Library and Community News

City Launches a New Mental Health and Substance Use Resource Page

On Tuesday, May 5, Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer hosted a virtual Community Hour (watch below) focused on mental health and substance use disorder amid COVID-19. The past several weeks have been stressful and sometimes overwhelming as we all have made changes in our daily lives to help slow the spread of the virus. It is understandable that changes like social distancing, staying at home, working and learning remotely, or even not working, bring feelings that are difficult to manage. To help, the City created a new resource page for residents to learn more about the programs and services that can support them.

For even more mental health resources, please look at the Library webpages: Hotlines, Support Groups, Self-Care Resources.

 

Call for More Face Covering Donations!

Please Donate with background of cloth masks and a heartThe City of Framingham is still collecting face coverings! So far, people have created and donated more than 500 face coverings, but MORE donations are needed!
 

Learn how to make a homemade cloth face covering from the Centers for Disease Control’s website:

Once created, please package the cloth face coverings in an envelope or plastic bag, and drop them off at the specially marked drive-up library book returns at the following locations:

  • Main Library - 49 Lexington Street

  • McAuliffe Branch Library - 746 Water Street

Remember, cloth face coverings protect you and others. Thank you for keeping us all healthy and safe!

For more information, please visit the City of Framingham's Food and Donation page.

Free Language Learning from Mango Through June 30!

Want to learn a new language? Mango Languages is our online language learning resource, and offers over 70 languages, including English for English Language Learners. As part of Mango's Public Library Community Outreach Initiative, Mango Languages is offering free language learning until June 30, 2020. Click here to get started.

The U.S. Census Wants to Hear From You!

Group of people sitting around table with census materialsIf you have responded to the Census, thank you! If you have not, it's not too late. Find out how to respond by reading this page from the official Census 2020 website.

The basics

  • The census counts every person living in the United States, regardless of age or citizenship status, every 10 years in years ending in 0.
  • It’s in the Constitution.
  • There is NOT a Citizenship question on the 2020 Census.

It’s important

  • It’s about money, power, and data.
  • Every year people pay their taxes. Only every 10 years, we help decide how those dollars come back to us. The 2020 Census will help to distribute billions of dollars in federal resources to your community.
  • Our community gets resources based on population counts, that helps pay for schools, roads, police, fire, health care and many more services. An undercount in our community would jeopardize our full share of these resources.
  • An accurate and complete Census helps businesses, community leaders and elected officials make informed decisions every day.

It’s easy

  • For the first time, people can respond online and by phone, in addition to the mail-in option. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and impacts the next 10 years because the next Decennial Census does not happen until 2030.

It’s safe and confidential

  • Your data is protected and it’s confidential. Federal law protects your responses, which cannot be shared with law enforcement, immigration agencies, or housing authorities.

COVID-19 & the 2020 Census:

  • The 2020 Census is underway and the most important and safe thing you can do is respond online, by phone, or by mail. It has never been easier to respond to the 2020Census.
  • Responding now will minimize the need for the Census Bureau to send census takers out into communities to follow up with households.

Where Is Our 3D Printer?

Photo of 3D printerOur Little Lulzbot is happily part of a solid supply chain. This week she’s cranking out face shields and mask straps. The parts then go to Make It Labs in Nashua for post production, then to Lowell Makes for distribution to health care workers. A world of thanks to John Walsh, Assistant Director for Innovation and Technology at Woburn Public Library, and Reference Sub at Framingham.