# data[].attributes.body
Children's Librarian Marianne during a puppet making program.

# data[].attributes.body
Newton Free Library Bookmobile

# data[].attributes.body
Library staff

# data[].attributes.body
A patron at the library Listening Station enjoying our LPs

# data[].attributes.body
In 2001, the main library at 330 celebrated its 10th anniversary since the building opened.

# data[].attributes.body
Reference Librarian Brenda teaching a class on jobs and careers, second floor of the library in the old computer room.

# data[].attributes.body
Staff at Old Main Library on closing day

# data[].attributes.body
Old copy machine at the Newton Centre Library

# data[].attributes.body
Patrons at the Reference and Information Desk

# data[].attributes.body
New self-checkout machines were installed by the Homer Street entrance.

# data[].attributes.body
As part of the plaza renovation, a Dero Fixit Bike Repair Station was installed by the bike racks.

# data[].attributes.body
Cranes onsite on Homer Street lifting equipment to the roof, as part of the HVAC replacement and update.

# data[].attributes.body
The City of Newton and Board of Library Trustees partnered to fund a restoration project of the Library’s Homer Street brick plaza to address issues related to drainage as well as crumbling and missing bricks. During this work, crews also installed our exterior hold pick up lockers, coming Spring 2025.

# data[].attributes.body
The new Library parking lot solar canopies went live and were connected to the grid, generating solar power for the building. Over the course of 12 months, they generate the equivalent of 49% of the building’s electricity, avoid 200 tons of CO2 emissions, and are the equivalent of 214 acres of trees in terms of carbon sequestration.

# data[].attributes.body
Grand re-opening of the newly renovated children's room. The much needed renovation greatly expanded the room and provided all new furniture, shelving, and technology.

# data[].attributes.body
During the 30th birthday celebration, the library dedicated a bronze sculpture of a sunflower with 13 petals representing each of Newton's Villages by local artist Nancy Schön. This sculpture is next to the bookdrop on the Homer Street Plaza.

# data[].attributes.body
The Library held its 30th birthday celebration!

# data[].attributes.body
Our automatic material Checkin/Sorter machine was installed. You can view the sorter in action while returning your books by the parking lot entrance.

# data[].attributes.body
A 90th birthday celebration for sculptor Nancy Schön on September 26, 2018 outside of the Newton Free Library near her sculptures of Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore.

# data[].attributes.body
Former President Bill Clinton talks with employees of the Newton Free Library on primary election day in Massachusetts, Tuesday, March 1, 2016 to rally support for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Nancy Johnson, Supervisor of Reference Services, Nancy Perlow, Library Director and Gila Vesset, Supervisor of Circulation (2011)

# data[].attributes.body
The library celebrated its 20th birthday at the Homer Street building.

# data[].attributes.body
After the new Main Library on Homer Street opened, the branches were underused, and likely drawing focus from the brand new Library. All but four of the branches were closed, leaving branch libraries in Auburndale, Waban, Newton Corner (the former Boys and Girls Library in the Chaffin House in Farlow Park), and Nonantum.

The latter two were closed on July 1, 2008 due to city budget cuts, while Auburndale and Waban continue as community-run library centers.

# data[].attributes.body
After the new main library at 414 Centre Street grew rapidly, additional branch libraries were built throughout Newton. The following are images of the 10 branch libraries at various points in time.

# data[].attributes.body
When the Auburndale branch library was closed, it became the Aurburndale Community Library and is still independently run today, located at 375 Auburn Street.

# data[].attributes.body
The old Newtonville branch library would later become the old Newton Senior Center

# data[].attributes.body
After the branch closed, the library still stands today and is the home of the Ciociaro Social Club.

# data[].attributes.body
The old West Newton building still stands today and has been used by various city departments.

# data[].attributes.body
Located at 1608 Beacon Street, the old branch library is now the home of the community library, Waban Library Center, which operates independently from the Newton Free Library.

# data[].attributes.body
The building still stands today at 1294 Centre Street. It was being used as the City of Newton Health Department, and is now the home of Newton Community Pride.

