Celebrate Black History Month with Newton Free Library

Join Newton Free Library during Black History Month for engaging events (including panel discussions, poetry readings, lobby displays, STEAM activities for kids, and more), beautiful displays and thought provoking reading recommendations. 

Explore a few recommendations below, explore our displays and enjoy these phenomenal booklists tailored for young readers by age: children, tweens, and teens. 

Freedom Quilt Children's Art Display

During the Civil Rights movement in 1966, the Freedom Quilting Bee was established as a way for African-American women to gain economic independence. This colorful and abstract style of quilting created highly coveted works of art that have been reproduced on postage stamps and featured in museums.

In a recent Children's Program, kids learned about this history and style of quilting and made their own paper designs in this style. View their creations across from the Children's Circulation Desk this month!

Robot Romp Month in the Children’s Room
Join us for an engaging month designed to captivate your child and expand their interest in technology, here's a sampling of what's in store:

Follow the "Robot Path" to meet 5 different Robots who will share a top secret Robot Dance move  - put the moves together and receive a prize.
Find and decode secret messages that honor technology innovators.
Put together a magnetic robot using the interactive wall activities.

Visit our Robot Romp webpage for related program information!

Free Tax Help is Back
The AARP® Foundation Tax-Aide™ has trained volunteers on hand to prepare tax returns and answer questions related to regular (non-business) taxes on Saturdays from February 11 through April 15, 2023, 9:30am – 1pm. The program is designed to serve low and moderate income taxpayers and there are some limits on the scope of the returns that can be prepared.

Registration is required and opens weekly on Mondays for the upcoming Saturday.

Meet Alan Long, Supervisor of Materials Services
Alan Long, our new Supervisor of Material Services, is excited to oversee the essential processes of ordering, processing and managing library materials added by a team of committed and hardworking staff!  No stranger to Newton Free Library, Alan joined our staff in 2006 as a part time library assistant and his roles and responsibilities have grown over the years. When not at the library, he enjoys camping and hiking all over New England with his partner Kim and their dog Julep.
Alan loves memoirs and biographies; enjoy some of his favorites:

When new books, dvds, or even a karaoke machine are ordered for you to borrow, they are delivered to our Material Services Department where the items are added to the library catalog and prepared for borrowing.  Last year we added over 30 thousand new materials to the collection! 

Monday, February 20th
Privacy Options for Holds Pick Up

Libraries celebrate your freedom to read and understand that your reading selections are personal. Did you know we offer the option to select a privacy nickname to have your holds filed under an alias in the pick up area? 

Speak to a staff members to set up a privacy nickname. Once established, future holds will be filed under your chosen alias, keeping your selections more private.

Forget Your Boots,
We'll Bring Your Holds Out to You!

We offer curbside pickup appointments for items listed as “ready for pickup” on your library account. Learn more!

February Event Highlights

Facing Racial and Economic Inequalities in Cities 

Tuesday, February 28 at 6:30pm

The documentary, A Reckoning in Boston, takes a deep look at privilege and racist structures, with a particular focus on the availability of affordable housing as it relates to mental health. Join us for a panel discussion with two of the film’s protagonists as well as the director. 

in this in-person event. No registration required

Request the film from the Library by clicking this link.