A Journey Through the Roots of American Popular Music
Join the duo Sultana for a lively and engaging exploration of the origins of blues, rock, and country music. Musician, storyteller, and educator Jon Waterman, accompanied by Li Waterman, blends original songs with captivating historical insights, bringing to life the characters and events that shaped...
WFL Book Report – Episode 10: Holiday Romances with Rachael
Holidays are in the air! Whatever your feelings on the holiday season, a little escapism can go a long way. Enjoy these Christmas romances from Circulation team member library TikTok and BookTube-er Rachael Hobson.
WFL Book Report Podcast: Episode 8 – Marvel Movies with Jackie
Hi! I’m Heather-Lee Byrne, Information Services librarian and host of the Wellesley Free Library Book Report podcast. We want to make it easy for busy people in our community to figure out what to read next. Our podcast connects Wellesley library patrons with ranked...
WFL Book Report Podcast: Episode 7 – Western Thriller with Sue
Hi! I’m Heather-Lee Byrne, Information Services librarian and host of the Wellesley Free Library Book Report podcast. We want to make it easy for busy people in our community to figure out what to read next. Our podcast connects Wellesley library patrons with ranked...
WFL Book Report: Episode 6 – Fiction with Megan
Comments? Questions? Send us an email! wflbookreport@minlib.net Latest Episode: Episode 6 – Fiction with Megan Guest Librarian: Megan Flynn Interview Notes: Our book recommendation this week is from librarian Megan Flynn, our fiction selector. She talks to us about Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie...
WFL Book Report Podcast: Episode 5 – Science History with Tyson
Comments? Questions? Send us an email! wflbookreport@minlib.net Latest Episode: Episode 5 – Science History with Tyson Guest Librarian: Tyson Bolles Interview Notes: Today we’re going to be speaking with librarian Tyson Bolles about non-fiction history title, The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A...
WFL Book Report Podcast: Episode 4 – SciFi with Annette
Latest Episode: Episode 4 – SciFi with Annette Guest Librarian: Annette Diola Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Interview Notes: Our book recommendation this week is from librarian Annette Diola, her SciFi Book Club’s August pick: Gideon the Ninth...
WFL Book Report Podcast: Episode 3 – YA Romance with Jackie
Latest Episode: Episode 3 – Young Adult Romance with Jackie Guest Librarian: Jackie Linsky Interview Notes: Today Wellesley Librarian and YA selector Jackie Linsky discusses the popular title The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han Jackie also mentions the other books in the...
WFL Book Report Podcast: Episode 2 – Memoir with Deb
Latest Episode: Episode 2 Guest Librarian: Debra Berenbaum Our book recommendation this week is from librarian Debra Berenbaum: Anne Patchett’s These Precious Days. Interview Notes In today’s episode, Deb and I discuss Anne Patchett and how her work can be found throughout the library....
Latest Episode: Episode 1 – Beach Reads with Megan Guest Librarian: Megan Flynn This week we’ll introduce the podcast, the Wellesley Reader’s Report, and speak with Information Services librarian Megan Flynn about her summer book pick in Adult Fiction, The Summer Place by Jennifer...
The renovation of Wellesley’s Fells Branch Library is complete! Fells Branch is located at 308 Weston Road. Regular open hours for Fells Branch are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM – 5 PM. Click here for information about Fells Branch story-times and learning...
World Earth Day is April 22nd, Arbor Day is April 28th, and Wellesley houses some beautiful trees. Celebrate our landscape by visiting our second floor display featuring information about trees and nature, including beautiful nature photographs, nature poetry, and other nature writing. Be sure...
Wellesley’s STEM Expo is this month (April 8th), and right now STEM education is all the rage! STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and it encompasses all of the hard science skills necessary for students of all ages. STEM encourages you to...
March 15 marks the infamous assassination of Julius Caesar, and has since become a significant date on the Roman calendar. Do you enjoy a good – fictionalized – murder? Visit our second floor display of murderous novels!
Weather this time of year can be crazy and unpredictable. Visit our second floor display to learn about what makes weather happen and to make your own predictions about what type of atmosphere we’ll be seeing this year!
Are you a fan of PBS’s new show Victoria? Visit the library to learn more about the Victorian era. Travel back in time with many feature films set in the Victorian period, on display in the media room. Learn more about the period, Queen Victoria’s...
