Library News

Download the new and improved RPL app!

This article and online presentation from Grow Native Massachusetts makes the case to leave the leaves for biodiversity in your garden.

We are excited to be using Rooted in Reading grant funds to put in a number of natve plants around the library. Native plants are a critical part of the food chain and strengthen the local ecosystem.

As part of our Rooted in Reading grant, RPL is installing an example sensory garden.  This small area highlights different ways to experience a garden. They can help people connect with nature and become more aware of their surroundings.

The Library will open on Sundays from 1-5 pm, starting this Sunday, October 6th.

Rooted in Reading will take place in three phases. Kicking off this fall, all gardens required planning and preparation. There is a lot to do from design to digging, from selecting plants to sowing seeds. Things that are happening for “Beneath the Surface” of Rooted in Reading

Back to school means back to classes, homework, and tests. Don’t worry – the library can help! Get access to live tutors and more with Brainfuse.

Preserve your fruit and vegetables with the Granite Canning Kit from the RPL Library of Things collection.

The votes are in, and our new grant program will be called “Rooted in Reading.” Rooted in Reading launches one year of programming, services, and greenscape improvements to establish RPL as the horticultural hub for the Town of Reading.

Check out our fall programs. There is something for everyone!

On July 11, The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) direct grants to the Reading Public Library. The $20,000 grant, which runs from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, will allow the Reading Public Library to further develop and expand education with garden and nature-based learning spaces.

Borrow a tent or a metal detector from our Library of Things collection.

Booklists for Summer Sizzlers are now available right here!

This event was brought to you through the generosity of the Friends of the Reading Public Library.

Check out a list of mystery books for the Stick With Summer Reading program.

Go old school and borrow our CD player! 

Borrow the Digital Projector today!

WOM’s favorite reads from 2023!

Our Library of Things collection has a Dementia Friendly section.

Book a meeting room space today!

We updated our SmartStart collection with new titles!

Borrow our Mah-Jongg set from the Library of Things collection and see what all the fuss is about!

Browse the new additions to the collection and place holds on your favorites!

Browse the new additions to the collection and place holds on your favorites!

Are you a musician, a podcaster, or aspiring to be one? 

Booklists for Summer Sizzlers are now available right here!

This event was brought to you through the generosity of the Friends of the Reading Public Library.

Discover WOM’s favorite reads from 2022!

Have some fun in the sun with yard games from our Library of Things!

Borrow our four-piece tool kit and easily update your home.

Visit the Edward Gorey House and enjoy a discounted rate with a library pass.

Have you ever wondered what type of bird is making that sound?  Now you can find out!  

Are you interested in gardening? Seasoned and new growers alike are welcome to use our new Seed Library.

Visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History and enjoy a discounted rate with a library pass.

Are you learning a new language or need homework help? Borrow the LingoPen.

Are you looking for a romantic afternoon or a way to celebrate spring? Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum!

Are you looking for a way to preserve videotapes?   Transfer them digitally with the DVD Recorder!

On Monday, January 30, the American Library Association Youth Media Awards were announced. Did you know 2 of your librarians helped pick the winners?

The Reading Public Library has a variety of tools to help those with vision and hearing needs.

Visit the Discovery Museum where play matters!

Borrow the Dremel Rotary Tool today!

Borrow a Chromebook for use in the library or at home. And don’t forget, we lend WIFI Hotspots too.

The RPL Healing Library is a series of kits customized with books and resources to help a person, group or family navigate areas of trauma and personalize the healing process.

Borrow the Oculus Quest 2: Virtual Reality Kit.

Develop about a better understanding and more engaged practice of using body neutral language.

Scan your documents and receipts with the ScanSnap Color Image Scanner.

Explore local trails with these resources available through Reading’s Trail Map Library!

Inclusive hiking trips and trails are offered to you as part of our Community Read.

The Library is a cooling center for the Town of Reading.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Celebrate spring with our gardening collection.

Are you ready to jazz up your music selections?

Embrace the wanderlust!

Are you ready to rock?

Visit a museum during February vacation.

This Valentine’s Day speed date dozens of books to find your perfect match!

Check out our latest addition: a kids’ hieroglyphics kit!

See what won this year’s most distinguished awards for children’s and teen literature – the Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Printz, and more!

Check out these books about Martin Luther King Jr. Day and race in America.

Here are some key happenings and highlights from 2021. Stay tuned for our latest programming and services throughout 2022.

Borrow our ring sizer and size that ring!

Enjoy the ultimate karaoke experience with the Moukey Karaoke Machine!

Explore the distinct cinematic style of film noir with kanopy during Noirvember.

From cozy to creepy, we have a mystery for everyone.

Borrow our page magnifier to view words up to 3X the original size.

Explore Comics & Graphic Novels with Hoopla!

Censorship divides us. Celebrate reading during Banned Books Week and all year!

