2018

Celebrate SustainaVille Week!
March 30th 2018
SustainaVille Week Poster 2018

Thanks to Hannah Payne, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Somerville, for this guest post!

In honor of this year's upcoming SustainaVille Week, I’m taking over the Somerville Public Library blog to share some of my favorite books and movies about the environment, climate change, and sustainability. SustainaVille Week is an annual celebration of sustainability and climate action in Somerville, hosted by the City of Somerville’s Office of Sustainability and Environment. There... Read Post

Mae D. Frazer, Somerville's first known female publisher
March 24th 2018
Mae D. Frazar, Somerville MA , writing in the Boston Globe - Would a woman make a good president?

As National Women's History Month draws to a close this week, our spotlight is on Mae Durell Frazar (1852-1919) an accomplished writer, editor, world traveler, and entrepreneur who lived most of her life on or near Prospect Hill.

Frazar is chiefly known as Somerville’s first female publisher. In 1887 she created a 16-sheet paper called The Home Life, which was printed by the Somerville Journal, and "crammed with original matter, illustrated stories, prizes, premiums, music and book... Read Post

Somerville's Graphic Novel Collection
March 5th 2018
Image of Comics and Graphic Novels

Are you a graphic novel fan? Why not check out your local library for your favorites? We have an entire area dedicated to graphic novels. Is there a title missing, that you’d like to see added? Just ask a reference librarian! Or just come sit and read in our lovely little alcove.

Below are some great titles that you shouldn’t miss!

Saga. Book Two- By Brian K. Vaughn

"Saga. Book Two continues the action-packed education of Hazel, a child born to star-crossed parents... Read Post

The Mid-Century Puzzle Craze at SPL
February 24th 2018
Reference Desk at the Somerville Public Library, early 20th century

Would you believe that word-puzzle contests were so popular in the mid-20th century that many libraries had to put their dictionaries under lock and key? Puzzle-solvers devoured dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference works in pursuit of cash prizes, and deluged library staff with requests for answers to puzzle questions. They ripped pages from dictionaries and hid reference books to thwart other contestants’ chances.

In a recent browse of our local history room, we... Read Post

It's Awards Season!
February 15th 2018
American Library Association Youth Media Awards Logo

Monday was a big day in the children’s literature world -- the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards were announced!  The annual awards include not only the big two -- Caldecott and Newbery -- but a number of other awards recognizing a broad spectrum of children's and young adult literature.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal, which recognizes the most distinguished American picture book for children each year, was awarded to “Wolf in the Snow,” illustrated and... Read Post

A Somerville Reading List
February 14th 2018
somerville reading list book covers

Are you interested in learning more about the history of Somerville or reading books that take place in Somerville? We've got you covered with this reading list. This list was compiled with the help of library staff at all locations and across all departments. Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas!

1. Beyond the Neck : the Architecture and Development of Somerville, Massachusetts by Carole Zellie

We're kicking our list off with a few books that provide some... Read Post

Black History Month on the Web
February 8th 2018

African-American history is endlessly fascinating: it's the troubling, complex counterpoint to the sanitized, triumphalist version of American history so many of us were taught in school and that still appears in popular historical works. The Internet is a trove of riches on the black American experience.  Below are links to a small, eclectic sample of what's available online.

At the Library of Congress you can listen to, or read transcripts of, interviews conducted with former... Read Post

Spotting Fake Reviews
February 4th 2018

Have you ever bought a product online because of great reviews and customer ratings but ended up disappointed with it? You're not alone: the problem is common enough to warrant news coverage. Many of the rave reviews on retail websites are fakes: written by paid reviewers who've never used the product or service in question. In some cases the reviews aren't even written by actual people.

Fakespot.com can help you identify dishonest reveiws: simply paste the url of a product (for... Read Post

Circulation Toys
January 10th 2018
feed the monkey bananas game

Looking for some new toys?  Check something out from the Library!  We’ve got you covered with fun games like...

Feed the Monkey: work on that pincer grip and feel like you’re accomplishing something.


Easy-Twist Animal Builders: fine motor skills, matching, and crazy animals.


And a personal favorite, Don’t Let the Bugs Fall: it’s like Jenga with dice.  (You can see SPL librarians playing this game at the Somerville Media Center!)

Available at... Read Post

Pages