Blog: Author: Cait Quinn

End of Summer Reading Picnic!

Posted on by Cait Quinn

Join the Malden Public Library as we bid farewell to Camp MPL and wind down our Summer Reading season. On Thursday August 11th from 2-4 pm bring your picnic snacks and baskets for an old fashioned community picnic party on the lawn. We will provide the cake and light refreshments, you bring your sandwiches and sides. There will be games, music, prizes, and hopefully a lot of fun with our library friends and neighbors. Thank you again to all our summer reading sponsors: Preotle, Lane & Associates, the Friends of the Malden Public Library, Malden Cultural Council – and all our great summer volunteers.

Camp MPL Merit Badge Challenge

Posted on by Cait Quinn
Are you wondering what to do with the Summer Reading Passport that you got at the Ice Cream Social? Well, we have officially launched out Camp MPL Merit Badge Challenge, so wonder no more. Here are the basics…
 
Collect 5 stickers for attending programs, reading books, doing challenges. Once you have 5 stickers you qualify for a merit badge to be handed out at the End of Summer Picnic on August 11th from 2-4pm (sign up required).
 
And for an added incentive for grown up readers, everyone who qualifies for a merit badge will also be entered into a raffle to win a Camp MPL tote bag.

Introduction to Genealogy

Posted on by Cait Quinn
Interested in getting into genealogy but don’t know where to start? The Malden Public Library will be hosting Seema Kenney from the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, she will present a 90-minute workshop geared toward beginners. The event is free of charge and will take place on Monday, June 6th at 6:30PM. Register today with the link below or call the library at (781) 324-0218.

 

About our presenter: Seema Kenney. A wife, mother of 3, and entrepreneur, Seema is an experienced software instructor and a professional genealogist. Based on over 20 years of research, her known roots are deep in New England as well as England, Germany, & Sweden with DNA adding a line in The Netherlands. She has a certificate in Genealogical Research from BU, completed ProGen and is an active member of several societies and part of the NERGC planning committee. Seema is also certified as a Guided Autobiography Consultant and a Legacy Planner.

Media Literacy: Don’t Get Fooled on April Fool’s Day (or any other day)

Posted on by Cait Quinn

It’s April Fool’s Day! A day when our skepticism is high and many of our usual sources of information are playing tricks on us. Rather than return to business as usual tomorrow use today’s desire to trust but verify to improve your media literacy. Here are some infographics and links to help you become a savvier consumer of information!

Credit to Britannica learn for “Fight the Fake”

And Niall McNulty for the infographic

For more reading take a look at these helpful articles about how to practice media literacy and why it matters: https://literacy.ala.org/media-literacy/

https://www.rand.org/blog/2022/03/truth-decay-is-a-threat-to-democracy-heres-what-you.html

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/evaluating-quality-of-online-info-julie-coiro

https://libguides.norquest.ca/fakenews/identify?

https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2016/12/27/fighting-fake-news/

Introducing a New Series: MPL Kid’s Corner

Posted on by Cait Quinn

Raising little readers can be a challenge, especially when there are so many things competing for your family’s attention. There are millions of books on the shelves, online games, new educational tools, and resources that are helpful but are difficult to find and preview. Because of this, the MPL staff are putting together a weekly resource for busy families called: MPL Kid’s Corner.

It premieres on Facebook and Instagram and it will highlight the many books and resources available to families with readers 0-12 years old, that are trying to promote a love of literacy and curiosity in their children.  The easiest way to catch this content, is to follow either our Facebook or Instagram page (why not both?) You can also check our pages Thursday mornings at 10 am. We promise to keep the content fresh and interesting and mostly on time. 😉

This week’s post highlights our ebook resource: Tumble Books Library. TumbleBooks animate children’s books as a way to promote language acquisition and a joy of reading. They regularly update content with new titles, many books that you can find at the library, but with additional resources that help little readers learn to follow along and read on their own. You can watch the video here that introduces TumbleBooks and details how to get started. (Don’t forget you’ll need your library card # and library pin # for any library provided eResource.)

And keep an eye out for our new content weekly!

 

Check out our latest information about World Book Kids!

Here is a list of book recommendations for kids of many ages!

Check out Comics Plus

Try Creativebug!

Year End Staff Recommendations!

Posted on by Cait Quinn

2021 is gone and I’m sure most of us can say we won’t entirely miss it. The 2020’s have been tough so far. And it has been hard to find things that bring joy and comfort in tough times. So the staff at the Malden Library has made a list of books, shows, and movies that helped them get through this long year. Hopefully you find something here to make your 2022 a little brighter. https://bit.ly/3zmMMUs

For bell hooks

Posted on by Cait Quinn
bell hooks has influenced, critiqued, shaped, and driven cultural thought for decades. Her passing has left a hole that will take many voices and many perspectives to fill. Here is a list of some of her enduring work as well as a link to her work and the work of others on whom she has had an impact.

The Library Secret Santa!

Posted on by Cait Quinn

Introducing: The Malden Library Secret Santa. On the main display pyramid is a sleigh load of carefully wrapped “presents”. The names and cover art are hidden but we have provided you with a redacted book description.

Choose something that speaks to you, or just let luck take over and pick a present at random. Check it out, unwrap, and enjoy. And best of all it is the present that doesn’t need any upkeep, or storage, or a special battery because…it’s a library item! When you are done, return it to share with the rest of your community. Libraries are gifts that keep on giving. So give it a try and maybe find your next favorite book or movie.

Making the Holidays: Crafts that Make Great Gifts

Posted on by Cait Quinn
Not interested in the crowd of Black Friday shopping? Looking for something unique for your loved ones? Why not make your gifts, cards, wrappings and trappings this holiday season. Here are some suggestions from the Malden Librarians to help you craft a better gift this holiday season. Our Bibliocommons list
 
You can also check out our Creative Bug online craft site on our website all you need is your library card: Creative Bug
 

And for those of you on Libby look for our Craftsy link under the Boston Library tab. Scroll down and click the link to find lots of fun ideas to try at home.

Home (Cooking) for the Holidays!

Posted on by Cait Quinn
For many of us this will be the first holiday season we can come back together with family and friends. The pandemic made a lot of new traditions, some good (duck breast for Thanksgiving, anyone?) Some not as good (8 hours of Zoom Xmas party.) But this year you might be craving those old school homey traditions so you can feel like things are closer to normal. Here is a list of titles to spark memories and get you making that famous sweet potato casserole your Nana always made.
And even if you are not gathering this year, these recipes and guides can help you put some sparkle in your Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s. And even better, you won’t have to pass potatoes to weird uncle Josephus.