For those of us hitting middle age or other age-related milestones, thinking about 1998 can be jarring.
Has it been a quarter century since Rose refused to let Jack climb on her floating door in “Titanic”? Has a generation come and gone since America was “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”?
And did the “new” Abington Public Library building really open its doors 25 YEARS AGO?
The answer to all these questions is yes (although word is people continued to get jiggy at Emerald Hall functions well into 2022.)
The new library, which was built alongside the new Town Hall at the end of Gliniewicz Way, is celebrating its silver anniversary this weekend. Although it welcomed its first patrons in December 1997, it was officially dedicated on Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998.
“In some ways it seems like it’s only been 25 years, and in other ways its “Wow, that was 25 years ago,’” said Library Director Deborah Grimmett.
An official 25th anniversary celebration will take place this Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is “Take Your Child to the Library Day” and will feature a Family Storytime at 11 a.m., a scavenger hunt, crafts, and a game afternoon. On Sunday, not only will the library be open, but there will be food, drinks, music by the Steve Rudolph Trio, and a balloon artist.
The weekend will kick off a year-long celebration, Grimmett said, including separate celebrations of its outdoor garden, the Wales Room, and the Friends of the Library, as well as a return of the Abington Reads program in March.
From1977 to 1997 the library shared space with the Town Hall when it was located at a former church building at 33 Randolph Street. When the new library opened, it nearly tripled the size of the town’s library facilities from about 5,000 square feet to more than 16,000 square feet.
Grimmett said the new library was so well designed that even 25 years later it still perfectly fits the town’s needs.
“The trustees, the library building committee, and the library director at the time put so much thought and so much planning into the building that it has aged remarkably well,” she said. “The one-floor design just makes things so much easier.”
The library was built to easily allow additions as circulation grew. But the arrival of digital media meant stacks of printed reference materials were replaced by computers and internet connections allowing the library to remain comfortable within its existing walls.
Circulation for FY22 was 102,643, including 72,084 pieces of physical media, and 22,900 pieces of digital media. Circulation for FY19, the last full pre-pandemmic year, was just over 105,000, with digital media making up about 15,000 pieces. Grimmett said in-person visits and book signouts came back strong in the second half of 2022, as the threat from the pandemic started to wane.
Reservations for study rooms are back up. After-school visits from students are up. And 41 people attended a recent family story hour.
“Just about everything is full,” Grimmett said.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTATION SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY
The Historical Society of Old Abington has rescheduled its presentation by Elizabeth Brown on local Revolutionary War heroine Deborah Sampson for this Sunday at 2 p.m. The presentation was originally scheduled for December, but was postponed following the sudden passing of Marie Lailer, chairwoman of the Dyer Memorial Library Trustees. Sampson disguised herself as a man and fought in the Revolutionary War for 17 months before being discovered. The event, which will take place at the Dyer Memorial Library, is open to the public.
RACES FOR SELECTMEN, SCHOOL COMMITTEE SHAPING UP FOR TOWN ELECTIONS
Three people have now taken out nomination papers for two seats on the Board of Selectmen: incumbents Alex Bezanson and Michael Kolodziej have been joined by Kevin Donovan, a former selectman, and most recently the town’s representative to the board overseeing the redevelopment of Union Point. Three people have also taken out papers for two School Committee seats: incumbents Wendy Happel and Chris Coyle, as well as Nicole Emery.
Town Clerk Leanne Adams and Moderator Shawn Reilly are seeking re-election, as are Water Commissioner William Cormier, Assessor Lawrence Keough, Planning Board Chairman Bruce Hughes, and Library Trustees Barbara McLaughlin and Susan Crowley. Anyone interested in running for town office can still take out nomination papers at the Town Clerk’s Office. Candidates need 50 signatures from registered Abington voters to make the ballot.
GREEN WAVE SCHEDULE
GIRLS TRACK
Monday, 5 p.m., @ Reggie Lewis Center
BOYS TRACK
Monday, 5 p.m., @ Reggie Lewis Center
GIRLS HOCKEY (co-op with Norwell)
Wednesday @ Scituate, 6:30 p.m., @Hobomock Ice Arena
Saturday @ Plymouth South, 10 a.m., @Armstrong Arena
BOYS HOCKEY
Wednesday vs. Middleboro, 5:50 p.m., @ Rockland Ice Rink
Saturday @ East Bridgewater, 7:30 p.m., @ Bridgewater Ice Arena
GIRLS BASKETBALL
VARSITY
Tuesday vs. Rockland, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday vs. Mashpee, 6:30 p.m.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Tuesday vs. Rockland, 5 p.m.
Thursday vs. Mashpee, 5 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL
VARSITY
Tuesday @ Rockland, 6:30 p.m.
Friday @ Randolph, 6:30 p.m.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Tuesday @ Rockland, 5 p.m.
Thursday @ Whitman-Hanson, 4:30 p.m.
Friday @ Randolph, 5 p.m.
FRESHMEN
Tuesday @ Rockland, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday @ Whitman-Hanson, 4:30 p.m.
MEETING SCHEDULE
TUESDAY
Conservation Commission, 5:30 p.m., via Zoom. Agenda includes revisions to the town’s conservation bylaws.
Conservation Preservation Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a review of FY 24 projects.
WEDNESDAY
Finance Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a review of the town’s FY 24 IT Department, Council on Aging, and Planning Department budgets.
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