Billerica Public Library

The Billerica Public Library is a public library in Billerica, Massachusetts.[1] Since 2000, it has been located on Concord Road.[2]

Billerica Public Library
The library in 2012
Established1880 (1880)
Other information
Websitebillericalibrary.org

History

In the late 19th century, "Billerica's free library, known as the Bennett Public Library, was founded by Mrs. Joshua Bennett, who erected, at a cost of $9,000, a suitable building for the purpose, and deeded it to the Bennett Library Association in 1880. ... The town contributes nothing for the support of the library."[3] The architects of the Bennett building were Boston architects Rotch & Tilden.

Initially, subscribers were charged an annual fee for use of the library.[4] By 1899, "the membership fee to the associates, to whom a few special privileges are allowed, is one dollar, but all citizens are given the free use of the library."[5]

In fiscal year 2008, the town of Billerica spent 1.09% of its budget on the library—some $29 per person. The library's total budget was $1,209,203.[6]

References
  1. "Library Directory - MBLC". mblc.state.ma.us. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  2. http://www.billericalibrary.org/about.html Archived 2010-01-27 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2010-08-04
  3. Henry Stedman Nourse, ed. Free public libraries of Massachusetts. 9th Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1899. Google books
  4. Henry Allen Hazen. History of Billerica, Massachusetts: with a Genealogical register. A. Williams and Co., 1883. Google books
  5. Nourse. 1899
  6. July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008; cf. The FY2008 Municipal Pie: What’s Your Share? Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Library Commissioners. Boston: 2009. Available: Municipal Pie Reports Archived 2012-01-23 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading
  • Catalogue, constitution, rules and regulations of the Bennett Public Library Association of Billerica. C. F. Jones & Co. Printers, 1882. Google books
  • Paula D. Watson. Carnegie Ladies, Lady Carnegies: Women and the Building of Libraries. Libraries & Culture, Vol. 31, No. 1, Reading & Libraries (Winter, 1996)
  • Bennett Library, Billerica, 1883
  • Bennett Library, Billerica, 1899
  • The Billerica Public Library, 2004

42.5583°N 71.2698°W / 42.5583; -71.2698

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