Art Exhibit - Deborah Ellington: Bookish Art

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Bookish Art, a solo exhibition by Roslindale-based artist Deborah Elli......More

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Bookish Art, a solo exhibition by Roslindale-based artist Deborah Ellington In Bookish Art, Ellington transforms painted book pages and poetry into vivid hand-cut collages. Layering text, color, and shape, she builds unique compositions where typography becomes texture, shadow, and pattern. Each piece is carefully crafted—cut and assembled by hand—reflecting her deep appreciation for storytelling and visual form. With a background in technical theatre, painting, graphic design and advertising, Ellington draws on years of study at the Art Students League in New York and the Art Institute of Boston. Her discovery of collage as a medium allowed her to integrate skills in painting, design, and typography into a single expressive form. Inspired by the beauty and power of nature, Ellington’s work explores both two- and three-dimensional space. Her art captures the movement, essence, and complexity of the natural world, inviting viewers to experience its wonder through color, line, and form. Bookish Art is on view from May 1 – June 25, 2025, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, May 1, 2025, 5:30-7:30 pm.  The exhibition space is located on the lower level. This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of The City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library, a volunteer, community-based organization that seeks to enhance public awareness, recognition, status and financial support of the library system through advocacy and education. Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact jamaicaplain@bpl.org or 617-524-2053. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Art Exhibit - Deborah Ellington: Bookish Art

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Bookish Art, a solo exhibition by Roslindale-based artist Deborah Elli......More

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Bookish Art, a solo exhibition by Roslindale-based artist Deborah Ellington In Bookish Art, Ellington transforms painted book pages and poetry into vivid hand-cut collages. Layering text, color, and shape, she builds unique compositions where typography becomes texture, shadow, and pattern. Each piece is carefully crafted—cut and assembled by hand—reflecting her deep appreciation for storytelling and visual form. With a background in technical theatre, painting, graphic design and advertising, Ellington draws on years of study at the Art Students League in New York and the Art Institute of Boston. Her discovery of collage as a medium allowed her to integrate skills in painting, design, and typography into a single expressive form. Inspired by the beauty and power of nature, Ellington’s work explores both two- and three-dimensional space. Her art captures the movement, essence, and complexity of the natural world, inviting viewers to experience its wonder through color, line, and form. Bookish Art is on view from May 1 – June 25, 2025, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, May 1, 2025, 5:30-7:30 pm.  The exhibition space is located on the lower level. This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of The City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library, a volunteer, community-based organization that seeks to enhance public awareness, recognition, status and financial support of the library system through advocacy and education. Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact jamaicaplain@bpl.org or 617-524-2053. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Pre School Story Time

Story Time introduces your child to books, rhymes, rhythm, music, song, puppets, flannel board stories, taking turns, paying attention, and being in a group. Each session is typically 25 to 30 minutes in length to accommodate attention span and developmental levels, an......More

Story Time introduces your child to books, rhymes, rhythm, music, song, puppets, flannel board stories, taking turns, paying attention, and being in a group. Each session is typically 25 to 30 minutes in length to accommodate attention span and developmental levels, and some Story Times may also include a craft or other learning activity. All Story Times are different, and the pre schoolers will generally spend most of the time singing, dancing, and bouncing.  Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact the department listed in the "Contact Info" pane on the right. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Summer Story Time with Sherry Eskin

Join us for special story time with storyteller Sherry Eskin featuring songs, rhymes, activities, and picture books! This program is best suited for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers but older siblings are welcome! Program series dates are Wednesdays 6/18, 6/25,......More

Join us for special story time with storyteller Sherry Eskin featuring songs, rhymes, activities, and picture books! This program is best suited for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers but older siblings are welcome! Program series dates are Wednesdays 6/18, 6/25, 7/2, 7/23, and 7/30 at 10:30 am. This program will be held across the street from the closed Fields Corner Branch Library at Town Field/ Doherty Gibson Playground: 1565 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02122. Programming at the Boston Public Library is funded through private support. To learn more about supporting the Library, please visit the Boston Public Library Fund's website. Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact the department listed in the "Contact Info" pane on the right. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Drop-In Notary Service Hours

Come by any time during our open notary hours to get documents notarized. Please note the following: All forms must be complete except for signatures to be notarized. Do not sign the form until you are in the presence of a notary. You and any other signers must have......More

Come by any time during our open notary hours to get documents notarized. Please note the following: All forms must be complete except for signatures to be notarized. Do not sign the form until you are in the presence of a notary. You and any other signers must have an up-to-date, government issued photo ID with you, such as a passport, driver's license, or state ID. If your document(s) require witnesses, you must provide them yourself. If you need certified copies of documents notarized, please bring in the originals as well. We can only notarize documents in English. If you have any questions, you can email areiter@bpl.org or call the branch at 617-524-2053.

