National Library Week 2020 has arrived at a difficult time for libraries across the U.S., many of which have been forced to close their doors in the face of the global pandemic. While we are feeling the loss of these spaces, we dedicate this week to celebrating libraries and the many ways they have inspired us.
Join Us for a Virtual Read- Aloud on Tuesday, July 21 at 2:00 p.m. This week, Library Director Dora St Martin will continue to read from a book that inspired her own life of travel – My Side of the Mountain – by Jean Craighead George. Every kid thinks about running away at one point or another; few get farther than the end of the block. Young Sam Gribley gets to the end of the block and keeps going–all the way to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. There he sets up house in a huge hollowed-out tree, with a falcon and a weasel for companions and his wits as his tool for survival. Jean Craighead George is the author of more than 80 children’s books, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves. Recommended ages 9 to 12 – and all adults with a bit of wanderlust. You can join our Story Room by clicking on the program title “Virtual Read Aloud” on the MPL website’s front page (under upcoming events): https://maldenpubliclibrary.org/ The instructions and password to enter the zoom story room will appear 10 minutes before the program begins. If you have issues connecting, please call the Library Information number at 781-324-0218. The program is free and no Zoom account or any special software is needed.
Join Author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai on Tuesday, June 16th at 7 pm EDT for hoopla Book Club LIVE! Join the conversation on Instagram with @hoopladigital.
Hoopla’s digital collection is available instantly with no holds and no waiting, including this month’s Book Club Spotlight Selection, The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai. The Mountains Sing tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Trần family, set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War. Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope. Readers can choose to borrow The Mountains Sing in eBook or audiobook format. Click on Hoopla Book Club Hub site HERE to see online resources, exclusive Q&A with the author, and a detailed discussion guide; as well as eight additional recommended reads.
Download now and get in on the conversation! https://www.hoopladigital.com/
Reviews for The Mountain Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai:
“[An] absorbing, stirring novel . . . that, in more than one sense, remedies history.”
— New York Times Book Review
“The Mountains Sing is an epic account of Việt Nam’s painful 20th century history, both vast in scope and intimate in its telling.”
— Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of The Sympathizer, Pulitzer Prize winner
After this exceptionally long month of March it is hard to believe we are already halfway through April. And because it is the middle of April, we celebrate the early steps toward our Nation’s founding, with Patriot’s Day. Many cities and towns hold parades, re-enactments, and activities for families and history lovers to celebrate the beginning of our move toward nationhood. However, this year is a little different with a need for stay-at-home advisories and social distancing. So, the community of Lexington and the National Parks have taken Patriot’s day virtual!
The full list of activities are on the Lexington Historical Society’s website. And the National Parks have additional activities on their Minute Man National Historical page and on their Facebook page. Some of the Minuteman National Park events will be streaming on Facebook live. Events begin on April 18th and run through the 24th. So, there are plenty of opportunities to observe and participate from the comfort of home. These are great supplemental activities for anyone learning from home and a fun way to learn about local history from dedicated historians and re-enactors.
Malden was also a major participant in our early nation building. Parts of the Malden Declaration were used in the Declaration of Independence. You can check out our copy of the original and information on Malden’s role on the library website. Or check out more information on the City of Malden page. And this re-enactment held at the Library on July 3rd, 2018 posted below and on Youtube.
For further reading we suggest: the contribution of Everett (then still a part of South Malden) to the battles on April 19th 1775 and the shots that started our journey to independence. You can also read an article by local resident and historian, Frank F. Russell, about Washington’s visit to Malden in 1789. Washington George in Malden Hist Soc 2017 (1),
Even though we cannot participate in this year’s events publically, Patriot’s day events are still available in new and inventive ways. Take this long weekend as an opportunity to explore your local history and get to know our nation in a new way.
Good parenting skills are something we learn, not something we are born with. Universal Class offers over 500 online continuing education courses, including parenting skills such as basic parenting, behavior management, positive parenting techniques, early childhood development, and many more. Check out Universal Class at https://maldenpubliclibrary.org/elibrary/page/4/
This landmark release from R&B diva Beyoncé Knowles captures a live performance recorded in Las Vegas featuring over 30 tracks, including “Single Ladies,” “Crazy in Love,” “Halo,” and more. Stream Beyoncé’s live concert film I Am… Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas—from the RBdigital menu, find Concerts under Entertainment. Watch free concerts from artists like Madonna, Maroon 5, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kenny Chesney on Quello at https://maldenma.rbdigital.com/
One of the challenges of social distancing is keeping up with routine movements and activities that keep your body strong and mobile. To aid with this, Boston Public Library has partnered with Hands to Heart Yoga to offer online bi weekly yoga classes. Whether you are at home or taking a break from your stressful routine, these yoga classes will help to move and center you.
The classes are accessible to beginners and are inclusive. Hands to the Heart Yoga describes their Yoga For All Program as sharing: “the healing practice of yoga with Greater Boston’s low-income and under-resourced communities. HTHC yoga classes are designed to be culturally affirming, accessible, inclusive and inspiring — yoga classes in which anyone and everyone can participate.”
Yoga classes are on Tuesdays from 12-1230 pm with Lunch Break Yoga: https://www.facebook.com/events/236206967531838/
and Fridays from 4-5 pm with Friday Unwind Gentle Yoga: https://www.facebook.com/events/1435748283272369/.
To access the classes, follow the Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsJ5vreTeNxQ86s7fZtwbJQ
New classes post on Tuesdays and Fridays but can be accessed at any time. Just go to Youtube and select the class you wish to follow. For more information check out the BPL Facebook page for up to date times and schedules. You can also check out the Boston Public Library calendar of events for other great online offerings.
Are you wondering how to fill the hours at home with your children while still engaging them? Well we would suggest reading of course and we’re not the only ones! The Wizarding World has assembled a superstar team with J.K. Rowling, Audible, Bloomsbury, OverDrive, Pottermore Publishing, and Scholastic to bring you Harry Potter at Home, a hub that provides access to Harry Potter books and related activities. It’s as easy as 1-2-3: just add magic and subtract boredom.
What does this all mean? Well for starters you will be able to access the first Harry Potter book through Overdrive in ebook and audiobook format until the end of April. No waitlists, just instant magical gratification! Teachers have been given an open license to read any and all seven Harry Potter books to their students online. There’s plenty more as well, from arts and crafts to articles and puzzles. You can sign up to have a newsletter delivered to your email weekly which will update you on the latest activities or you can just check the website. Registration is required but it’s FREE! With Harry Potter at Home, there’s something for everyone!
The Malden Public Library and The Wizarding World know that reading, drawing, doing word searches, and other activities are more than just fun distractions. Reading can transport you to another world when you need a break from this one. It teaches you to think critically and empathize. It improves your language and listening skills and can lengthen short attention spans. It helps expand your imagination which is something to nurture rather than grow out of. You get these same benefits from listening to a book as you do from reading one. When parents read or listen to a book with their children they are helping to engage and prepare their children for the world while creating a shared experience that bonds them. So add a little magic to your home today and remember that with books you can go anywhere you want
.
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.
