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
Emily Franklin: Fall 2024 Arnold Lecture a huge success!
On October 1st, the Friends and a whopping crowd (in-person and online) welcomed Emily Franklin, author of more than twenty novels, including The Lioness of Boston, and a poetry collection, Tell Me How You Got Here. Her award-winning work has appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Guernica, JAMA, and numerous literary magazines as well as long-listed for the London Sunday Times Short Story Award, featured and read aloud on NPR and named notable by the Association of Jewish Libraries.
It was a tremendous evening and we thank Emily for her insight, humor and stories.
Special thanks to Hummingbird Books of Chestnut Hill for being on-hand to sell copies of Emily’s books!
Thank you, Thomas!
We were so thrilled to cheer on Thomas Weiss, who ran the 128th Boston Marathon for the Friends!
“Completing the marathon, even in the hot temperatures, was an experience that I will never forget, and I am very grateful to have been able to raise money for my hometown libraries, which I frequently utilized during my time at Wellesley High School. Having the opportunity to run on behalf of the Friends of the Wellesley Free Libraries truly showed me how important this organization is to the Town of Wellesley as well as how unique these libraries are with the different branches throughout the town. I truly hope that the libraries will continue to thrive for many years to come and provide the necessary resources to residents throughout the town. Running the Boston Marathon had always been a dream of mine, and I could not have done it without this opportunity that the Friends provided me as well as the support through all of your generous donations. Thank you again for all that you do for the town and for providing me with an experience that I will never forget!”
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.
The Friends of the Wellesley Free Libraries 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 were pleased to once again support a runner in their first Boston Marathon.
Thank you, Thomas, for being such a great friend to the Wellesley Free Libraries!
Many thanks to our previous marathon runners:
Thomas Weiss, 128th Boston Marathon in 2024
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
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.
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.