The Malden Public Library will be closing at 7 p.m. tonight (3/21/2018) due to the snow emergency.  We will reopen Thursday, March 22, at 9 a.m.

Dr. John Hill presents “Adam Smith’s Equality and the Pursuit of Happiness”

On Wednesday, February 21, at 6:30 p.m., Dr. John E. Hill, award-winning Professor of Politics and History at Curry College, will present his new work, Adam Smith’s Equality and the Pursuit of Happiness published by Palgrave MacMillan, 2016.  This work examines Adam Smith’s main principles in Wealth of Nations as the basis for effective policymaking. Free market interpretations of Smith, the book argues, grossly misrepresent his thought, emphasizing only liberty and not also equality and justice. This book suggests policies that combine all three in order for happiness to be maximized.

Adam Smith, the “father of capitalism,” proposed several principles that would help mitigate or eliminate some of the problems we face as a nation today. Many assume that our current laissez-faire capitalism applies his principles. But, in contrast to the libertarianism of the United States, Smith’s recipe to increase everyone’s wealth and happiness was justice, liberty, and equality. His famous book, Wealth of Nations, provides several additional principles that might promote the good life for all. Adam Smith’s Equality and the Pursuit of Happiness explains these principles and offers examples of how they might be applied in the United States today.

Dr. Hill is the author of Revolutionary Values for a New Millennium (2000); Democracy, Equality and Justice: John Adams, Adam Smith and Political Economy (2007); and a revised and expanded second edition, Democracy, Equality and Justice: John Adams, Adam Smith, and Political Economy (2007).  Curry College has recognized Professor Hill as Person of the Year and for excellence in academic advising. In addition Curry has given him two Faculty Achievement Awards, and he has received a national award for advising. For 2007, Curry honored him by naming him Curry Fellow, the first ever named. As Fellow, he continued his research on John Adams and especially on Adam Smith, taught a course each semester, made guest appearances in various classes, and gave two public lectures. He contributes blogs to “The Public Humanist,” a blog project of Mass Humanities.  The program is free and open to all.   Malden Public Library, 36 Salem Street, Malden.  www.maldenpubliclibrary.org

“Lasting Impressions of Japan: Hokusai & Hiroshige and Beyond,” an exhibition featuring ukiyo-e prints by the Japanese artists Hiroshige, Hokusai, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi will open on January 23 and run through March 23.   An Opening Reception and Gallery Talk will be held on Tuesday, January 23, from 6 to 8 p.m.  The exhibition is a collaboration between the Malden Public Library and the Malden Historical Society.

This will be the first exhibition of these historic prints, purchased by the library in 1912, in over one-hundred years.  The exhibition also includes stunning examples of Japanese traditional dress and ceramic art, including formal, semi-formal, and casual kimono, haori jackets from the collections of the Malden Historical Society.

The woodblock ukiyo-e prints show images of everyday Japan and were mass-produced for popular consumption in the Edo period (1615-1868).  Brought to Europe and America, these prints influenced many Western artists, including Monet and Van Gogh; as well as the creators of our popular manga and anime series.  Among the treasured prints exhibited are works by Katsushika Hokusai, best known for his work “Great Wave off the Coast of Kanagawa” or “The Great Wave” from his series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.

Exhibition hours are: Mondays 6:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesdays 2:00-4:00 p.m., Saturdays 2:00-4:00 p.m.  For more information or group tours call 781-324-0218.  www.maldenpubliclibrary.org

Join the Friends of the Malden Public Library on Sunday, December 3, at 2 pm for a free concert held in partnership with the Malden Historical Society and Victorian Society of Malden. The Malden High School Choral Arts Society will perform and we’ll provide complimentary refreshments. This event is open to the public. Come join your neighbors and kick-off the holiday season at the Library!

Thank you Roger Desrosiers of the Mass. Center for Civil Education for the great program Citizen Lyceum’s Understanding Democracy and the Rights of American Citizens sponsored by Malden Reads, Chinese Culture Connection, Malden C O R E – Community Organizing for Racial Equity. and the American Association for Arab Women.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when the American Library Association and libraries nationwide join together to remind parents, caregivers and students that signing up for a library card is the first step towards academic achievement and lifelong learning.

A public library card is a ticket to free educational resources and activities. A library card provides access to a variety of in print and online digital media, including downloadable books, magazines, movies, music and more.

If you haven’t been to your local library lately, September is a great time for a visit.