After School Crafts Club

Come to the Jamaica Plain Branch on Wednesday afternoons and join the After School Crafts Club!  Each week, Children's Librarian Chris will read a story and lead a related craft activity. Drop in and have fun! 

JP Writers' Corner

A community space to work on any writing project you want –– fiction, non-fiction, journalism, zines, poetry... We'll sit and write for an hour and have some time at the end to talk about our writing. All levels of writers are welcome, whether new or experienced. ......More

A community space to work on any writing project you want –– fiction, non-fiction, journalism, zines, poetry... We'll sit and write for an hour and have some time at the end to talk about our writing. All levels of writers are welcome, whether new or experienced. We will not critique work but are set up to provide a community of writers. Email Larry at ljb3892@gmail.com or jamaicaplain@bpl.org to ask any questions. Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact the department listed in the "Contact Info" pane on the right. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Art Exhibit - Joni Lohr: Inside Out

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Inside Out, a solo exhibition by West Roxbury-based photographer Joni ......More

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Inside Out, a solo exhibition by West Roxbury-based photographer Joni Lohr. Inside Out invites viewers to explore the haunting beauty of abandoned urban interiors as seen through the lens of Lohr’s camera. Her photographs reveal spaces left behind—buildings stripped to their studs or strewn with forgotten remnants of former lives—yet they resonate with a lingering spirit, an emotional imprint that echoes the lives of those who once occupied them. “My interest in urban architecture, particularly cities in transition, often draws me to the grittier parts of town,” says Lohr. “Stepping into an abandoned structure brings a sense of adventure tinged with melancholy. I am moved to bear witness to the untold stories of lives interrupted.” Lohr’s unique perspective highlights the stark contrast between interior disarray and the serene vistas glimpsed through shattered windows and broken doorways. These juxtapositions serve as quiet meditations on memory, time, and the layered histories embedded in our urban landscapes. Inside Out is on view from June 26 – August 27, 2025, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, June 26th, 2025, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday and Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays).  The exhibition space is located on the lower level. For more information about Joni's work visit their website here. This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library, a volunteer, community-based organization that seeks to enhance public awareness, recognition, status and financial support of the library system through advocacy and education. Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact jamaicaplain@bpl.org or 617-524-2053. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Public Reception for Art Exhibit - Joni Lohr: Inside Out

Stop by the public reception for Joni Lohr: Inside Out and talk with the artist about their work while enjoying some light refreshments. More on the Exhibit: The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston P......More

Stop by the public reception for Joni Lohr: Inside Out and talk with the artist about their work while enjoying some light refreshments. More on the Exhibit: The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Inside Out, a solo exhibition by West Roxbury-based photographer Joni Lohr. Inside Out invites viewers to explore the haunting beauty of abandoned urban interiors as seen through the lens of Lohr’s camera. Her photographs reveal spaces left behind—buildings stripped to their studs or strewn with forgotten remnants of former lives—yet they resonate with a lingering spirit, an emotional imprint that echoes the lives of those who once occupied them. “My interest in urban architecture, particularly cities in transition, often draws me to the grittier parts of town,” says Lohr. “Stepping into an abandoned structure brings a sense of adventure tinged with melancholy. I am moved to bear witness to the untold stories of lives interrupted.” Lohr’s unique perspective highlights the stark contrast between interior disarray and the serene vistas glimpsed through shattered windows and broken doorways. These juxtapositions serve as quiet meditations on memory, time, and the layered histories embedded in our urban landscapes. Inside Out is on view from June 26 – August 27, 2025, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, June 26th, 2025, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday and Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays).  The exhibition space is located on the lower level. For more information about Joni's work visit their website here. This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library, a volunteer, community-based organization that seeks to enhance public awareness, recognition, status and financial support of the library system through advocacy and education. Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact jamaicaplain@bpl.org or 617-524-2053. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Queer Reads Book Club: A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock

