Just hanging around the Fells neighborhood on a beautiful spring day.
The Wellesley Fells area, a few spring pics
What’s behind that red door in Wellesley Square?
The Wellesley Free Library‘s main branch will remain closed for renovations throughout the summer, but its Temporary Main Library location at 50 Central Street in the former Talbots space has opened. Patrons can visit the Wellesley Square location to drop off returns, pick up holds, and express browse for 15-minutes.
We popped in to check out the lively scene. Here are some pics:
It’s worth noting that Talbots is still very much alive and well and selling modern classic clothing in Wellesley at its Linden Square location.
Good to know—book drop location; Temp, Hills, and Fells hours; parking
Wellesley library to open temporary location in the former Talbot’s space, and more details
The Wellesley Free Library has announced its Temporary Main Library location at 50 Central Street in the former Talbots space. Starting late April/early May (the exact date is still a moving target) patrons can visit the Wellesley Square location to drop off returns, pick up holds, and express browse for 15-minutes.
There will not be a book drop at the location, but a 24/7 manual book drop outside the Main Library parking garage entrance will be installed and accessible during the renovation.
There will be no access to the Main Library parking lot or the automated book drop.
The Main Library, which is getting a new roof and an interior renovation, will close on April 23 and is expected to reopen in early September.
Temporary Main Library hours, 50 Central St.:
Mon: 9am—8pm
Tues: 9am—8pm
Wed: 9am—8pm
Thurs: 9am—8pm
Fri: 9am—6pm
Sat: 9am—5pm
*Returns accepted during open hours.
*Limit of 10 patrons in building at one time
*Masks and social distancing required
What about the branches?
Starting April 27, holds pick-up and 15 minute express browsing will be available at the Hills & Fells Branches. Here are the details:
Hills Branch: 210 Washington Street
Tues: 10am—8pm
Wed: 10am—5pm
Thurs: 10am—8pm
Fri: 10am—5pm
*24/7 book drop available.
*Limit of 10 patrons in building at one time
*Masks and social distancing required
Fells Branch: 308 Weston Road
Tues: 10am—5pm
Wed: 10am—5pm
Thurs: 10am—5pm
Fri: 10am—5pm
*24/7 book drop available.
* Limit of 6 patrons in building at one time
* Masks and social distancing required
Branches to take over when Wellesley Free Library’s main building undergoes renovation
The main Wellesley Free Library building will be closed from the end of April until early September for renovations designed to modernize the facility with a more dynamic and interactive space for kids, more space for meetings, and even an area where you’ll be allowed to eat or drink.
In anticipation of the main library building temporarily closing, the Fells and Wellesley Hills branches will reopen in mid-April to provide express browsing, holds pickups, and materials returns, with extended hours offered, according to Cara Rothman, assistant director of the library. Reference and circulation assistance will be provided, too.
“New and popular titles will be moved from the main library and brought to the branches, and as new materials are processed they will be available through the branches,” Rothman says. “We will also receive deliveries at the branches from other Minuteman libraries to fulfill patrons requests.”
Virtual programs, technology training, ESL classes and reference assistance will continue to be available throughout the closure.
During the mail library shutdown, note that interlibrary loans outside of the Minuteman Library Network will be suspended. Also, the Library of Things will go into storage on March 15 and resurface in the fall.
When the main library reopens you can expect to see a transformed Children’s and Youth Room that welcomes more exploratory play. The current Media Room on the first floor will become The Commons, with seating, and large meeting rooms to provide a space for eating and drinking (the media collection of movies and music will be relocated to the second floor. The Periodical Room will share space with the Large Print collection. The second floor will gain more meeting rooms, seating and study areas, and the adult collection is being shifted to accommodate these changes.
Despite pandemic, Wellesley Society of Artists brings paintings out into the world
It’s been a long time since new art has graced the lobby of the Wellesley Free Library. In the first show to be hung there since the pandemic restrictions began, The Wellesley Society of Artists (WSA) showcases the diverse talent of 45 WSA Exhibiting Artists and includes paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed media. The show has been judged by Pat Walker, artist, teacher and art administrator. The works will be on display through November. Photos of the paintings can be viewed at [email protected] and on the group’s Facebook page.
First place award winner
Frederick Kubitz took first place for his painting Miss Bea, Georgia Shrimp Boat. The juror noted that when standing close to the painting, the viewer can see mastery of oil painting technique, strength of composition, and skilled placement of the lights and darks and warms and cools, which hold up from across the room.
Second place award winner
Recipient of the second place award is Jodi Traub for her painting Lush Gardens. The juror described was impressed by the beautiful marks, the layers of different colored plants, and the use of color and light pull, which pull the viewer into Traub’s pastel drawing.
Curbside pickup to end at library, but you can get by with a little help from the Friends
Curbside pickup at the Wellesley Free Library will end on November 25th, but Operation Friends can help. If you are unable or uncomfortable picking up your holds from the library, the Friends of the Wellesley Free Library can pick up and deliver your library materials directly to your door. To arrange for a delivery please call 781-235-1610 x 1117.
Library hours:
The main library located at 530 Washington Street is open for browsing the collection and checking out materials. The Fells and Hills branch libraries remain closed. The book drops at the main library and the branches are open for returns.
Mon. – Fri., 9 am – 10am is reserved for seniors and at-risk
Mon. – Thur., 10am- 2pm and 3pm- 8pm
Friday, 10am – 2pm and 3pm – 6pm
Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Sundays 1pm – 5pm
NOTE: The building is closed for cleaning Monday-Friday from 2-3 pm
More on the library’s phased re-opening plan.
Commonwealth Ballet Company to perform for Wellesley via Zoom
The Commonwealth Ballet Company will present a reading of the classic tale The Nutcracker at the Wellesley Free Library on Saturday, November 21, 11am – 11:45am. Several ballet dancers from the Company will help bring certain parts of story to life in their elegant and colorful costumes as the story is read aloud.
Afterwards, the dancers will stay on the call to answer questions about dancing and their costumes. All ages welcome.
