Blog: Month: November 2020

Pushout: Film Screening: Fri., Dec. 4th (6:00-7:30pm) & Panel Discussion: Sat., Dec. 5th (2:30-4:00pm)

Pushout Documentary Livestream and Panel Discussion

Hosted by MaldenCORE with Malden Public Library

On Friday, December 4th from 6:00-7:30pm the Malden Public Library and MaldenCORE will host a livestream of the documentary film, “Pushout.” The public is invited to view the documentary together (79 min.). Register online at Eventbrite for the film screening at: https://bit.ly/PushoutScreening

On Saturday, Dec. 5th from 2:30-4:00pm, join us for a discussion with panelists from the Malden community. Register online, at Eventbrite for the panel discussion: https://bit.ly/PushoutDiscussion

The award-winning film, based on the book Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique Morris, examines the disproportionate discipline Black girls face beginning in preschool, as compared to white girls. National statistics show that suspensions and arrests happen much more frequently to Black girls in school and that even very young Black girls are punished more severely than white girls for age-appropriate behaviors that a teacher may dislike. The unjust system helps to create a pipeline to prison for Black girls. Through the stories of Black girls and their families, the film illustrates how being unjustly criminalized attacks a Black girl’s self-esteem, mental health, and social relationships, pushing girls out of school and all too often, into self-harm and prison. The film explores both the depth of the impact and the possibilities for solutions.

After the film, panelists will take the issue of the criminalization of Black girls to a local level. The panelists include educators and students from the Malden community. Sharing their personal experiences and perspectives, the panelists will reflect: Are Black girls over-disciplined in Malden schools? What is the impact on girls and their families? Why is this happening, and what must we do to change minds, hearts, and the system, so that Black girls in Malden schools will no longer suffer disproportionate punishments?

Panelists include Jennifer Hedrington, Malden middle school teacher and 2020  Massachusetts Teacher of the Year; Bwann Gwann, a Malden resident and a Lesley University administrator; and Shataeya Smith, a 2019 Malden High School graduate, sophomore at UMass Lowell, and racial justice activist. By hosting this event, MaldenCORE hopes to not only lift up this aspect of the school-to-prison pipeline but also to energize Malden’s people, school district, and community to work toward change.

Staff Thanksgiving Recommendations!

The staff of the Malden Public Library wishes you a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving. We’ve made a list of some cookbooks you might want to check out to find inspiring recipes for this holiday and all the winter holidays to come. So follow the link to Bibliocommons and see what amazing dishes you can make!

Also be sure to watch our special edition of 5 in 5 at noon today, 11/24. In it some of the staff will reminisce about their favorite dishes and Thanksgiving recipes.

Also the library will be closed Thursday, 11/26, for the Thanksgiving holiday. But we will be back on Friday, 11/27, for curbside delivery and to answer your questions via phone.

Malden Reads Selects Trevor Noah’s “Born a Crime” for 11th Year Book

In Born a Crime, Trevor Noah, the popular comedian and host of the cable TV show “The Daily Show,” recounts his childhood growing up in South Africa, the son of a white father and a Black mother. At the time, such a union was punishable by five years in prison in apartheid South Africa, so Noah’s very existence was  “crime.”

Noah tells his story, which ranges from the humorous to the traumatic, with his cutting wit and incisive perspective. At times both poignant and outrageous, Noah deals with the intersection of his life and the history of a country reckoning with deep-seated racism and finds a parallel here to the United States.

His memoir does not shy away from exposing deeply ingrained racism, sexism, violence, economic inequity, and domestic violence. And yet, his personal story reminds us that even in the deepest tragedy and among the most menacing of fears, there is hope and strength within ourselves and those around us to set us on a better path.
The Malden Reads team wanted to select a book that would resonate across cultures and communities, especially one as deeply diverse as our own beloved city, and that would spark dialogue grounded in the relevant events of today. More than ever, books and media have an opportunity to galvanize thought and action to address and contest racism and effect change.

Born a Crime reminds us that racism is deeply embedded in how we live, behave, speak, and think, and it challenges us to recognize our unconscious (and conscious) biases and to question how we can do better. Through the moving power of storytelling and the universally resonant instrument of humor, Noah sheds a light on all that continues to be dark in our lives and communities and compels us to act. Whether that is through being more involved with the community, being a voice and power in policy, or leveraging the power of pen and might of creativity, we are each responsible for realizing a better, more equal, and gentler world.

The book is a New York Times #1 bestseller and recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author, among other commendations, including awards for the audio version. We also understand that a movie is in the works, so perhaps more awards will come.

