With the Boston Pops Orchestra’s CD “America” playing in the background, dozens of Methuen families gathered in Nevins Library’s Children’s Room last month to get their hands on a historic and patriotic project of monumental proportion!
The goal: Turn 14,000 small, red LEGO tiles into dozens of 3-by-5-inch “bricks.” Those will go back to LEGO and get transformed into an 8-foot-tall American flag which will be part of the July 4th Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Charles River Esplanade. Of course, the show is extra special this year as it’s the 250th birthday of the United States of America!
Nevins Library is one of only four public libraries in the state chosen for this project! The others are The Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield, the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Worcester Public Library.
Many of the local families who participated are part of Nevins’ monthly LEGO Block Party – open to all ages – where turning tiles into something creative is the name of the game!
“We heard about this and had to be here,” said Amy Nicolosi, while snapping together red tiles at a table with husband Todd and kids Gannon, 10, and Aubrey, 8½. “And we’ll record the Pops to see the whole thing!”
Children’s Librarian Liz Goguen, who runs Nevins’ LEGO Block Party, said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for kids who understand the importance of the country’s 250th anniversary. They can say, ‘I’m part of that!’ It’s such a huge honor for the library.”
Library Director Sarah Sullivan explained that – out of the blue – she got a call from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, asking if Nevins would be interested in taking part in a project involving the BSO and LEGO.
“I didn’t have to think twice, even though I didn’t even know what exactly it was. The answer was yes!” she smiled. “It’s so exciting to know that our patrons will help build something that’s part of (the 250th Spectacular)!”
Participants worked at tables with a diagram of a brick, but Goguen noted that the creators didn’t have to follow that exact shape and the LEGO artist will work with whatever is submitted.
With tins of thin LEGOs at the center of each table, participants got down to the task at hand.
A regular at Nevins Library children’s programs, Samantha O’Leary, 10, says she thought participating in building a LEGO flag for the country’s historic birthday sounded “really exciting! And when I saw the directions on what we were making, I immediately knew, ‘Oh, yeah. I can make this!’ ”
Linus Barrett, 10, said he was eager to join in this patriotic project, especially as his birthday is the same as the country’s!
Nevins’ new Director of Youth Services Cameron Rees soaked up the enthusiasm and energy in the room and couldn’t help but smile.
“That’s the American spirit!” he said.
Brandon Chu, 6, is already an accomplished LEGO builder. He’s got a desk at home where he’s creating an entire LEGO city!
Longtime LEGO fan Gary Famiglietti works with his son Paul, 4, on the bricks. They are regulars at the library’s monthly LEGO Block Parties.
The Nicolosi family – (from left) Amy, Todd, 10-year-old Gannon and 8½-year-old Aubrey – enjoy attending the library’s LEGO Block Parties and are excited to help “build” part of Boston’s historic celebration!
The Buco family – Ava, 14; dad Rob; and Gianna, 12 – get to work on their bricks, while Rob noted his girls have “grown up in this room,” thanks to all of the library programs they’ve attended through the years.
Toby Swartz carefully balances nine bricks destined for the “finished” box.
When mom Ana told daughter Juliana Ortiz, 5, that the LEGOs would be part of a giant flag to be shown on TV, the little girl gasped and covered her mouth in adorable disbelief!
