New Bedford Free Public Library
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The New Bedford Free Public Library and its 4 branches are located in southeastern Massachusetts.
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09/25/2023
Join us at the Main Library for AHA! New Bedford !
09/22/2023
This week, the courtyard entrance of the Main Library also had a bit of refresh with the plantings on the steps. A great big thank you from us at the library to this Planting Duo of Jaqueline and Ariel for their work cleaning up the flower beds and matching our entrance to that of city hall.
09/22/2023
Due to the expected rain on Saturday, the clean up event at West Beach has been canceled.
For more details, please email Bethany at [email protected]
09/21/2023
Want something active to keep the kids occupied on a rainy Saturday? Come to Free Family Yoga at the Wilks Library this Saturday, 9/23 at 2pm! All ages and all abilities are welcome. We even have yoga mats available!
09/21/2023
Bring home starter at the New Bedford Main Library!
09/20/2023
Greetings from Special Collections!
in September 1815, Paul Cuffe, a Massachusetts shipowner of African and Native American descent, employed James Forten’s services as a sailmaker.
A manuscript receipt from the New Bedford Free Public Library is on loan to the
Museum of the American Revolution in the exhibition, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia.
To learn more about the exhibit, please see:
https://www.amrevmuseum.org/exhibits/black-founders-the-forten-family-of-philadelphia
Or visit the History Room to review the catalogue
09/20/2023
Signature Signs has once again accepted the challenge to update the signage and window in the courtyard of the Main Library.
Once the branch signs were complete with the library logo, it was important to connect them to the Main Library while keeping the historical element intact. We think they hit it out of the ballpark again! We love our new window treatment which is very visible from the street.
Thank you to the team at Signature for accepting the challenge!
09/20/2023
Celebrate by bringing home a 'library ivy" plant at Youth Services on Sept. 21!
09/18/2023
The City of New Bedford and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) wants to hear from New Bedford residents about their experiences with receiving and using internet service! This survey is completely anonymous and should be completed by one individual per household. Your feedback is vital to understand barriers to internet access, affordability, and adoption to help close the digital divide. Thank you for your time and participation.
The online survey is located at: https://made.civilspace.io/en/projects/ma-digital-equity/engagements/ma-sdep-public-survey/sections/1.
MA SDEP Public Survey
09/15/2023
Yoga at the Wilks Library is postponed to next Saturday, 9/23 at 2pm.
09/14/2023
Due to the weather forecast we have to cancel Saturday's clean up event.
For more information, please contact Bethany at [email protected]
09/13/2023
Join us on AHA! New Bedford to create a city map craft and discover community partners.
All ages are welcome for this free event and is available while supplies last. Hope to see you there!
09/09/2023
New Bedford Art Museum
United Way of Greater New Bedford
09/07/2023
Visit the Main Library's Youth Services to enter!
09/05/2023
Create a Mosaic Masterpiece in Youth Services!
Mass Cultural Council
New Bedford Local Cultural Council
Craftyish Shop
08/31/2023
Join us tonight at 7pm for the Amazing Microfilm Series where we talk about fun, exciting, and offbeat stories from the past found in our Standard Times microfilm collection. This is a Zoom program so you can join from home at 7pm!
Link to Zoom:
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08/30/2023
Tonight I was pleased to represent the New Bedford Free Public Library at Casa Dos Acores Cani for the book presentation of TRANSATLÂNTICO - AS MIGRAÇÕES NOS AÇORES, by José Andrade, Diretor Regional das Comunidades do Governo dos Açores. It's an honor to represent the library as an Azorean immigrant at events with Azorean officials that keeps our community connected across the Atlantic Ocean.
The book has been added to the Portuguese collection at Casa da Saudade Branch and available for borrowing.
08/25/2023
Craftyish Shop
Mass Cultural Council
New Bedford Local Cultural Council
08/21/2023
Thank you to everyone who attended our first ever Lit City Library Con! Congoers came in cosplay, competed in an anime trivia contest, wrote fanfiction together with story dice, made their own buttons, learned about new anime and manga to try, heard a reading by local author Jonathan Kastin, and lots more, all for free right here at the downtown Main Library. Join us next year!
08/21/2023
Do you have an interest in birds or birding? Add us to your calendar and tell your friends! Mass Audubon Allens Pond will be presenting a program speaking about birds and their nests at the library Saturday August 26. This program is presented as a part of DATMA's Shelter 2023. Also, see some of the Library's collection of Audubon prints at the New Bedford Art Museum show "Under the Sheltering Sky" on view now!
08/16/2023
Join us today at 3pm today via Zoom for Amazing Microfilm Stories! This memories series uncovers fun stories from New Bedford's history found on microfilm. Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86362473888?pwd=clFKRDU0cGdmRkQwKzlvZmxraFVtZz09
08/12/2023
Visit the Main Library for fest!
