By Theresa Knapp 

and Tricia Perry

Elaine Kraimer started working as the Children’s Librarian at the Bancroft Memorial Library in Hopedale on June 4, 1994. She will be retiring on Sept. 1 after 29 years in this position, now known as the Youth Services Librarian.

“I am going to miss this place incredibly, but l am looking forward to more reading time at home. I want people to know they are extremely lucky to have this library,” says Mrs. Kraimer. 

In 1994, she was eager to get back to work after being a stay-at-home-mom for five years. She had previously worked at both the Medway Public Library and the Sherborn Library, and was eager to return to the world of books. 

She recalls, “A salesman from Prentice-Hall called to tell me the position of Children’s Librarian was open in Hopedale. I was very anxious to get back to work and called for an interview. Ann Mattie was emptying the book drop when I drove up. I took one look at this library and fell in love with it. The staff, Ann, Dot and Elaine Malloy, were totally devoted to the town, the library, and to serving our patrons. I was delighted to be able to work here!”

Mrs. Kraimer says things have changed since she first walked through the door 29 years ago. 

“Since I came in 1994, the Children’s Room has been painted, the Peter Rabbit pictures replaced with Disney murals, then painted over those. The Circulation Desk has been replaced with a newer, larger one. The green metal shelving has been replaced with wooden shelving. The tables have been changed, the card catalog removed, and my typewriter replaced with a computer. We used to have cards in all the books, on which we wrote the names and addresses of patrons borrowing the books. At night, we counted all the cards and wrote down how many books went out. Of course, now it is all done by computer. When I started working here, the bathrooms had no heat, there was no air conditioning, and the staircase coming downstairs was a circular stairway, coming down and ending where the elevator door is now. We’ve added a handicapped bathroom, the elevator, the ‘Skinny Room’ workroom, and the tiny kitchen in the Program Room.” 

In Nov. 1994, as part of her first performance review, then-Library Director Elaine Malloy noted Mrs. Kraimer’s “wonderful knowledge of children’s authors and their writing” and “highly creative story hours and programs.” 

In fact, Mrs. Kraimer has created many programs during the last three decades.  

Current Library Director Tricia Perry appreciates Mrs. Kraimer’s “genuine enthusiasm for sharing favorite books and authors (including Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, and anything written by Patricia Polacco) and creating special storytimes and programs for multiple generations of readers.” And over the years, some of those programs have become annual traditions, including the Library/School collaboration entitled “Check It Out,” where students from a variety of classes and grade levels at Memorial School challenge themselves to determine which class can visit the library and check-out the most times during the month of October.   

Perry also says that, for many years, Mrs. Kraimer ran a summer theatre camp as part of the Summer Reading Program. Lines were memorized; props, costumes, and backdrops were designed; and at the end of the week a fully-fledged play was performed at the Hopedale Community House. Another event highly anticipated each winter is Mrs. Kraimer’s “Owl Moon” program. Based on the beloved picture book by Jane Yolen, Mrs. Kraimer spent many years leading the children on a magical night-time search for the great horned owl, complete with owl sightings and very realistic owl calls.  

Mrs. Kraimer says the best part of her job is the children, the parents, the books and “giving children the books they love.” What she will miss most are “the children, the patrons, the building…seeing the new books arrive.” 

During her retirement, “I am going to volunteer in the Grandfriends program at Bright Beginnings and the Senior Shop at Town Hall. I will also volunteer at the Bellingham Library and continue to go to the Wednesday Needlework Group at the library.” 

Since she announced her retirement, the Friends of the Library have been organizing a farewell scrapbook for Mrs. Kraimer. Patrons are invited to stop by the library before Aug. 19, to write their best wishes in the book and add photographs if they would like. 

In addition, the public is invited to stop by the Library on Friday, Sept. 1, between noon and 2 p.m. to celebrate Mrs. Kraimer’s 29 years of service at the Bancroft Memorial Library.