Blog: Author: Caron Guigli

Remembering Dina Malgeri

Posted on by Caron Guigli

Former Library Director Dina Malgeri (1929-2024) passed away last evening, soon after celebrating her 95th birthday .  Dina was a fierce advocate for the Library and I am sure everyone has their own personal stories of her amazing time as Director from 1972 to 2013.

For those that never got a chance to meet Ms. Malgeri, we are attaching a lovely article that was in the Boston Globe at her retirement, as well as the UMA video of Dina touring the Library.

https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2013/02/23/library-losing-its-top-advocate/

https://maldenpubliclibrary.org/converse-art-archives/converse-memorial-building/virtual-tours/

Here are a few words from our community about Dina Malgeri’s legacy.

Miss Malgeri
“was the smartest and most well-read person I have ever met. She was well-versed in almost all topics from books and music to art, politics, history, film, theater, languages, social issues, Boston history and the Red Sox. She was a classic, old-school Librarian, who honored the importance of libraries in a community, honored the books on the shelves, was fair and considerate, had integrity, was dedicated, and knew that the people who visited the Malden Public Library were always the most important part of the Library. There will never be another Librarian quite like Dina Malgeri.”

–Stacy Holder
Miss Malgeri
“did an amazing job ensuring that the original Converse building was restored to its former dignity.”

–Rebecca Smith
My favorite memory
“of Miss Malgeri is celebrating birthdays with my family. She loved sharing chicken feet with me (that was one of her favorites). Over the years we shared lots of good food and memories.”

–Carol Woodruff
Moments
“Miss Malgeri was a great boss. She was fair and kind. She stood beside and helped me through some of the toughest times in my life. She was a real class act.”

–Marge Glennon

 

Malden Reads
“We thank you for your support and guidance for establishing Malden Reads 15 years ago. Our continued work promoting literacy and community is in part due to your hard work as Director. We have always resepected your involvement in the community and your ability to connect different groups around Malden for the benefit of the Library.

–Linda & Jodie Zalk Malden Reads
Dina
“was an independent spirit and a strong woman that did not fit the mold of many women of her era. Just before she retired, I had the pleasure of working on a documentary about the historic section of the Malden Public Library, along with my colleagues Ron Cox and Brent Robie. Dina hosted and narrated the video. That experience led to a continued connection after she retired where I learned more about her life and got a sense of her curious nature and her love for books and learning and culture. We exchanged good old fashioned letters – hers were handwritten, mine were typed, and I occasionally visited her in her beloved North End neighborhood, where she grew up and lived till the very end of her life. She never drove a car and proudly called herself a city person who commuted by public transportation to work during her 40+ years at the library. She loved reading the Boston Globe every day, along with reading and listening to books. She deeply loved the Malden Public Library and the community she served.

–Anne Durso Rose Trustee

The Friends

When I started volunteering with the Friends, over 20 years ago, I usually had the booksale room to myself, because no one else wanted to sort the donations and organize the shelves.  It became my hobby.  Dina would show up carrying a heavy box of donations, and I would insist on going back with her to her workroom, to fetch the rest of them.  I loved chatting with her—she was interested in everything and everyone.  I was soon telling people at the library, “I want to be Dina when I grow up!”  I often brought a bag lunch to eat in the booksale room, and Dina would sometimes join me, so we could keep on talking.  She had fascinating stories about growing up in the North End, working in army base libraries overseas, all the history she’d seen, and her decades at the Malden Public.  She never seemed to eat much at those lunches, and she didn’t care for sweets, but she liked to bring me pastries from her favorite North End bakery.
She must have been in her seventies then, and she had more energy than I’d ever had at any age.  Even when she started having medical problems or injured herself falling in the winter, she was indomitable.  I was still telling people, “I want to be Dina when I grow up!”
Now I’m in my seventies, and I still do.
–Devra Kunin

Friends’ Wine Tasting June 21

Posted on by Caron Guigli

The Friends of the Malden Public Library are hosting a Wine Tasting to benefit the Malden Public Library on Friday, June 21 from 7–9 pm, in the historic Converse Library and Art Galleries at 36 Salem St in Malden. Enjoy a selection of wines, food selections from Malden’s finest establishments, live piano music, a silent raffle, and a VIP tour of the art galleries starting at 6:30 pm.

The Friends’ Wine Tasting was a popular event, first held in 2002 and continued annually until Covid 19 interrupted the fundraiser. But in coordination with the City of Malden’s 375 anniversary celebration and Kappy’s Fine Wine and Spirits in Malden, the Friends are restarting this tradition. The theme for this year’s event is Dressing through the Decades, and attendees are encouraged to dress in the style of their favorite decade.

Tickets are on sale at the Malden Public Library (cash or checks only, please) or can be purchased at online here:

https://www.localwineevents.com/view/event/friends-of-malden-public-library-wine-tasting/877152

LocalWineEvents.com. Tickets are $50 per person, and $75 per person if you would like an art tour also. Call the Library at 781-324-0218 for more information. This is a 21+ event.

Mayor’s Book Discussion for Malden Reads

Posted on by Caron Guigli

Join us on Wednesday, March 27th from 6:30–7:30 pm for a book discussion with Malden Mayor Gary Christenson of this year’s Malden Reads selection Being Heumann by Judith Heumann. We will meet in the Ryder Gallery of the Converse Art Galleries and light refreshments will be offered. A Zoom link will be provided closer to the date, for those that would like to attend from home.

Join Malden Reads: One City, One Book as we explore themes related to Being Heumann for our 14th year, including disability awareness; hidden disabilities; the benefit of ADA to non-disabled people; advances in technology for people with disabilities; civil rights, human rights, and how bills like the ADA become law; the power of one person working in collaboration with a team to create change.

Zoom login Here:

Malden Library is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Malden Reads Book Discussion with Mayor Christenson
Time: Mar 27, 2024 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 822 4475 1568
Passcode: 683203

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