January 2, 2026

Each year, the Friends of the Blue Hill Public Library sort, clean, and sell thousands of donated books from its basement bookstore, the Book Nook.  Many of those donated books come with added surprises—bookmarks, photographs, letters and a range of sweet and funny keepsakes—that tell their own unique stories.  The Friends are showcasing the treasures they’ve found in “Tucked Away,” a one-of-a-kind exhibit, located in the Blue Hill Public Library’s Roland Howard Meeting Room.

“We’ve found and saved some really interesting items tucked away in donated books over the years.  Each is so precious and provides a unique window into the lives of our book donors—where they’ve been, how they live, and what they cherish,” said Ann Pladson, president of the Friends of the Library and exhibit co-creator.  “We’ve had a lot of fun collecting these items and thought it was time to share them with the public.”

As the Friends of the Library supports and promotes the services of the library and enhances its important role in the community, the exhibit also includes information on the volunteer group’s history, mission, and successes.

“So much of what we do to support the library, as Friends board members and volunteers, is also ‘tucked away’ out of sight,” Pladson said.  “We hope that the exhibit will help those who visit learn more about all that our Friends group does, and the part it plays in the library’s mission.”

“The library is able to offer a range of programming and services as a result of the Friends’ hard work, including children’s and adult programming, movies, community events of all sorts, as well as newspaper and magazine subscriptions,” said Library Director Rich Boulet.

Boulet said that the exhibit, which is suitable for all ages, is the Friends’ first. “I’ve heard tales of some of the items that the Friends’ Book Nook teams have found tucked away,” Boulet said. “I’m looking forward to seeing some of them displayed, for all to see.”

“Tucked Away” will be available to view in the Howard Room glass cases through the end of March, subject to the meeting room’s schedule. For more information, contact the library at 374-5515.