Blog: Author: Caron Guigli

MPL TO GO: New Extended Curbside Pickup Hours

Posted on by Caron Guigli

The Malden Public Library offers curbside pickup: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 10-6, Wednesday from 10-7, and Saturday from 10-2.  Curbside hold pickup means you will be asking for items either from our website or over the phone.  We are looking forward to helping you.

Library staff will collect materials, contact patrons when holds are ready, and check out materials when the pickup time has been scheduled.

Follow these simple steps to pick up items:

  • Place an item on hold through the library’s catalog (https://mpl.bibliocommons.com/)  or by calling the library (781.324.0218).
  • When your items are ready, you will  be notified by email, phone or text (whichever method you chose when you signed up for a card).
  • Call 781.324.0218 to arrange a pickup, once you have received notification that your hold(s) are ready. Make sure you have your library card number handy! Calling ahead cuts down on your wait time.
  • Drive or walk to the library and wait in the designated curbside area.
  • Call 781.324.0218 to let library staff know you are now at the library to pick up your items.
  • We will place your items on a cart for pickup.  Please wait until the staff has re-entered the Library before taking materials. Enjoy your books!
  • When you’re done with your items, please return them in the book drop.

Materials can only be returned using the library’s book drops to ensure patrons and staff safety. Returned materials will be quarantined for 72 hours before check-in, as recommended by the CDC. During the quarantine period, books will remain on the borrower’s card. For further safety, concerned patrons can avoid opening checked out materials for 24 to 72 hours after retrieving them from the library.

The Library continues to recommend the many online resources available at our website at www.maldenpubliclibrary.org, including 24/7 access to the digital library,

The library has a reopening plan in place, but no date has yet been set for the various stages in the plan.

For more information about the Malden Public Library’s programs and services, please call the library at 781-324-0218.

Virtual Book Discussion for Born a Crime with Mayor Christenson

Posted on by Caron Guigli

Join us on Thursday, February 18th at 7 pm to discuss Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime with members of the Malden community and Mayor Gary Christenson, a steadfast enthusiast of Malden Reads.

Please register via Zoom!
Link here: https://zoom.us/…/tJArcumrpjgpEtePKQnjf36tMvu5sBAysFPH…

Born a Crime is the story of Noah’s childhood growing up with a white father and a black mother under South Africa’s apartheid government. By turns funny, inspiring, sad, and smart, it also reflects on a dark period in South Africa’s history. 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.

The book is available for checkout at Malden Public Library in paperback, ebook, and audio CDs. Call the library at 781.324.0218, or visit our website at www.maldenpubliclibrary.org or www.maldenreads.org for more information about our book discussion and other programming centering on 2021’s Malden Reads selection of Born a Crime.

MPL TO GO: The Malden Public Library Opens for Curbside Hold Pickups

Posted on by Caron Guigli

The Malden Public Library is now open for curbside holds pickup. Curbside hold pickup means you will be asking for items either from our website or via phone. This will be available Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Library staff will collect and check out materials, and contact patrons when holds are ready for pickup.

Follow these simple steps to pick up items:

  • Place an item on hold through the library’s catalog (https://mpl.bibliocommons.com/)  or by calling the library (781.324.0218).
  • When your items are ready, you will  be notified by email, phone or text (whichever method you chose when you signed up for a card).
  • Call 781.324.0218 once you have received notification that your hold(s) are ready to arrange a pickup. Make sure you have your library card number handy! Calling ahead cuts down on your wait time.
  • Drive or walk to the library and wait in the designated curbside area.
  • Call 781.324.0218 to let library staff know you are there to pick up your items.
  • We will place your items on a table for pickup.  Please wait until the staff has re-entered the Library before taking materials. Enjoy your books!
  • When you’re done with your items, please return them in the book drop.

Materials can only be returned using the library’s book drops to ensure patrons and staff safety. Returned materials will be quarantined for 72 hours before check-in, as recommended by the CDC. During the quarantine period, books will remain on the borrower’s card. For further safety, concerned patrons can avoid opening checked out materials for 24 to 72 hours after retrieving them from the library.

The Library continues to recommend the many online resources available at our website at www.maldenpubliclibrary.org, including 24/7 access to the digital library,

The library has a reopening plan in place, but no date has yet been set for the various stages in the plan. However, the library’s Summer Reading Program will be taking place starting July 15.

