Library news

Details: By Amy McElroy, Friends of Robbins Library; Category: Library news; 15 June 2022; Last Updated: 06 April 2023; Hits: 720

hula

UPDATED June 8: Join the Friends of the Robbins Library for a hula program by Hui Lehua o Kamawila, set for Thursday, June 9, at 7 p.m., has been postponed two weeks because of expected rain.

The free program will take place on the lawn outside the Whittemore-Robbins House, behind the library.

Hui Lehua o Kamawila is a collaborative hula group dedicated to preserving and sharing Hawaiian dance traditions in Somerville and the New England area.

Hula is a storytelling dance. The dances describe the many special and storied places of Hawai’i. At the end of the program, the audience will be invited to join in a demonstration of some hula dance moves.

Details: By Anna Litten, Bob Sprague; Category: Library news; 25 May 2022; Last Updated: 06 March 2023; Hits: 807

Andrea Nicolay, library director, 2022

Arlington’s director of libraries, Andrea Nicolay, has accepted the position of executive director of the Albany Public Library in Albany, N.Y. Her last day in Arlington will be Friday, July 1.

“Andrea has been a tremendous leader for both the libraries and the Arlington community and her contributions will be sorely missed," said Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine in a May 24 news release.

"From her work on library programming to the Reimagining Our Libraries effort to her leadership role in the creation of Arlington’s first cultural district, Andrea has exemplified a true passion and care for Arlington, its libraries and its residents.”

Nicolay began as assistant director of Arlington’s Libraries in 2012 and was appointed director in 2015. Read about that here >>

In her nearly 10 years in Arlington, she increased access to library resources by eliminating fines and rental fees, adding summer Saturday hours in July and August, and securing municipal funding for Sunday hours.

books bloom

Join the Friends of Robbins Library Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for the Spring-for-a-Book Sale at the Robbins Library.

Friends members only: Shop early from 9:30 to 10 a.m.

Come browse for books in the Community Room, on the fourth floor and at outside tables behind the Robbins.

Book donations are currently being accepted at the Robbins Library. Look for the big blue bin in the front lobby near the circulation desk.

We welcome donations of gently used books and media. No textbooks please.

Details: By Amy McElroy, Friends of Robbins Library; Category: Library news; 01 May 2022; Last Updated: 22 May 2022; Hits: 590

Click to access >>

UPDATED April 11: Local-history research has become easier in Arlington. Thanks to a gift from local historian Richard A. Duffy to the Arlington Libraries Foundation, The Arlington Advocate and other Arlington newspapers dating from 1871-2005 have been digitized.

The Historical Arlington Newspapers online resource is available at robbinslibrary.org and includes searchable full-page scans complete with photos and vintage ads. Look through the archive here >>

Users can search by topic or browse by publication or date. Entire pages of the newspaper or individual images and articles are downloadable.

Local-history librarian Steven Prochet said in a April 4 news release: “People will be able to easily discover the life events of their loved ones, moments in Arlington history, and details related to homes and businesses in Arlington.”

Details: By Anna Litten, Bob Sprague; Category: Library news; 10 April 2022; Last Updated: 11 May 2022; Hits: 777

Robin Wall Kimmerer. / Dale Kakkak photo

UPDATED March 16: The town libraries' annual Arlington Reads Together returns in March. This year’s selected title is Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigineous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

The New York Times' best seller focuses on indigenous peoples’ understanding of the natural world and the intersection between indigenous and scientific knowledge.

Library visitors can pick up copies of Braiding Sweetgrass at the Robbins or Fox Library, or request a copy by phone or online via the MLN catalog. The title is also available as a digital download ebook or audiobook via Hoopla.

Book discussions and other events take place throughout March and started March 6. See a listing of events below.

Kimmerer is a self-described “mother, scientist, decorated professor and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.” In addition to Braiding Sweetgrass, she is the author of the highly acclaimed Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses.

Kimmerer was awarded the John Burroughs Medal for outstanding nature writing. Her work has appeared in Orion, Whole Terrain and numerous scientific journals.

Details: By Anna Litten, assistant director of libraries; Category: Library news; 16 March 2022; Last Updated: 31 March 2022; Hits: 1170

Effective Monday, Jan. 31, the restrictions on public seating and in-person programs, which have been in place since Jan. 3, were lifted.

Arlington's mask mandate is still in effect for indoor spaces, and we appreciate your compliance.

Thank you for your patience with us in January -- we can't wait to resume our role as a gathering place where magical story times and events happen, students hang out after school, and people relax with a newspaper or spend time studying.

Details: By Anna Litten, assistant director of libraries; Category: Library news; 28 January 2022; Last Updated: 31 January 2022; Hits: 560

View from the 'bridge': The main reading room at Robbins Library in 2017 as seen from the floor where the administration toils. / Bob Sprague photo

The new year brings an all-new, redesigned town libraries' website to a browser near you at robbinslibrary.org. The site launches Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Robbins on a postcard. / Richard Duffy

The web home of Arlington’s libraries, the Robbins Library and the Fox Branch Library, was created in collaboration with Arlington-based design firm Bionic Squid of Arlington. Its user-focused design approach grew out of community feedback, surveys and months of research and planning. New features include:

Prominent library hours;
Events calendar color-coded for kids, teens and adults;
An accessibility services page;
Front page links to popular services, such as printing, museum passes and grab bags;
“Staff Picks” area, featuring recommended reads; and
Category filters for digital resources and databases.

Details: By Anna Litten, assistant director of libraries; Category: Library news; 14 January 2022; Last Updated: 19 January 2022; Hits: 656

The Robbins Library is looking for pages for the following departments: adult, teen, children's, technical services (new materials processing) and circulation.

You must be at least 14 years old to apply.

Learn more >>

Details: By town website; Category: Library news; 25 August 2021; Last Updated: 25 August 2021; Hits: 634

See some photos >>

Patrons who wish to resume picking up holds at Fox must log into My Account on the MLN Catalog and select Edit to choose Arlington/Fox as the default pickup location.