Blog: Friends of the Malden Public Library

Annual Ice Cream Social and Summer Reading Kick off 6.25.26

This Thursday, June 25th at 1pm, join the library staff in celebrating the start of summer…reading! We’ve once again invited Dairy Delight to dish up their tasty ice cream to all our friends in the community. We’ll also be hosting a dinosaur or two, a musical guest, and the Friends of the Malden Public Library will be hosting a book give away to help encourage kids to find their first read of the summer.

The event is free, but in order to move things efficiently, we ask that each family sign up for our Summer Reading Challenge in Beanstack ahead of time. If you participated last year, you can just log into your account and go to the challenges section and select Dig Into Reading Challenge. If you haven’t used Beanstack before you can log in on the website:  bit.ly/BeanstackMPL or download the mobile app via your device store. Search Beanstack and then follow the prompts. Hate tech? Stop by the Information desk and we can help get you started with an account, or just log your minutes for you.

And even if you can’t make it, we’d still love to see you this summer. We will have 8 weeks packed with activities for all ages. Oh and for reader’s who complete their reading challenges, we have prizes provided by local businesses to thank you for helping meet our community reading goals. For kids and teens, we’ll have coupons for food at local restaurants. For adults we’ll be holding a weekly raffle for bigger prizes. And then, for the end of summer the top reader in each category will receive a grand prize. For kids there is a family membership to the Museum of Science. For Teens a gift certificate for 4 to Boda Borg. And finally Adults will win a city of Malden rain barrel with a custom library logo.

Friends’ 19th Annual Wine Tasting Gala 5.15.26

We are excited to announce the Friends of the Malden Public Library’s 2026 Wine Tasting Gala will be held on Friday, May 15 at 7:00pm! During this annual fundraising event, supporters of the Malden Public Library will arrive in our historical Converse Memorial Building and Art Galleries to enjoy wines from around the world, sample menus from local restaurants, and bid in our Silent Auction. This is the Friends’ most memorable social event of the season, attracting hundreds of people and selling out year after year. All proceeds from the gala will go towards Library resources including book readings and discussions, concerts and art exhibits, museum passes, supplies for children’s programs, books and graphic novels for young adults, videos, CDs, DVDs, large-print books, and more.
All wine and mocktail samples will be available for purchase from Kappy’s Fine Wines & Spirits. You will receive 10% off your order when you buy 6 or more bottles. 10% of all sales will be donated to the Malden Public Library.
Stay tuned to hear about our Silent Auction items.
$50 tickets will include the wine tasting from 7:00-9:00PM, food, music, silent auction, and of course wine.
$75 VIP tickets will include a tour of the Art Galleries from 6:30-7:00PM.
Get your tickets via the link here: https://bit.ly/19th-Wine-Tasting-FMPL
Tickets can also be purchased at the Library with cash or check.

Fall Book Sale by the Friends of the Malden Public Library!

The Big Fall Book Sale is here! The Friends of the Malden Public Library will have a huge book sale on Friday, October 17th, from 6-9pm. This is an early access preview sale for Friends members only. Join the Friends on Friday night or renew your membership to gain the best access to the book sale.

The Friends Fall Book Sale is open to everyone on Saturday, October 18th, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. We have thousands of books, DVDs, children’s books, cookbooks, and more! Cash, check or digital payments accepted. Stop by on Saturday for a delicious cup of coffee from Cornucopia Foods, and say hi to our book sale sponsors: The Malden Police Dept.

The Friends Book Sale helps raise money for Library programs, museum passes, technology, movie nights, teen programs, children’s programs, high demand bestsellers, and more. We look forward to seeing you there!

Welcoming Week: September 12-21, 2025

Join us at the Malden Public Library for Welcoming Week on September 12-21, 2025. The theme for this year’s Welcoming Week is “Stories We Share.” Celebrated in communities around the globe, Welcoming Week is an annual campaign that connects neighbors of all backgrounds through community-informed activities and events. Welcoming Week provides communities the opportunity to publicly proclaim welcoming values, foster a mutual understanding between immigrants and non-immigrants, and build a deeper sense of belonging for all.

Throughout Welcoming Week we will provide information about local community organizations, including resources for English classes, food & housing information, job information, language learning, and more. We will also have some take & make craft kits for children and adults.

The Malden Public Library will have some resources and information for the Welcoming Week Kickoff which will be at Malden City Hall on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 215 Pleasant Street, City Hall Plaza. You can find out more information here: https://www.cityofmalden.org/1130/WELCOMING-WEEK-2025

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025 we will have a Story Time for children (ages 4-8) at 3:00pm and a “Take & Make” craft for children (ages 3+) at the Malden Public Library.

And don’t miss our Movie Night on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 6:00-8:00pm. We will be showing a “hidden gem” of a movie about Peace By Chocolate. “When a Syrian family flees civil war to small-town Canada, the son is torn between his dreams of becoming a doctor and helping his father rebuild his suddenly burgeoning chocolate business. Based on the incredible true story.” Not Rated, All Ages (96 min.) (2021) Free snacks will be provided and movie times are approximate.

This year on Saturday, September 20, 2025: 10:00-11:00am we will have our 3rd Annual “Coffee, Cookies, and Conversation” at the Malden Public Library. Meet your neighbors in a relaxed environment for a cup of coffee and great conversation! The Welcoming Week theme this year is “Stories We Share.”

All events are co-sponsored by The Friends of the Malden Public Library.

 

Friends Wine Tasting 5.9.25 Tickets On Sale Now

The Friends of the Malden Public Library is holding their Annual Wine Tasting Gala to benefit the Malden Public Library on Friday, May 9, 2025 from 7 – 9 pm in the historic Converse Memorial Library and Art Galleries. The event will include wines and mocktails courtesy of Kappy’s Fine Wine and Spirits, Malden, music, food from local Malden establishments, and a silent auction.

This year’s theme will honor renowned artist and Malden native, Frank Stella. Attendees are welcome to wear styles reminiscent of their favorite Stella decade.

Tickets are $50 general admission and the $75 includes a VIP gallery tour beginning at 6:30 pm. Tickets can be bought online by clicking the link below. Or in person at the Friends of the Malden Public Library Book Sale on Friday April 4th 6-9pm or Saturday April 5th 10-2pm. Or at the Circulation Desk any time there after. For paper tickets purchased at the library please have cash or check available.

 

Buy Tickets

Friends Spring Book Sale: 4.4.25 and 4.5.25

Support the library and stock up for this seasons reading material!
Members-Exclusive Sale Fri 4/4 6pm-9pm
(You can renew your membership now at the library!)
At the members-only sale, get the first look at our new stock, and the latest literary treasures we’ve collected over the past few months!
Public Sale Sat 4/5 10am-2pm. At the public sale you will get to visit with a fire truck courtesy of the Malden Fire Dept. We’ll also have coffee available while supplies last.
Be sure to stop by the Medford Friends of the Library Sale that same weekend- we’ve got different collections, but we all love the library!