July 1, 2022 Submitted by the Hingham Public Library
The thing about books is they let you travel without moving your feet. So friends and supporters of the Hingham Public Library didn't have to go far to celebrate. Beyond The Books: A Celebration of the Hingham Public Library was held on May 6th, 2022, under a tent on the lawn and became one of the Library's most significant fundraisers to date!
The event's original purpose was to celebrate the Library's reopening after the pandemic, and it evolved into a celebration of its 150 years of history. Lucy Hancock, Chair of the Library Board of Trustees, co-chaired the event committee along with Library friend and supporter Sara Abbott. "We decided on the theme early in our planning - 'The Library Can Take You Anywhere,' Hancock said. "It's in reference to the Library's safer means of 'travel' during the closure when we offered curbside pickup, online books, and virtual programming for patrons to remain engaged and connected in a very isolating time." In addition, the event committee expanded the "go-anywhere" theme with three raffles in which winners could choose from twelve fantastic pack-your-bags travel experiences. Guests also volunteered to sponsor the Library's museum pass program to twenty museums and other attractions.
Thanks to the generosity of our local community and beyond, the fundraiser was a huge success. More than 200 Library friends attended "Beyond the Books," which began with guests entering the newly refreshed Library lobby, passing through the Mary Niles Courtyard, and proceeding to the tent. Guests enjoyed the delicacies of Best of Boston caterer Kate's Table, who served artfully prepared heavy hors d'oeuvres. At the same time, musical duo, Three At Home, performed onstage, while Albert Fearing, the Library's 1869 founder, portrayed by Christopher Spencer of The Company Theatre, mingled with guests throughout the evening. Linda Harper, Library Director, spoke about the importance of public support for the Library and the museum pass program. Finally, before the end of the evening, sponsor Avis Goldstein drew the ticket of the last of three raffle winners - Jon Burt, Anne Nicholas, and Julie Strehle.
"We are incredibly grateful for the support of our generous sponsors, who set a pace at the start to make this event successful," said David Mehegan, committee member and Vice-Chair of the Board. "So many people said to me tonight, 'What a great idea! You should do this again!'"
Lead sponsors for "Beyond the Books" included the Harold and Avis Goldstein Charitable Trust, Middleton & Company, Inc., Kathy and Richard Norman, and The Family of Edna S. English.
Special thanks go to the NVNA and Hospice, Sara and Matt Abbott, Anna Maria Anthony and Peter Bradley, Elizabeth Eldredge, Lucy and Skip Hancock, Alyson Molloy Hussey, Julianne and David Mehegan, JoAnn and Jim Mitchell, Ellen Mitchell and Charles Byrne, Mona and Steven Pohl, Bill and Kathy Reardon, Barbara Ross, Sara and Jim Taylor, the Ventresca Family, Geoffrey and Susan Willison, Rockland Trust Bank, Joshua Ross Photography, Sara and Jason Ader, Nicole and Chase Arnold, Jen and Frank Benham, Mark Cullings, Eric Haskell and Anne McGuire, Kate Johnson Real Estate, Jon and Yvette Kanter, the LeBretton Family, Elizabeth Moulds and Gregory Corbett, Liza and Tom O'Reilly, Michelle and Jeremy Parker, Scott and Cheryl Pinarchick, Joan Allen, Anna Byrne, Linda Harper, and Robby St. John.
For more information and additional photographs, please visit www.hinghamlibrary.org/beyondthebooks
