Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome back. We are so pleased to welcome back to the program Hilaree Miller, the vice president of the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library, for a fall update on what's been happening over the summertime and what's coming up for the rest of the year. Great to see you, Hilary, as always.
[00:00:13] Speaker B: Oh, so good to see you. Thanks for having me.
[00:00:14] Speaker A: Always a pleasure. It's always a lot of fun. We have some fun pictures we're going to show folks in little bits and to talk about some upcoming events. But before we do any of that, always a good place to start is to remind folks what the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library is.
[00:00:28] Speaker B: Yes. Great place to start right there. Yeah. So the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library, we are a 501c3 nonprofit organization that is here to support the library.
And that means many different ways of support. Primarily, we are raising funds to support library programming. So a number of programs at the library are supported by the Friends. But we're also here to raise awareness for just all of the good that libraries do in our communities.
[00:00:56] Speaker A: Like a friend would, right?
[00:00:58] Speaker B: Exactly. We all need that support.
[00:00:59] Speaker A: And not. You know, it's funny, not all public libraries have a friends group, are fortunate enough to have a friends group. So here in Quincy, how long is. Do you know about how long the Friends have been around?
[00:01:09] Speaker B: We've been around a number of years. I do know. However, this year we'll come back to this later, but we're celebrating a special anniversary for our bookstore this month.
[00:01:19] Speaker A: Oh, no kidding?
Has it been that long that we have to have an anniversary?
[00:01:23] Speaker B: Yes. Well, spoiler alert. 14 years. I know. I don't know. It's not a big. It's not nice even number. But 14 is an awfully long time for our bookstore. And that's just one way that we support our libraries. Through the funds raised in that bookstore.
[00:01:38] Speaker A: Yes. Yes. So we're going to talk about that a little bit, too. But what has been going on with the Friends lately? What are some of the highlights that we've already experienced this year?
[00:01:46] Speaker B: Oh, what hasn't been happening with the Friends? It's been a really busy year.
So we have a number of different events that we support throughout the year. Now, the Friends ourselves, we do meet on a regular basis. We work to support all of these events, but the library has an impressive lineup of programs that they're always hosting, and a number of these are supported by the Friends of the Library.
So one way to check them all out, we can only cover a couple here One way to check them out is to go to the library's website, go to the event calendar and boy, oh boy, are there so many to explore there.
[00:02:20] Speaker A: Yeah. And special for this year and a lot of the Quincy 400 events.
[00:02:23] Speaker B: Exactly.
So there's. There is a. An event coming up for Quincy 400.
The year's not over yet. True, 2025 isn't over yet. So there is actually going to be an upcoming Quincy 400 event that's coming up on October 21st.
That's an evening event, 6 to 8pm in the Richardson building there at the main library. And this one, it's going to be very special for the library. It's Frederick Law Olmsted Designing America with Lawrence Cotton and Olmsted. Olmsted's firm designed the lawn for the library too. So not only is it going to be really interesting, it's also that connection, that local connection too.
[00:03:04] Speaker A: Nice. Yeah. And these are free events, right?
[00:03:07] Speaker B: These are free events, yes.
There may be some that have an additional charge like the upcoming after hours event.
So I don't know if you want to get into that at all yet.
[00:03:18] Speaker A: It's entirely up to you.
[00:03:21] Speaker B: Well, we don't want to hold everybody in suspense.
[00:03:23] Speaker A: We have limited time.
[00:03:24] Speaker B: So the after hours event, this is always a highlight of the fall for the friends.
Following our success this past June with the summer Solstice after hours event, we are heading right into our October after hours events. These typically have a little bit of a Halloween theme to them.
[00:03:42] Speaker A: Quite appropriate.
[00:03:43] Speaker B: This year it is Gothic Gala.
[00:03:45] Speaker A: Gothic Gala, yes.
[00:03:46] Speaker B: I'm looking forward to this one. So this one will be held on Friday, October 24th from 6:30 to 8:30pm you can see that graphic there to get you in the right mood for this event. It is held at the main library. Now this is a free event here. It's for 21 plus. But there is a cash bar there and any purchases made at the cash bar. The proceeds do come back to supporting the Friends of the Library and then library programming as well. So this is a pretty exciting event. So come in your costume for the October one. So you can go with a little bit more of a Victorian flair or whatever you're feeling for Halloween. You can certainly dress up. There's a costume contest.
[00:04:25] Speaker A: Oh, there is.
[00:04:25] Speaker B: So I don't know, Joe, if you're going to be coming in to take home that prize, but there will be a prize.
[00:04:31] Speaker A: What is the prize?
