Programs for Adults

Fox Walking Club

Monday, Nov.  29

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Fox Library

We meet at the library and walk between 1.5-3 miles mostly along the Arlington Cultural District and Minuteman Bikeway. This is a great way to stay active and make some new friends in your community. Getting regular physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your health. All ages welcome! Weather permitting.

 Climate Futures Species Adaptation Art Exhibit

through Nov. 30

Robbins Library Reading Room

Featuring artwork by Arlington High School students, this exhibit imagines how endangered life forms might evolve to preserve themselves during the climate crisis. The exhibit will be on display at the Robbins Library Reading Room for Nov.. Remembrance of Climate Futures is a regional public art project led by artist Tom Starr and the Arlington component is organized by the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture, the Arlington Public Schools Sustainability Initiatives, and the Arlington Department of Planning and Community Development with funding from MAPC.

Room on the Broom Storywalk

through Nov. 30

Arlington Heights

Enjoy a stroll and a story through the business district in Arlington Heights. Room on The Broom by Julia Donaldson will be on display in the windows of local businesses on Mass Ave through Nov. 30! Storywalk Arlington Heights is sponsored by the Arlington Libraries Foundation.

Tiny Art Show

through Nov.   30

Fox Library

Come pick up a blank tiny canvas from the Fox Library anytime in November. Get creative and decorate the canvas at home with whatever medium you prefer.

Library Events in December

Contact:  Anna Litten, Assistant Director of Libraries, 781-316-3202 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Holiday Hours

Robbins and Fox libraries are closed on Friday, December 24 and Saturday, December 25 in observance of Christmas.  

Robbins and Fox libraries are closed on Saturday, January 1 in observance of New Year’s Day.  

Mask up in the library

In accordance with Arlington’s mask mandate, face coverings are required.  This mandate applies to individuals aged two years and over except where an individual is unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition or disability. 

Keep up with library news! 
Follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.robbinslibrary.org/&source=gmail&ust=1637861464381000&usg=AOvVaw2yc-31b6te2wNe5D0qBPTe" fg_scanned="1" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); text-decoration-line: none;" rel="noopener">robbinslibrary.org for up-to-date library information. 

Programs for Children and Families

Storytime for Children ages 3-5 and their Adults 

Wednesdays, December 1, 8, 15

10:00-10:30 a.m.

Robbins Library Community Room 

Join us for stories, songs and crafts!  Pick up a free ticket at Children’s Desk 1/2 hour before the program begins. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ (including caregivers).

Fox Singalongs

Thursdays, December 2,  9, 16, 23

10:00-10:30 a.m.

Fox Library Community Room

Sing and dance with our fantastic musicians! Space is limited; pick up a free ticket at the Fox desk 1/2 hour before the program begins. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ (including caregivers). 

Moving and Grooving

Saturday, December 4

9:30-10:15 a.m.

Robbins Library Community Room

Move, wiggle, dance and explore with your little one. Being silly strengthens our relationship with our kids!  For children ages 1-3.  Space is limited. Pick up a free ticket at the Children’s Desk 1/2  hour before the program begins. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ (including caregivers).

Fun at Fox

Friday, December 10

Saturdays, December 4, 18

10:00-10:30 a.m. 

Fox Library Community Room 

Stories, rhymes, & fun for kids age zero to five! Pick up a free ticket at the Fox Desk 1/2 hour before the program begins. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ (including caregivers).

Storytime

Mondays, December 6, 13

Two sessions:

10:00-10:30 a.m.

11:00-11:30 a.m.

Robbins Library Community Room

Story time for kids of all ages. Stories, rhymes and fingerplay. Pick up a free ticket at Fox Desk  1/2 hour before the program begins.  Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ (including caregivers).

Fox and Friends Storytime

Tuesdays, December 7, 14

10:00-10:30 a.m.

Fox Library Community Room 

Rhymes, songs, stories, & bouncing babies!  For all ages.  Pick up a free ticket at Fox Desk 1/2 hour before the program begins. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ (including caregivers).

Robbins Singalongs

Tuesdays, December 7, 14, 21

10:00-10:30 a.m.

Robbins Library Community Room

Sing and dance with our fantastic musicians! Space is limited; pick up a free ticket at the Children’s desk 1/2 hour before the program begins. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ (including caregivers). 

Powers Music School Interactive Program

Saturday, December 11

11:00-11:45 a.m.

Robbins Library Community Room

Join Powers Music School's faculty members as they narrate this original musical story performance featuring Mo Willems's "Today I Will Fly"!  This interactive program is specifically developed for children ages 3 and up.  Masks are required for all attendees. Pick up a free ticket 1/2 hour before the program.

Pageturners Book Club 

Tuesday, December 14

3:30-4:30 p.m.

Robbins Library Community Room

This month's read is The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaseri!  For kids in grades 4, 5, and 6. Required registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on November 30 at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pt1221.eventbrite.com&source=gmail&ust=1637861464381000&usg=AOvVaw05iO7yXXGLU7mPYi7HOxGv" fg_scanned="1" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); text-decoration-line: none;" rel="noopener">https://pt1221.eventbrite.com

Copies of the book will be available in the Children's Room.

