I love this library. Not perfect, not even the Library of Congress--but this is one of the few…read morethings that makes me feel like Hingham is my home town.

I've always been a huge fan of public libraries and I love spending time in them. Hingham is…read moreblessed with one of the best around and it's really worth getting acquainted with this branch. For starters the librarians are consistently helpful and top-notch. They go out of their way to help you find whatever it is you're looking for and to be available for assistance. The library building itself, while outwardly a bit dated in design, is light, airy and comfortable inside. Sign up for emails from the library on their website and you will hear about upcoming musical concerts, art exhibits, movie showings, the book club, lectures, readings by authors, and a host of other offerings. The library has its own gallery where you can regularly view all kinds of art. In addition to the books, the library has terrific DVD and CD collections. There is art work that you can borrow too and museum passes available. And all this is free! We're so lucky to have a great library system in general but the Hingham library is really something special. It's a great place to spend time.

It was probably funny enough that in 2013 I wrote a review of our town dump...more kindly named the…read moretown Transfer Station. But here I am writing an update mostly to comment on the Swap Shop within. This is the place where town residents can drop off gently used goods (no clothing or upholstered furniture) which can then be taken away for free by any other resident who sees what you've dropped off and wants it. The Swap Shop was closed for the better part of a year due to the pandemic and it is newly re-opened. Lately I have undertaken the task of cleaning out the attic, basement and some kitchen cabinets. I am truly into minimizing...we have accumulated so many things over the years that we don't need and that we rarely use. Some of the items are still in great shape and so I've boxed them up and brought them to the Swap Shop. I feel good giving away items that are still usable and in good shape to others who might want them. Last week when I dropped off several boxes of things, I saw that someone had left a complete and lovely set of Noritake china..service for 8. I had no use for it but it was beautiful...I hope someone nabbed it. I have also been overhauling my clothes closets which is something I do every couple of years....I am ruthless about this task and in the past few years have employed the Marie Kondo method...if it doesn't bring me "joy" (and if I haven't worn it in the past year), out it goes. (I use Marie Kondo's method for folding clothes now too: it's a game changer...you won't believe the space you'll find in your drawers). With this most recent clothes-closet-cleanup I ended up with 3 large bags of clothing...much of it clothes I wore to work and since I am newly retired have no use for anymore. Over the years the task has gotten easier because I have been buying fewer clothes. I brought the bags of clothes to the Town Dump to deposit in the Goodwill bins. Years ago, I used to bring some of my used clothes to a consignment shop in town but I can't be bothered anymore. I also just feel better donating to a place like Goodwill. We still don't have curbside garbage pickup in Hingham, but going to the Transfer Station is not without its own "charm"...running into neighbors, feeling good about sorting your trash for recycling, and donating things to Goodwill and the Swap Shop.

This is a really well maintained museum. Great staff and products in the gift shop. Definitely…read morelearned a bunch about Hingham's past!

From the owner: Archives and museum of local history with educational programs, gift shop and reading room.read more

This a charming store full of fantastic books & toys. The…read moreemployees are very helpful & they will wrap gifts for you when needed. I highly recommend this store to anyone with children & also for gift buying.

My sister is obsessed with this place and with 5 kids she is totally right to be! She referred me…read morehere looking for a gift for some quarantine joy and the service is impeccable! HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I highly recommend attending one of the pop up art school sessions at the library. (They have a…read morecalendar on their main website that tells where they are offering classes and if the library hosts them, it is free!) They offer a variety of art mediums ranging from painting, sculpting and felting. The instructor brings all the materials and supplies. At the end of the session, you will finish a piece of artwork that you can bring home and the best part is that you don't have to clean up. The artwork looks great and the participants feel successful. They go step by step and you can always ask clarifying questions. Classes sizes usually range from 15-30 people and people sign up fast for it!

Wonderful experience...highly recommend for team activity to break up the day. It was calm and…read moreenjoyable.

I was admitted to Operation ABLE's Work/Study program a few years ago in my late Sixties. I was not…read morelooking to get a Full Time Job but I did know I wanted to either learn some Technical Computer Skills which I never thought I would ever learn at my age so that I could do some part time work somewhere or a Home Business which definitely would need Excel, Word, and make Presentations. I also learned while there they had a 'Medical Terminology Course', which would feed my previous Army Medical background and learn more up to date terms for work at a Hospital or similar area. The many weeks I was there; with the absolutely patient, understanding, and very loving and talented 'Friends' made there; I have made my life ; because of Operation ABLE's Staff much more enjoyable; and made money I never dreamed of. Let us all support this program as long as God keeps us here. They will always be part of my Heart's 'Family' and I wish them well........ A Check is on the way. Well Deserved. Frank Pignone Stoneham Mass. Age 72 and as active as 40.......due to this program.

From the owner: Since 1982, Operation ABLE, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, has provided job seekers with training…read moreprograms and employment services. Our mission and passion is to empower our community of job seekers, the underemployed, those in career transition, and military veterans who need job support services to re-enter the workforce. We offer a variety of services including occupational and computer skills training, workshops, job search training and support, coaching and counseling, and some training programs offer internships.

Every time we go there we are surprised by the lack of helpfulness and general professionalism…read more Last year, we had to press hard at the facilities sticker desk for assistance and this year she flat out refused and said it could be done online. We've had issues trying that so we drove there and she flat out wouldn't do it. I would have thought she would be glad to help since her desk is "facilities sticker desk" but she was incredibly rude and acted like we had the audacity to request her assistance. So disappointing that this is the towns representation.