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Tag Archives: Wellesley Free Library

Wellesley Library announces streaming storytime

In response to social distancing measures, the Wellesley Free Library has begun streaming its storytimes. By visiting the library's Facebook page (@WellesleyLib), visitors can see librarian Emma leading live or pre-recorded storytimes. The first is up, and more will follow; the community is encouraged to keep its eye on the Facebook page for...

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Local libraries embrace technology

By Amelia Tarallo Hometown Weekly Staff The first public library opened in Boston between 1711 and 1725. Since then, to say the least, things have changed. Entering the technological age, libraries have had to make great leaps to ensure they keep up with the profusion of new forms of knowledge. While some may still view libraries as...
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Artist Mangi paints pets

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By James Kinneen Hometown Weekly Reporter On Wednesday night, Johanne Mangi gave a demonstration of how she paints portraits of people’s pets. Presented in association with The Wellesley Society of Artists, Stray Pets in Need (SPIN) and The Wellesley Free Library, the show lasted from 6:30 to the library’s closing at nine o’clock. How do...
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Wellesley Library hosts robot story time

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By James Kinneen Hometown Weekly Reporter While it sounds like a “Black Mirror” plot that’s somehow a parable about technology’s role in raising our children, The Wellesley Free Library now has a couple of robots that will read to your kids. On Thursday, the library held “robot story time,” during which Lava, a programmable NAO...
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LWV hosting Meet the Candidates Night

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is set to host Meet the Candidates Night on Thursday, February 28, from 6:30 - 9 p.m. in the Wakelin Room of the Wellesley Free Library. A meet and greet reception begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a brief ceremony honoring retired elected officials. The candidates forum begins promptly...
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Selectmen, community discuss diversity

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By Alex Oliveira Hometown Weekly Reporter On Monday, January 14, a panel of eleven community leaders and members addressed the Wellesley Board of Selectmen in an open meeting to discuss the state of diversity in Wellesley. Speakers covered topics ranging from diversity initiatives in local schools, the difficulties of assimilation facing immigrant families, local programs...
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Fells Branch Library reopens, welcomes community

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By James Kinneen Hometown Weekly Reporter In the face of a changing media and entertainment landscape, most libraries are increasingly focusing on things like computer access, internet availability, and tools of digital learning to stay afloat. And while the main branch of the Wellesley Free Library has rows of computers and STEM robots designed to...
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Wellesley Library hosts butterfly show

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By Robby McKittrick Hometown Weekly Reporter The Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens visited the Wellesley Free Library on Tuesday, October 23, to share their collection of different butterflies and insects with the community. Different members of the Wellesley community showed up to learn more about butterflies. “I have always been a nature-[lover],” said Wellesley resident Tom Orsa....
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Libraries participate in Minuteman Library Crawl

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By Daniel Curtin Hometown Weekly Reporter On Wednesday, August 1, libraries belonging to the Minuteman Library Network hosted a scavenger hunt. The event, now in its second year, introduced attendees to the friendly staff and myriad resources available to them at their local libraries. During the event, each participating library invited attendees to take a picture...
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Needham’s Hammer delights with watercolors

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By Emily Greffenius Hometown Weekly Intern Needham’s Nelson Hammer, whose artwork currently adorns the Wellesley Free Library, began painting birds in watercolor at the age of 68. Although he had dabbled in oil paintings while in college, he laid the painting hobby aside to raise a family and pursue his career. It wasn’t until he came...
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Wellesley kids act out picture book

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By Emily Greffenius Hometown Weekly Intern On the afternoon of June 14th, 16 kids from kindergarten through third grade gathered in the Wakelin Room at the Wellesley Free Library for “Picture Book Theater,” a workshop at which the children read a picture book and then, just one hour later, bring that story to life as...
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A window into an author’s mind

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By Laura Drinan Hometown Weekly Reporter Margaret “Peg” Arnold was a member of the Wellesley community for nearly 70 years. She moved to Wellesley with her parents in 1924 and served as the head librarian at the Wellesley Free Library for 31 years. She had been thoroughly involved in town meeting, became a director of...
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Wellesley seniors are painted with talent

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By Laura Drinan Hometown Weekly Reporter This summer, dozens of the town’s seniors will have their art showcased at the Wellesley Free Library’s gallery for the annual senior art show. Some of the featured art will be paintings from the Tolles Parsons Center’s acrylic painting class. The participants meet weekly for eight sessions. During the two-hour...
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Artists unite for seascape demonstration

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By Laura Drinan Hometown Weekly Reporter As eastern Massachusetts residents, we have the privilege of living just a short drive away from picturesque beaches. However, just because the ocean is close by, that doesn’t mean that the Wellesley Society of Artists and Needham Art Association would pass up the opportunity to see seascape oil paintings. The...
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Renowned author Wells holds artist workshop

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By Lisa Moore Hometown Weekly Correspondent Wellesley Free Library’s Wakelin Room was abuzz last week as fans big and small filled the seats or sat crisscross applesauce on the rug for a book reading and artist workshop by renowned author/artist Rosemary Wells. Famous for her over 120 books for children, including over 40 that feature...
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Wellesley hosts 2018 Olympic games

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By Laura Drinan Hometown Weekly Reporter Let the games begin. On the rainy afternoon of January 23, the Wellesley Free Library organized a variety of Olympic-themed activities for children and their caregivers to participate in. From 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Wakelin room was transformed into the PyeongChang arena, where children could imagine themselves...
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Kira Seamon’s celebration of the arts

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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter Last August, Dedham-based artist Kira Seamon made her “Stained Glass Sky” debut at the Wellesley Free Library. Since then, Kira’s work has splashed color on the walls of several libraries, including Medfield’s. For a special reception, Kira spent the afternoon of February 14 in the Dailey Room, where she...
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Winter Wednesday bringing fish to library

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On January 31, kids ages 5-10 are invited to explore “Fantastical Fish and Where to Find Them: Watercolors of Tropical Fish by Wellesley’s Sherman Denton.” While his brothers preferred collecting butterflies, Sherman Denton was entranced by fish. Denton traveled around the globe at the turn of the twentieth century to search out and...
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Robots charm Wellesley library visitors

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By Laura Drinan Hometown Weekly Reporter While the fresh snow provided children with an endless amount of outdoor activities to take part in over the weekend, the Wellesley Free Library offered some indoor fun for Saturday’s chilly afternoon. Although snowball fights and snowman making will always be classic winter pastimes, the future is looking to...
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Historical Society, Library host Winter Wednesdays

On January 17, kids are invited to explore “A Time of Revolt: Wellesley and the American Revolution” with staff from the Wellesley Historical Society. The community is invited to learn about its local minutemen, try writing with a quill pen, and experience toys that would have delighted children at the time of the American Revolution. The...
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