Winter Crafternoon

Thursday, December 16

3:00-4:00 p.m.

Fox Library 

Stop by the Fox to make some winter themed crafts! Pick up a free ticket 1/2 hour prior. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ (including caregivers).  For kids of all ages. 

Snow Fun Storytime 

Friday, December 17

10:00-10:45 a.m.

Robbins Library Community Room

Stories and fun for kids of all ages!  Pick up a free ticket at Children’s Desk 1/2 hour before the program begins. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ (including caregivers).

Musifiesta with Maura Mendoza

Saturday, December 18

10:00-10:45 a.m.

Robbins Library Community Room 

Join this fun Latin American singalong! This is a bilingual, interactive musical show. Dance and keep to the beat with the egg shakers, tambourines, and maracas. For families and kids of all ages. Pick up a free ticket at the Children’s Desk 1/2 hour before the program begins. Masks are required for all participants ages 2+ (including caregivers).

Programs for Teens

Winter Craft

Tuesday, December 14

3:00 p.m.

Robbins Library Teen Area

Come to the Teen Area after school and use our crafting supplies to create some fun art or maybe a gift for someone! All supplies and basic instruction provided, free for grades 6-12. 

Teen Writers’ Presentation

Sunday, December 19

3:00-4:00 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83955539993&source=gmail&ust=1637861464381000&usg=AOvVaw3wz4z9RBamsABbRDY_kt05" fg_scanned="1" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); text-decoration-line: none;" rel="noopener">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83955539993

Join us as we celebrate the culmination of the Fall Teen Writers' Workshop, led by local author Lynette Benton. Listen to powerful writing and enjoy teen creativity!

Video Games in Teen Space for Early Release

Wednesday, December 22

1:00 p.m.

Robbins Library Teen Area

Head on over to the library after lunch and play some video games on our television! We have a Nintendo Switch and a PS4 all set and ready to go. Masks must be worn at all times. Grades 6-12.

Programs for Adults

Find Happiness through Mindfulness, Yoga & Meditation

Thursdays, December 2 and 16

7:15-8:00 p.m. 

Zoom program, register at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://forms.gle/YQgMQsZd3ZLQ4CTR6&source=gmail&ust=1637861464381000&usg=AOvVaw22T4I1X3Vbvffz3TJKMIzS" fg_scanned="1" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); text-decoration-line: none;" rel="noopener">https://forms.gle/YQgMQsZd3ZLQ4CTR6

Experience ancient practices of breathing and meditation in an informal virtual setting. Discover secrets to increasing happiness in everyday life and learn ways to make it grow each day. No previous experience required. Sessions are led by mindfulness, yoga and meditation teacher Janhavi Wadwhani. The sessions will continue on the first and third Thursdays of the month through December.  Zoom link will be sent the day of the session. Please know that the same Zoom link will be used every week so if you are able to keep it on file you only need to register once. Questions? Email Anna at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Fox Walking Club

Mondays, December 6, 13, 20

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Fox Library

We will meet at the library and walk between 1.5-3 miles mostly along the Arlington Cultural District and Minuteman Bikeway. This is a great way to stay active and make some new friends in your community. Getting regular physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your health.  All ages welcome!  Weather permitting.

Robbins Library Book Discussion Group

Monday, December 6

7:00 p.m.

Zoom program, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for meeting link

Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall is available for pickup at the Robbins Library.  Follow the group on Facebook at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/groups/212703859877372&source=gmail&ust=1637861464381000&usg=AOvVaw0zwQWP5Jtv-T1dWc4tDWje" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); text-decoration-line: none;" rel="noopener">facebook.com/groups/212703859877372/

Guys Book Group

Thursday, December 9

7:30 p.m. 

Zoom program, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for meeting link

This month we’re reading The Google Story by David Vise. Copies can be picked up at Robbins Library, just ask for the Guys Book Group book. Newcomers welcome!

Social Worker Drop-In Hours

Monday, December 13

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

Robbins Library Conference Room

Struggling to meet basic needs such as housing, food, or employment? A social worker is available to answer questions about social services in and around Arlington. 

Drop-in Tech Help

Wednesday, December 15

2:00-3:00 p.m.

Robbins Library Conference Room 

Stop by and ask a librarian your technology-related questions. If we can't help with a specific issue you are having, we will do our best to point you to resources that can!

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions. 

Fox Adult Paint Night 

Wednesday, December 15 

5:00- 6:00 p.m.

Fox Library Community Room 

Come join us to paint and meet some other artists. We provide the supplies, you provide the inspiration! All skill levels are welcome to experiment and make some beautiful works of art. 