It’s that time of year . . . baseball is coming! Visit our second floor display featuring all things baseball, including profiles of famous players, about the game, and everything a baseball fan needs.
Music Scores On Display – “Play It Again, Sam”
The Wellesley Free Library has an extensive collection of music scores for musicians out there. From famous pieces to scores from classic films, pick one out to play at home. Not a musician, or just learning? Pick out a fun music score and check...
March 5 – 11 is YALSA’s Teen Tech Week!
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, devotes one week each year to Teen Tech Week, with the goal to “showcase all of the great digital resources and services that are available to help teens succeed.”1 This...
At the End of the World: A True Story of Murder in the Arctic by Lawrence MillmanAt the End of the World is the remarkable story of a series of murders that occurred in an extremely remote corner of the Arctic in 1941. Those murders...
It’s always time for a good science fiction novel! Visit our second floor display for a selection of fantastic scifi novels. Travel to distant worlds, different times, and explore the endless possibilities of the future.
March is Women’s History Month – On Display
March was declared Women’s History Month in 1987. Check out our second floor display featuring influential women who have helped forge the way for women everywhere. Learn more about the history of the women’s movement and the tremendous progress made throughout the 20th and...
March is Time for Irish Celebrations! – On Display
St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and March is Irish American History Month! Visit a number of our second floor displays featuring all things Ireland. See our list below to find out the Irish adventures awaiting you this month. “Celebrate Irish Writers”...
These days, we’re conscious of supporting our local communities through frequenting local businesses and eating locally grown foods. Why not read local too? Check out our second floor display featuring fiction from authors based in Massachusetts and around New England.
February is a short one, so grab some collections of short stories, on display on the second floor! We have a range of works from satire and comedy to heart wrenching and brutally honest; there is something for everyone.
The renowned religious studies scholar and author of The World’s Religions, one of the most widely used texts on comparative religion, passed away on December 30, 2016 at 97 years old. The son of missionaries working in China, Smith became fascinated with different religious...
Are you a “chocoholic?” Visit our second floor display featuring materials related to the history of chocolate, its popularity, and enough recipes to feed your chocolate need! Did you know? Chocolate has mostly been consumed in liquid form for 90% of its history.
It seems that everyone is fascinated with the Norse warriors and seafarers, on whom many TV series, movies, and novels have been based. Visit our second floor display to learn more about the Nordic men and women who have made a lasting impression on...
Romance is in the Air! On Display in the Media Room
Valentine’s Day is coming up; grab a romance movie or two to watch with your significant other! Whether you’re looking for a classic romance film (Sleepless in Seattle, anyone?) or a something unusual (try The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) we have something...
Go on a Blind Date . . . With a Book! On Display on the 2nd Floor
This Valentine’s Day, take a book on a blind date! Visit our second floor display by the Young Adult section and in the High School Room to grab a “blinded book.” We’ve selected a variety of titles, wrapped them so you can’t see which...
February is National Weddings Month. Are you preparing your own nuptial celebration? Attending more than a few weddings this Spring? Stop by our second floor display featuring materials on wedding planning and wedding etiquette. Whether you’re the bride, the mother of the bride, or...
January 27th is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.1 For the month of February, we will be featuring materials about the Holocaust, both fiction and non-fiction. Learn about this unspeakable tragedy so that it may never...
February is National Library Lover’s Month! Visit our second floor display for materials relating to library history, beautiful world-renowned library buildings, and all things libraries. We at the Wellesley Free Library extend our gratitude towards our patronage, and we thank you for helping us...
Historical Heroes: Celebrating Black History Month
Visit our main second floor display featuring materials on the many great African-American heroes who have helped shape our nation’s history, culture, and invariably our future. From Harriet Tubman to Barack Obama, Louis Armstrong to Guion Bluford, America is indebted to black men and...
Anne L. Reynolds, beloved former director of the Wellesley Free Library, died on January 20th, 2017 in Portsmouth, NH. Former Head of Technical Services at the library, Anne brought a whole-systems vision to the library: its strengths, its challenges, and its vibrant possibilities. She...
2016 seemed to be the year of loss. One after another, our favorite musicians, artists, and actors seemed to leave us. Visit our media room audiovisual display to remember and honor those cultural icons. David Bowie’s albums and films, Alan Rickman’s best work, and...
November’s Spiritual Pathways display was a hit with the Wellesley community; perhaps you were one of the many who are looking for a more spiritual connection. This month, visit our second floor display featuring spiritual autobiographies. Learn how others cultivated a more mindful, joyous...