Our programing this year will focus on encouraging dialogue about racism, the impacts of white privilege, and the harsh realities of domestic violence. While the book faces difficult topics and challenges head on, we will also be examining the power of words and humor to encourage change. What Noah asks us to remember through his telling is that dialogue, community, and perseverance toward equity are the keys to unlocking a better future, and this will be a cornerstone of our engagement as we forge ahead.

Programming will also include a focus on storytelling and listening to everyone’s unique story and experiences. Resources, suggested additional readings for adults, and companion books and suggested curricula and activities will be provided for children and educators. Stay tuned for the companion books announcement and a list of related resources.

The Malden Reads committee is exploring all possible ways to continue to provide programs and events that create meaningful connections and dialogue in our community. We are currently planning online book discussions of Born a Crime and companion books, an anti-racism workshop series, workshops on storytelling and writing memoir, co-creative “filmbuilding” experiences, a community stand-up comedy special, film screenings (online), and other arts, cultural, creative, and educational opportunities that bring people of all backgrounds together in a meaningful way.

Those looking to get a head start with reading the book or purchasing it for a holiday gift will be able to do so after Thanksgiving at The Gallery @ 57 on Pleasant Street in Malden. By January, library copies will be available in English and other languages, along with the e-book and audio versions (available only on CD).

The Malden Reads committee looks forward to deepening connections in the Malden community. To contact the committee with questions about the book, to collaborate on a program, to volunteer, or to be added to the email newsletter list, please email maldenreads@gmail.com or use the “contact” form on our website, www.maldenreads.org.

Article by Natash Eslami, a member of the Malden Reads committee.

Our Maldonian Yearbooks Have Been Digitized!

That’s right, everybody, it has finally happened! Our collection of The Maldonian yearbooks from the Malden High School are now officially digitized and available for free online! We get a lot (and we mean a lot) of people asking to see our yearbooks. While many of them are local we hear from people all over the country and sometimes the world. In fact people have shown so much interest in our collection that we knew what had to be done…

 

 

And we did it! Now everyone can access our Maldonian yearbooks from their home, office, or classroom! Simply visit the Internet Archive’s Malden Public Libary page and you’re ready to browse. You can narrow your search by year and you can even search within the yearbooks. Although if you want to flip through them page by page that is always an option and a delightful one at that.

 

Don’t wait, explore them today!

To find Chinese materials? 找中文書?

因為圖書館仍然不能對公眾開放,請使用我們的網上目錄, 查詢您所想要的圖書資料。  怎麼找呢?  怎麼尋找中文書籍呢?怎麼找到最新增加的中文書籍呢?怎麼索取呢? 答案都在這裡。

Because the library is still not open to the public, please use our online catalog to find the books you want. How to find it? How to find Chinese books? How can I find the newly added Chinese books? How can I request it? The answer is here.

Steps

  1. 上到圖書館網站 maldenpubliclibrary.org
  2. 點擊右上角的Catalog
  3. 用漢語拼音或是中文字檢索
  4. 點擊 Place a Hold
  5. 輸入圖書館卡片號碼和密碼

怎麼找新書?

  1. 上到圖書館網站 maldenpubliclibrary.org
  2. 點擊 Browse MPL – World Languages
  3. 點擊 Chinese in MBLN
  4. 使用左邊的 Filter
  5. 選擇   語文: Chinese New at the library

Happy Diwali & Happy Deepawali!

Happy Diwali & Happy Deepawali!

Diwali is a national holiday celebrated in India (Diwali) and in Nepal (Deepawali), which lasts for five days. Also known as “the festival of lights,” Diwali is a time when people decorate their houses with diyas (clay lamps) and rangolis, an art form of vibrant colored powder, often designed in the shape of a flower, petal, or similar design. Diwali honors Laxmi (or Lakshmi), the goddess of wealth, fortune, love, and beauty. Diwali is also celebrated in Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and many other countries.

Find some great Diwali books for kids here: https://tinyurl.com/y4dezccf

Interested in learning some basic Hindi? Sign up for Mango Languages here: https://tinyurl.com/y23nd8ta

Or learn basic Nepali or Hindi with Pronunciator here: https://tinyurl.com/y6yrqx8k

The Last Comrade’s Final Tribute

Malden artists Darius Cobb and his twin brother, Cyrus, were born in 1834. In 1862 the brothers enlisted together in the 44th Massachusetts Infantry. In 1870, the two brothers co-authored a book titled The Veteran of the Grand Army, based on their war experiences. The brothers were known for the Cambridge Civil War Memorial Soldiers Monument, dedicated in 1870. Darius Cobb’s painting “The Last Comrade’s Final Tribute” (produced on an eight foot canvas) depicts a Memorial Day scene in which the last survivor of the Union Army is shown placing flowers for the last time on a comrade’s grave. A rainbow of peace spans the heavens.  Darius also painted “Spring Blossoms” in the Malden Public Library Art Collection.