[00:04:31] Speaker B: I don't know yet, but it's special. I don't know what it is. Oh, well, I think. To me, I think the greatest prize would be the pride of knowing that you've won the costume contest at the after hours event. But a lot of other activities at that, including music, tarot card readings, there's gonna be some magic scavenger hunts. So a little bit of everything for everyone as long as you're 21 and older.
[00:04:53] Speaker A: They're fun. I know. They're popular, too.
I know the summer after hours programs are hugely attended.
[00:04:58] Speaker B: Yes, yes. This year, I mean, there was great attendance.
And October events tend to do really well, too. I think everybody gets into that Halloween spirit a little bit.
[00:05:07] Speaker A: Oh, for sure.
[00:05:08] Speaker B: We're happy to indulge that.
[00:05:09] Speaker A: Absolutely. You've brought a whole bunch of pictures.
[00:05:12] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:05:12] Speaker A: With each of you.
[00:05:13] Speaker B: So many.
[00:05:13] Speaker A: Yeah. So without further ado, let's do.
[00:05:17] Speaker B: Let's take a look at some of the.
[00:05:18] Speaker A: Let's do a little recap. Yeah. What has happened and what's coming up.
[00:05:21] Speaker B: Well, speaking of after hours. Yeah. So this is an image of somebody having a great time at our after hours event this past summer. Again, that was themed for the summer solstice and was outdoor on the lawn of the library.
So we were really fortunate with the weather. It doesn't always work out that way, but it was great weather for this event. So we had lawn games and some adult beverages. There you see the wristband, too.
[00:05:45] Speaker A: She's combining all three in one there.
[00:05:48] Speaker B: You know, the event's only two hours long. You gotta cover a lot of it. But, yes, look at that crowd. Everybody's out there taking, you know, taking in the music and the wonderful weather we had had that weekend.
[00:05:59] Speaker A: Absolutely. You know, this could be. You know, look at this picture. It could be a setting in a rural community somewhere in Vermont. You'd think you were in a downtown metropolis right just outside of Boston.
[00:06:09] Speaker B: The hustle and bustle. But here we are, our own little slice of paradise.
[00:06:14] Speaker A: The lawn makes that all possible.
[00:06:16] Speaker B: Speaking of homestead, this one here, this is again at the after hours event. This is the teen space here in the main library. But it was taken over for the after hours event. So they had a number of different crafts there and different activities to participate in.
[00:06:32] Speaker A: Sure.
[00:06:32] Speaker B: So.
[00:06:33] Speaker A: And folks get to pick and choose, Right. What they want.
[00:06:36] Speaker B: Exactly. You don't have to. You can do as little or as much as you would like during that event.
[00:06:40] Speaker A: What is this gentleman doing here?
[00:06:41] Speaker B: So this is our costume Contest winner from 2024.
So popular breakfast cereal brand here. Really impressive costume.
So he was able to take home the prize last Year. What did he win?
I think often includes some local gift cards and also a way to support our bookstore and I hope a box.
[00:07:04] Speaker A: Of cereals for him.
[00:07:06] Speaker B: But yeah, perhaps, Perhaps.
[00:07:10] Speaker A: Now, here's the Halloween theme.
[00:07:12] Speaker B: Now, these two here really embrace last year's theme. It was Zombie prom last October. And you can see it here now you can dress on the theme. And again, this year's theme being Gothic Gala. But you don't have to. You could be like our winner there with completely off the wall, does not have to match the theme. It's really wherever the mood takes you.
[00:07:30] Speaker A: All right, who's the judge? Who are the jud.
[00:07:33] Speaker B: So a lot of the times I think it's evolved over the years. Sometimes it's sort of a vote. Vote for your favorite.
Sometimes I think it's small. Yeah. Fan favorite. Sometimes there's a small committee who hands out the prizes, too.
[00:07:46] Speaker A: Ok. All right.
[00:07:47] Speaker B: And a little bit of that spooky atmosphere.
[00:07:49] Speaker A: I always knew there were skeletons in the library.
[00:07:53] Speaker B: I mean, he looks right at home.
[00:07:55] Speaker A: Indeed he does. Yes.
Back to summertime.
[00:07:58] Speaker B: Yes, there we are. Back to summer. So this is. Is from the.
This one right here. This might be Quincy Open Heritage Day, which was just a couple of weeks ago.
Yes. So this is on the lawn of the library here. And Quincy Open Heritage Day, of course, was that major event across the city with historical organizations like the library, cultural organizations participating. So the Friends were able to set up. I mean, really, you see, it's a whole shop here with the book cart there, a number of items for sale, a way to raise additional money while getting to enjoy that sunshine and just the camaraderie there in our city that day of people out and about.
[00:08:39] Speaker A: It was very popular. I think the city's talking about doing it every year now because of the turnouts. Just about every historic site in the city was open for tours on the same day, which is very rare.