08/09/2023
Abstracts of Local News, 1792-1894 are now available online!
Special thanks to Ashley and library staff for making Paul Cyr’s project notebooks digitally accessible!
View all 102 years of content by visiting: https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/library/local-news-index/.
Abstracts of Local News, 1792-1894, an expansive news index compiled by Paul A. Cyr, curator of Special Collections at the New Bedford Free Public Library, provides extraordinary access to historical content in New Bedford’s early newspapers. Cyr actively pursued this project from its origination ...
08/09/2023
08/09/2023
Join us for Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Msm
08/08/2023
Join us for our next Model Makers Club on Saturday, August 12th at 3pm while we discuss building models to scale
08/07/2023
Visit Youth Services during AHA! New Bedford
Mass Cultural Council
New Bedford Local Cultural Council
08/05/2023
Thank you Mass Audubon for an amazing event!
Visit the exhibit Under the Sheltering Sky at the New Bedford Art Museum to see the birds and their nests from August 10 to October 8!
08/05/2023
Visit Youth Services to enter!
08/03/2023
Join us on Saturday at 10am at Youth Services!
Mass Audubon
Greater New Bedford Youth Alliance
New Bedford Art Museum
Address
613 Pleasant Street
New Bedford, MA
02740
Opening Hours
| Monday | 9am - 9pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 9pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 9pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 5pm |
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New Wonderbooks available at the Howland-Green Branch Library! Wonderbooks are books with audio read-along and sing-along modes. We have a few in English, Spanish, and some in both languages!
They’re a ten but… 🚩they won’t go with you to Howland Green to check out this new display🚩
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “The Bug Collector” written by Alex G. Griffiths. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #bugs #kidsbooks #tailsandtales
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “Summer Song” written by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by Laura Dronzek. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #summer #kidsbooks #tailsandtales
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “Llama Unleashes the Alpacalypse” by Jonathan Stutzman and illustrated by Heather Fox. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #llama #kidsbooks #tailsandtales
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together” by Andrea Tsurumi. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #together #tailsandtales #kidsbooks
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “How to Make a Shark Smile” by Shawn Achor and Amy Blankson and illustrated by Claudia Ranucci #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #shark #smile #kidsbooks #tailsandtales
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “How to Catch a Mermaid” by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #mermaid #kidsbooks #tailsandtales
Animal Locomotion at NBAM
The New Bedford Library is proud to partner with New Bedford Art Museum to present "Animal Locomotion," an exhibit of the work of Eadweard Muybridge, one of the earliest pioneers of motion pictures! This exhibit features a large selection of rarely seen photographs from the library's collection, and will be on view at NBAM from 6/17/21 to 1/9/22. The library has passes available for our patrons to visit the museum for free, so we hope to see you there!
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “Thesaurus has a Secret” by Anya Glazer. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #kidsbooks #dinosaurs #dinos
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “Cow Boy is Not a Cowboy” by Gregory Barrington. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #kidsbooks #farm #hero
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “Can I Keep It?” by Lisa Jobe. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #kidsbooks #pets #animals
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “If I Had a Unicorn” by Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #kidsbooks #pets #unicorn
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “Beautiful Hands” by Kathryn Otoshia and Bret Baumgarten. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #kidsbooks
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “The Very Impatient Caterpillar” by Ross Burach. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #patience #kidsbooks #nature
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “Happy Dreamer” by Peter H. Reynolds. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #dream #kidsbooks
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl” written by Rina Singh and Marianne Ferrer. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. #plant #garden #kidsbooks
Celebrate #EarthDay with #storytime! “One Earth” by Eileen Spinelli. #Read Catherine from the New Bedford Wilks Library and the Wash and Read Project. #nature #earth #everydayisearthday
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “The Night Gardener” written and illustrated by the Fan Brothers. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. Visit the Main Library on #EarthDay to pick up your starter indoor #plant! #garden #kidsread
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “Thank you, Garden” written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Simone Shin. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Free Public Library and the Wash and Read Project. Visit the Main Library on AHA! New Bedford night to pick up your starter veggie #garden! #plant #community
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “I Am Perfectly Designed” by Jason Brown and Karamo Brown and illustrated by Anoosha Syed. #Read Catherine from the New Bedford Wilks Library and the Wash and Read Project. #Perfect #Books
“Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “The Keeper of Wild Words” written by Brooke Smith and illustrated by Madeline Kloepper. #Read by Youth Services of the New Bedford Main Library. #word #poetry #wordsofwisdom
