Libraries are supposed to be quiet places. Just don’t tell that to Edgartown police chief Bruce McNamee. Especially on the Friday before St. Patrick’s Day.

Clad in kilt, with stockings emerald green, Chief McNamee gave a special bagpipe tutorial for children at the Edgartown library on Friday. As adults rummaged through the bookshelves, kids encircled Chief McNamee, equal parts frightened and fascinated by the three-pronged air bag on his shoulders.

Keeping the spirit of the old country alive. — Mark Alan Lovewell

“Even though I’m a new police chief, I’ve been playing bagpipes for a long time,” he told the children. “I thought I would come play a few songs for you, it being only a few days before St. Patrick’s Day.”

After explaining the history of the bagpipes and the different parts of the instrument, including the drones, the reeds and the chanter, he drew a deep breath, inflated the bag, closed his eyes, and...

“You’re allowed to plug your ears,” he warned.

And then he was off, filling the library with tales as ancient and sad as the books on its shelves. Although a few of the kids took Chief McNamee’s advice, plugging their ears with fingers, or, in one case, plastic cups, most sat wide-eyed, listening with awe at the Gaelic spectacle before them.

“The drones sound like an airplane,” one youngster observed, after the first song, Minstrel Boy, ended.

Edgartown police department says thank you to retiring police sergeant Thomas Smith. — Mark Alan Lovewell

“How do you make the low tones and the high tones?” another queried.

Chief McNamee explained the structure of the chanter and how, like a recorder, each hole represents one of the instrument’s nine notes. Covering the ones at the top of the instrument makes the low tones; covering the ones at the bottom makes the high tones. He then performed a rousing rendition of The Wearing of the Green, including low tones, high tones and everything in between.

“So, have you heard enough?” he asked the audience.

Their response was more resounding than the bagpipe.

“Alright then,” he said. “One more.”

Chief McNamee performed Caissons for the kids, using it as practice for his gig later in the day when he would sound off retiring police sergeant Thomas Smith. On Saturday, he will play in the Edgartown St. Patrick’s Day parade. And on Sunday, he has tentative plans to play in Southie. He doesn’t know if he’ll make it ­— he has a pretty big fan base here.

“It was awesome,” Edgartown school sixth-grader Cayden Bresett said. “I’ve been to Ireland four times, but that was definitely one of the best ones I’ve heard.”