New Bedford Free Public Library
Established in 1852, the Free Public Library of New Bedford, Mass. is among the earliest free municipal libraries in the United States, formed under an act of the Massachusetts legislature on May 24, 1851 giving authority to Towns and Cities to establish Free Libraries for the use of the inhabitants. An ordinance was passed by the City Council of New Bedford on August 16, 1852, and the Library opened to the public on March 3, 1853.
The new library's early holdings contained books, periodicals, pamphlets, and other property purchased from the New-Bedford Social Library (1806-1852), which had acquired the collections of the Encyclopedia Society, the Bedford Library Society, the New Bedford Athenaeum, and the New-Bedford Lyceum. Envisioned by first Librarian Robert C. Ingraham as a repository for local history and art, the Special Collections department emerged to preserve for future generations those materials of historical and/or aesthetic value.
The new library's early holdings contained books, periodicals, pamphlets, and other property purchased from the New-Bedford Social Library (1806-1852), which had acquired the collections of the Encyclopedia Society, the Bedford Library Society, the New Bedford Athenaeum, and the New-Bedford Lyceum. Envisioned by first Librarian Robert C. Ingraham as a repository for local history and art, the Special Collections department emerged to preserve for future generations those materials of historical and/or aesthetic value.
Since 1866, the Library has acquired broad holdings of printed works, manuscripts, graphics, fine art and historic objects used for research, exhibition, and education.
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