During the month of April 2016, the Milton Public Library is offering a nice variety of events for adults and families.  On April 3rd at 2 p.m. there will be a second session of “Shakespeare Sundays with Professor David Smith.”  This is end of the 2-part program which began in March, and registration is required at www.miltonlibrary.org.  The assigned reading is Hamlet and you should come ready to discuss this popular play.  Mr.  Smith, a former secondary English teacher at Milton Academy, will lead the group and he will also show excerpts from the film.  You may reserve your copy of the play at our website or call the Reference desk at 617-698-5757 to find one.  Another great program happening for National Poetry Month on Tuesday, April 5, starting at 7 p.m., is a talk with local poets Ed Meek and Tom O’Grady.  Mr. Meek’s 3rd book of poems is called Spy Pond and it was published in 2015 by Prolific Press.  Literature professor Tom O’Grady will join Ed to also read from his works.  Mr. O’Grady is a Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, whose areas of expertise are Irish literature, Canadian literature, poetry and fiction.  Come celebrate and enjoy this lyrical genre with 2 experts!

On Saturday, April 9th, at 2 p.m., we will host a one-hour concert by the jazz/pop/gospel quartet known as “Smarly Bazile and Friends.”  Local pianist Bazile will perform in a free event with organist Brandon Young, bass player David McKenzie and drummer Daryl Staves.  These young musicians will bring us a fresh and energizing take on jazz standards like “A Foggy Day” and also pop tunes such as “Got To Get You Into My Life” and “Superstition.”  Don’t miss this entertaining event by coming out to support some local talent.  Our “Tuesday Night at the Movies” choice on April 12th at 6:30 p.m. will be “Steve Jobs” starring Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet. Both actors were nominated for Academy Awards this year in this excellent biopic of the tech giant, and the film is rated R for language.  The running time is 2 hours, 3 minutes and it is not suitable for children.  On Tuesday, April 12 at 7 p.m., South Shore Story Slams and the Friends of the Milton Public Library will kick off their second Milton Story Slam at the Common Market in Quincy.  The theme is “parents” and if you have a true 5-minute tale to tell, be sure to participate.  A $10 fee will be collected at the door.  Reserve your space at www.miltonlibrary.org.    On Tuesday, April 26th at 7 p.m., photographer Peter Christoph will give a talk and show slides of “Birds of the New England Swamp” to get us all ready for spring bird watching.

On Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m, Milton author and WCVB –TV anchor Bob Halloran will share his new book White Devil: The True Story of the First White Asian Crime Boss.   Journalist Halloran tells the tale of John Willis’s aka “White Devil,” the only white man to rise through the ranks in the Chinese mafia.  This event will be preceded by the Friends of the Milton Public Library Annual Meeting, at 7pm. Both events are free and open to the public.

Our continuing programs in April are “First Friday Book Chat with Will” at 11 a.m. on April 1, “Coloring Book Drop In” on Sunday, April 17 at 2 p.m., and “Knitting with Nina” on Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 16 at 10 a.m. – all held in the Conference Room.  All other events will be held in the lower level Keys Community Room unless otherwise noted, and they are free and open to the public.  These programs come to you with generous support from the Friends of the Milton Public Library, and for more information contact Jean Hlady, Adult Services Librarian, at 617-698-5757.