Reel Queer: An Intergenerational Movie Series 

Wednesday December 15 

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Robbins Library Community Room 

I love you Phillip Morris (2009) stars Jim Carrey as Steven Russell “... A cop who gets married and starts a family, but after a terrible car accident, he vows to be true to himself. He comes out of the closet, moves to Florida, and finances a luxurious lifestyle with bad checks and credit cards. In prison, Steven meets Phillip (Ewan McGregor), a mild-mannered inmate who becomes the love of his life. Determined to build a beautiful life with his lover, Steven embarks on another crime spree.” This film  has a runtime of 1hr, 38min and is rated R. Reel Queer is co-sponosred with the Arlington Council on Aging. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.

Plug In to Obit., the Award-Winning Documentary

Thursday, December 16

7:00 p.m.

Robbins Library Community Room

Registration required: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://plug-in-12-16-21.eventbrite.com&source=gmail&ust=1637861464381000&usg=AOvVaw1GoNIvLCDDkAAq0C_A4hy6" fg_scanned="1" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); text-decoration-line: none;" rel="noopener">https://plug-in-12-16-21.eventbrite.com

OBIT., the official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival and Hot Docs Festival is the first documentary to explore the world of obituary writers and their subjects, focusing on the legendary team at The New York Times, who approach their daily work with journalistic rigor and narrative flair. Ten hours before newspapers hit neighborhood doorsteps--and these days, ten minutes before news hits the web--an obit writer is racing against deadline to sum up a long and newsworthy life in under 1000 words. Going beyond the byline and into the minds of those chronicling life after death on the freshly inked front lines of history, the film invites some of the most essential questions we ask ourselves about life, memory, and the inevitable passage of time. 

Join us to view this documentary in the Community Room. Registration is required, as audience size will be limited to 30; chairs will be spaced to adhere to physical distancing guidelines. Attendees must also wear masks. The event is supported by the Barry Fund.  

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This news announcement was published Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, and updated Nov. 24.

You are invited to vote for Arlington’s next community book pick. 

Each March, hundreds of Arlingtonians participate in the annual Arlington Reads Together program, either by checking out the book at Robbins or Fox libraries or by attending one of the many community-read programs. New this year, the library invites you to vote for the 2022 community read at robbinslibrary.org. The voting period closes Friday, Oct. 15.

Roth

Join the Friends of the Robbins Library for a fun evening of astronomy in October.

Believe it or not, every type of astronomical target – from neighboring planets to distant galaxies – can be seen under suburban skies with nothing more than your unaided eyes -- unaided, that is, except for any eyeglasses or contact lenses you may require for distance viewing.

And many of the sights in for which the heavens are justly famous -- such as Saturn’s rings --  can be enjoyed with telescopes that cost less than $200.

Astronomy enthusiast and Arlington High School science teacher Joshua Roth will give a slide-show tour of the universe’s visual delights, emphasizing those that can be seen with the unaided eye and binoculars.

He also will give tips for choosing telescopes, online resources and books on the hobby and science of astronomy. The session will include ample time for Q&A.

Root

UPDATED, June 21: The Robbins Library and Fox Branch Library resume normal hours of operation effective Monday, June 21, with most services and no appointments necessary.

Arlington requires unvaccinated people to wear masks inside public facilities, but the library is asking all visitors to keep masks on inside regardless of vaccination status. Children ages 2-11 are required to wear masks, and library staff will continue wearing masks at public service desks in solidarity with young patrons.

See some photos >>

Patrons who wish to resume picking up holds at Fox must log into My Account on the MLN Catalog and select Edit to choose Arlington/Fox as the default pickup location.  

Join the Friends of the Robbins Library for its next pop-up book sale, set for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 26, in the back parking lot of the Robbins Library.

For sale are bags of books. Bags are marked by genre and sell for $5 (cash, check or charge).

Offerings include a large number of children’s materials, including board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, series and young adult.

Bags include mysteries, fiction, history, CDs, biographies, cookbooks and short stories.

UPDATED, Feb. 25: As Arlington and the nation grapple with our history of systemic racism and structural inequity, the Robbins Library and the town's Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are creating a new collection to give voice to the experiences of people of color in Arlington.  Through a community-sourced collection of personal stories and other documents, this archive will serve as a place for underrepresented voices to be heard today and preserved for the future.  

Jillian Harvey, director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, says in a Feb. 1 news release: “Too often community members of color are spoken for or about; the purpose of this project is to restore the power of sharing one’s own narrative. This collection will be available via the library’s website for easy access for community members today and for years to come. We hope that this collection can serve as an #OwnVoices survey of life in Arlington including the joys, frustrations, and hardships of living as a black, indigenous, person of color (BIPOC) in our community.”  

Effective Monday, April 5, the Robbins Library is expanding services to include short-term browsing on all floors. The hours for browsing and all other library services will be Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

To book a pass for the General Collections (all floors except Children’s) or the Children’s Room and to learn more about other services available in this phase of reopening, visit "Get a Browsing Pass” at robbinslibrary.org.

All visits are limited to 15 minutes and the maximum number of passes complies with the state's Phase III Step 2 indoor capacity guidelines. Passes must be reserved at least one day in advance.