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Author: Lauren Pfendner

Saving the Environment through the Law

Posted on by Lauren Pfendner

Join Wendy Jacobs, Director of the Emmett Environmental Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School, for a discussion on the current state of environmental law affairs and how citizens can utilize the law to restore protective regulations.

Saving the Environment through the Law
Using Our Legal System to Strengthen Environmental Regulations
Thurdsay, June 21st
7pm, Assembly Room

flyer for saving the environment through the law

Part of our Citizen Literacy Series, science-media-civic literacy for a more informed public, sponsored by the Belmont Public Library, Belmont Media Center and Science for the Public.

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen McCauley with Anita Diamant

Posted on by Lauren Pfendner

Join bestselling authors Stephen McCauley (The Object of My Affection and Alternatives to Sex) and Anita Diamant (The Red Tent and Boston Girl) for a discussion of McCauley’s latest novel, My Ex-Life, which examines how we define home, family, and love. David Hedge’s life is coming apart at the seams, so what better time to travel cross-country to help piece together the life of his ex-wife? Be prepared to laugh, shed a few tears, and have thoughts of your own ex-life.

my ex life bookcoverFriends Author Series: Stephen McCauley in conversation with Anita Diamant
Thursday, May 17th
7pm, Library Assembly Room

“As always, McCauley’s effervescent prose is full of wit and wisdom on every topic—college application essays, Airbnb operation, weed addiction, live porn websites, and, most of all, people.” Kirkus Review

 “McCauley’s best novel so far—and that’s saying a lot.” Anita Diamant

 “A wise, ruefully funny, and ultimately touching exploration of mid-life melancholy and unexpected second chances. Stephen McCauley is a wonderful writer, and this may be his best book yet.” Tom Perrotta

 

stephen mccauley headshotStephen McCauley, named a Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture, has written seven novels, three of which were turned into feature-length films. Incapable of writing at home, he’s committed to working in libraries.

anita diamant headshotAnita Diamant is the bestselling author of The Red Tent. Her 2014 novel, The Boston Girl, was the 2016 One Book One Belmont community read. She and Stephen are part of the same writing group.

 

The Friends Author Series is sponsored by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Visit the Friends page to learn more about joining or renewing your membership.

Lights! Smartphone! Action!

Posted on by Lauren Pfendner

Using Your Cellphone to Share Your Life Story 

This two-night workshop is designed for beginners who want to learn how to use their smartphones to share events, personal stories, or make documentaries to share with family and friends. Taught by Emmy award winning videographer/editor/producer and Belmont resident, Bob Craigue, you’ll learn simple techniques and practice shooting video with an awareness of lighting, composition, and sound. Students will use in-camera editing to trim video, and will explore simple editing software such as iMovie or Microsoft Movie Maker to edit and add effects.

Lights! Smartphone! Action! Using Your Cellphone to Share Your Life Story
Tuesday, June 5th & Thursday, June 7th
7pm, Library Assembly Room
Registration required. Register online, in person, or by calling 617-993-2870. Intended for beginners; you should own a smartphone and have an interest in videotaping and editing.

 

Birds & the Bees: How We Love Them, & Why We Need Them

Posted on by Lauren Pfendner

Immerse yourself in the world of winged creatures through this presentation by local wildlife photographer, Carole Smith Berney. View beautiful photographs of local birds and bees, learn about their habitat, their interdependence with other  living things, and how we can help to protect them from population decline. Q&A to follow.

Tuesday, May 22nd
7pm, Library Assembly Room

 

Then, this summer, join Carol at Habitat in Belmont for two nature walks. Registration is appreciated!

 

Guided Bird Walk

Saturday, June 9th
9:30am-11am
Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
10 Juniper Rd, Belmont, MA

Register for the walk here

Bee Safari

Saturday, July 14th
9:30am-11am
Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
10 Juniper Rd, Belmont, MA

Register for the walk here

Carole Berney is a wildlife photographer, local advocate, and member of Watertown Friends of Bees, which offers programs related to protecting pollinators and educates the public about the importance of eliminating pesticides and advocating for legislation that can protect the natural world.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Belmont Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

 

Books & Bites: Eric Hurowitz

Posted on by Lauren Pfendner

Author Eric Hurwitz will speak on his book Massachusetts Town Greens: A History of the State’s Common Centers at May’s Books and Bites.

