Friends of Beebe Library - Wakefield, MA (What's New)

Click to read the latest editions of "Between Friends"
(Spring 2008) (Winter 2008)

To quote Henry David Thoreau, "One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something." Without the dedication of volunteers, the annual Friends of Beebe Book Sale wouldn't be the huge success it has grown to be. To all of you who've helped for many years and even have trekked back from new homes in other towns - a heartfelt thank you since your experience and know-how ease the process. To all the new volunteers, welcome! Thank you for making time in hectic schedules to try something new. We hope you had fun and will come back again next year.

What does it take to hold a book sale? Ninety-one volunteers helped this year, from a small group of year-round volunteers who gathered, sorted and stored books in the High Storage Facility - AKA Dan & Jody Sherman's garage. Flyers and publicity started appearing in April and the word got out via news articles, school newsletters and word of mouth that all donations were welcome. Several volunteers trained to be 'professional packers' and learned how to fill a box full and solid. Tuesday, June 3, 28 people arrived to haul the 600+ boxes by trailer, pick-up & minivan to the Library where a cadre of heavy lifters and 3 dollies stacked the boxes. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, more than 60 volunteers came for the non-stop sorting party to get everything totally organized.

Shoppers came from far and wide. Some were regulars who mark the day on their calendar months in advance. Others walked in for the first time returning from the Festival by the Lake. The Friday Preview night kicked off to a hectic start and kept volunteers busy at check-out and constantly moving books from under tables to where the treasures could be discovered by the next person. A steady stream of 60-80 shoppers kept the sale steady all through Saturday when the last reluctant customer was shooed out at 3p.m. Then the "professional packers" and helpers appeared to pack up, re-box the remainders, haul the books back to storage, take in the sign, sink into a chair and take a big breath and say - thank goodness we have a year to get ready for the next sale!

If you would like to get the specific details on the sale results, please join us at the Friends Annual meeting to be held in the Beebe Library Lecture Hall, Thursday, June 12 at 7pm.

If you are ready to volunteer again, the Parade Committee is kicking off with a brain storming session at 16 High Street in Greenwood on Monday, June 16 at 7pm. Even if you can't/don't want to be on the float or in the parade, we need idea people, props people, duct tape people, engineer know-it-alls etc., etc. We rarely know what we're going to do when we start but it always comes together, we have fun and promote the Summer Reading program which is "Wild Reads in the Library." Questions? Contact me at 781-246-1335.

Have a great summer and again, thank you so much.
Nancy Tolleson

The Chernock Family of Stoneham (Paul, Jaime, Danielle and Amelie) are the proud winners of the 2007 "mystery" quilt.

The colorful 48" x 64" inch quilt has a contemporary, geometric design and was made by Debbie Caffrey, an Alaskan quilter.

We know that the Chernocks will enjoy this lovely quilt for years to come.

Click to see photos of the Friends of Beebe Library's participation in Wakefield's 2007 4th of July parade

Nearly 150 Wakefield students, one for every year of our great library's existence, submitted essays for the Beebe Library Essay 150 Writing Contest. The judges have carefully reviewed all entries.

Photograph Courtesy of Mike Angelo / Wakefield Daily Item

Front: Roxhanna Margolis, Maria Gordon, Meg Kilkelly, Tori Martin, Angela Margherita, Micayla Botelho, and Anthony Cecere

Second row: Susan Kilkelly - President of the Friends of the Library, Anne Xu, Gabriela Marshall, Tina Carrick - Library Trustee, Jackie Malone - Judge, Nancy Sheehan - Head of Youth Services, and Nancy Tolleson - Chair for the 150 Celebration.

Here are the winners and runners up.
Grade k-4 / Elementary School:
Winner: Roxhana F. Margolis
Runner up: Anthony Cecere
Runner up: Micayla Botelho

Grades 5-8 / Middle School:
Winner: Tori Martin
Runner up: Angela Margherita
Runner up: Maria Gordon

Grades 9-12 / High School:
Winner: Meg Kilkelly
Runner up: Anne Xu
Runner up: Gabriela Marshall

Pictures from the 150th Anniversary Celebration

COMMENTS?

If you have suggestions about the type of information you would like to find when visiting us or related information that we might post on the site, please e-mail to friends@friendsofbeebe.org