Mike 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.

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.

Award-winning author, instructor and editor Lynette Benton will teach you how put your life or family stories down on paper. This four-week course will cover:

• how to get started and keep writing
• engaging your readers
• resources for memoir and family history writing

Space is limited. Register in person, online or by calling 617 993-2870.

Join us for a discussion of The Sympathizer, by Viet Thanh Nguyen.  This group meets in the Flett Room on the third Wednesday of every other month.  No registration is required and all are welcome. See the Belmont Book Discussion book selections and dates for 2018.

Past March Author Talks and Book Discussions

Author Olivia Hoblitzelle will discuss her book Aging with Wisdom. “Drawing deeply on her own experiences as well as stories and studies about aging from other cultures, Hoblitzelle (Ten Thousand Joys & Ten Thousand Sorrows) explores the ways that readers can nourish their inner lives and spirit even as their bodies age and facilities diminish.” – Publisher’s Weekly Review

 Friends of the Library Author Series

Olivia Hoblitzelle: Aging with Wisdom

Thursday, March 15th 

7pm, Library Assembly Room

Renewable Energy: There is More Than Enough

Tuesday, March 6
7-9pm, Library Assembly Room

Dr. Mara Prentiss discusses how we can shift entirely to renewable energy. Her book is a very clear and readable resource for the energy revolution that many nations are already implementing. How can we accomplish this in the US, and how fast? And how can we overcome the resistance from the fossil fuel industry? Brought to you by Science for the Public, Belmont Media Center, and Belmont Public Library. On average renewable energy can supply more than 100% total current and future US energy consumption, but at each moment we need the actual supply to meet the actual demand. Moving toward an all electrical energy economy can make this dream a reality.

Dr. Prentiss is author of Energy Revolution: The Physics and the Promise of Efficient Technology. For more information, visit Energy: Be the Change

Books and Bites

Talk on Little Women

Monday, March 12th

11AM, Assembly Room

Librarian Miriam MacNair will discuss Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. The novel Little Women is one of the most loved works of fiction in all of American literature. Set in New England during the Civil War, Little Women tells the story of the unforgettable March sisters–Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.

State Senator Will Brownsberger will be at the Library to discuss :

• The importance of local and state elections
• How you can help shape state policy
• Current issues being debated on Beacon Hill

Monday, March 19th, 7pm in the Library Assembly Room

EVERY VOTE COUNTS is part of the Citizen Literacy Series : science-media-civic literacy for an informed, engaged public.

All are welcome to attend this free program. Refreshments will be provided. 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.

Join us March 21 at 3PM for a discussion of The Sympathizer, by Viet Thanh Nguyen.  This group meets in the Flett Room on the third Wednesday of every other month.  No registration is required and all are welcome.

See the book selections and dates for 2018.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.

Smart devices are on the rise – we’ll discuss what you need to know about the Internet of Things.  Scott Donnelly, VP Technical Solutions at Recorded Future, and Detective James Siracusa of the Belmont Police Department will discuss voice activated home assistants (Alexa), remote cameras and smart technology like Wi-Fi enabled thermostats.  Moderated by IT Advisory Committee’s Glenn Wong.

Scott Donnelly

About the speaker:

Tackling national and corporate security for over a decade, Scott and his team at Recorded Future work closely with leading cyber security teams at Fortune 1000 companies and government organizations. They help develop cyber threat intelligence capabilities for threat hunting, risk mitigation, and incident response. Scott is a sought after speaker at cyber security events and regularly contributes to recordedfuture.com’s blog. He holds an MBA from Georgetown University and a BA in Political Science from Villanova University.

Sponsored by the Belmont IT Advisory Committee.

 

 

Chinese New Year is in February, come celebrate with the library and the Boston Beijing Opera Association! BBOA will be hosting an afternoon of Beijing Opera, filled with dancing, comedy, beautiful costumes and even some history on this traditional Chinese artform.

performance by the BBOA

Friends Music on Saturday Concert Series, previous performances:

An afternoon of unforgettable bluegrass!

12 year-old fiddler, Quinn Eastburn, has been captivating audiences across the country with his amazing fiddle prowess since the ripe old age… of 6. Special guest, Ricky Mier, on banjo and Chris Eastburn on guitar. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Check out Quinn’s performances below, and catch him on Saturday, January 20th at the Library

Greg Stone tells us what Michelangelo has to do with marketing and Botticelli with branding. This presentation is based on Greg’s acclaimed book Artful Business: 50 Lessons from Creative Geniuses.

Belmont Author and Media Strategist Greg Stone will show you how to spark your creativity with tips from great artists. You’ll learn how to liberate yourself from logjams — while viewing sumptuous slides of masterpieces.

The Friends Author Series Sponsored by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.