April Lectures, Author Talks, and Workshops at Boston Public Library Locations

Boston Public Library will host lectures, author talks, and workshops at the Central Library in Copley Square and branch locations through the month of April, including Boston Marathon commemorative programs April 14-19, Money Smart Week workshops April 5-10, and authors from a variety of genres.

The library welcomes two critically acclaimed authors in conjunction with the 2014 Lowell Lecture Series, which is dedicated to the theme “Gateway to Reading.” Norton Juster, author of the children’s classic The Phantom Tollbooth, visits the library on Wednesday, April 2, at 6 p.m., and Jeff Kinney, bestselling author and illustrator of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, appears on Sunday, April 27, at 2 p.m. Both talks take place in Rabb Lecture Hall.

Additional program highlights in April include:

Money Smart Week is a national initiative designed to help consumers manage their finances during the week of April 5-10, which includes classes on retirement planning, managing student debt, and more: bit.ly/1ooROEE. All programs take place at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street.
Historian Anthony M. Sammarco discusses how Brighton came to be one of the most unique and culturally rich neighborhoods in Boston on Wednesday, April 9, at 6 p.m. in the Commonwealth Salon at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street. Part of the Local & Family History Series.
Attorney and civic leader Lawrence S. DiCara reads from his political memoir Turmoil and Transition in Boston on Wednesday, April 9, at 6 p.m. at the Honan-Allston Branch, located at 300 North Harvard Street.
Christopher Klein speaks about his book Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands: A Guide to the City’s Hidden Shores and describes the rich history, recreational offerings, and heritage of each of Boston’s 34 islands. Thursday, April 10, at 2 p.m. in Rabb Lecture Hall at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street.
BPL staff member John A. De Vito speaks about his book Epic Television Miniseries and explains the important role of African Americans in TV films and miniseries on Thursday, April 10, at 6 p.m. at the Uphams Corner Branch, located at 500 Columbia Road in Dorchester.
Children’s author Frances Driscoll reads from her book The Swan Boat Ride, which tells the story of a young girl's adventure in the Boston Public Garden, on Sunday, April 13, at 2 p.m. in the Boston Room at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street.
Robert Wicks, author of Perspective: The Calm Within the Storm, explains how he combines research and classic wisdom to provide advice on how to discover and regain a balanced and healthy perspective. Wednesday, April 16, at 6 p.m. in the Commonwealth Salon at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street. Part of the library’s commemorative Boston Marathon programming.
Boston Globe reporters Scott Helman and Jenna Russell speak about their book Long Mile Home: Boston Under Attack, the City’s Courageous Recovery, and the Epic Hunt for Justice on Thursday, April 17, at 6 p.m. in Rabb Lecture Hall at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street. Long Mile Home tells the gripping story of the tragic, surreal, and ultimately inspiring week of April 15, 2013, and highlights the bravery, resourcefulness, and resiliency of the Boston community before, during, and after the tragic Marathon Bombings. The talk is moderated by WBUR reporter and host Deborah Becker. Part of the library’s commemorative Boston Marathon programming.
Photographer Joshua Touster speaks about Aftermath: A Photographic Reflection on the Boston Marathon, a compilation of photos taken in the days and weeks after last year’s Boston Marathon, on Saturday, April 19, at 2 p.m. in Rabb Lecture Hall at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street. Part of the library’s commemorative Boston Marathon programming.
Larry Doyle exposes the shortcomings and injustices stemming from an ineffectual financial regulatory system in his book In Bed with Wall Street: The Conspiracy Crippling Our Global Economy on Wednesday, April 23, at 6 p.m. in the Orientation Room at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street.
Professional genealogist and lecturer Meredith Hoffman details how to utilize online, local, and specialized Jewish resources in her talk “Researching Your Jewish Ancestors in Old Boston Neighborhoods” on Wednesday, April 23, at 6 p.m. in the Commonwealth Salon at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street. Part of the Local & Family History Series.
Award winner Anita Shreve reads from her newest novel Stella Bain, which tells the story of an American woman’s life in London against the backdrop of World War I, on Tuesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the South End Branch, located at 685 Tremont Street. Part of the South End Writes & Invites Series.

The complete schedule of upcoming events at Boston Public Library locations is available at www.bpl.org/calendar.

About BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Boston Public Library has a Central Library, twenty-four branches, map center, business library, and a website filled with digital content and services. Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library has pioneered public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children’s room. Each year, the Boston Public Library hosts thousands of programs and serves millions of people. All of its programs and exhibitions are free and open to the public. At the Boston Public Library, books are just the beginning. To learn more, visit www.bpl.org.