Middleborough Public Library, Middleborough, Massachusetts
If you’ve traveled in Massachusetts, you know the state is filled with confounding town names. Worcester and Haverhill are certainly confusing when you read them. Then, there’s the issue of spelling. Is it Foxborough or Foxboro, Southboro or Southborough, Westboro or Westborough? On a recent visit to Middleboro (or is it Middleborough), we came across another oddity: location.
You might imagine Middleborough would be between Northboro and Southborough, or at least near them. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is not the case! In fact, Middleborough is 50 miles from the rest of them! Why? Who knows, but we had a lovely visit to the Middleborough Public Library on a rainy afternoon.
This town of 24,000 people lies in the southeastern part of the state. Its library was built in 1903 and expanded in 1992. The original building is a fine example of Beaux-Arts Classical architecture, which was popular at the time.
Looking around the grounds, we noticed it was well-maintained and cared for. There was a really lovely seating area outside Children’s and a somewhat unsettling statue of Thomas Pierce, the library’s benefactor. We entered on the side closest to the library’s parking lot.
As we explored the floor in the 1992 edition, we saw the main adult collection, the teen’s section, public computers and other technology, as well as the Museum of Abandoned Bookmarks! This area is also home to the Sharebrary, the library’s Library of Things collection.
We really appreciated Librarian Amy and other staffers (as well as patrons) who shared some of the library’s history and lore. This was especially true as we entered the 1903 building. This was an opulent space, with a marble foyer, a staircase to the second floor, and portraits of some famed local grandees.
One the left, were couches and two portraits on either side of a fireplace. One was of Charles Stratton (aka General Tom Thumb) and the other, his wife Lavinia (aka Mrs. Tom Thumb). Two patrons told us all about the Strattons. Across the way, two other portraits hung. One is Lavinia’s sister, Huldah (who went by the stage name, Minnie Warren. Her husband, George Washington Morrison Nutt (aka Commodore Nutt) hangs nearby. Both of the Warren sisters were both in Middleborough.
The whole vibe of this area was one of comfort. Natural light came via a large skylight. It is a really lovely space. Seeing and hearing our fill, we climbed the stairs to the second floor.
This is primarily administrative offices, but we also saw the Trustee’s Room, the old card catalog, and - our favorite - taxidermy! As we continued talking, we learned Middleborough is a major cranberry producer. We also heard about heavy use of the library’s genealogy resources, thanks in no small part to Finding Your Roots on PBS.
We were also told about a whole slew of infrastructure improvements that patrons might not notice or be aware of. These include LED lighting, a new HVAC system, work on the roof, new carpets, and more.
From the second floor, we went all the way to the basement. A community room and book store are on this floor, but the highlight is children's. The collection was very large and the section was seriously busy. One of the more unusual elements of the collection were more than 200 puppets - and they circulate like mad! There were a host of learning tools and activities. Not just books and technology, but also manipulatives. As mentioned above, there is also a fine seating area right outside.
