The Auburndale Community Library and Waban Library Center, all-volunteer community libraries that were formerly branches of the Newton Free Library, offer “To-Go” ordering and contact free book pickup, along with online activities and programs. After the libraries closed back in March, the buildings were able to reopen for outdoor pickup last summer. Both libraries did extensive planning to reopen safely, with much good advice from the Newton Free Library. Volunteers stay masked and distanced while working at both libraries. They’ve been working hard to provide books, audiobooks, games and puzzles while the buildings remain closed to the public.

Auburndale Community Library Volunteer Shiv Sawhney filling To-Go orders.

The libraries have online order forms that make it easy to request books. Auburndale Community Library items can be ordered through a form at this link:  https://bit.ly/3hlSDzZ. The catalog is available at https://auburndalelibrary.org/catalog/. Waban Library Center books can be ordered from a link on the library’s website, https://www.wabanlibrarycenter.org/.

Pickup at Waban is available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 – 2:00 and Saturdays from 10:00 – noon.   Auburndale pickups are available Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10:00 am to noon. Auburndale also offers free bicycle delivery to Auburndale, West Newton, and Lower Falls.

Both libraries have many popular best sellers available – books that typically have long waiting lists at other libraries. The libraries have a great selection of fiction, teen, tween and children’s books, and nonfiction books for all ages. Waban also offers Playaway audiobooks to-go. Auburndale has board games and puzzles for all ages. Waban and Auburndale have Facebook and Instagram accounts, where updated information is posted about

Waban Library Center Volunteer with Happy Patron Picking up Books

books, online activities, and hours. Look for us at Auburndale Community Library and Waban Library Center.

You do not have to live in Auburndale or Waban to order books. If you need a library card for either library, you can put that on your order form and the libraries will make one for you once they get your contact information.  All Waban books have a red dot on the books’ spines, Auburndale books have hot pink stars on the bottom of the spines. The books need to be returned to each library, not to the Newton Free Library.

The libraries have also been offering online story times, singalongs, and book club zoom meetings, with links available on their social media pages and websites. Waban has had successful online book clubs for elementary and middle school students. Auburndale has been doing Story Time videos with related craft-to-go bags, which patrons can also order and pick up outside the library. Auburndale’s knitting and crocheting group has continued to meet on Saturday mornings on Zoom.

The community’s response has been enthusiastic. People are so thankful and grateful to receive books outside the libraries. Both libraries continue to buy new books for adults, teens, and children, and take requests for purchases. The all-volunteer run libraries are happy to provide this service to Newton and surrounding towns, as their contribution to keeping the community entertained and informed during the pandemic.

By Alice Jacobs, Waban Library Center and Janet Linder, Auburndale Community Library