Blog: Month: May 2025

World Movie Night: Wed, May 21st: 6:00-8:30pm

Posted on by Stacy Holder

Please join us for World Movie Night on Wednesday, May 21, 2025: 6:00-8:30pm at the Malden Public Library. We will be showing a movie based on the bestselling Brazilian memoir, Ainda Estou Aqui, (I’m Still Here), about the life of Marcelo Rubens Paiva. The film stars Fernanada Torres, Selton Mello, and Fernanda Montenegro. The movie won an Oscar this year for Best International Feature Film and Fernanda Torres won a Golden Globe for Best Actress

“While Brazil faces the tightening grip of a military dictatorship, Eunice Paiva, a mother of five, is forced to reinvent herself and her family, resisting the oppression that hangs over the country. From the acclaimed director of Central Station and The Motorcycle Diaries, Walter Salles and based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s memoir, this story portrays an important part of Brazil’s hidden history.” Rated PG-13 (136 min.) (2024) 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

This film is one of the best of the year and not to be missed.

Free snacks will be provided. Movie times are approximate.

 

TONIGHT! 2nd Annual Haitian Culture Night: 6:00-8:00pm

Posted on by Stacy Holder
Please join us on Wednesday, May 28, 2025: 6:00-8:00pm for our 2nd Annual Haitian Culture Night filled with Haitian art, poetry, music, books, language, and food.
Our featured guests include Haitian artists, Professor Joel Renfort and his wife, artist, Martine Renfort. The Renforts have their beautiful art featured in the Malden Public Library during the month of May. Mr. Renfort will talk about his art and poetry in his discussion, “When Painting Meets Poetry.”
Just added is our featured guest, musician, Kera Washington, Zili Misik Founder & Band Leader and the Director of Yanvalou Drumming and Dance Ensemble, Wellesley College. Ms. Washington has been performing and teaching music, using Boston as her base, for over twenty years. Her first love is percussion, which she found while studying ethnomusicology at Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, Brown University, and in Interdisciplinary Studies at Tufts. She studies with master musicians from Haiti, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Brazil, and the United States. She is on faculty in the Music Department of Wellesley College.
Erga Pierette, 1st Vice President NAACP Mystic Valley Area Branch and Dean of Community, Culture and Equity, Malden Catholic will be our emcee for the night and will read some Haitian poetry and will talk about Haiti.
Please join us for some samples of popular Haitian foods from Grêp Kafé. Start learning Haitian Creole with one of our language apps, check out some books in Haitian Creole for kids and adults, and learn a little bit about Haiti and the country’s interesting historical connection to Malden, Massachusetts.
This event is generously co-sponsored by the Friends Of The Malden Public Library and co-sponsored by the NAACP Mystic Valley Area Branch.
Everyone is welcome to join us at this all-ages event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Pride Screening: Gen Silent 6.4.25

Posted on by Cait Quinn

The Malden Public Library in conjunction with the City of Malden, Councillor Ari Taylor, the Malden office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Malden Pride Coalition will have a special screening of Gen Silent in honor of Pride month. On Wednesday, June 4th at 6pm, at the library, we will show this very important documentary about LGBTQIA+ elders and the hurdles they face as they navigate later life care and medical concerns. Gen Silent follows the lives of 6 seniors in and around Boston who are trying to navigate aging and care in a system that is often hostile or at a minimum not equipped to embrace and support their needs.

Join us for this very important film and share your perspectives with our community. Elder care is an issue that each of us will have to face in some form. But for our queer elders that can be even more daunting. SAGE Advocacy and services for LGBTQ+ Elders provides some startling figures facing the community. “53% of LGBTQ+ older people report feeling isolated from others. 50% of all Americans living with HIV are over 50 years old. 65% of older transgender respondents felt there would be limited access to care as they aged… 55% from the same 2015 national survey feared they would be denied medical treatment. 70% of LGBTQ+ elders fear having to “re-closet” themselves when seeking elder housing. 41% of LGBTQ+ older people report having a disability, compared to 35 percent of heterosexual older adults.” With these figures it is essential to have conversations around what we can do to better support people in our neighborhood, family, and systemically through government support.