For more information about the Malden Public Library’s programs and services, please call the library at 781-324-0218.

MPL 2020 Calendar of Events Is Here

Posted on by Caron Guigli

In addition to helping you get materials for reading this summer, Malden Public Library will be holding programs for children, families, teens, and adults. And although we’re not able to all meet in person, join your friends on Zoom for our on-line virtual programs. Check out our summer program events here:

Integrated Summer Calendar 2020

and you can join the Zoom programs from the homepage of this website. We look forward to seeing you!

Get a Library Card & Borrow Online

Posted on by Caron Guigli

While Malden Public Library remains physically  closed, you can still use our online resources to read or listen to a book, read a magazine or newspaper, watch a movie or TV show, learn a language, update your resume, and so many other things.

Don’t have a library card yet? Click HERE, fill out the form and please include Name, Address, Email Address, Phone Number, and cell phone provider and we will email you back your library card information.

We will be here to serve you as best we can.  For information and assistance, you can email at Contact Us or by phone at (781) 333-0640.

Now is the time to do and learn all of the things you’ve wanted to for a long time. Malden Public Library can help.

Research Your Story – Share Your History

Posted on by Caron Guigli
With the world as topsy turvy as it is right now libraries and institutions around the country are expanding resources to help people stay informed and stay entertained. Here at the Malden Public Library we know how much you all love local history and genealogy so we wanted to share some related resources we thought you would enjoy.
The National Archives has now made Ancestry.com accessible to patrons from home, no membership needed, and the New England Historic Genealogical Society has expanded their online resources. You can chat with a genealogist through their website or attend a free webinar. Just follow the links to continue (or start!) your research even if you are stuck at home.
In that vein we are inviting everyone to share a story with us from their family history! You can post your story on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Just be sure to use the hashtag #OurMPLFamilies so we can all learn about your family lore! This is a tough time but remember that we are in this together even if we have to be apart. We love all #OurMPLFamilies!

Updated: World Book offers free online classes and support for families learning at home!

Posted on by Caron Guigli

Update 4/6/2020: It is now even easier to gain World Book access without needing to sign up! Just go to: www.worldbookonline.com   Login-ID: wbsupport and Password: distancelearn.

If you are at home with kids right now and trying to continue their education or find fun educational activities to keep their minds nimble and engaged the task can seem overwhelming. Over the last few weeks the Malden Public Library has provided access to many sites that offer educational opportunities for families while they navigate this new challenge. But without having access to teacher resources, making lessons and finding tools to teach or help young students can feel like making it up as you go along. A number of previously for-pay services are now becoming accessible in response to the overwhelming need during this challenging time.

World Book has recently decided to make their online learning resources available for free during the Covid-19 outbreak, so that families can access online learning and eresources. Sign up is simple with the above username and password. Just click on the main link: www.worldbookonline.com  to sign in. 

But before you sign in take a look at the resources for parents, caregivers, and teachers on the main page. https://www.worldbookonline.com/training/distance-learning/distance-learning.htm There are great suggestions for how to help young students. Caregivers can access suggestions for lessons, resources for people new to online learning, and tools for teaching young learners all from the World Book home page.

Once signed in the site will direct users to a menu with options for subject based learning, activities, ebooks, educational games, encyclopedias and more.

February artist Dominique Lecomte

Posted on by Caron Guigli

Dominique likes the little things of life, the spectacle of nature, the lines and shapes of the world. He uses them to create images, to map voyages, to share impressions. He wants his work to be colorful, warm, and a bit mysterious. It should make you smile, travel, wonder, so you’ll want to take it home with you.

Dominique’s exhibit will be on display the month of February.

March artist Michael Furtak

Posted on by Caron Guigli

Michael’s work celebrates the design elements of kumiko, decorative Japanese woodworking, reinterpreting them in a different medium. By keeping true to some of the constraints of the woodworking forms, he
pays respect to the long history of the tradition. Simultaneously, by exploring the possibilities of color, scale, texture, and layering allowed by cut paper, this series explores its own creative space.

He’d like for his work to increase awareness of kumiko for an American audience, and delight viewers with its simple, yet intricate designs.