Mission
 
The Leominster Public Library is a service organization which provides information in various formats free to the residents of Leominster and the surrounding communities. The purpose of the public library is (1) to provide information, materials, programs, technology, systems, facilities, and services which are most wanted by the residents of our service area; (2) to provide safe, easy, and convenient access to these services and (3) to actively work to to raise awareness and promote our services to the community and organizations within our service area.

History
 
The Leominster Social Library began in 1763 with approximately 100 books, which were kept in a pine secretary in the study of Reverend Francis Gardner. This secretary was later given to the Library Committee by Reverend Gardner’s granddaughter, and today can be viewed in the library’s meeting room.

In the spring of 1856, the town voted to accept a collection of books from the Leominster Lyceum Library, to appropriate $75.00 to support the free public library for that year, and to appoint a five-member library committee. This committee, in turn, hired its first librarian in June, 1856.
 
The Public Library’s collection was housed in a store, an office, and finally a room in old Town Hall, until the town voted to accept the gift of $27,500 from Andrew Carnegie in 1908 to build a new library building. The library opened in 1910 in its current location.
In 1967, it opened a 10,000-square-foot addition with 61,669 volumes.

In early 2005, the The Leominster Public Library will begin construction of a renovated and expanded library facility.  This project will include restoration of the library's historic 1910 building, demolition of the 1967 addition, and construction of a new 3-story 34,434 square foot addition.  The newly renovated and expanded library is slated to open in 2006.
 

Email Service Request Form
 
The Information Desk staff will make every effort to respond to your email within 24 hours, but if you should need immediate assistance, please call 978-534-7522 and ask for the Information Desk during regular library business hours.

U.S. Mail

Reference Department
Leominster Public Library
30 West Street
Leominster, MA 01453

Staff Contacts

Susan T. Shelton, Library Director
   sshelton@cwmars.org
   978-534-7522 x 112

Meredith A. Foley, Assistant Director
   mfoley@cwmars.org
   978-534-7522 x 113

Edward L. Bergman, Head of Adult Services
   ebergman@cwmars.org
   978-534-7522 x 114

 
Linda E. Peterson, Head of Children’s Services
   lpeterso@cwmars.org
   978-534-7522 x 115

May Lee Tom, Head of Technical Services
   mltom@cwmars.org
   978-534-7522 x 116
(Please note the library's Technical Services Department deals with the acquisition, cataloging and processing of library materials.  For questions dealing with your online library account, electronic databases, downloadable materials, library website, etc., please send email to the library's Reference Department: leomref@cwmars.org.)
     
Diane M. Sanabria, Young Adult Services Coordinator       
   dsanabri@leominsterlibrary.org
   978-534-7522 x 123

  Jeannine T. Levesque, Historical & Genealogical Collections Coordinator
   jlevesqu@cwmars.org
   978-534-7522 x 122

 
Nancy P. Tourigny, Circulation Supervisor
   ntourign@cwmars.org
   978-534-7522 x 120

Ann Finch, Special Services Coordinator, Interlibrary Loan 
   afinch@cwmars.org
   978-534-7522 x 110

 

Robert Cormier Center for Young Adults:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 2:00-5:00 pm Wednesday 2:00-7:00 pm

Holiday Schedule:

2008

»Sunday, May 25 Library CLOSED
»Monday, May 26 Memorial Day, Library CLOSED
»Friday, July 4 Library CLOSED
»Saturday, July 5 Library CLOSED
»Sunday, July 6 Library CLOSED
»Saturday, August 30 Library CLOSED
»Sunday, August 31 Library CLOSED
»Monday, September 1Labor Day, Library CLOSED





For storm closings, listen to radio station WEIM, AM 1280
 

Directions to the Leominster Public Library

The Leominster Public Library is located at 30 West Street in downtown Leominster, directly across the street from City Hall, and next to the Pilgrim Congregational Church.  See information for parking below.

