You may have noticed that the Quincy Public Library has some smaller displays that last roughly a week. These displays can be fun topics (like Shark Week) or they could be things that shoutout days that last a short amount of time (like Mother's Day or Father's Day).
Lately, we have put up displays to make mention of a historic moment - like Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance or the Camden 28. But this is so much more than history!!
Jimmy Hoffa was the head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters but in the process of running the union, Hoffa became involved in Organized Crime. Then in 1975, he disappeared & was never heard from again. He has also never resurfaced - meaning he has not returned for wherever he went, no bodies were found, & nobody has claimed to be Jimmy Hoffa in that time. What happened to Jimmy Hoffa?
As for the Camden 28, this a group described as "leftist, Catholic, anti-Vietnam War activists." They planned & then executed a raid on the Camden, New Jersey draft office. The group of 28 stole documents from the draft office, with the intention of either removing the documents from that location or destroying the documents. They were outed by one of the group to the FBI. The Camden 28 were arrested during the raid & went to trial. All 28 were found not guilty. Did the Camden 28 go to far? Or was this governmental overreach in reaction to protest?
The Quincy Public Library neither condemns nor commends anyone when we put out displays like these. So much crosses the librarians' minds when we do a display that covers a topic that could be a bit controversial. Firstly, libraries are hubs of information & by sharing these displays, we are sharing information. (Thomas Jefferson once said: "Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.") Secondly, the hope is to foster critical thinking skills & conversation or debate. Lastly, these displays are more than the history. The display on Jimmy Hoffa focused on our true crime & mystery books, in addition to true crime documentaries. However, it was also an opportunity to look at trade unions or organized crime. The Camden 28 display featured materials about activism (which has been part of the American spirit since tea was tossed into Boston Harbor) & about the Vietnam War.
"Literacy is the most basic currency of the knowledge economy." - Barack Obama
Recent history displays
The pictures included are the flyers from our recent displays on Jimmy Hoffa & the Camden 28. If you would like books or dvds about Jimmy Hoffa, the Camden 28, organized crime, trade unions, or activism, feel free to contact the library by calling 217-223-1309 or by emailing reference@quincylibrary.org. We can get you materials on any of those topics or the topic of your choosing.
Also, keep an eye on the displays. There might be something of interest.