From computer basics to advanced software, you can conquer the keyboard with free online tutorials. Both LearningExpress and Brainfuse Help Now offer computer skills lessons.

Narration and fine art together as one!

Get excited for back to school with some of our favorite movies set in high school.

Now Streaming Thoughtful Entertainment

Pronouns: why do we use them, and how do they encourage inclusion, diversity, and acceptance? Read this post to learn more about the significance of pronouns and find resouces on gender and inclusion from our collections.

Check out the Trustees GO Pass and the Boating in Boston pass!  These passes provide free or reduced admission to local outdoor spaces and places!

The Library is a cooling center for the Town of Reading.

Celebrate Audiobook Month with Hoopla!

Visit the Ecotarium in Worcester. This pass provides a 50% discount for up to 2 adults and 2 children in one vehicle. Children under 2 free.

The 2021 winner of the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award was recently announced. Congratulations to…

If you’re looking for a fun and educational app or video game for your children, hopping onto Google or the app store can be overwhelming. We’ve put together a brief list of trusted sources you can turn to for app reviews and recommendations.

Do you have a young child who loves to play, learn, and figure things out? Our new Go & Grow items are a fun way to learn about problem solving and coding logic.

We are so excited to announce that our Library of Things and Go and Grow collections are BACK! 

Bridgerton Fans, rejoice!

Check out our newest collection- Binge Boxes!

Do you have Mars madness in anticipation of NASA’s Perseverence rover touching down on February 22? We do! Check out our recommended reads and online resources for more exploration.

The Reading Public Library is pleased to add Chromebooks to our library circulating collection.

Learn about over 450 current and historic Black figures. Pop stars, politicians, artists, scientists, and more!

Your RPL Children’s librarians have recorded over 50 storytimes for you! Our recorded storytimes are fun and engaging educational videos.

Some great books recommended by RPL Staff!

Learning a language can be fun and rewarding, but also challenging. Add in remote schooling, and it can get even harder! If you’d like some ways to practice your skills and support the language learning you’re doing in school or at home, check out our free resources.

Do you have a student at home who could use some extra assistance? Log onto Brainfuse HelpNow, select your grade and subject area, and get connected to a live tutor.

If you’re looking for entertaining and educational activities for your young children over the holiday break, check out our DIY Storytimes!

What topic are you studying? Art, science, literature, history, economics, psychology… There’s a database for that!

Looking for the perfect gift for the big readers on your list?

Looking for the perfect gift for teen readers?

TumbleBooks is a wonderful way to support your child’s ELA curriculum. It’s packed with animated, talking picture books! And if you’re looking to sneak a little math into the school day, try TumbleMath.

Stream shows from PBS Kids, language learning programs like Little Pimm and BBC Muzzy, family-friendly movies, and popular picture book films with Kanopy Kids.

We offer three outstanding Scholastic Flix products for grades PreK to 8. They offer interactive content to support science, social studies, and ELA curriculum.

Did you know we have an entire Parent/Teacher book collection? It includes books about child development and education. We’ve purchased quite a few titles about homeschooling, some of which are featured here.

November is Native American Heritage Month. If you haven’t yet read a book by a Native author, now’s the perfect time!

There’s an abundance of bundles in the Children’s Room! Make a browsing appointment and stop by to pick up some curated bundles of picture books on a variety of favorite topics.

Do you watch our What’s New in the Children’s Room videos?  Here is the list of things (in order by title) that Miss Olivia has talked about! Sign into your account and place any of them on hold!

Book & media lists for you to explore.

Book & media lists for you to explore.

Book & media lists for you to explore.

On Wednesday, August 26, stop by the School Street side of the library to see an outdoor display dedicated to the Suffrage movement and from 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm.

Reading Public Library is celebrating 100 years of U.S. women earning the right to vote with a Massachusetts Humanities grant- The Vote: Exploring Voting Rights in America. Join us on Wednesday, July 29th at our kick-off event to celebrate and learn with author Tina Cassidy.

Awareness, discussion, and action can all lead to change. Wherever you are on your journey, information is power. This guide was created to help youth grades 6-12 process events surrounding the killing of George Floyd.

We’ve put together a starter list of multi-generational book recommendations to support and understand the current protests and the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Reading Public Library, along with co-sponsor, the Reading Garden Club held our first large virtual program: Why Native Plants Matter on Tuesday, April 28th.

Borrow the Bushnell Binoculars today!

With the growing amount of online activity teens and kids are engaged in, it’s important for them to know how to make smart choices. Engage the whole family with some of these resources, games and activities on Digital Citizenship.

Gone through all the teen books you had at home and need more? Don’t forget about e-book options available for free on the Libby app!

Our themed backpacks are super popular. Just grab a bag, check it out, and you have 10 picture books to read at home!

Are you logging into your account for the first time?

Access ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines from home.

New in the Children’s Room: one-stop shopping for all those superhero fans out there.