A little known sub-genre of cookbooks is the food memoir: the personal experience of a chef (amateur or professional) relative to food. Many food memoirs include recipes, as the author will relate his/her experiences with certain dishes while relaying how you can make them...
We’ve selected some of the most popular Young Adult series to feature this month. Whether you are a young adult, or just love the literature, this second floor display is for all ages! Pick up the first book in these popular series, just in...
Radicalization: Why Some People Choose the Path of Violence by Farhad Khosrokhavar A sought-after commentator in France and a widely respected international scholar of radical Islam, Farhad Khosrokhavar has spent years studying the path towards radicalization. Khosrokhavar argues that the root problem of radicalization...
Need something to do during the coming cold months? Visit our second floor display to pick up books on how to knit and crochet! Already an experienced knitter? We’ll also feature resources about new patterns, materials, and technique. Keep your hands busy this winter...
Pride and Poverty: “Hillbilly Elegy” Read Alikes
If you’ve managed to get your hands on a copy of Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance, you’ve been lucky! One of the most popular books of the year, Hillbilly Elegy has landed toward the top of many...
Celebrate National Geographic’s 129th anniversary with our second floor display featuring the Society’s brilliant photographic publications. Helping to protect the planet since 1888, National Geographic has been instrumental in educating the public about the natural world and our place in it.
On display in the high school room is a collection of nonfiction for the New Year! Ring in 2017 by learning something new, from a memoir about escaping North Korea (Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee) to a young man’s hilarious attempt to understand...
Did you get a new gadget during the holidays, perhaps a new phone, tablet, or other device? Not quite sure how to use it? Check out our second floor display featuring the best how-to books to help you learn all about your new devices....
This week in new non-fiction, the Wellesley Free Library has a lot to offer. But first . . . let’s explore Chrismakkuh! Chrismakkuh: Everything You Need to Know to Celebrate the Hybrid Holiday by Ron Gompertz A holiday guide for mixed-faith families who celebrate both...
Now on display at the Wellesley Free Library: holiday craft ideas for the whole family! Visit the second floor display (by the graphic novels) to pick up craft books to suit your fancy this holiday season. Whether you’re a seasoned craft enthusiast (pun intended),...
Love can be difficult sometimes, especially during the holidays. Visit our second floor display featuring the best advice on how to improve your relationships, whether they be romantic or familial. “Love is a battlefield” – Pat Benatar
The Man Booker Prize is an annual accolade awarded to the best original novel written in English and published in the United Kingdom. Stop by our second floor display to select a Man Booker Prize winner to read next! This year’s Man Booker was...
As the temperature keeps dropping and the snow starts falling, we’ll all be breaking out our long-awaited winter gear! Whether you’re a seasoned winter sports enthusiast or looking to become one, our second floor display will feature all you need to know about winter...
The Wellesley Free Library has plenty of cookbooks to go around for the holidays, including those on display for holiday cooking and baking. But if that doesn’t suit your fancy, or if you simply want to browse non-holiday cookbooks, see below for some of...
Starting in January 2017, the Wellesley Free Library will be offering new opportunities to interact with and program our NAO robots, Lava and Sky! Step by Step: Choregraphe – 5 new Choregraphe classes! Robot Dance Contest – For programmers ages 8-13. Robot Lab by Appointment...
The 75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7th, 1941 – 75 years ago this year – our nation was wracked by tragedy in the Pacific. After almost 2,500 casualties, the surprise attack on U.S. soil led to America’s participation in World War II. Visit our second floor display for...
You remember “The Girl Who…” series. You know, first she had a dragon tattoo, then she played with fire, and finally kicked the hornet’s nest. It was a great series, if a tad on the violent side. When I read the books, I knew...
Whether you’re looking for a thriller to warm you up on a cold night, a sultry winter romance, or simply a holiday themed read, we’ve got you covered! Visit our second floor display for the best holiday and winter fiction picks. “What in the...
Have no fear, our December displays are here! Looking for holiday meal ideas, or not sure how to spice up your holiday baking routine? Take a peek at our second floor displays on Holiday Cooking and Holiday Baking for some great ideas! We have...
Make 2017 your year! Do you always have a New Year’s resolution – or maybe multiple resolutions – that never seems to manifest? Does your determination and drive dwindle around February or March? Not this year! Visit our second floor display to find some...
