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]

History
Eleanor Bennett, library donor, ca.1883

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]

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References
  1. http://mblc.state.ma.us/libraries/directory/index.php 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

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