Billerica Public Library
Encyclopedia
The Billerica Public Library is a public library
in Billerica, Massachusetts
. Since 2000 it has been located on Concord Road.
.
Initially, subscribers were charged an annual fee for use of the library. 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."
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.
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
in Billerica, Massachusetts
Billerica, Massachusetts
Billerica is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,243 at the 2010 census. It is the only town named Billerica in the United States and borrows its name from the town of Billericay in Essex, England.- History :...
. Since 2000 it has been located on Concord Road.
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." The architects of the Bennett building were Boston architects Rotch & TildenRotch & Tilden
Rotch & Tilden was an American architectural firm active in Boston, Massachusetts from 1880 through 1895.The firm was organized by partners Arthur Rotch and George Thomas Tilden...
.
Initially, subscribers were charged an annual fee for use of the library. 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."
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.
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)
External links
- http://www.billericalibrary.org/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkeleher/1579977566/
- Flickr. Photo of Stephen KingStephen KingStephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
at the library, 1983 - Flickr. Photo of library building, 1979-2000
- Flickr. Billerica Public Library's photostream