A pattern of watercolor flowers, with text reading "May 2026".
In this Issue

Programs for Adults
Home Delivery Through the Library
Programs for All Ages
Programs for T(w)eens
Family Cultural Passes for Spring
Programs for Children
Storytimes at our Libraries
STAFF PICKS: AANHPI Voices
Announcements
The second and third floors of the Central Library (Wellington Hall) will be closed for two weeks from April 27 through May 10 for building maintenance, and reopen on May 11. 
 
While Wellington Hall is closed, the Teen Room will be open to everyone during most normal library hours, except for 2:00 - 5:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and 12:00 - 5:00 pm on Wednesdays. These after-school hours will prioritize teen use of the room.
 
The Central Library Children's Room will be closed from May 8 through May 17 for building maintenance, and reopen on May 18.
 
Upcoming Closures:
All Somerville Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day.
Programs for Adults
A vibrant purple quil in an inkpot, with text reading "free write monday night at east branch" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
Free Write Monday Night
Monday, May 11 - 7:00 PM
East Branch
 
Come fight the Monday scaries with us! We'll write together for around an hour, with time reserved at the end to share with the group.
A photo of a crafted stamp and printing block, with text reading "stamp making and block printing" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
Stamp Making and Block Printing
Saturday, May 30 - 2:00 PM
Central Library Auditorium
 
Using soft linoleum and carving tools we will be designing our very own stamps!
A sewing machine and sewing notions with text reading "open sewing morning at west" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 2 - 10:00 AM
West Branch Community Room
An organized closet with red accent, with text reading "how to (easily) sort out your home this spring" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 6 - 7:00 PM
 Virtual on Zoom
A background photo of various herbs, with text reading "medicinal plan walk with herbalist Mo Katz-Christy" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 11 - 5:30 PM
 Central Library Lawn
A photo of a crafted miniature library in an altoids tin, with text reading "make a mini library" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 17 - 2:00 PM
 Central Library Auditorium
Illustrations of various sewn pockets, with text reading "the pocket club" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 20 - 6:00 PM
 West Branch Community Room
An example craft of a hexagon background with penguin stickers, with text reading "sticker and chill for adults" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 21 - 6:30 PM
 Central Library Auditorium
Home Delivery Through the Library
A 3d delivery person driving a motorbike, with text reading "home delivery services. if you are a Somerville resident who cannot come to the library because you are homebound, we'll come to you. We'll bring books, audiobooks, DVDs, music CDs, magazines. whatever you need. click this image to learn more" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
Programs for All Ages
Book Publishing Program: Book Launch Party 
Monday, May 4 - 6:00 PM
West Branch Atrium
 
Join us for a book launch party celebrating the program's sixteen amazing participants, with readings from their works.
A colorful stack of books, with text reading "west branch library book publishing program book launch party" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
Gardening Workshop with Green City Growers
Saturday, May 16 & 30 - 10:00 AM
Central Library Lawn
 
Join us in the library's demonstration garden for a hands-on organic gardening workshop!
A photo of seedlings being worked on in a dirt patch, with text reading "gardening workshops with green city growers" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
An example photo of a colorful floral hat, with text reading "how to make potpourri hats" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 7 - 6:30 PM
 Central Library Auditorium
An illustration of various balls of yarn and fiber craft notions, with text reading "knit club and fiber arts night" with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 13 - 7:00 PM
 Central Library Auditorium
A photo of a landscape bisected by a river, with text reading "film screening: memories flow beneath it: from valley to quabbin" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 31 - 2:00 PM
 Central Library Auditorium
A colorful comics-themed background, with text reading "save the date: comix con game on! On July 25, 2026, at the Central Library" and with link to comics con page on library website.
Programs for T(w)eens
A photo of a leather coin purse with various coins spilling out, with text reading "money 101: how bank accounts and credit cards work. for teens." and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
Banking 101 (for teens): How Bank Accounts and Credit Cards Work
Tuesday, May 19 - 4:00 PM
Central Library Auditorium
 
Don't learn about money the hard way!If you’ve never had a bank account or credit card, or do but don’t really know how the money systems work yet, this workshop is for you. 
A fancy invitation-style graphic with an illustrated 20-sided die, with text reading "one shot d&d campaign with danger wizard" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
One Shot D&D Campaign with Danger Wizard
Sunday, May 24 - 1:30 PM
Central Library Auditorium
 
Join us as we get ready for Comix Con 2026 with a special one-shot D&D campaign, exploring Danger Land!
A photograph of a bird house, with text reading "customize a bird house at the east branch for tweens" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 6 - 3:00 PM
 East Branch
An illustration of pizza and craft supplies in the background, with text reading "teen pizza and crafts at the west branch" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 11 - 6:30 PM
West Branch Children's Room
A photo of a bird house, with text reading "customize a bird house at the central library for teens" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 12 - 3:00 PM
 Central Library Auditorium
Family Cultural Passes for Spring
A botanical wallpaper background with logos for the boston children's museum, discovery museum, harvard museums of science and culture, museum of science, new endland aquarium, peabody essex museum, and the trustees of the reservations, with text reading "cultural passes to explore this spring. get free or discounted admission to local cultural attractions" and with link to details on the library website (opens in new tab).
Programs for Children
Bubble Party at West
Friday, May 8 - 3:00 PM
West Branch Backyard
 
