About
About
History of the Library
The present site of the Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library became its home when Thatcher Magoun Jr. wrote the selectmen in 1875 to offer his father’s mansion at 111 High Street as the home of the town’s library.
He wrote in a letter to the town dated January 22, 1875 that "The style of the 'Mansion House,' certainly in its exterior, appears to me to be admirably adapted for the purpose proposed; and my idea is, that the front or main building, above and below should all be used for library purposes as it is well arranged for that purpose."
The Magoun Mansion was closed in 1957 and a modern library was built on the site. Alderman and MacNeish of West Springfield were the building’s architects and this design was touted at the time as “One of the Most Modern.” The building was 31,500 square feet and boasted a hi-fi listening table with earphones to enjoy the phonograph records, a well-ventilated smoking lounge, and a bookmobile garage.
In 2017, the City of Medford received a grant from the Board of Library Commissioners for construction of a new library. In Spring 2018, the City Council approved funding. The architects, project manager, library/city staff, and the Building Committee were hard at work until January 3, 2022 when the current Library opened. This new library has a MakerSpace, a Tech Lab with a recording studio, and, of course, a local history room.
With the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the staff at the Library begin the process of digitizing our local history collection so that access to our history is readily and easily available.
History of the Library
The present site of the Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library became its home when Thatcher Magoun Jr. wrote the selectmen in 1875 to offer his father’s mansion at 111 High Street as the home of the town’s library.
He wrote in a letter to the town dated January 22, 1875 that "The style of the 'Mansion House,' certainly in its exterior, appears to me to be admirably adapted for the purpose proposed; and my idea is, that the front or main building, above and below should all be used for library purposes as it is well arranged for that purpose."
The Magoun Mansion was closed in 1957 and a modern library was built on the site. Alderman and MacNeish of West Springfield were the building’s architects and this design was touted at the time as “One of the Most Modern.” The building was 31,500 square feet and boasted a hi-fi listening table with earphones to enjoy the phonograph records, a well-ventilated smoking lounge, and a bookmobile garage.
In 2017, the City of Medford received a grant from the Board of Library Commissioners for construction of a new library. In Spring 2018, the City Council approved funding. The architects, project manager, library/city staff, and the Building Committee were hard at work until January 3, 2022 when the current Library opened. This new library has a MakerSpace, a Tech Lab with a recording studio, and, of course, a local history room.
With the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the staff at the Library begin the process of digitizing our local history collection so that access to our history is readily and easily available.
Using Our Collections
The Local History Room is located on the first floor of the Library. Everyone is welcome to browse the available collection. Materials that are more fragile are kept in a storage room and do require a staff member to assist. All local history materials can be viewed in person at the Library during our opening hours but none of them can circulate. This digital collection allows researchers to have access to the collection outside of our normal operating hours. The digitization of this collection is an ongoing process so do visit us regularly for new materials.
Contact Us
During our open hours, Library staff can be reached by phone at 781-395-7950. Reference queries can also be emailed to medford@minlib.net.
Contact Us
During our open hours, Library staff can be reached by phone at 781-395-7950. Reference queries can also be emailed to medford@minlib.net.