Governance of Public Libraries, March 2005 (Volume 8, Number 2)
On the FY2005 Annual Report Information Survey (ARIS), public library directors were asked: (1) about the governance of the library, (2) when the library was established and (3) who owns the permanent main public library building.
Library directors were asked to identify the library's governance in one of three ways. 1) As a city library: The library may have been formed by a city on its own initiative. It is governed as specified in the charter of the municipality or by special acts of the state legislature. Funding is provided through state and local appropriations. (c.78, s.7; c.43B). 2) As a town library: The library may have been established by resolution of the town governing body. It is governed by a board of trustees who may be elected, appointed, self-perpetuating or ex officio. (c.78, s.7 & s.10; c.43B). 3) As a corporation/association library: The library was established as a non-profit library corporation, usually in conjunction with a will, deed or bequest to provide free library services to the public. Governance is set out in the original instrument or articles of incorporation. This library may receive state, local and private funding. In many cases some funding is also derived from the original endowment. (C.78, s.1; c180, ss.1-4).
In 1997, when asked about library governance, directors of 67 independent public libraries in 51 municipalities identified their libraries as being corporation/association libraries. Of the 370 public library directors surveyed in 2004, 70 independent libraries in 55 municipalities were identified as corporation/association libraries, (eight did not respond).
| ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY AYER PUBLIC LIBRARY BARNSTABLE: --CENTERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY --COTUIT LIBRARY --HYANNIS PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION --MARSTONS MILLS PUBLIC LIBRARY --OSTERVILLE FREE LIBRARY --STURGIS LIBRARY --WHELDEN MEMORIAL LIBRARY BECKET ATHENEUM, INC. BELCHERTOWN: CLAPP MEMORIAL LIBRARY BREWSTER LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY CHATHAM: --ELDREDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY --SO. CHATHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY CHESHIRE PUBLIC LIBRARY CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY DENNIS: --DENNIS MEMORIAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION --JACOB SEARS MEMORIAL LIBRARY --SOUTH DENNIS PUBLIC LIBRARY --WEST DENNIS FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY EASTHAMPTON: EMILY WILLISTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM AMES FREE LIBRARY OF EASTON, INC. FAIRHAVEN: MILLICENT LIBRARY FALMOUTH: --WEST FALMOUTH LIBRARY, INC. --WOODS HOLE PUBLIC LIBRARY GARDNER: LEVI HEYWOOD MEMORIAL LIBRARY GLOUCESTER LYCEUM & SAWYER FREE LIBRARY HARDWICK: GILBERTVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY HARWICH: --CHASE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION --HARWICH PORT LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HAVERHILL PUBLIC LIBRARY HINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY HINSDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY HOLYOKE PUBLIC LIBRARY HOPKINTON PUBLIC LIBRARY |
LEE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION LENOX LIBRARY ASSOCIATION LONGMEADOW: RICHARD SALTER STORRS LIBRARY MALDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY MARION: ELIZABETH TABER MEMORIAL LIBRARY METHUEN: NEVINS MEMORIAL LIBRARY MONSON FREE LIBRARY & READING ROOM ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET ATHENEUM NATICK: --BACON FREE LIBRARY --MORSE INSTITUTE LIBRARY NORTHAMPTON: --FORBES LIBRARY --LILLY LIBRARY NORTHBRIDGE: WHITINSVILLE SOCIAL LIBRARY NORTHFIELD: FIELD LIBRARY NORTON PUBLIC LIBRARY OTIS LIBRARY & MUSEUM PALMER PUBLIC LIBRARY PERU LIBRARY PETERSHAM MEMORIAL LIBRARY PLYMPTON PUBLIC LIBRARY RANDOLPH: TURNER FREE LIBRARY RAYNHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY REHOBOTH: BLANDING FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY SALEM PUBLIC LIBRARY SAVOY HOLLOW LIBRARY SHELBURNE: ARMS LIBRARY SOUTH HADLEY: GAYLORD MEMORIAL LIBRARY STOCKBRIDGE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION WARE: YOUNG MEN'S LIBRARY ASSOCIATION WARREN PUBLIC LIBRARY WARREN: WEST WARREN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION WESTFIELD ATHENAEUM WOBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY WORTHINGTON LIBRARY |
On the 2004 survey, 54 libraries indicated that the main independent library facility in their city or town was owned by a corporation or association. nine indicated that the facilities were owned by an entity other than a corporation or association, or the municipality, (six did not respond).
| AMHERST: JONES LIBRARY INC. AYER PUBLIC LIBRARY BARNSTABLE: --CENTERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY --COTUIT LIBRARY --HYANNIS PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION --MARSTONS MILLS PUBLIC LIBRARY --OSTERVILLE FREE LIBRARY --STURGIS LIBRARY --WHELDEN MEMORIAL LIBRARY BARRE: WOODS MEMORIAL LIBRARY BECKET ATHENAEUM, INC. BELCHERTOWN: CLAPP MEMORIAL LIBRARY BUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY CHATHAM: SO. CHATHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY DENNIS: --DENNIS MEMORIAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION --JACOB SEARS MEMORIAL LIBRARY --SOUTH DENNIS PUBLIC LIBRARY --WEST DENNIS FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY EASTHAMPTON: EMILY WILLISTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM AMES FREE LIBRARY OF EASTON, INC. FALMOUTH: --WEST FALMOUTH LIBRARY, INC. --WOODS HOLE PUBLIC LIBRARY GARDNER: LEVI HEYWOOD MEMORIAL LIBRARY GLOUCESTER LYCEUM & SAWYER FREE LIBRARY HARDWICK: GILBERTVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY HARWICH PORT LIBRARY ASSOCIATION |
HAVERHILL PUBLIC LIBRARY HINSDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY HOLYOKE PUBLIC LIBRARY HOPKINTON PUBLIC LIBRARY LENOX LIBRARY ASSOCIATION MALDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY METHUEN: NEVINS MEMORIAL LIBRARY MONSON FREE LIBRARY & READING ROOM ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET ATHENEUM NATICK: BACON FREE LIBRARY NORTHAMPTON: --FORBES LIBRARY --LILLY LIBRARY NORTHBRIDGE: WHITINSVILLE SOCIAL LIBRARY PERU LIBRARY PETERSHAM MEMORIAL LIBRARY PLYMPTON PUBLIC LIBRARY RAYNHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY REHOBOTH FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY SALEM PUBLIC LIBRARY SOUTH HADLEY: GAYLORD MEMORIAL LIBRARY SPRINGFIELD CITY LIBRARY STOCKBRIDGE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION WARE: YOUNG MEN'S LIBRARY ASSOCIATION WARREN PUBLIC LIBRARY WESTFIELD AHTENAEUM WOBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY WORTHINGTON LIBRARY |
Of the 364 responses received, three directors indicated that their libraries were established before 1800. The Franklin Public Library was established in 1790, the Stevens Memorial Library in Ashburnham was established in 1793 and the Rowe Town Library was established in 1797. Of the remaining 361 public libraries, 297 were established prior to 1900. The most recent public library to be 'birthed' in Massachusetts is the joint Hamilton-Wenham Public Library; it came into being in 2001.