Eric Hurwitz’s Massachusetts Town Greens: A History of the State’s Common Centers
Monday, May  14th
11am, Library Assembly Room
The state of Massachusetts still has and continues to celebrate its town or village greens. These greens date back to Colonial times when they served as the centers for towns. Today, many town greens continue to be the center of town events, fairs, and other gatherings.  Massachusetts Town Greens explores the history of these remarkable greens and provides a guide to current events.  In addition to speaking about his book, Eric Hurwitz will present a PowerPoint slide show of beautiful photos of the town greens of Massachusetts.
Eric Hurwitz holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Suffolk University in Boston, MA and spent 20-plus years as a reporter, assistant editor, and public affairs specialist in the public and private sectors.
All are welcome to attend this free program.  Refreshments will be provided. Books will be available for purchase and signing. The Assembly Room is handicapped accessible. This program made possible by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Click here to learn how to join the Friends or renew your membership.

Margot Livesey: The Hidden Machinery

Posted on by Lauren Pfendner
 New York Times bestselling author Margot Livesey offers a masterclass for those who love reading  literature and for those who aspire to write it. Through close readings, arguments about craft, and personal essays, Livesey delves into the inner workings of fiction and considers how our stories and novels benefit from paying close attention to both great works of   literature and to our own individual experiences.

hidden machinery book coverFriends Author Series

Margot Livesey
Thursday, April 19th
7pm, Library Assembly Room

 

 

“Livesey writes with wisdom and insight about the craft of writing, proposing to expose what the  professional author conceals that the apprentice fiction writer needs to know.”  Publisher’s Weekly

“A smart, unpretentious guide.… Would-be writers will find this both useful and inspiring, while       general readers can simply enjoy Livesey’s keen insights and engaging prose.”Kirkus, ¬ Review

MARGOT LIVESEY is the New York Times bestselling author of  Mercury, The Flight of Gemma Hardy, The House on Fortune Street, Banishing Verona, Eva Moves the Furniture, The Missing World, Criminals, and Homework. Her work has appeared in the New Yorker, Vogue, and the Atlantic.  Born in Scotland, Livesey currently lives in the Boston area and is a professor of fiction at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

 

The Friends Author Series is made possible by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Click here to learn how to join the Friends or renew your membership. All are welcome to attend these free events. The Assembly Room is handicapped accessible.

Friends Music Series: Mike Block

Posted on by Lauren Pfendner
Pioneering multi-style cellist, singer, composer, and educator, Mike Block returns to the Library this spring. Hailed by Yo-Yo Ma as the “ideal musician of the 21st-Century”, and acclaimed by the NY Times for his “vital rich-hued solo playing”.
Mike Block
Saturday, April 7th, 3pm
Library Assembly Room

Massachusetts Cultural Council LogoMike Block’s Music on Saturday performance  is supported in part by a grant from the Belmont Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

View upcoming Friends Music and Author Series programs here, or visit belmontpubliclibrary.net/fopbl to find out how you can support our programming.

East Wing Closed for Renovations

Posted on by Lauren Pfendner

The Library’s East Wing, which houses our main non-fiction collection, is closed temporarily for renovations. While access to our non-fiction materials is limited during this time, please know that we are making every effort to ensure patrons can still get the resources they need.

*The West Wing, which houses non-fiction published in the last year, is now available. Any older non-fiction books that are returned to the library during the renovation will be temporarily shelved in the biography stacks of the West Wing. We are also in the process of creating a few  carts with top-circulating books, which will be available to browse in our Reference Room.

*We are always able to reserve books from other Minuteman libraries, either to be picked up in Belmont or at the owning library.

*Patrons still have access to our online resources. This includes:

  • electronic book and audiobook versions of thousands of non-fiction books, available through Overdrive & Hoopla
  • Online resources, including full textbooks, newspaper articles, scholarly journals and more. Please visit our subject guide to browse our databases by topic.

*For those students completing school projects, our reference collection and friendly reference librarians are at your disposal. May we suggest Conflicts in America History?

We are hopeful that we will re-open the East Wing in April once the work is completed. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email the Library.

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