New Morse Institute Library bookmobile dedicated in honor of Dr. Joseph Keefe

The Morse Institute Library kicked off its June events calendar this month with a dedication ceremony for the new Joseph Keefe Bookmobile. Dr. Keefe is a Korean War veteran who served many roles in town, including as library board leader, Town Meeting member, and Natick Public Schools superintendent.

The June 1 event included speeches about Keefe’s life, and about the history and importance of bookmobiles at the library. 

Honoring Dr. Keefe

Library staff commended Keefe for his years of service to the town, including 33 of them on the Morse Institute Library board; Keefe was board president for 14 of those years. 

Library trustee Kathleen Donovan spoke about the merits of Keefe’s tenure on the board. For instance, she praised his calm leadership during the library renovation, and his defense of the mission of the library and its need for adequate funding in his role as a town meeting member. 

“Dr. Keefe embodies the loyalty to this institute that he often praised when honoring the long-term service of library staff,” Donovan said. “Mary Ann Morse [the benefactress of the Morse Institute Library] could not have asked for a better guardian of [this library, which was] her gift to the citizens of Natick.” 

Donovan also spoke about how, as a student of history and an educator, Keefe had a deep understanding of the importance of learning and, as an extension, of the importance of libraries in a democratic society. Bookmobiles make the gifts of libraries and learning more accessible, in keeping with Keefe’s work and values.

In his address to the crowd, Keefe spoke about his time in the Korean War, and gave his thanks to the library and its employees for their dedication to the mission of the library, which he applauded for “still doing such great service to the community of Natick and the surrounding communities.” He gave special thanks to Rose Huling for her years of work driving the bookmobile.   

Bookmobiles in Natick 

The Morse Institute Library started offering bookmobile services in 1951—bookmobiles are “a longstanding tradition at the library,” according to Donovan. The Joseph Keefe Bookmobile is the library’s sixth bookmobile, the latest in a lineup that includes a bright orange and yellow vehicle from 1979.

Donovan argued that bookmobile services help the Morse Institute Library fulfill the purpose imparted on it by Mary Ann Morse, who left her entire estate to the town of Natick so it could establish a library “for the use and benefit of all the inhabitants.” Bookmobiles extend library services to residents who can’t access them otherwise, including senior citizens, people with disabilities, and those without cars. These vehicles also often stop in neighborhoods and at schools.

“For over seven decades, the library has used bookmobiles to reach out and connect with a wide range of Natick residents, meeting them where they live and work,” Donovan said. “For many who find it hard, if not impossible to get to the library, this outreach is a lifeline.” 

Rose Huling, who has driven Morse Institute Library bookmobiles for the past 20 years, agrees. 

“If somebody is homebound or either due to illness or incapacity or just not being able to drive, [or] is [otherwise] isolated, we might be the only person that is coming, bringing books or hope or a sense of community to them,” she said. 

“It brings the library to people who can’t get to the library,” said Terri Evans, president of the Friends of the Morse Institute Library, an organization that raised $80,000 for the new bookmobile.

In addition to these more serious functions, the bookmobile brings wonder and joy to people of all ages. This became evident in the stories that Natick residents told about the role that bookmobiles played in their childhoods and throughout their lives. 

State Rep. David Linsky grew up in Natick in an era when most families had only one car, which made it harder to get to the library. As such, as a child, Linsky got most of his books—which were mostly about baseball—from the Morse Institute Library bookmobile that came to his neighborhood once a week.   

“The bookmobile was really important because [my family and I] were all good readers, and the bookmobile was our source of books,” Linsky recalled. “It was a huge part of my childhood.” 

Kelley Halchuk, the Friends of the Morse Institute Library’s treasurer, has similar childhood memories of bookmobiles. 

“As a child…we actually had a bookmobile that came around to the neighborhoods,” Halchuk said. “I remember being thrilled and charmed by the idea of having a small library [that] came around and we got to go in and get books. And so when I think about a bookmobile, I have that memory and the excitement of a child being able to go in and pick out books [from] a library that comes to you.”

At Friends of the Morse Institute Library fundraisers, Halchuk has heard many other bookmobile stories. Some of her favorites include a person whose first job was driving a bookmobile, and a now-married couple who first met on a bookmobile. 

Huling also has some favorite stories from her two decades as the Morse Institute Library’s bookmobile driver. Some of these stories tie generations together. For instance, she cites young children charging onto the bookmobile with their grandparents in tow, excited to introduce them to this special place. In addition, Huling recalls a woman who rediscovered her love for reading after visiting the bookmobile, and told Huling that her mom would be so proud of her for reading again. 

Bringing the love of reading to all is an apt mission for a vehicle named after Keefe, as Linsky underscored.

“It is just the most fitting tribute to Dr. Keefe, who loves books, who loves education, who loves this library, and who loves this town,” Linsky said.  

The event concluded outside when Keefe and his great-granddaughter performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony to fanfare provided by the Natick High School Brass Quintet, opening the bookmobile for community tours and, later, for business. 

Learn more about Natick bookmobile services.

Please consider supporting Natick Report‘s summer internship program