Give the Gift of Reading – Staff Picks are Up!
This holiday season, the Wellesley Free Library staff is excited to share with you our favorite books, movies, and TV shows, on display on the second floor. See what we recommend, either as personal reading or potential gifts for family, friends, and loved ones....
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, is hosting Computer Science Education week from December 5th through December 11th! The goal is to encourage everyone to learn to code, no matter whooooo you are! At the Wellesley...
On a non-fiction kick? Check out some new titles at the library, hot off the presses! The Unnatural World: The Race to Remake Civilization in Earth’s Newest Age by David Biello Renowned environmental journalist, Biello brings us a timely guidebook to becoming better stewards...
It seems, these days, that there are an overwhelming amount of options available to us at any given moment. From where to eat and which book to read next, to larger decisions like which job to take or city to relocate to, we are...
We love Massachusetts! Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or are a recent transplant, the Bay State has a place for everyone. Our second floor display features the best of Massachusetts authors, from Elinor Lipman and Ben Coes to Jennifer Haigh and Junot...
Do you like Young Adult novels? How about traveling back in time, revisiting the past, and learning about an historical era? Check out the High School Room to see our favorite Young Adult Historical Fiction books, and see the past through the eyes of...
Sometimes it’s tough making it through the holiday season. Stress and expectations are high, patience is low, and your to-do list is growing exponentially. As the holidays loom closer, take some time to visit our Spiritual Pathways display on the second floor for materials...
Bob Dylan: Singer, Songwriter, and Nobel Prize Winner!
Bob Dylan recently made global news after being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. His career spanning more than five decades, Dylan has penned award-winning music (exploring genres ranging from blues and jazz to rockabilly and folk), six books, and is also an artist...
It’s that time of year again: the holidays are quickly approaching! Is it your turn to host this year? Have no fear! We’ve compiled our best holiday cookbooks, party guides, and idea books just for you. Visit our second floor display for inspiration on...
New books come in everyday, and we just got a batch of new non-fiction! Check out some of the titles below: No More Work: Why Full Employment is a Bad Idea by James Livingston It seems that the American Dream may not be entirely...
November is upon us and the weather is turning! Stay entertained by visiting our first floor displays: A Cornucopia of Mysteries for fall-themed page-turners [by the Information Desk] and A Cornucopia of Historical Fiction for the best historical films [in the Media Room]. As...
With the election looming, learn more about the office of the Presidency by visiting our second floor display exploring the history of the office, it’s development, makeup, and importance. Check out items that investigate how the Presidency really works and how it affects all...
These days, with relatively easy global travel at our fingertips, we tend to take flight for granted. This month, Aviation History Month, learn how humanity conquered the skies. Explore how the Wright brothers discovered their passion for flight, how Charles Lindbergh found his love...
The leaves are changing: fall is among us! New England is notorious for its autumn beauty, so take a local road trip. Head up to our second floor to see our display featuring the best New England travel and road trip guides. We have...
Stress and anger getting you down lately? Perhaps the political climate, flu season, and the latest traffic jam are all converging just to tick you off. Maybe a family member is going through a particularly rough time, and you want to reach out. Visit...
Surprise! Erica Henderson will be joining Margaret Stohl!
Do you love Unbeatable Squirrel Girl?! Illustrator Erica Henderson will be joining Margaret Stohl, co-author of Beautiful Creatures, here at the Wellesley Free Library tomorrow night, October 19th, at 7 PM! Be sure to bring your copies of the books to be signed.
Every year, October reminds us about how important it is to have a breast cancer detection plan, and to encourage ourselves and others to remain aware. One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, and...
It’s officially October and time to break out the scary movies! To get ready for All Hallows’ Eve, visit our media display in the Media Room on the first floor. Pick up a classic horror film, something to get your heart racing, or simply...
Robert J. Hinchliffe is turning 94 this month! As longtime treasurer of the Centennial Fund, Mr. Hinchliffe has been invaluable to the success of the Wellesley Free Library. A veteran of WWII, we have been able to curate such an extensive and wide-reaching military...
Do you love antiquing or collecting? Do you find the pull of old, well-loved items irresistible? Visit our Antiques & Collectibles display on the second floor for materials relating to the craft of collecting, how to become a collector, or simply how to search...
Created in 1998, Teen Read Week is a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) initiative to encourage reading and library usage among teens. Teen Read Week is held annually in October, and this year we have a multi-lingual “Read for Fun!” theme designed to...