Teen hip-hop aficionados or the casual listener shouldn’t miss a beat with these selected books! Bob your head and tap your toes as you explore these fiction, poetry and nonfiction titles suitable for teens.

In February we wish our loved ones a Happy Valentine’s Day. But we can celebrate every day of the year with these picture books about love, friendship, and family.

Do you know a young reader who is ready to move on from easier texts, but is not quite ready for long chapter books? Check out our new First Chapter section!

Give your child the confidence to eventually become a successful reader. Sign up for our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program today!

Welcome, Year of the Rat! Learn about and celebrate Chinese New Year with a great children’s book.

Puberty freaks parents out at least as much as it does teens. Faced with questions they may not be comfortable answering and perhaps hazy on their facts, teens could use a good book (or two or three…) or digital resource on the subject!

Have fun making your own holiday “thank you” cards with our paper craft kit!

Hoopla is a free streaming service of always available popular materials. Plus hoopla’s Kids Mode means only family-friendly content will appear when you browse.

She possessed a stunning beauty. She also possessed a stunning mind. Could the world handle both? Your group will love this powerful novel based on an incredible true story.

Do you have lots of boxes around the house from holiday purchases and shipping? Keep the kids busy and creative with all that cardboard!

Use your imagination to bring 10 animal puppets to life, and put on a show for your family and friends.

If you have a child and/or teen showing an interest in STEM or a budding computer scientist on your hands, be sure to explore all the library has to offer! From recommended apps and websites, to books and even gadgets, we’ve got you covered.

Borrow the Panasonic Video Camera for when you need something more powerful than your smartphone camera.

Multimedia books are perfect for emerging readers; your child can listen to a story and read along.

It’s the season for giving thanks and sharing with others. Why not start by sharing some of these picture books with the kids in your life?

Whether you’re choosing a college to attend or cramming for an exam, we have the books for you!

Have a gander at these bloody brilliant British TV series

Stop by the shelves under the window in nonfiction to browse our huge collection of Who Was, What Was, and Where Is titles.

Well known for its documentary, independent and foreign film collection, did you know the streaming service Kanopy also has an entire Kids section?

Getting stuck in rush hour has never been so much fun! This kit includes the all-consuming logic game, “Rush Hour,” along with two brain puzzle books.

Do you love to knit? Are you looking for any easier way to wind your yarn?

Here are some picture books with characters who have to get creative and problem-solve. Put one on hold easily here!

Borrow one of our 5 early literacy kits and have fun Singing, Reading, Writing, Talking & Playing!

It’s time for school so make some noise! ! This Kids’ First Music Kit is a great introduction to playing any instrument.

Borrow the Dremel Rotary Tool today!

Try “reading the pictures” in these detailed and intriguing wordless picture books. Reading Rockets says “sharing wordless books is a terrific way to build important literacy skills, including listening skills, vocabulary, comprehension and an increased awareness of how stories are structured.” Put one on hold today!

Crayons and brushes in Reading’s 19th century classrooms? Learn more about “The Supervisor of Drawing” from what back when!

Check out “The Movie Queen” for a glimpse of 1935 Reading–from its businesses, factories and churches, to its people!

Borrow a tent from our Library of Things collection.

Here are some opportunities to play, sing, and connect with other itsy bitsy readers!

Escape the heat and chill out with a movie!

Click the link below to browse a list of some of our favorite summer movies in the library catalog.

Summer Movies

Spark your child’s interest with this easy to use and fun Kids’ Robotics Kit!

What was the fire protection plan back in 1673? When did Reading get it’s first fire truck? Find out how far we have come over the last 375 years!

Looking for a fun book to read at nighttime? Check out this list of excellent books to read aloud with the entire family:

Have you been wanting to dip your toes into the world of VR? Try out virtual reality technologies with this new Library of Things kit recommended for kids ages 10 and up.

Learn more about Reading’s own “100 Acre” story!

e-books for e-kids! Unlimited, free, always available streaming books for kids K-6 with Tumblebooks.

If you enjoyed One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus, then try one of these teen reads…

Kanopy free on-demand streaming with more than 30,000 of the world’s best films, including award-winning documentaries, rare and hard-to-find titles, film festival favorites, indie and classic films, and world cinema.

Check out one of these awesome LEGO books today and start building your universe!

Explore early coding concepts with the Cubetto game in our Kids’ First Coding Kit! For kids 3 and up.

It’s time for caps and gowns all around the country!  Whether you know a recent grad, or are an alum of Reading Memorial High School, check out over 90 historic editions  “The Pioneer” online

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’d like to share this book list with you. Put them on hold easily via the links in this post.

Invite your kids to join in on the joy of cooking with the Kids’ Kitchen Pretend Play Kit.

Take a look at the old photographs from Reading’s industrial history. Do you recognize any of the buildings?

As we look forward to the spring and summer, here are some fun books for all ages to learn about where our food comes from and how to cook it!