Join us for bubbles, music, dancing, and more!
Three kids dancing to musical notes and bubbles, with text reading "bubble party at west" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
Cartooning Workshop for Kids with Rick Stromoski *
Saturday, May 16 - 3:00 PM
Central Library Auditorium
 
Kids ages 6 to 12 are invited to join award winning cartoonist Rick Stromoski in this fun and interactive class where they will learn how to draw animals!
Various cartoon characters assembled together, with text reading "cartooning workshop for kids with Rick Stromoski" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
Musical notes on a simple orange background, with text reading "music with little groove at east" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 1 - 10:30 AM
 East Branch
Musical notes and stars on a plain white background, with text reading "rock-a-bye beats at west" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 11 - 11:00 AM
 West Branch Children's Room
Various arts and crafts supplies, with text reading "drop in craft table" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 12 - 2:00 PM
 East Branch
A yellow LEGO plate background with loose LEGO heads featuring animated expressions, with text reading "LEGO club at central" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 14 - 4:00 PM
 Central Library Children's Room
Musical notes on a blue background, with text reading "sing along with music at the blissful" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 23 - 11:00 AM
 Central Library Auditorium
A photo of a happy french bulldog, with text reading "read to waffles the therapy dog" and with link to a detailed calendar listing (opens in new tab).
May 28 - 3:30 PM
 Central Library Children's Room
Registration opens 5/25
Storytimes at our Libraries
An open story book with a castle, unicorn, and T-rex sticking out of it, with text reading "storytimes at somerville public library. join us for stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays, and fun. At the central library every friday at 10:30 am for toddler story time and every fourth monday at 6:00 pm for pajama story time. at the east branch on wednesdays at 11:00 am for story time. at the west branch on fridays at 11:00 am for story time." and with link to more details on our website (opens in new tab).
STAFF PICKS: AANHPI Voices
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Celebrate with us by checking out one of our favorite reads highlighting AANHPI voices, history, and experiences!
The book cover to "Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America" by Jeff Chang, featuring a young Bruce Lee with his fist toward the reader with an illustrated dragon outline, and with link to the book in our catalog (opens in new tab).
This definitive biography of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee chronicles his success in breaking cultural barriers and in popularizing martial arts in the United States and beyond.
 
- Carrie, Reference Librarian
The book cover to "Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim" by Patricia Park, featuring a Latinx Korean-American teen stressed and on the verge of pulling her own hair out, with link to the book in our catalog (opens in new tab).
During her senior year, Alejandra deals with her grief over her father's death, tensions in a years-long friendship, and a new understanding of where she belongs and who she wants to be.
 
- Annie, Children's Librarian
The book cover to "A Tale for the Time Being" by Ruth Ozeki, featuring two figures holding hands between two mountains in a pool of water, rendered in a Japanese folk art style, with link to the book in our catalog (opens in new tab).
A writer on the coast of British Columbia finds a washed-up diary of a Japanese teenager who, before ending her life, decides to tell the story of her great-grandmother, a Buddhist nun.
 
- Karen, Deputy Director of Libraries
The book cover to "When Devils Sing" by Xan Kaur, featuring an illustration of a crow, snake, and cicada entwined together, with link to the book in our catalog (opens in new tab).
Four teens investigate strange happenings and the disappearance of a friend in their small southern town, leading them into the path of the ancient, systemic evil at its roots.
 
- Muhl, Generalist Librarian
The book cover to "Big Little Man: In Search of My Asian Self" by Alex Tizon, featuring a simple orange background and small outline of a faceless man, with link to the book in our catalog (opens in new tab).
Tizon recounts his experiences as a Filipino-American, reflects on how perceptions of Asians in western society shaped his sense of self, and embarks on an exploration of what it means to be Asian and American.
 
- Kevin, Head of Reference
The book cover to "The Duke Who Didn't" by Courtney Milan, featuring a woman in a passionate embrace with a half-shirtless man just seconds away from kissing, with link to the book in our catalog (opens in new tab).
A charming low stakes historical romance with lots of food content? I'm all in.
 
- Brigid, Community Services Librarian
For more suggestions, subscribe to our monthly book recommendation newsletters. From popular titles to genre fiction, there's probably a list that matches your interests. Subscribe here!
    
Somerville Public Library
79 Highland Ave | 40 College Ave | 115 Broadway, Somerville, Massachusetts 02143
617-623-5000
https://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/