Dennis Lehane calls libraries "an unequivocal good."

The Pollard Memorial Library Foundation Author Night with Dennis Lehane was an unmitigated success. A wise and warm speaker, Lehane charmed the audience with his real life stories and stayed until every last person had a chance to shake his hand or pose for a picture. Lehane, a trustee of the Boston Public Library, opened his remarks stating that he wouldn't have been there without libraries because growing up in a working class family the local library gave him access to books his parents couldn't afford.

He went on to say "Anytime you can support libraries, please do. You are supporting an unequivocal good, you are supporting a light against the darkness, a bulwark against the barbarians."

Here's a slideshow of some pictures from that night:

Foundation Author Night with Dennis Lehane is only two days away - Thursday, May 24th @ 6pm

Quick reminder that the Pollard Memorial Library Foundation's Annual Author Night featuring Dennis Lehane is only two days away—Thursday, May 24th @ 6pm in the 2nd Floor Reference Room of the Pollard (a.k.a. Memorial Hall). If you haven't gotten your ticket yet, don't fret. They will be available at the door for the suggested donation price of $45.

Pollard Memorial Library Foundation Author Night: Dennis Lehane - May 24th @ 6pm

Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 24th @ 6pm when Pollard's Memorial Hall will be graced with the incomparable Dennis Lehane. He's practically a household name round these parts—a prolific writer hard-nosed mystery/suspense novels. Many of which are set in Boston-a few of which have been made into movies Gone Baby Gone, Mystic River and Shutter Island. He also wrote for HBO's popular show The Wire. He has a book coming out in October entitled Live By Night. This book is the second part of a planned trilogy with The Given Day of historical suspense novels set during the turn of the 20th century.

This event is a fundraiser for the Pollard Memorial Library Foundation and the suggested donation is $45. The PML Foundation annual authors night is a very special occasion where we transform our gorgeous 2nd floor reference room back into a function hall. There will be ample opportunity for book signing and conversation with the author. H'oeur derves and refreshments will be served.  For more information about the foundation please visit their webpage: www.pollardml.org/foundation.

Author Night: Nicholas DiGiovanni - "Rip" - Thursday, March 22 @ 7pm

Wake Up, Citizens of Greater Lowell...Wake Up and Come on down to the Pollard Library Thursday, March 22nd at 7pm to meet local author Nicholas DiGiovanni as he reads from and discusses his novel "Rip: A Modern Retelling of Washington Irving's Classic Tale."

DiGiovanni has ole Rip VW waking up in the 1960's imagine the culture shock! The book finds for our hero a job as a toll taker on New York's Tappan Zee Bridge and that is only the beginning of the awkward hilarity offered up in the culture skewing novel. "Rip" is also good enough to include a copy of the original Washington Irving tale so readers can compare and contrast and savor the two great stories at once.

Local Poet Kate Hanson Foster reads from Mid Drift, Thursday September 15th @ 7PM

The Pollard is pleased to welcome Kate Hanson Foster Thursday, September 15^th at 7PM to read from her newly published collection of poetry Mid Drift (Loom Press 2011).

From Loom Press’s website:

Set in post-industrial Lowell, Massachusetts, Mid Drift contains a speaker who is seduced by the "ugliness" of the city including prostitution, alcoholism, homelessness, and infidelity. Many poems also explore themes of family, religion and spirituality, and loss of self. Poet and writer, Amy Gerstler writes of Mid Drift: "Hanson Foster captures the arresting sense of how loss scrapes away layers of one's personhood exposing a quiet resilience, maybe even a rising faith, that glimmers dimly underneath abiding grief like some kind of ore."

Since it's publication in May 2011, Doug Holder, editor of the Ibbetson Street Press has written a review of Mid Drift on his blog Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene. New Pages has also written a short but glowing review.

Ms. Foster maintains a blog of her own and has recently posted about the unexpectedly trying experience of publishing a book of poems. You might also enjoy her photographic essay of Kerouac's homes in Lowell which recently appeared in Writers' Houses.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information please contact the Community Planning Department, 978-970-4118.

Author Event - Jay Atkinson - Tauvernier Street & Paradise Road - Thursday, June 23rd 7PM

Come see where the rubber meets the road for Metheun native Jay Atkinson. He'll be at the library next Thursday, June 23rd at 7pm to read from his latest book of short stories, Tauvernier Street, and his recent book Paradise Road: Jack Kerouac's Lost Highway and my Search for America. The latter is a compelling travelogue of his adventures criss-crossing America, taking inspiration from Kerouac's opus, On the Road, fifty years after its original publication.

Author Event - Stephen O'Connor - The Spy In the City of Books - Thursday, May 19th 7PM

The Pollard Library is pleased to welcome Stephen O'Connor next Thursday, May 19th @ 7PM to read from his latest book "The Spy In the City of Books" (Sons of Liberty Publishing). Mr. O'Connor is a well known and respected Lowellian and author, and he led a popular writing workshop last year at the Pollard. We're excited to have him back. This event is free and open to the public. For more information please contact the Community Planning Department at 978-970-4118 or email sthibodeau@mvlc.org.