Route 2, from points east, heading west into Leominster:
Take I-190, Exit # 33. Follow Mechanic Street signs. Go straight through 3 sets of traffic lights. At the 4th light (about 1.7 miles from I-190), turn left onto Main Street. Get into the right lane and go straight through the next light (with Subway on the corner) onto Pleasant Street. Take next right onto Pearl Street. Look for the entrance to the library parking lot on the right-hand side about midway down the block.

Route 2, from points west, heading east into Leominster:
Take the Merriam Avenue/South Street Exit # 30.Turn left onto Merriam Avenue.
Take a right at first set of traffic lights. You will be on Maple Avenue. Follow Maple Avenue as it curves sharply to the left, and eventually it will merge into West Street. Follow West Street to downtown Leominster (approximately 2 miles from the Route 2). Turn right at St. Mark's Church onto Cotton Street. Take next left onto Pearl Street. Look for the entrance to the library parking lot on the left-hand side about midway down the block.

I-190, from points south, heading north into Leominster:
Take the "Route 2/Mechanic Street" exit. Follow Mechanic Street signs. Go straight through 3 sets of traffic lights. At the 4th light (about 1.7 miles from I-190), turn left onto Main Street. Get into the right lane and go straight through the next light (with Subway on the corner) onto Pleasant Street. Take next right onto Pearl Street. Look for the entrance to the library parking lot on the right-hand side about midway down the block.

Route 12 (Central Street, Leominster), from points south, heading north into Leominster:
As you head into the downtown area, you will see where Route 117 (Lancaster Street) merges into Route 12 on your right at Dunkin' Donuts. Approximately 100 yards ahead, bear left at the fork in the road at Friendly's Restaurant and maneuver into the left-turn lane. At the next traffic light (with Subway on the corner) turn left onto Pleasant Street. Take next right onto Pearl Street. Look for the entrance to the library parking lot on the right-hand side about midway down the block.

Route 12 (North Main Street, Leominster), from points north, heading south into Leominster:
After you cross over Route 2, go through 6 sets of traffic lights. After the 6th set of traffic lights, you will be at the common in the downtown area. Continue straight through the next set of lights (with Subway on the corner) onto Pleasant Street. Take next right onto Pearl Street. Look for the entrance to the library parking lot on the right-hand side midway down the block.

Route 13 (Main Street, Leominster), from points north, heading south into Leominster:
Follow Route 13 to where it ends at the junction of Route 12. (Kentucky Fried Chicken will be on your right.) Continue on Route 12 South, and go straight through 2 sets of traffic lights. After the 2nd set of traffic lights, you will be at the common in the downtown area. Continue straight through the next set of lights (with Subway on the corner) onto Pleasant Street. Take next right onto Pearl Street. Look for the entrance to the library parking lot on the right-hand side midway down the block.

Route 117 (Lancaster Street, Leominster), from points east, heading west into Leominster
Follow Route 117 to where it ends at the junction of Route 12. (Dunkin’ Donuts will be on your right.) Merge right onto Route 12. Approximately 100 yards ahead, bear left at the fork in the road at Friendly's Restaurant and maneuver into the left-turn lane. At the next traffic light (with Subway on the corner) turn left onto Pleasant Street. Take next right onto Pearl Street. Look for the entrance to the library parking lot on the right-hand side about midway down the block.

Library Parking

The library’s main parking lot is shared with the Pilgrim Congregational Church and offers 49 regular spaces and 2 handicapped spaces. Please enter and exit this parking lot from Pearl Street, which runs parallel to West Street behind the library. Please avoid using or parking in the church driveways.

In addition to the library’s main parking lot, there are other options for parking in the area:

• Free on-street parking on Pearl Street
• Metered spaces on West Street in front of the library.
• The municipal parking lot marked with a large blue “Free Parking” sign on West Street, on the far side of the office of Joseph N. Fraticelli, CPA.
• The parking lot between the First Baptist and Unitarian Universalist churches across from the Common on West Street
• The municipal parking garage next to the Police Station.
• The Leominster City Hall parking lot, which may be used on weekends and after City Hall closes for the day at 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays.