long Range Plan. The changes in our service model this year have put us in a unique spot and inspired us to consider all the possibilities for the future. Please give us your feedback on the ways you have utilized the library during the past six months in this short survey.

We have had many inquiries asking us, “When will you be opening the library?” The plan for August had been to pay close attention to the Governor, and the guidance from the scientific and medical communities, with the hopes that we would see COVID-19 numbers decreasing as we got closer to September. Unfortunately, that has not been what is happening, as we saw Governor Baker tighten restrictions in the Commonwealth just last week. While we hope for a safer reality soon, the numbers have been trending in the wrong direction. For now, we will continue with the current service model, which keeps our building closed for the time being.

We are keeping in close communication with our neighboring libraries and Belmont Town leadership. I expect that when the data are trending in a safer direction, we will see more libraries and town buildings take a phased approach to open buildings. For now, our services will continue to live online and in our parking lot. As a reminder, your online library is OPEN — we have a wealth of digital offerings available to you 24/7/365.

If you need to jump on a Zoom call or complete a form online, please feel free to sit in your cars in the library’s parking lot to use our free Wi-Fi. While you’re outside the library, take note of our new birdfeeders on the library property, provided to us by a grant donation from the Mass Audubon Society.

We will see you soon, either on the library grounds or online through our virtual library offerings. Thank you.

Your Library Director,
Peter J. Struzziero
[email protected]

Honor the life of Civil Rights leader and American icon, Congressman John Lewis. 

“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” — John Lewis

For kids:
Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement by Ann Bausum | request the audiobook
John Lewis: American Politician and Civil Rights Icon by Caitie McAneney | request the book | hoopla eBook
John Lewis and Desegregation by Gerry Boehme | hoopla eBook
John Lewis: Courage in Action by Matt Doeden | hoopla eBook
John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement by Jim Haskins and Kathleen Benson | request the book
Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis by Jabari Asim | request the book
The Story of Civil Rights Hero John Lewis by Jim Haskins and Kathleen Benson | request the book

For teens and adults:
Finding Your Roots (Cory Booker & John Lewis, with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.) | Kanopy video
John Lewis: Civil Rights Champion and Congressman by Alison Morretta | hoopla eBook
March trilogy by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin | request the books | hoopla eBooks

If you’d like to request the physical copy of any of these items click on the link to the catalog and place your hold. We’ve also included the links to digital copies in OverDrive and hoopla.

You can now pick up your holds inside the building. For more information including policies, procedures, and hours click here.

[return to Library Latest]

Start a new show or keep watching with these newly-added Season 1 and Season 2 DVDs.

In today’s video: 
Veronica Mars: Season 1 (2019) | request the DVD
The Truth Will Out: Season 1 | request the DVD | hoopla video
Evil: Season 1 | request the DVD
Baptiste: Season 1 | request the DVD
A Million Little Things: Season 1 | request the DVD
The Orville: Season 2 | request the DVD
Mr. Inbetween, Season 2 | request the DVD
The Simple Heist, Season 2 | request the DVD | hoopla video

If you’d like to request the physical copy of any of these items click on the link to the catalog and place your hold. 

You can now pick up your holds inside the building. For more information including policies, procedures, and hours click here.

[return to Library Latest]

We’ve got some great new YA books to get your summer started right! Seriously, we’re in an era of STUNNING young adult book covers. 

Parachutes by Kelly Yang | request the book | OverDrive eBook
Atomic Women by Roseanne Montillo | request the book
The Easy Part of Impossible by Sarah Tomp | request the book
The Deck of Omens by Christine Lynn Herman | request the book
Clique Bait by Ann Valett | request the book
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson | request the book | hoopla eAudio  
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta | request the book | OverDrive eBook | OverDrive eAudio
Camp by L.C. Rosen | request the book | OverDrive eBook
Don’t Call the Wolf by Aleksandra Ross | request the book
Redemption Prep by Samuel Miller | request the book | OverDrive eBook
This Is My Brain in Love by I. W. Gregorio | request the book | OverDrive eBook  
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo | request the book | OverDrive eBook | OverDrive eAudio  

If you’d like to request the physical copy of any of these items click on the link to the catalog and place your hold. We’ve also included the links to digital copies in OverDrive and hoopla.

You can now pick up your holds inside the building. For more information including policies, procedures, and hours click here.

[return to Library Latest]

Today, Chris is showing off some newly arrived DVDs, audiobooks, and more. You can request these titles through our catalog and learn more about our Parking Lot Pickup service here.

In today’s video:
1917 | request the DVD 
Just Mercy | request the DVD 
Like a Boss | request the DVD 
The Numbers Game by Danielle Steel | request the audiobook 
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner | request the audiobook 
Onward | request the DVD 
Ella Fitzgerald: The Complete Piano Duets | request the CD 
Warriors, Queens, and Intellectuals: 36 Great Women Before 1400 | request the DVD 
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | request the DVD | request the Blu-ray 

If you’d like to request the physical copy of any of these items click on the link to the catalog and place your hold. 

You can now pick up your holds inside the building. For more information including policies, procedures, and hours click here.

[return to Library Latest]

June 2, 2020

Dear Belmont Library Patrons, 

If you love art, home, and crafting pursuits, you’ll want to check out Creativebug’s collection of how-to videos.  Whether you’re just beginning, or want to learn something more advanced, these videos will walk you though the creative process, step by step.  Look to the kids’ section for ideas you can do with children.