Blog: Author: Katie Walsh

Mind Your Business! A Local History Game

Posted on by Katie Walsh
TONIGHT! Malden Public Library and Malden Chamber of Commerce is hosting ‘Mind Your Business: a logo guessing game’ on August 11, 6-8pm, in the library’s historic Converse Memorial Building. Participants will guess edited logos of local businesses for a chance to win prizes! It will be a fun night, so be sure to register using the QR code, or at: bit.ly/lh-myb
This is a recreation of a game that Mary Caroline (Parker) Converse devised in 1896. On December 31st of the same year, Malden Evening News describes the event: “Mrs. Converse had prepared a large number of popular advertisements, such as are seen in newspapers and in street cars, and had omitted the advertiser’s name. The game was to guess the advertiser.” She hosted this game for her Malden High School peers with whom she graduated four years earlier.
Converse had varied interests. In addition to creating the clever game mentioned above, she was a sea captain and composer. Her nautical passion began in her early adult years when she and her husband, Harry Converse (son of Elisha Converse), would sail on their personal ship, Penelope. She would pursue this further to become the first woman awarded a government issued ship navigating license and the first woman commissioned by the United States Merchant Marine.
Mary Parker Converse was also one of Malden’s notable musicians. She was a vocalist, pianist, and composer, and, in January of 1910, she demonstrated all three of these talents in one performance. Converse sang (while accompanying herself on piano) her ‘Wonder Songs’ for an audience in Boston. ‘Wonder Songs’ is a collection of tunes for children. The score is unique in that it is illustrated, much like a children’s book. She was involved with several other local concerts and served on the ‘Committee on Musical Exercises’ for Malden’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Please join us in celebrating Malden’s rich history and industry in this fun game on August 11, 6-8pm, at the Malden Public Library!

August Artist: Kareemah Abdusamad

Posted on by Katie Walsh

The Malden Public Library will be showcasing the artwork of Kareemah Abdusamad throughout the month of August.  Kareemah has been a fiber artist for years and her journey began with what we often think of as traditional quilts and evolved into more art quilts, even though she now does both.

A reception for the artist will be held on Tuesday August 12th from 7-8pm and the public is welcome to attend!

Mystery Making with Sisters in Crime New England

Posted on by Katie Walsh

Tuesday, Aug. 5th from 7-8pm, join us at the library for MYSTERY MAKING with Sisters in Crime New England! In this fun, fast-paced improv game, authors Susan Cory, Toni L.P. Kelner, and John Nardizzi will brainstorm on their feet to create a brand new mystery, using suggestions from the audience! WAS it the butler? It could be up to you!

With “Sisters in Crime New England“.

MEET YOUR AUTHORS:

SUSAN CORY was an award-winning residential architect in Cambridge, MA before she retired to write mysteries full time. She earned a brown belt in karate and visited 100 countries along the way. Her mystery series, beginning with Conundrum, features Iris Reid, also a Cambridge architect, as an amateur sleuth trying to uncover a murderer at her Harvard reunion. Susan found inspiration for starting this series at her own 20th architecture school reunion, not that anyone was killed then. That she knows of.

Her seven books in the series have won praise from Kirkus who calls her sleuth “an appealing and believable hero” with supporting characters who are “outstanding” and “hone this remarkable story.” “Cory gleefully breezes through subplots and twists with a resourceful protagonist at the helm.”

Her 8th book in the series, The Forger’s Daughter, is due out in August 2025.