[00:08:50] Speaker B: Yes. And it was free as well. It was free and open to the public. So an incredibly successful event. Many congratulations to the city for that. And the Friends were just so pleased to be able to participate. Yes. And what is the inaugural first annual Quincy Open Heritage Day events?
[00:09:05] Speaker A: That way. Yeah. Yeah. Speaking of Quincy 400, here's the Quincy 300 display over at Old City Hall.
[00:09:10] Speaker B: Yes. So this is one of the groups that had a chance to go over there and tour.
There are a number of different tours and programs that are supported by the Friends. Many of them, I believe this is one of them. That is a walk and talk around the City of Quincy. And what this is, it's just an opportunity to get out. And it's geared towards folks who are wanting to practice English, but it's also a great way to learn about their community.
So like you said here, this is the Quincy 300 exhibit.
So getting to learn a little about our history there as they are contributing to the present and the future of the city as well.
[00:09:46] Speaker A: Yeah. There's Bob Damon in the very background there who runs the heritage program for the city, giving that tour.
[00:09:53] Speaker B: Yes, yes. He did a great job with that.
[00:09:55] Speaker A: Nice.
[00:09:56] Speaker B: This here, I believe this is from. From a tour that was specifically at the library. It was a Chinese language tour. Yes. So this is in the atrium on the first floor there in the main library that one of the programs the Friends were able to sponsor was a Chinese language tour of the library. Because we have such an amazing bit of history here, of culture and a great resource for our community that we want to make sure that as many people as possible are able to really enjoy it and appreciate it and understand it so they can access it.
[00:10:29] Speaker A: It's a great idea.
[00:10:30] Speaker B: So this is a great program here.
[00:10:31] Speaker A: Yeah, very good. Now, do you know are different events at different branches too, Hilary?
[00:10:35] Speaker B: There are some that are at different branches. So we cover all of the branches within the Thomas Crane Public Library system. Now. Most of them are at the main library. They tend to be there. That's the most activity. But the Friends and the library are working together to continue to bring more and more programming to the branch library branches as well.
[00:10:53] Speaker A: Yeah, very good.
More crafting.
[00:10:56] Speaker B: It looks like we love crafting. We love crafting. And what's great about crafting is that you can pair it with something else, some sort of conversation. So crafting and conversation, whether you are wanting to practice your English skills or just get some time connecting with other humans and a great way to do that, we're keeping our minds and our hands busy through crafting, like you see here as well.
[00:11:18] Speaker A: Yeah. And it's a common task that people are doing. So you've already got that going for you. Right.
So that breaks down that one barrier right off the bat.
[00:11:27] Speaker B: It does. Everybody's, you know, whether you are a crafting pro or just learning something for the first time, you're all in the same boat, so you're figuring out together, and it's just a great way to connect.
[00:11:36] Speaker A: Absolutely.
So that's what's happened. What's going to happen? What's coming up?
[00:11:41] Speaker B: Oh, it's coming up.
[00:11:42] Speaker A: Besides gothic galley.
[00:11:43] Speaker B: Yes, Gothic galley. Yeah, that one's coming up. That's the big one coming up. Definitely.
Again, I mentioned that upcoming Quincy 400 talk focused on Frederick Law Olmsted on October 21st concerts at the Crane. The next one's coming up on October 19th from 3 to 4pm That's a cello and piano concert. And that's going to be in the Richardson building here at the main library.
Those ones are for all ages, but maybe perhaps a little bit skewed more toward the adult audience. But we also have activities that are going to be great for teens, like needle felting ghosts with pop up art school. So that's another crafting, getting a chance to do that together. I saw a picture. They're so adorable, little crafted ghosts. That is going to be October 22nd from 3 to 4:30pm in the Teen space in the main library.
[00:12:33] Speaker A: Okay, very good.
[00:12:34] Speaker B: And then can't forget the kids either. So coming up on October 25th from 3 to 4pm, you have stick or treat.
So thinking about stickers and trick or treating.
Stick or treat.
[00:12:47] Speaker A: Did you see the quizzical look on my face?
[00:12:49] Speaker B: What? Sticks.
[00:12:49] Speaker A: Stick or treat, Hillary.
[00:12:50] Speaker B: It's fun to say though, isn't it?
[00:12:52] Speaker A: Okay.
Also free.
[00:12:54] Speaker B: Yes. So these are our free events sponsored by the Friends.
[00:12:57] Speaker A: Very good.
And all of these and more on the website, right?
[00:13:02] Speaker B: Yes. So again, the best place to find out more about all of the different types of programming is to go to the Thomas Crane Public Library website, which is thomascranelibrary.org, get that information, get on that calendar. The calendar is so full. It's amazing how much is just jam packed into that. Of course there is great programming that the library is holding without the support of the Friends. But we're so pleased to support so much of it and also just raise awareness of everything that the library is doing for our community.
