Fall River Public Library, circa early 1900s
Mission
The Fall River Public Library seeks to be an integral part of the community by providing all residents with a wide variety of popular and reference materials, resources, technology, and services that facilitate their daily lives and extend their personal and intellectual development.
The staff of the Fall River Public Library works to create an environment that welcomes and satisfies the needs of patrons of all ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds.
History
The Fall
River Public Library was founded in 1861, as the direct descendant of the Fall
River Athenaeum, a private subscription library which had been in operation
since 1835. The library was housed
in the Fall River City Hall until 1886, when a fire destroyed part of the collection and
forced relocation to rented premises on North Main Street. The new location,
while more spacious, was not considered suitable as
permanent housing for a public library, and in 1895 the City authorized
construction of a library building. The present library building on North Main Street was
opened in 1899. Beginning in 2001, the library underwent a complete restoration. The original
building has retained its beauty and historic appeal, but with facilities
designed for the 21st century library user.
With more computers, wireless access, and book
stacks open to the public, the new building, opened in 2003, continues to amaze
visitors with its vaulted ceilings, marble accents and graceful design. We are
still a source for books, but we now offer you access to electronic information
as well. While technology changes rapidly, our mission is still to create an
environment that welcomes patrons of all ages,
interests, abilities, and cultural backgrounds.
Click here to download and view the library's most recent annual report.
Art Collection
A rich variety of paintings, many by local artists from the Fall River School of still life painting, are on display throughout the main library. The library's art collection includes many outstanding paintings from the 19th and early 20th century, including the work pictured here, Still Life With Peaches by Robert Spear Dunning.
A listing of all pieces found in the library's art collection is available at the library. Please ask at the reference desk. This listing cannot be checked out, but it can be photocopied.
Library Staff
Main library mailing address: 104 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720 Phone: 508-324-2700
For general questions about the library:
Library Administrator: Paula Costa Cullen
For questions about the library, including scheduling programs and meeting space:
Assistant Library Administrator: Laurel Clark
For questions regarding library materials, fines, policies, or programs for adults:
Adult Services and Circulation: Kimberly Silva
For questions regarding library materials, policies or programs for children:
Children's Services: David Mello
For reference questions, research assistance and interlibrary loan:
Reference Services: Kathryn Kulpa
Technical Services: Position currently vacant
East End Branch Supervisor: Conor Murray
East Branch mailing address: 1386 Pleasant Street, Fall River, MA 02723
South Branch Supervisor: Elizabeth Washburn
South Branch mailing address: 1310 South Main Street, Fall River, MA 02724
Web site maintained by Kathryn Kulpa