Massachusetts Libraries’ Upcoming Events
Check Out Massachusetts Libraries’ Upcoming Events!
We know this is a difficult time for everyone. In addition to everything else you do, you’ve had to become teachers and chefs, you haven’t been able to go to the gym or take your kids to the playground, and you’ve had to adjust to a life at home. You might be an essential worker who has to continue going to work and worry about childcare and what your kids are doing while you are not there. The world has been turned upside down, and everyone is looking for some sense of normalcy.
Since March, we have been working to create online resources for the services you love and expect from your library, directly for you, the library user, while library doors are closed. It has all been made possible by the hardworking librarians across the Commonwealth who have continued serving their cities and towns in new and creative ways to make sure that books are delivered, programs are put on, and reference questions are answered. Libraries miss their residents as much as residents miss their libraries!
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners has partnered with the Massachusetts Library System, the Automated Library Sharing Networks, and the Boston Public Library to bring you online digital resources you can access from home. These include the Online Calendar of Virtual Library Events, the Massachusetts Video Library, and the LEA eBook and audiobook program.
Right now, libraries are taking into mind the safety and health of staff and their users and doing what is best for their community, which means not all libraries are offering the same in person services right now. Some are doing curbside pickup, while others are still closed to the public. Contact your local library to see what they are doing now, and take advantage of the digital resources below.
Online Library Events Calendars
The library events that you love haven’t stopped while library buildings are closed, they have just moved online. Librarians, performers, and speakers have continued presenting the programming that you love virtually for free. Since there are so many events happening that are accessible to anyone with an internet connection, we have created the Online Library Events Calendars that are searchable by Network to see what events are happening around the state that you can attend even if they aren’t hosted by your local library. Some upcoming events include:
Tarot Card Readings with Sally Cragin
Host/Venue: Bigelow Free Public Library
Start: Oct 14th 6:30 PM
End: Oct 14th 8:00 PM
Virtual Tour of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Host/Venue: Hyannis Public Library
Start: Oct 14th 6:00 PM
Virtual Yoga Class
Host/Venue: Lynnfield Public Library
Start: Oct 15th 12:00 PM
End: Oct 15th 1:00 PM
Family Singalong with Ed Morgan
Host/Venue: Concord Free Public Library
Start: Oct 16th 10:00 AM
End: Oct 16th 10:30 AM
Working with the First Lady of the Commonwealth, Lauren Baker and public libraries across the state, we created the Video Library with fun and educational videos to make home-learning a bit easier for kids and parents. These videos have been created by library staff and volunteers and feature story times, sing-a-longs, art projects and more. Mrs. Baker even recorded a story time with the book “Sleepy Mr. Sloth” by Paul Kennedy.
Library eBooks and audiobooks (LEA)
Massachusetts Library Networks are collaborating to bring you LEA, a new and innovative way to gain access to more eBooks and audiobooks. Powered by OverDrive, LEA makes it possible for you to borrow eContent in all Networks regardless of your home library. With LEA, you can access eBooks, audiobooks, and more from libraries across the Commonwealth using your phone, tablet, or eReader. There are 345 partnering libraries with an estimated collection of over 350,000 eBooks and audiobooks.
These are only some of the great things that are happening as we speak at libraries in Massachusetts. Just because the doors are closed, doesn’t mean the services have ended. We hope that you will check out some of the free fun that is being offered, and that when libraries reopen to the public, we can’t wait to see you inside one of the 370 libraries in the Commonwealth borrowing books, using a computer, attending a program, or just stopping by to say hi!