Following the screening there will be a discussion and light refreshments. There will also be representatives from Mystic Valley Elder Services and the Wicked Queer Film festival there to join the discussion. And for those who wish to learn more about services available for themselves and elders in their community we’ll also have in information table with materials from local organizations and a book list for further reading.

When Painting Meets Poetry by Joel and Martine Renfort

Posted on by Marita Coombs

Joel and Martine Renfort are freelance artists who produce art linked to the currents of surrealism, realism and abstract art. Their current exhibit When Painting Meets Poetry will be on display throughout the month of May.  Themes of hope, happiness, nature,  and history can be found in their work.

In addition to paintings, they enjoy transforming clothing, bottles, and many other creations. Examples can be found in the glass display case inside the library.

A reception for the artists will be held on Thursday May 15th from 7-8pm, and everyone is welcome to attend. 

Industry in Converse Sq.: A walking tour

Posted on by Cait Quinn

Lace up your Chuck Taylors, grab a bottle of water, and get ready to learn about the cool and interesting history of our city. Local History at the Malden Public Library is excited to announce a free walking tour! Welcome in Spring by getting outdoors and exploring Malden’s rich industrial history in a guided tour put on by local history librarian, Phillip Wright. The tour is about a mile, and it begins and ends at Malden Public Library’s historic Converse Memorial Building.

There are two sessions:

May 13th (Tuesday) from 5-7pm Sign up here

May 15th (Thursday) from 10am-12pm. Sign up here

Registration is required.
Sign up using the links. You can also register by calling the library at (781) 324-0218.

Everyday Creativity with Lisa Sears 5.22.25

Posted on by Cait Quinn

Do you walk into a stationary store and see piles of sketchbooks and swoon? Do you love nothing more than the feel of a fresh page waiting to be filled? But do you also have stacks of those same pages waiting for when you feel the moment is right?

We’ve got good news… the moment is now. Join local artist Lisa Sears for this accessible, friendly art program: Everyday Creativity! Commit to a sketchbook with Lisa Sears. 

Start a new habit–a good one! — pick up a sketchbook and get creative. You’ll get to experiment with different, easy to come by art materials to explore a new sketchbook and get your creativity flowing. Lisa will help you with hands-on prompts, ice breakers, visual inspiration, and creative conversations to start you off on your artistic journey. This program is for adults and young adults over 16. It is perfect for anyone who needs to slay some self doubt demons, or just needs a reason to spend an evening learning something fun and creative. This is also the perfect way to kick off an artistic habit and build the skills to keep practicing that habit in their everyday lives. No artistic skills are necessary to start, creativity is a practice and this is a great way to start.
Participants will receive a brand new sketch book as part of the class. You will also have the opportunity to try out that sketchbook in a special bonus class on Saturday, May 24th at 2pm in the Converse Art Galleries of the Malden Public Library

“This program is funded in part by a grant from the Malden Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.”

Friends Wine Tasting 5.9.25 Tickets On Sale Now

Posted on by Cait Quinn

The Friends of the Malden Public Library is holding their Annual Wine Tasting Gala to benefit the Malden Public Library on Friday, May 9, 2025 from 7 – 9 pm in the historic Converse Memorial Library and Art Galleries. The event will include wines and mocktails courtesy of Kappy’s Fine Wine and Spirits, Malden, music, food from local Malden establishments, and a silent auction.

This year’s theme will honor renowned artist and Malden native, Frank Stella. Attendees are welcome to wear styles reminiscent of their favorite Stella decade.

Tickets are $50 general admission and the $75 includes a VIP gallery tour beginning at 6:30 pm. Tickets can be bought online by clicking the link below. Or in person at the Friends of the Malden Public Library Book Sale on Friday April 4th 6-9pm or Saturday April 5th 10-2pm. Or at the Circulation Desk any time there after. For paper tickets purchased at the library please have cash or check available.

 

Buy Tickets

Young Adult Craft: Needle Felting, Thursday, May 26th @3PM

Posted on by Patrick Brennan

Young Adults in the 6th through 12th grade are invited to the Malden Public Library to learn a new craft: Needle Felting. This class will take place in the Program Room on the second floor at 3:00 on Thursday, May 26th. This is a fun hobby that involves tufting wool into cute shapes with needles. This is a serious craft and sign up is required, so click on this link to secure your spot in the program today:

https://maldenpubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/young-adult-craft-needle-felting-2/