# data[].attributes.body
In 2001, the main library at 330 celebrated its 10th anniversary since the building opened.

# data[].attributes.body
In 2001, the main library at 330 celebrated its 10th anniversary since the building opened.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Grand opening celebration, September 15, 1991

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Grand opening celebration, September 15, 1991

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Grand opening celebration, September 15, 1991

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Parking lot entrance of the Main Library, September 1991

# data[].attributes.body
After 2 years of construction, the new library opened. It stands at 91,405 square feet and was completed under-budget at $15,300,000.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Grand opening celebration, September 15, 1991

# data[].attributes.body
Mayor Mann at the podium for the dedication ceremony.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Grand opening celebration, September 15, 1991

# data[].attributes.body
A view of the Atrium from the second floor.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Grand opening celebration, September 15, 1991

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
The new Main Library at 330 Homer Street officially opened. 

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Construction on the new main library, 1989-1991

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Construction on the new main library, 1989-1991

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Construction on the new main library, 1989-1991

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
From left to right: F. Rubin, T. Mann, D. Reichard, J. Biotti, V. Tashjian, M. Lipof

# data[].attributes.body
The topping off ceremony for the new main library, where the last steel beam for the building's frame was lifted into place

# data[].attributes.body
Groundbreaking for the new Main Library, our current location at 330 Homer Street. Pictured from left to right: Trustee Michael Lipof, President of the Trustees Dorothy Reichard, Mayor Theodore D. Mann, Harold S. Williams, Trustee Florence Rubin, unknown, Trustee Joseph Biotti, Jr., Trustee Melvin Ross, and Library Director Virginia A. Tashjian.

# data[].attributes.body
The City’s Design Review Committee approved the architectural designs of A. Anthony Tappe and Kallmann MicKinnell and Wood for a new library in June 1987.

In August of the same, year, the Board of Alderman unanimously granted approval to build the new building on the 4.588 acre lot at the intersection of Homer and Walnut Streets, where the Newton Free Library stands today.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Exterior of the old main library on Centre Street, before 1993, when the building was razed.

# data[].attributes.body
The Newton Free Library celebrated it's 100th anniversary.

# data[].attributes.body
Second floor of the Main Library at 414 Centre Street. Librarians collecting books for house delivery. Left foreground: Miss Pope, fifth from left: Mrs. Gower.

# data[].attributes.body
414 Centre Street, Main Library, 1903.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Main Library, 1979. Photo by Beth Ansell. You can see the original main building with the new front addition.

# data[].attributes.body
Another addition to the building was added, this time in the front of the building. In the words of former Library Director Virginia A. Tashjian, it was “…only a stop-gap measure which did nothing to provide the necessary space the library would need in a world where information multiplied so rapidly.”

# data[].attributes.body
An additional in the rear of the building was made to the original building.

# data[].attributes.body
The library grew rapidly after it opened in 1870 as the collection and use multiplied. In 1948, famous library building consultant Joseph Wheeler recommended that "either a new building or an addition is immediately and urgently needed."

# data[].attributes.body
In 1867 the Hon. J. Wiley Edmands proposed to contribute $10,000 to the creation of a new building for a public library in Newton, with the condition that Newton citizens matched that amount for a total of $20,000. He also gifted an additional $5,000 for the establishment of a library for the free use of the residents of the town. The money was raised successfully.

An additional subscription was made by John C. Chaffin, with a gift of $5,000. In total, the amount raised for the building of the library was $54,000 (over $1.1 million in today's money).

# data[].attributes.body
The "Books for all" delivery truck replaced the horse and buggy in 1916.

# data[].attributes.body
The Newton Free Library was formally transferred to the City of Newton and the title-deeds of the property and the keys to the building were passed to the city.

# data[].attributes.body
A vote was passed to transfer ownership of the Library to the City as a free gift

# data[].attributes.body
The first Newton Free Library was completed and dedicated on June 17, 1870. It was built of granite and included a reading room and staff offices.

The original building was established “for the free use of residents of the town,” and housed a collection of 7,084 volumes with an annual circulation of approximately 37,000. This library was still owned by the Newton Literary Association and operated by their Board of Trustees.

The Library opened to the public on July 1, 1870.

# data[].attributes.body
In August 1868 the first corner stone was laid, and construction began on the original 414 Centre Street location.

# data[].attributes.body
The idea of a free public library in Newton was first introduced in March 1865 during a meeting of the Newton Literary Association, the predecessor to the Newton Free Library.

# data[].attributes.body
The origins of the Newton Free Library were the culmination of several actions by individual citizens groups; all these private collections subsequently became part of the NFL collection in 1870.

1798: Social Library Society of West Newton

1826: The Adelphian Library

1800's: The Temperance Society of Newton

1800's: The West Newton Athenaeum

1849: The Newton Library Association and the Newton Literary Associates

1859: The Newton Centre Library Association