PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Nevaeh Pereira, 9, looks through the books to make a selection to take home and read.
By LEAH DEARBORN
PEABODY — The Peabody Institute Library has a lot to offer besides a quiet reading space.
Melissa Robinson, interim assistant director, said she is personally looking forward to the planned evening with Rwandan genocide survivor, Claude Kaitare, on April 6 at the West Branch.
“We’re looking to do a few things on human rights,” said Robinson, who added that the library initially connected to Kaitare through the Salem State University Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
She said that after escaping a refugee camp and eventually making his way to the United States, Kaitare now speaks about his experience at schools and in other public spaces.
Other upcoming events include an annual poetry series in collaboration with the Mass Poetry. Beginning April 5, the three-week discussion series will touch on the poetic works of Louise Gluck, Kazim Ali and Cornelius Eady.
“I think that’s going to be well-received,” said Robinson.
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Popular local history author Stephen Puleo will make a stop to speak in May about his latest book, “American Treasures: The Secret Efforts to Save the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Gettysburg Address.”
Puleo is known for his nonfiction works about the Boston Italians and the Great Molasses Flood of 1919.
Founded in 1852 on a donation from city namesake and philanthropist George Peabody, patrons of the busy Main, South and West Branch libraries can take part in different groups and activities almost every day.
Not everything at the library is for adults, however. There are two coding clubs tailored to teenagers, one of which is affiliated with Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit that focuses on closing the gender gap in technology fields.
Robinson said the Main Street location has recently started hosting bilingual storytime sessions.
“There’s Portuguese storytime, which is great because there’s a lot of Portuguese speakers downtown,” she said.
Robinson said the library is preparing to host a comic convention on May 6, called PilCon.
“This is a first for us,” she said. “It’s turning out to be really large and exciting.”
Leah Dearborn can be reached at [email protected].