TONI L.P. KELNER is two authors in one. As Leigh Perry, she writes the Family Skeleton series featuring a walking, talking skeleton named Sid. The series debuted with A Skeleton in the Family. As Toni L.P. Kelner, she’s the author of the eight Laura Fleming mysteries and the three books in the “Where are they now?” series. She also co-edited seven urban fantasy anthologies with NYT bestseller Charlaine Harris. In between novels and anthologies–and under both names–she writes short stories about pirates, PIs, serial killers, zombies, and demonic phone calls. A dozen of her stories were recently collected in her most recent book, The Skeleton Rides a Horse and Other Stories, from Crippen & Landru Publishers. Toni and/or Leigh have been nominated multiple times for the Anthony, the Macavity, and the Derringer, and she has won an Agatha Award for Best Short Story and an RT BOOKreview Career Achievement Award. Her short story “Baby Trap” was selected for the anthology Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024, edited by S.A. Cosby and Steph Cha.

JOHN NARDIZZI is an award-winning writer and investigator. His crime novels have won praise for crackling dialogue and pithy observations of detective work. THE BURDEN OF INNOCENCE earned a 2022 Shamus Award nomination for Best PI Paperback. He speaks and writes about investigations in numerous settings, including World Association of Detectives, Lawyers Weekly, Pursuit Magazine and PI Magazine. His work on innocence cases led to the exoneration Gary Cifizzari and James Watson (he was awarded the Arc of Justice for the Watson case in 2021), as well as million dollar settlements for clients Dennis Maher and the estate of Kenneth Waters, whose story was featured in the film Conviction. Prior to his PI career, he failed to hold any restaurant job for longer than a week. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts.

Housing Assistance Drop-In Hours

Posted on by Katie Walsh

Free legal assistance for those with housing concerns, no appointment necessary! Just come by the Malden Public Library between 10am-12pm to speak with an attorney about eviction, financial assistance, affordable housing, etc. Brought to you by the Malden Office of Housing Stability, and held on the 4th Wednesday of every month in Study Room 1. If you have questions, please reach out to (781) 322-9119 ext. 146, or email housingstability@cityofmalden.org.

Saturday, April 12 @ 3pm: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse

Posted on by Katie Walsh
Attention, music aficionados and local history buffs! Join us in welcoming author Howard Fishman as he talks about his new book, “To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse,” this Saturday at 3pm in the Maccario room.
Connie Converse (a distant relative of Malden’s Converse family) was a 20th century singer-songwriter and activist, considered by some to be a precursor to Bob Dylan. However, she disappeared in 1974 and her music nearly fell into complete obscurity. This Saturday, come learn how, decades later, fans of her music have worked to revive her legacy and her story.
Registration is suggested, you can do so HERE!

Community Resources for New Arrivals

Posted on by Katie Walsh

Being an integral part of the Malden community, the Malden Public Library provides the following community links and a resource to our local population. Here are some updated links and resources that may be useful to community members who are new to Malden and/or the United States, and those who wish to support them!

Click the name of the organization to be taken to their website; when available, direct contact information for the organization will be listed beneath their description. Descriptions in quotations come directly from the organizations linked.

New Arrivals Resources

Brazilian Workers Center

“The Brazilian Worker Center is a non-profit organization that capacitates immigrant workers to learn about workplace rights, immigration, and health equity. We empower immigrants with knowledge and skills to promote economic, social, political and racial justice for all.”

The Family Welcome Center at the Allston BWC provides assistance and resources (including emergency housing) to new arrivals from many countries.

The Everett Haitian Community Center

“The Everett Haitian Community Center (EHCC) is proud to have been serving immigrant and marginalized communities in Everett and Greater Boston for the past 7 years.” EHCC offers assistance with housing, food, citizenship classes, employment, and more.

MIRA Resources (Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition):

“MIRA is the largest coalition in New England promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees. With offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, we advance this mission through education and training, leadership development, institutional organizing, strategic communications, policy analysis and advocacy.”

MIRA Citizenship Application Assistance

MIRA Immigration Advocate Legal Helpline

“This helpline number is open to all Massachusetts-based providers serving immigrants and refugees and accepts voicemails 24/7 at (508) 293-1871. This helpline operates as a non-emergency service.