Join us for the Queer Reads Book Club! Each month we will read a book by an LGBTQ author. Copies of each month’s book will be available at the Jamaica Plain Branch and on Libby/Overdrive.  For June, we will be reading A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock: It is an un......More

Join us for the Queer Reads Book Club! Each month we will read a book by an LGBTQ author. Copies of each month’s book will be available at the Jamaica Plain Branch and on Libby/Overdrive.  For June, we will be reading A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock: It is an unusual thing, to live in a botanical garden. But Simon and Gregor are an unusual pair of gentlemen. Hidden away in their glass sanctuary from the disapproving tattle of Victorian London, they are free to follow their own interests without interference. For Simon, this means long hours in the dark basement workshop, working his taxidermical art. Gregor's business is exotic plants - lucrative, but harmless enough. Until his latest acquisition, a strange fungus which shows signs of intellect beyond any plant he's seen, inspires him to attempt a masterwork: true intelligent life from plant matter. Driven by the glory he'll earn from the Royal Horticultural Society for such an achievement, Gregor ignores the flaws in his plan: that intelligence cannot be controlled; that plants cannot be reasoned with; and that the only way his plant-beast will flourish is if he uses a recently deceased corpse for the substrate. The experiment - or Chloe, as she is named - outstrips even Gregor's expectations, entangling their strange household. But as Gregor's experiment flourishes, he wilts under the cost of keeping it hidden from jealous eyes. The mycelium grows apace in this sultry greenhouse. But who is cultivating whom? Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact the department listed in the "Contact Info" pane on the right. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Art Exhibit - Joni Lohr: Inside Out

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Inside Out, a solo exhibition by West Roxbury-based photographer Joni ......More

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Inside Out, a solo exhibition by West Roxbury-based photographer Joni Lohr. Inside Out invites viewers to explore the haunting beauty of abandoned urban interiors as seen through the lens of Lohr’s camera. Her photographs reveal spaces left behind—buildings stripped to their studs or strewn with forgotten remnants of former lives—yet they resonate with a lingering spirit, an emotional imprint that echoes the lives of those who once occupied them. “My interest in urban architecture, particularly cities in transition, often draws me to the grittier parts of town,” says Lohr. “Stepping into an abandoned structure brings a sense of adventure tinged with melancholy. I am moved to bear witness to the untold stories of lives interrupted.” Lohr’s unique perspective highlights the stark contrast between interior disarray and the serene vistas glimpsed through shattered windows and broken doorways. These juxtapositions serve as quiet meditations on memory, time, and the layered histories embedded in our urban landscapes. Inside Out is on view from June 26 – August 27, 2025, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, June 26th, 2025, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday and Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays).  The exhibition space is located on the lower level. For more information about Joni's work visit their website here. This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library, a volunteer, community-based organization that seeks to enhance public awareness, recognition, status and financial support of the library system through advocacy and education. Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact jamaicaplain@bpl.org or 617-524-2053. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Age Strong Commission's Memory Café

The Memory Café is a free program for those living with memory loss, their loved ones, and care partners. Engage in social and artistic activities, while light refreshments are served.  For more info and to RSVP, contact Corinne White at corinne.white@boston.gov or by ......More

The Memory Café is a free program for those living with memory loss, their loved ones, and care partners. Engage in social and artistic activities, while light refreshments are served.  For more info and to RSVP, contact Corinne White at corinne.white@boston.gov or by calling 617-635-3745.

Become a Reading Tutor with Literations

Join us for an upcoming Literations Information Session to learn how you can make a difference in a young student’s life by volunteering as a literacy mentor. We'll share details about our mission, what the volunteer experience looks like, and how to get involved. No p......More

Join us for an upcoming Literations Information Session to learn how you can make a difference in a young student’s life by volunteering as a literacy mentor. We'll share details about our mission, what the volunteer experience looks like, and how to get involved. No prior experience necessary—just a passion for helping others!

