4 Pond Road, Harvard, MA 01451
 978-456-4114

Friends of the Harvard Public Library


Who are the Friends?     
Why Join the Friends?     
Contact Information
2008 Book Sale
Items for sale
John Faulkner Whitcomb Memorial Award


Who are the Friends?

The Friends of the Harvard Public Library is a community-based, volunteer organization whose purpose is to stimulate the interests of the community in the services and needs of the Harvard Public Library.  We provide program assistance through volunteer help and funds and sponsorship of programs that will enable the Harvard Public Library to keep pace with the growth of the Town of Harvard.  

We produce programs for both children and adults including Pumpkin Decorating, Chess Lessons, puppet shows and ClayTime.  Adult programs have included lectures on Islam and JRR Tolkien.  We support the library financially as well, and have bought two computers for the library and provide financial support to the popular Summer Reading Program.  We also sponsor free or reduced-price museum passes to 21 area museums.  

Through the annual Whitcomb Award, we provide a $500 scholarship to a junior in high school with a demonstrated gift for poetry.  We also support library issues in legislation by advocating for library funding and attending legislative events.

Board:
Chris and Susan Frechette  Co-Presidents
Gwen Cook Vice-President
Kathy Boisvert Treasurer
Maureen Remeika Secretary

 

Why Join the Friends?

Your Friends membership not only provides financial and community support to the Library, but also provides you with these key benefits:

  • Book Sale Preview Night Admission
    Get first pick of the high quality books available at our annual Book Sale.

  • Reminders of Library and FOHPL events
    Members of the FOHPL will get email reminders of upcoming events - never miss a lecture or program again!

 

We invite you to join the Friends!

If you are not yet a Friend and want to become one, contact Chris and Susan Frechette at 978-772-4327 or at wildiris1@verizon.net  for a membership brochure.  You can also just drop into a Friends meeting at the library:  we meet at 7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.

 

Items For Sale:

The Friends are now selling books in the library lobby for $2.00.  

 

gargoyle.jpg (71933 bytes)Replicas of the Gargoyles on the library cupola are available for purchase.  
If interested, email Chris and Susan Frechette 
at wildiris1@verizon.net

 


 




2008 Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale and Book Collection 
at the "old" Harvard Library
This is the main fundraising event for the Friends.  Proceeds go to support the Harvard Public Library.  Funds have been used to help build the new library, to buy computer equipment, purchase museum passes, provide children's programs and produce events organized by the Harvard Friends of the Arts.  We also award a $500 scholarship each year to local high school juniors through our annual Whitcomb Poetry Award.

 2008 Book Sale Dates:

Friday, May 16
:  Preview Sale for Friends of the Library only  6PM - 8PM 

Saturday, May 17:  Early Bird Admission 8:00 - 9:00 AM - $10 entry
Free Admission 9:00 am - 4:00 pm 

Sunday, May 18:  11:30 AM - 4:00 PM (free admission)

Location:  At the Old Library on Fairbank Street in Harvard

Donated book collection for the sale:
Drop off Books at the "old" Library Saturdays between 9AM - 1PM
March 29th through May 10th 
(please do not drop off books at the new library on Pond Street)


 

 

 

 

 

John Faulkner Whitcomb Memorial Award

2008 Poetry Competition

 

John F. Whitcomb, a doctor and part-time poet, was an active member of the Friends of the Harvard Public Library. His love of poetry and the Harvard Public Library led him to initiate and present amateur and professional poetry programs in town. His love of children and young adults expressed itself in many ways, most poignantly in making 4th of July floats for the annual parade.  These floats were purposely made to appeal to the creativity of the children who participated in the event. His wife Sally joined him in these endeavors, as well as other charitable labors in the town of Harvard .

Jack died suddenly during Thanksgiving weekend, 2000. He had never retired from his family medical practice or from supporting the Friends of the Harvard Public Library with his deeds as well as his words.

In his honor, the Friends of the Harvard Public Library established a poetry competition for juniors in high school with a $500 prize (to be shared on the occasion of a tie). Applicants must attend school in Harvard or live in Harvard but attend school elsewhere, and show promise in, and a love for, poetry.

 

                        2001 Recipient                          Whitney Lauritsen

                        2002 Recipient                          Bridget Demba and Jennifer Hardy

                        2003 Recipient                          Allyssa Kvenvold

                        2004 Recipient                          Carolyn Long and Nick Garcia

                        2005 Recipient                          Reesha Kasher

                        2006 Recipient                          Laura Kvenvold

                        2007 Recipient                          Loren Cruise

 

Competition Guidelines

 

  • DEADLINE for submissions: Friday, April 25, 2008

 

  • ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SENT TO:

      Friends of the Harvard Public Library, P.O. Box 506 , Harvard , MA 01451

 

  • Each submission must note the poet’s name, address, phone number, school, and graduation date

 

  • All submissions must be original and in English

 

  • There are no restrictions on form or subject – in the case of parodies, the original poem must be attached

 

  • Applicants may submit a maximum of two poems

 

  • Once submitted, manuscripts can not be rewritten or amended, and substitutions can not be made

 

  • Manuscripts will not be returned

 

  • The decisions of the judges will be final

 

  • The winning poet will submit a brief biography for display, along with his or her poem, in the Harvard Public Library and on the Library’s website.