News & Events
Hours of Operation Changes
Please note that the Library will be closed Saturdays until they resume on September 12th. Sundays will resume in October dependent on funding. Beginning July 2nd, The Children’s Room will be open from 1pm - 9 pm on Thursdays during the summer. The Fox Branch will be open on Wednesdays from noon - 8 pm.
Morningstar Investment Research Center
Arlington residents can now access comprehensive up-to-date financial information on stocks, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds through Morningstar Investment Research Center through Robbins Library, either in the library or at home. Included is financial data on 7,000+ stocks, 23,000+ mutual funds and 600+ exchange-traded funds. The service includes up-to-date and historical financial information, analysts’ reports, stock and fund recommendations, a stock and fund screening tool, a portfolio analysis tool, industry information, and various learning tools for investors. New users can learn more about this very rich resource by accessing this database and clicking the “Help and Education” tab. Click on Online Databases and select Morningstar Investment Research Center. You will be prompted to enter your library card number.
Mini-Laptops Available
Mini-Laptops are available at the Circulation Desk for Adults (18+) with photo ID for use in the library. Are you thinking of buying a netbook for yourself and want to give one a test drive or do you need a laptop to get some work done at a study carrel and need Wi-Fi and air conditioning? We have those too! This service was funded by the Friends of the Robbins Library.
Library Wins PR Awards
The Robbins Library has received two public relations awards from the Massachusetts Library Association. The library was awarded first prize for its “It Makes Cents” campaign that raised sufficient funds to open the library on Sunday afternoons from April 2008 to May 2009. The library is again soliciting funds to open the library on Sundays beginning next October. The online children’s newsletter was awarded third prize. The awards were presented at the Association’s Annual Conference in Springfield. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges from the public relations, press and library fields. Evaluation criteria included graphic design, originality and presentation.
Sundays at Robbins - It Makes Cents
Every Sunday since last October an average of 300 patrons walked through the doors of the Robbins Library between 2-5 pm – an act made possible by the generosity of the Arlington community and one matching donor. The Trustees and the Friends of the Robbins are running a fundraising drive to make this happen again for the coming year.
The goal of $38,200 is an ambitious one because half the money raised last year was from a single matching gift, which we do not have this year. However, given the popularity of Sundays and increasing Library usage caused by the economic downturn, the Trustees and Friends believe that Sunday openings are even more important.
For information on our donor program click here. Every gift, no matter how large, makes a difference. Sundays at Robbins - It makes cents!
Playaways are Here
A Playaway is an entire, pre-loaded audio book that is about half the size of a deck of cards. Like an IPOD or other MP3 player, you can listen to it anywhere! All you need to listen to an entire story are earphones and a triple (AAA) battery.
• The universal headphone jack will allow you to use your car adapter to listen to it on car trips or to plug into portable speakers and audio cables.
• Playaways have an automatic bookmark feature that will remember where you stopped listening and allow you to start again easily.
• Playaways have adjustable volume and narrator speed as well as the ability to easily jump back and forth from chapter to chapter.
Check out titles like:
Sid Fleischman’s “The Whipping Boy”
Neal Gaiman’s “The Graveyard Book”
and
“Magyk” by Septimus Heap
For the younger crowd:
Sara Pennypacker’s “Clementine” and Suzy Kline’s “Horrible Harry”
Watch for more new titles coming soon!
Free Computer Training
Sign up for an individual one-hour session with a trained “Teen Tech Tutor” from Arlington High School or another area high school. One hour sessions will be held on Thursday mornings, July 16 through August 6, 10-11 a.m. and 11 a.m.-12 noon at Robbins Library. Learn how to use a mouse; search the library’s catalog; search the Internet, and set up an email account. Call the Reference Desk at 781-316-3233 to schedule your one-hour session.
Teen Battle of the Bands
Calling all teen bands. Get ready to rock this town!!! The Robbins Library wants you to share your talent with us at our Battle of the Bands event.
Event Date: Thursday, August 20st (rain date August 27th)
Time: 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: behind the library on the Whittemore Robbins House lawn
Make a demo CD of your band and hand it in with your application to be one of four bands selected this summer. Submissions are due between Wednesday, May 27th and Wednesday, June 10th at the Robbins Library reference desk (700 Massachusetts Avenue).
Please download an application.
We’re looking for bands that exhibit musicianship, professionalism, stage presence and originality. At least one band member must be an Arlington resident. Band members must be between the ages of 11 and 18. Band members must be available for both the scheduled date and the rain date (August 20th and 27th). Please be sure to hand in a demo CD, contact information including band members names, phone numbers and emails with your application.
For questions or more information, please call Emily Canniff, Teen Librarian, at 781-316-3226 or email her at .