[00:13:32] Speaker A: Now back to where we started, the bookstore.
[00:13:34] Speaker B: The bookstore. Yes.
[00:13:36] Speaker A: 14Th anniversary.
[00:13:37] Speaker B: 14Th anniversary. And this has been the best year yet, really. Bookstore sales are just doing really well. We thank everybody for their support, but we'd like to see a little bit more. Of course.
So we do have really great hours. We're open five days a week.
Most of the days we're open mostly afternoon hours like 12:30 to 3:30. That's Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 12:30 to 3:30, Thursday. You have an option. You can come in the morning between 9:30 to 12:30 or in the evening between 5 and 8pm Also open most of the day on Saturdays as well. 9:30 to 3:30, closed on Sundays. And Tuesdays, but you can catch us those other times as well. And we are next to the atrium in the main library.
There's also a little kind of a pop up store in the atrium of the library too. If you don't make those hours. You can also go to the little self serve area in the atrium of the library that is open. And now North Quincy also has a self service area as well.
[00:14:37] Speaker A: Is that new?
[00:14:39] Speaker B: We're still within its first year, so within its first year it's doing well.
And I think this is something that we're continuing to explore and expand.
[00:14:49] Speaker A: Yeah. Do you ever think there'll be another bookmobile in Quincy, Hillary, in the future?
[00:14:52] Speaker B: I think that would be fantastic. I know that's something that we'd all like to see.
[00:14:56] Speaker A: Yeah. I know that a lot of the senior complexes request that from time to time.
[00:15:01] Speaker B: Yeah, that's a great service to provide for sure.
[00:15:03] Speaker A: Yeah. Maybe in the future. You never know.
[00:15:06] Speaker B: Perhaps through support of.
[00:15:08] Speaker A: I was just gonna say support of.
[00:15:09] Speaker B: The Friends and also our supporters as well. Yes, it's very easy to support the Friends. There are a number of ways to do it.
[00:15:16] Speaker A: Go for it.
[00:15:16] Speaker B: Yes. So one of the easiest ways is that you can go onto the library's website. We have our own website, our own page on their website. You can donate through there.
Really.
Anything above $15 gets you 5 full access to Friends benefits, which includes our newsletter, which is about to hit in boxes pretty soon.
Access to special Friends events and also just community involvement.
But you can give any amount. You don't have to give certain levels. You could think about it as every amount that you give. The type of programming you're able to support with your donations. This was also a really big year for us for donations.
We raised over $60,000 this past year.
[00:16:01] Speaker A: That's amazing.
[00:16:01] Speaker B: So we are doing a lot of good with that money raised. We now have over 400 supporters and then over, excuse me, over a thousand people who are subscribed to our email list.
[00:16:13] Speaker A: Nice.
[00:16:14] Speaker B: Which is a great way to find out how to give, how to get involved and just what we're up to these days.
[00:16:21] Speaker A: And this is all volunteer time and effort. These folks are doing it out of their love for the library.
[00:16:27] Speaker B: Exactly. All those photos that we looked at with the pop ups at Quincy Heritage Day. We were also at the farmers market this summer. That's all through volunteers.
So there are definitely ways to get involved. And again, check out the website for more information. Volunteering. Whether you want to join the Friends board or help out in the bookstore as well.
[00:16:47] Speaker A: You brought some merch with you?
[00:16:49] Speaker B: Yes, I did.
[00:16:50] Speaker A: What we've got here, the Friends tote bag. Yes.
[00:16:53] Speaker B: This is. This is pretty new. It's pretty exciting. People have been asking for some Friends merch there for a long time. So. Yeah. Thomas Crane and North Quincy and Adam Shore in Wollaston. Our new tote bags that we have here, high demand, wonderful item. They are $20.
So right now you could pretty much only get them at our events. So if you want one of these, come on over to the Gothic Gala later this month. We are working on ways to be able to get information from folks to sell them online with, perhaps pick up at the bookstore. We're still working on it. That's a lot of logistics to figure out. But if you want to know how to do that, join our email list.
[00:17:32] Speaker A: There you go.
[00:17:32] Speaker B: That's the way to get the information.
But yeah, they're great tote bags. They look the ultimate fashion accessory for the season.
[00:17:40] Speaker A: Thanks so much, Hilary. Appreciate the opportunity to catch up with you as always.
[00:17:44] Speaker B: It was great. Thank you so much for having me. It's always a pleasure.
[00:17:47] Speaker A: We'll have you back again, of course.
[00:17:48] Speaker B: Perfect. Wonderful.