The co-author of the #1 best-selling book Beautiful Creatures and author of the Marvel YA series Black Widow will be visiting the Wellesley Free Library on October 19th at 7:00 PM! Before writing her first novel, Stohl was a veteran of the video-game industry and a cofounder...
The Wellesley Free Library is now on Snapchat! Follow us by searching “wellesleylib.” We’ll be using the Snapchat platform to post live updates about our new NAO robots, library news and events, and anything fun happening at the library. Don’t have a Snapchat? Sign...
“Это отличная книга!” “這是一個偉大的書!” “Bu harika bir kitap!” “What a great book!” Our robots love to read, but did you know they can speak 19 different languages? They make extensive use of our collection of foreign books to make sure they practice, practice, practice....
Bored of sitting inside in front of the fan? Add some adventure to your summer by visiting our film display in the Media Room! Stocked with new and classic action and adventure films, these movies are sure to transport you out of the heat...
Stay cool this summer buy visiting our summer desserts display on the second floor. Take home a book about how to make no-churn ice cream, icy smoothies, or your own ice-cold soda. Perfect for the entire family, this collection of cookbooks is sure to...
It’s a hot one this year! Whether you’re looking for a suspenseful mystery or a steamy romance to get your mind off the heat, we’ve got you covered. Visit our second floor display to check out our hot picks for the summer. Grab a...
“Can we come in yet . . . ?” The WFL NAO robots are eager to come in to their new home! As we prepare the library to welcome them, we need your help: they need names! Until September 9 the WFL is holding...
The galaxy is attacked by massive, mysterious robots. Fear sweeps the nine planets and anti-robot fervor leads to the destruction of all robots. Any left lingering are hunted by mercenaries. Years later we meet one robot, a boy designed for human companionship, who wakes...
Did you know the average flight from Logan to Honolulu can range from 10 to 22 hours?! Flying all that way can be daunting and too time-consuming. Luckily, we have everything you need to take a trip to Hawaii from the comforts of your...
Celebrate your sister – or best friend who might as well be – on August 7th! Our second floor display features some of the best novels and movies about sisters. Watch one of these movies together, or hold your own sister book group for...
U.S. Destinations to Visit This Summer: Check Out a Travel Guide
Going on a road trip or visiting a new corner of the country? Check out a travel guide for the top haunts to make your vacation the best experience it can be! Need ideas for your next adventure? Travel books are a great way...
July 20th Is Space Exploration Day! Want to go to the moon? Take a cruise around Saturn’s rings? Maybe reach the far edge of the universe? Visit our Space Exploration book display on the second floor, and you can! Featuring the best non-fiction books...
Take Your Best Swing: It’s National Golf Month
Take Your Best Swing! July is National Golf Month and time to enjoy the popular American pastime! Gaining popularity in America via Great Britain in the late 1800s, golf reached its zenith in the U.S. in the Roaring Twenties, with over a thousand golf...
Browse our Global Eating Display on the Second Floor
Can’t travel this summer? Take a culinary journey around the world with colorful cookbooks from foreign cultures and nations. You don’t have to go far this summer to travel with your taste buds!
Take a look at our Media Room film display! So many good movies are based on equally great books. Check out the Media Room display this month to see some of our favorites! We’ll be featuring some of the best box office hits that...
Take your summer cookout to the next level! Humans have been cooking our food since shortly after the domestication of fire, around 500,000 years ago. But grilling as we know it stems from the 1940s when camping and hiking was popular. After WWII and...
The Wellesley Free Library now has jigsaw puzzles! Located in the Media Room, these 1000 piece puzzles are available to check out, and are sure to promise hours of fun. All puzzles are family friendly, so take one home today! Have a puzzle you’ve...
New Young Adult Books The Only Thing Worse than Me is You by Lily Anderson Trixie Watson has two very important goals for senior year: to finally save enough to buy the set of Dr. Who figurines at the local comic books store,...
Civil War, Illustrated Edition, by Stuart Moore After the U.S. government passes the Superhero Registration Act, legislation designed to keep superheroes in check, the superheroes of the world find themselves divided. The act requires any person in the United States who possesses superpowers...
Many Oscar winning movies are based on critically acclaimed books with similar or unique titles. Come in and browse our collection. The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke. The film is based on Punke’s 2002 book set in 1823 and based on...