Drop-In Notary Service Hours

Come by any time during our open notary hours to get documents notarized. Please note the following: All forms must be complete except for signatures to be notarized. Do not sign the form until you are in the presence of a notary. You and any other signers must have......More

Come by any time during our open notary hours to get documents notarized. Please note the following: All forms must be complete except for signatures to be notarized. Do not sign the form until you are in the presence of a notary. You and any other signers must have an up-to-date, government issued photo ID with you, such as a passport, driver's license, or state ID. If your document(s) require witnesses, you must provide them yourself. If you need certified copies of documents notarized, please bring in the originals as well. We can only notarize documents in English. If you have any questions, you can email areiter@bpl.org or call the branch at 617-524-2053.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Conversation Group

Practice speaking English with other adult learners in an informal and friendly group setting led by a volunteer teacher. Class requires basic English-speaking skills. Beginning students should contact the Literacy Services department for a list of beginner class opti......More

Practice speaking English with other adult learners in an informal and friendly group setting led by a volunteer teacher. Class requires basic English-speaking skills. Beginning students should contact the Literacy Services department for a list of beginner class options.  This is a drop-in program. No registration is required. For more information, contact the Jamaica Plain Branch Library at 617-524-2053 or Literacy Services at 617-859-2446 or literacyservices@bpl.org.

Pajama Story Time

Send your children off to dreamland with this fun pajama story time!  Every story time consists of three stories, finger plays, songs, and some prop activities.  Come one come all!  Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disabilit......More

Send your children off to dreamland with this fun pajama story time!  Every story time consists of three stories, finger plays, songs, and some prop activities.  Come one come all!  Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact the department listed in the "Contact Info" pane on the right. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Art Exhibit - Joni Lohr: Inside Out

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Inside Out, a solo exhibition by West Roxbury-based photographer Joni ......More

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library, in partnership with the Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, is thrilled to announce the next exhibit in its 2025 rotating art program: Inside Out, a solo exhibition by West Roxbury-based photographer Joni Lohr. Inside Out invites viewers to explore the haunting beauty of abandoned urban interiors as seen through the lens of Lohr’s camera. Her photographs reveal spaces left behind—buildings stripped to their studs or strewn with forgotten remnants of former lives—yet they resonate with a lingering spirit, an emotional imprint that echoes the lives of those who once occupied them. “My interest in urban architecture, particularly cities in transition, often draws me to the grittier parts of town,” says Lohr. “Stepping into an abandoned structure brings a sense of adventure tinged with melancholy. I am moved to bear witness to the untold stories of lives interrupted.” Lohr’s unique perspective highlights the stark contrast between interior disarray and the serene vistas glimpsed through shattered windows and broken doorways. These juxtapositions serve as quiet meditations on memory, time, and the layered histories embedded in our urban landscapes. Inside Out is on view from June 26 – August 27, 2025, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, June 26th, 2025, 5:30-7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday and Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays).  The exhibition space is located on the lower level. For more information about Joni's work visit their website here. This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library, a volunteer, community-based organization that seeks to enhance public awareness, recognition, status and financial support of the library system through advocacy and education. Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact jamaicaplain@bpl.org or 617-524-2053. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Baby Story Time

Story Time introduces your child to books, rhymes, rhythm, music, song, puppets, flannel board stories, taking turns, paying attention, and being in a group. Each session is typically 25 to 30 minutes in length to accommodate attention span and developmental levels, an......More

Story Time introduces your child to books, rhymes, rhythm, music, song, puppets, flannel board stories, taking turns, paying attention, and being in a group. Each session is typically 25 to 30 minutes in length to accommodate attention span and developmental levels, and some Story Times include a craft or other learning activity. All story times are different, and the babies will generally spend most of the story time, singing, dancing, and bouncing.  Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact the department listed in the "Contact Info" pane on the right. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Library Drop-In Hours at Chill on Park

Do you have questions about using your computer, cell phone, tablet, or eBooks? Would you like to take advantage of one of the many online resources available with a BPL card?  The Fields Corner Branch librarians can help! Please meet us at Chill on Park; located at......More

Do you have questions about using your computer, cell phone, tablet, or eBooks? Would you like to take advantage of one of the many online resources available with a BPL card?  The Fields Corner Branch librarians can help! Please meet us at Chill on Park; located at 142 Park Street, Dorchester, MA 02122 (across from the Fields Corner Branch Library). Laptops and limited printing will be available.  A selection of Lucky Day books will be available for checkout, and we will also be able to create library cards and help with requesting books if needed.  Questions? Email us at fieldscorner@bpl.org. Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact the department listed in the "Contact Info" pane on the right. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

LEGO Club

Now's the time to think big and build that LEGO creation of your dreams! Children ages four and up are invited to join us in the Children's Room to build and play. We have the LEGOs, just bring your imagination!