Celebrate #WorldWaterDay with virtual #Storytime ! ”We are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom, winner of this year's Caldecott award #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Wilks Library and the Wash and Read Project.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with virtual #Storytime ! Enjoy “Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase” by James Dean. #Read Catherine from the New Bedford Wilks Library and the Wash and Read Project. #shamrock #leprechaun #green
Enjoy our virtual #storytime reading of “Amy the Red Panda Is Writing the Best Story in the World” written by Colleen AF Venable and illustrated by Ruth Chan. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Wilks Library and the Wash and Read Project. Love Red Pandas? Join us on March 20th at 11am for our Virtual Keeper Chat to meet a Red Panda from Buttonwood Park Zoo #zoo #storytime #redpanda
Enjoy our virtual #storytime reading of the “Sloth Slept On” written by Frann Preston-Gannon. #Read by Catherine from the New Bedford Wilks Library and the Wash and Read Project. Love Sloths? Join us on March 13th at 11am for our Virtual Keeper Chat online event to meet a Sloth from Buttonwood Park Zoo #sloth #storytime #zoo
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “Mae Among the Stars” by Roda Ahmed and illustrated by Stasia Burrington. #Read Catherine from the New Bedford Wilks Library and the Wash and Read Project. #BlackHistoryMonth #Space #WomenHistory
Enjoy our virtual #storytime of “All Because You Matter” by Tami Charles and illustrated by Bryan Collier. #Read Catherine from the New Bedford Wilks Library and the Wash and Read Project. #BlackHistoryMonth
Enjoy our virtual story time reading of “I Promise” by Lebron James and illustrated by Nina Mata. Read Catherine from the New Bedford Wilks Library and the Wash and Read Project. #Storytime #Kids #striveforgreatness
The Seniors from The Early Childhood and Education Teaching Program at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School joined together for a reading of Malcolm Mitchell's “My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World” @ahanewbedford #SeniorYear #Classof2021 #Storytime #NewBedford #BlackHistoryMonth
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About Us
Established in 1852 by a city ordinance, the New Bedford Free Public Library is among the earliest free municipal libraries in the United States. Beginning in 1857 and housed in the building now used as City Hall until 1910, the core of the library’s original holdings contained books, periodicals and other materials purchased from the New Bedford Social Library (founded in 1807), which had assimilated the collections of the Encyclopedia Society, New Bedford Library Society, New Bedford Athenaeum and Lyceum.
Built as a City Hall in the 1830’s, the present building was reconstructed after a fire in 1906. Once reconstruction was complete, the buildings switched permanently and is now home to significant historical holdings, including materials on Whaling, Quaker and 19th century Abolition Movement and museum-quality collection of fine art.
The Library consists of the Main Library, four branches and a Bookmobile. The Wilks, Howland-Green and Francis J. Lawler Branches were built with funds left in trust to the library by Sylvia Ann Howland-Green Wilks, whose mother was the famous financier Hetty Green. The Main Library is open 64 hours per week and the branches are open 40 hours per week. The Bookmobile is on the road 20 – 25 hours per week.
Nearby government services
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William Street
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New Bedford Office of Housing and Community D
Pleasant Street -
New Bedford Family Resource & Development Cen
Union Street -
Union Street
Other Government Organizations in New Bedford
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401 -
Macarthur Drive
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New Bedford Office of Housing and Community D
Pleasant Street -
City of New Bedford Veterans' Services
Hillman Street -
Purchase Street
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The Advocate Fairhaven-Acushnet
Elm Street -
New Bedford City Hall
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Purchase Street
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Hillman Street
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Another awesome event for the kiddos at New Bedford Free Public Library. Check it out below! 🤖🦾
Your children's favorite characters will be joining our City Celebrates New Year's Eve festivities at the New Bedford Free Public Library main branch downtown. Sing along and dance to some of your favorite songs from Encanto and take photos with the characters.
Ever After Storybook Entertainment
🗓 Saturday 12/31
⏰ 5-8pm
📍 New Bedford Free Public Library 613 Pleasant St.
Tap the link below for event details and a programming map.
https://destinationnewbedford.org/city-celebrates-new-years-eve-2022/
Thank you to our sponsors Bristol County Savings Bank, Vineyard Wind, and Claremont Companies.
Ever After Storybook Entertainment
🗓 Saturday 12/31
⏰ 5-8pm
📍 New Bedford Free Public Library 613 Pleasant St.
Tap the link below for event details and a programming map.
https://destinationnewbedford.org/city-celebrates-new-years-eve-2022/
Thank you to our sponsors Bristol County Savings Bank, Vineyard Wind, and Claremont Companies.
For decades, the City of New Bedford has displayed a Christmas Tree on the steps of the New Bedford Free Public Library in the downtown. Thousands of people stop by to see it, but have you ever wondered how it got there? Join us as we tell the story of New Bedford's Christmas Tree. Where did it come from? Who decorates it? And why it's such a big deal 🎄🌟
Join a park ranger (and our Artist in Residence!) TODAY at 10:00 AM at the downtown New Bedford Free Public Library. The event and parking are FREE, and all youth are welcome!