  • Callers are asked to leave a voicemail with their contact details and their inquiry (without disclosing any client-specific information).
  • The MIRA Helpline staff will review voicemails to assess urgency, directing urgent inquiries to our Staff Attorney for immediate response.
  • If a caller seeks resources, these will be sent via email.
  • For all other matters requiring an attorney’s response, the Helpline staff will arrange a callback and provide further instructions.
  • For expedited service, providers are encouraged to fill out the online intake form. Once the form is submitted, providers don’t need to call the helpline, the team will reach out to them with a response to their inquiry.”

Immediate Resources for Immigrants (MIRA): Links and contact information for emergency assistance shelter, Family Welcome Centers, Food/Nutrition/Medical Resources.

Immigrant Support Alliance, Melrose, MA (website under construction)

“A nonprofit coalition of volunteers that partners with resettlement agencies to provide food, housing, financial, and social support to our clients, helping them on their journey towards becoming independent, contributing members of our communities.”

  • info@immigrantsupportalliance.org

The Immigrant Learning Center, Malden, MA

The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC) is a not-for-profit organization. The English Language Program provides free, year-round ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes to help immigrant and refugee adults in Greater Boston become successful workers, parents and community members.

  • (781) 322-9777

Rian Immigrant Center

“Rian empowers immigrants, refugees, and international exchange visitors on the path to opportunity, safety and a better future.” Rian provides immigration legal services, English classes, citizenship classes, resource and support services, education & career services, International Exchange Visitor Visa Program, community building opportunities, and advocating for just and humane immigration policies.

  • (617) 542-7654

 

The Legend of the Inca Empire’s Origin (Bilingual Storytime)

Posted on by Katie Walsh

Wednesday, September 25, 6:30—7:30 PM

Children’s Room

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, this bilingual storytelling program features the beautiful legend about the origin and the foundation of the city of Cusco that became the historic capital of the Inca Empire. The story has been told through generations in Peru, and still there are many native indigenous that believe the Inca Kingdom will come back. Recommended for ages 5+.

This 3-part program is designed to be fun, energetic, and interactive, with 1) storytelling, 2) arts and craft activity, and 3) singing, dancing, or a dynamic game.

This program is supported by a grant from the Malden Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Closed for Labor Day

Posted on by Katie Walsh
The library will be CLOSED on Monday, Sept. 2nd, in honor of Labor Day. Prior to Monday, we will be open Friday, Aug. 30th from 9-6pm, and Saturday, Aug. 31st from 9-1pm.
E-Resources such as Libby, biblio+, HyRead are still accessible as always! To get started, check out what we have on offer here:
Want to learn more about the history of labor? Check out some recommended titles here:

Growing Up in Malden – A Memoir Marathon

Posted on by Katie Walsh

Calling all readers, writers and history lovers. In honor of Malden’s 375th Anniversary, join us on Thursday, September 5 at the Malden Public Library for a marathon reading of Malden’s best published memoirs. We will be collectively reading aloud works of personal storytelling in two sessions – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (daytime) and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (evening). Aspiring memoir writers are invited to share short excerpts from their own stories of childhood and teenage years. Or simple come to be inspired to begin to write your own story.

Works we will read aloud include: Childhood in the Old Parsonage by Darius Cobb, Linden on the Saugus Branch by Elliot Paul, Back Then: One Family’s Way of Life in the 1930’s and the 1940’s by John Bowman, Delightful Yesterdays by Emma Fall Schofield, and Monkey Corner: Life on the Outside Looking In by Jerry (Rocky) Romano.

Memoirs also have historical value. They provide insight into world events from the author’s perspective and allow us to understand what a person felt in a given time period. This event is part of the City of Malden’s 375th celebration, a year-long program that honors the rich history, vibrant culture, and resilient spirit of our City. Check out other upcoming 375th events at https://www.cityofmalden.org/1041/Maldens-375th-Anniversary-Page

For more information, contact the Library at 781-324-0218. Light refreshments will be served.