Friends News

WE LOVE OUR LIBRARY

The Wellesley Free Library is a gathering place, a cultural destination and a gateway to ideas for residents of all ages. Many consider it “the heart of our community.” The Friends is a group of Wellesley residents, independent of the Library and its staff, dedicated to enhancing the quality of our Libraries by providing services and programming that stimulate the minds of our children and adults.

FRIENDS NEWS & NOTES


Adrienne Brodeur: Arnold Lecture, Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at 7pm

Please join us to hear acclaimed author, Adrienne Brodeur, discuss her recent novel Little Monsters in addition to learning more about Brodeur’s writing process. We’re looking forward to a relaxed evening of conversation and engagement. We hope to see you there!

Our presentation will begin at 7pm in the Wakelin Room at the Main Library. Please be sure to REGISTER HERE beforehand. Refreshments will be served.

Adrienne Brodeur is the author of the novel Little Monsters and the memoir, Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover and Me, which was described by The New York Times Book Review as: “Exquisite and harrowing. . . . The book is so gorgeously written and deeply insightful, and with a line of narrative tension that never slacks, from the first page to the last, that it’s one you’ll likely read in a single, delicious sitting.” Published in October 2019 by HMH Books, Wild Game’s film rights were bought by Chernin Entertainment with Nick Hornby attached to adapt and Deniz Gamze Ergüven, the director of “Mustang,” attached to direct.

Adrienne has spent the past two decades of her professional life in the literary world, discovering voices, cultivating talent, and working to amplify underrepresented writers. Her publishing career began with founding the fiction magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story, with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, where she served as editor-in-chief from 1996-2002. The magazine has won the prestigious National Magazine Award for best fiction four times. In 2005, she became an editor at Harcourt (later, HMH Books), where she acquired and edited literary fiction and memoir. Adrienne left publishing in 2013 to become Creative Director — and later Executive Director — of Aspen Words, a literary arts nonprofit and program of the Aspen Institute. In 2017, she launched the Aspen Words Literary Prize, a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.

Adrienne splits her time between Cambridge and Cape Cod, where she lives with her husband and children.

The Arnold Lecture is sponsored by the Friends of the Wellesley Free Libraries

Thomas Weiss Running the 128th Boston Marathon for the Friends 

The Friends of the Wellesley Free Libraries have gratefully received a charity bib from the Town of Wellesley for the 2024 Boston Marathon. As a fixture on the marathon route and steps from the halfway point, we are thrilled to once again support a runner in their first Boston Marathon. 

Thomas Weiss attended the Wellesley Public Schools for grades K-12 and graduated in the  Wellesley High School class of 2018. He was a member of the 2016 State Championship Cross Country Team and served as a senior captain. He attended the University of Michigan, where he ran for the Cross Country Team for one year before graduating with a business degree in 2022. He currently works in Boston as an investment analyst at Cambridge Associates.

Running has always been a very important part of Thomas’s life, and he participates in charity 5k/10k races, all in pursuit of his dream to run the Boston Marathon. 

In committing to run the 2024 Boston Marathon to benefit the Friends of the Wellesley Free Libraries, Thomas recalls, “Throughout my childhood, I remember constantly visiting the Hills branch, going to book sales, and getting museum passes for family excursions. I always studied at the library after class… I realize how much the pandemic impacted libraries with virtual programming, and I hope to fundraise for the Friends of the Wellesley Free Libraries because of the importance of the many programs that can change and shape the lives of Wellesley residents. By participating in children’s and teen programs at the library throughout my childhood, I saw first-hand how the library builds a sense of community. I believe that the library is one of the centerpieces of our town and serves as an integral part of society that can help others learn.”

All funds raised for Thomas’s participation in the 2024 Boston Marathon will go directly to programming and resources at the Wellesley Free Libraries. We are delighted to offer our charity bib to Thomas and hope you will join us in supporting his run on Monday, April 15, 2024. 

Support Thomas’s fundraising for the Friends of the Wellesley Free Libraries.

Many thanks to our previous marathon runners:

Cathy Bueker, 127th Boston Marathon in 2023

Alison McCarthy, 126th Boston Marathon in 2022

Cara Rothman, 125th Boston Marathon in 2021

Brian Cody, 124th Virtual Boston Marathon in 2020

Margaret Nyweide, 123rd Boston Marathon in 2019

Spring Book Sale! April 25-28th, 2024


Member Preview Night: Join us!

Refreshments available

Numbers will be given out beginning at 4pm. Doors open at 5pm.

Please note: No SCANNERS allowed on Member Preview Night.

 

Current Events

Sign up to receive the WFL Weekly, an email listing current news & notes from the Wellesley Free Libraries.


Friends Newsletter

Sign up to receive The Friends newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Volunteers, the Heart & Soul of the Friends

Have you ever thought about getting involved with the Friends? It’s a wonderful way to make new friends and get to know the people who share your passion for the Library. If you are interested, send an email to The Friends or Become a Volunteer. We hope to hear from you! THANK YOU.