Milton Public Library to offer variety of adult programs throughout February

Avoid winter boredom at Milton Public Library

During the month of February, the Milton Public Library is the place to be for fun events for adults and families, as we celebrate Black History. We will start off with a Gospel Concert on Saturday, February 2nd, starting at 2:00 p.m., directed by Brother Dennis Slaughter, who also directs the Boston Community Gospel Choir and is Director of Music at the Parkway Church in Milton. This will be a fun family event suitable for all ages. Boston Globe film critics Ty Burr and Janice Page are back for their annual “Handicapping the Oscars” banter on Wednesday, February 6th at 7:00 p.m. Join these two savvy and entertaining writers as they predict what movies may win and those that won’t. Don’t miss it if you love films! The “Library Knitting Group” will happen on Thursday, February 7th at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 16th at 10:00 a.m. in the Conference Room. Drop in with your project and meet new friends.

Staff members Sally Lawler and Sara Truog will hold the “Celebrity Book Club” on Thursday, February 7th at 7:00 p.m., and the book to be read in advance is An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (c2018). The title was recommended by Oprah Winfrey and this is a fun, relaxed discussion of books recommended by popular celebrities. Check our website for further details. On Sunday, February 10th at 2:00 p.m., there will be a program called “Shakespeare on Film” with Instructor David Smith. Mr. Smith returns to the Library to select one of the Bard’s best, you pick up a copy at the Library (or order it online through the catalog), read it before the session, and then share your thoughts and hear others do the same. Attendees will watch several depictions of the play presented on film. No signup is required. Tech librarian Chris Callaghan will offer “Google Photos with Chris” on Monday, February 11th, at 7:00 p.m.. Running out of space on your phone or tablet due to the amount of pictures you have? Learn how to use the free Google Photos app to save them in the cloud and how to access them later. This requires a Google Account and a smartphone or tablet that can run the latest Google Photos app. It’s limited to 10 patrons and laptops will be provided. Registration is required opens on January 28th at our website.

Photographer Peter Christoph returns on Tuesday, February 12th at 7:00 p.m., to give a talk called “Kilimanjaro: Journey to the Roof of Africa.” If you love travel and taking photos, this presentation will provide the audience with both fascinating elements, as Peter takes them on a journey through 5 climate zones, from tropical rain forest to arctic conditions in his quest for the summit of 19,340 foot high Mt., Kilimanjaro. Library Director Will Adamczyk who will hold his “Eclectic Book Group” on February 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room. The title to be read in advance is Only Killers and Thieves (c2018) by Paul Howath. This is an epic tale of revenge and survival set in 1885, and it is a gripping and utterly transporting debut, bringing to vivid life a colonial Australia. A tragic act of violence changes the lives of two brothers forever. Please join Will for a chat about this book not to be missed. Also on Wednesday, February 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the Keys Community Room there will be an author talk by Dr. Monique Tello about her new book, Healthy Habits for Your Heart (c2018). Here you will find over 100 heart-related habits, exercises, and strategies you can implement in your daily life to improve your heart health. Dr. Tello is a practicing primary care physician at MA General Hospital, an instructor at Harvard Medical School, and a published clinical researcher. Please come and enjoy her talk as copies of her book will be for sale.

There will be a second concert on Saturday, February 16th at 2:00 p.m., called “A Celebration of African American Composers” with the John Kordalewski Jazz Quintet. John is a talented pianist and the Director of the Makanda Project in Roxbury. The other players will be Bill Lowe on trombone, Paavo Carey on tenor sax, Carlos Pino on bass, and Marcelo Perez on drums. This is a tribute to some incredible jazz players and writers performed by some fabulous musicians, so please do not miss this enjoyable event!

The “Tuesday Night at the Movies” pick for February 19th, starting promptly at 6:30 p.m., is “Get Out” starring Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams. Now that Chris and his girlfriend, Rose, have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy and Dean. At first Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined. It is rated R for violence, bloody images, and language. This film is a horror-thriller that tackles timely issues related to race in a very thoughtful way. It is best for older teens and up, as it does deal with mature material. The movie contains violence and bloody scenes, including a surgery. Please read up more on the movie if you have questions about the content. Director Jordan Peele won the Academy Award for “best original screenplay,” making him the first African-American to win this award for his very first film. On Tuesday, February 19th, Chris Callaghan will hold a “Drop-in Device Help with Chris” session and again on Tuesday, February 26th, both starting at 10:00 a.m. in the Conference Room. So stop by with your electronic device to get help downloading Ebooks, audiobooks, music or movies, and no advance sign-up is required.

And finally on Wednesday, February 27th at 7:00 p.m., Professor Julie Winch who teaches history at the U. MA, Boston, will give a talk about her book, Between Slavery and Freedom: Free People of Color in America from Settlement to the Civil War (c2016). This work explores the complex world of those people of African birth or descent who occupied the “borderlands” between slavery and freedom in the 350 years from the founding of the first European colonies in what is today the United States to the start of the Civil War. Join her for a fascinating look at a very important topic during this period when we celebrate Black History.

About these programs:

All of these programs are kindly sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library and are free and open to the public. They will be held in the Keys Community Room unless otherwise noted here. For more information, go to our website: www.miltonlibrary.org. The Library is located at 476 Canton Avenue, Milton.