This Saturday during the Downtown New Bedford Inc. Holiday Stroll, don't miss the Buy Black NB pop-up market at the New Bedford Whaling Museum from 12-5pm.
Don't forget to head over to the New Bedford Free Public Library across from City Hall after the stroll for the official Christmas tree lighting at 5pm.
https://fb.me/e/2wh4yv6Yk
Don't forget to head over to the New Bedford Free Public Library across from City Hall after the stroll for the official Christmas tree lighting at 5pm.
https://fb.me/e/2wh4yv6Yk
Do you know any youth interested in climate action and having their voices heard? We're collecting surveys from New Bedford youth to learn more about their thoughts, experiences, and perspectives on climate change and how Mass Audubon can help them achieve climate solutions they want to see take place in the city. Have them stop by the the Main Branch of New Bedford Free Public Library to fill out the survey by December 12th!
New Bedford Free Public Library, New Bedford Public Schools, Pa Raffa's, and NBstrong are seeking hand-drawn holiday cards for Seniors.
Check out the flyer below to learn more.
Check out the flyer below to learn more.
Happy Veterans Day from Destination New Bedford.
Honor your local veterans by learning the history of New Bedford veterans throughout the years. The Fort Rodman / Fort Taber Military Museum catalogues local veterans from the Revolutionary War to the present. Each of their exhibitions is a tribute to our veterans and service members. Veteran and retired service member volunteers will guide you through their extensive collection Wednesdays through Sundays from 1-4 PM. Visit today!
The parade today departs from Rockdale Avenue and Union Street at 11 AM and ends in from of the New Bedford Free Public Library for a service. For more information: City of New Bedford.
Honor your local veterans by learning the history of New Bedford veterans throughout the years. The Fort Rodman / Fort Taber Military Museum catalogues local veterans from the Revolutionary War to the present. Each of their exhibitions is a tribute to our veterans and service members. Veteran and retired service member volunteers will guide you through their extensive collection Wednesdays through Sundays from 1-4 PM. Visit today!
The parade today departs from Rockdale Avenue and Union Street at 11 AM and ends in from of the New Bedford Free Public Library for a service. For more information: City of New Bedford.
What is your plan to vote this Election? Early Voting at the New Bedford Free Public Library begins on October 22nd. You can apply online to Vote By Mail and the deadline to apply is November 1st. You can always plan to Vote on Election Day, November 8th!
Click here to apply to Vote By Mail! at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/MailInRequestWeb/MailInBallot.aspx
Any New Bedford resident who is uncertain about their voting status, designated polling location, has changed their address since the last election or would like to request an absentee ballot should contact the Board of Election Commissioners at (508) 979-1420.
Click here to apply to Vote By Mail! at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/MailInRequestWeb/MailInBallot.aspx
Any New Bedford resident who is uncertain about their voting status, designated polling location, has changed their address since the last election or would like to request an absentee ballot should contact the Board of Election Commissioners at (508) 979-1420.
Today is the LAST DAY of EARLY VOTING at the New Bedford Free Public Library. Make your way downtown to vote before 4:00 PM today. Every vote counts!
REMINDER: Today is the last day for early voting at New Bedford Free Public Library located at 613 Pleasant St. Anyone who wishes to cast their ballot in person prior to Election Day may do so today, Friday, November 4th, until 4pm.
Voters may cast their votes for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, 9th District Representative in Congress, 1st District Councilor, 2nd Bristol & Plymouth District Senator in General Court, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th & 13th District Representative in General Court, District Attorney Bristol, Sheriff Bristol County, County Commissioner Bristol, Register of Deeds Bristol, State Ballot questions and a Municipal Referendum question.
Voters may cast their votes for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, 9th District Representative in Congress, 1st District Councilor, 2nd Bristol & Plymouth District Senator in General Court, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th & 13th District Representative in General Court, District Attorney Bristol, Sheriff Bristol County, County Commissioner Bristol, Register of Deeds Bristol, State Ballot questions and a Municipal Referendum question.
Wishing you had binoculars, a label maker, or a yoga mat for just a day? Visit the New Bedford Free Public Library 'Funbrary' and borrow games and tools. Lending programs like this help save money and reduce waste. Learn why creating less waste is important: https://bit.ly/3ylIddy
New Bedford Free Public Library wants your help! Take this survey to help influence the direction of the library system for the next five years.
It's a month full of fun at the New Bedford Free Public Library!
Please make a plan to VOTE EARLY this week at the New Bedford Free Public Library, located downtown at 613 Pleasant St.
Early Voting is available 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday November 4th.
Early Voting is available 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday November 4th.
Early voting taking place at the New Bedford Free Public Library!
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