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About the Library
Home
The Abington Public Library is a member of the Old Colony
Library Network (OCLN). The Old Colony Library Network (OCLN)
is a cooperative of 28 member libraries located on the South
Shore of Massachusetts. OCLN membership includes 26 town and
city libraries and 2 academic libraries. Cardholders at the
Abington Public Library are eligible to use the resources
of all of the OCLN libraries.
Mission
Statement
The
Abington Public Library serves the community as its primary
information resource. The library provides recreational
reading, listening and viewing materials, and programs, for
all age groups from the youngest children to senior citizens.
It provides access to resource sharing networks, the Internet
and interlibrary loans, and has a vibrant on-line presence
encouraging virtual use. The library building is a welcoming
community gathering place.
Voted
by the Board of Library Trustees, June 18, 2002. Revised
September 14, 2009.
Library
History
Public
Library service began in Abington in 1878. Two libraries were
established by Town Meeting: a branch in the Abington Mutual
Fire Insurance Building on Washington Street in Centre Abington,
and a branch in North Abington which was located in various
homes until Webster Wales gave up space in his parlor on Adams
Street. The town maintained the two libraries in various rented
locations until 1977. At that time, the Abington Public Library
in the Dyer Building closed and merged with the Burton L.
Wales Public Library, located in the Town Hall in the former
North Abington Congregational Church on Randolph Street. Although
the Burton L. Wales Public Library was cheerful and cozy,
the space soon became too small for a growing community.
In 1984, a long range
planning process illustrated that library service for Abington
was seriously constrained by the lack of space in an inaccessible
and deteriorating building. In 1987 the Building Fund for
a New Public Library was established. In 1993, the Town voted
to place three acres of land near Abington High School under
the jurisdiction of the Trustees for the purpose of building
a new library. In 1995, the Board applied for and received
a $1,300,000 public library construction grant, administered
by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The new
Abington Public Library opened its doors for public service
on December 17, 1997.
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