Reference Services
Computer and Wireless Access
Public internet computers are available for research in the Reference Room. You will need a library card to sign on.
The Reference Room also offers word processing computers equipped with Microsoft Office, resume software, a scanner station and a dedicated computer for genealogy research on Ancestry Plus. Sign up for these computers at the Reference Desk.
Computers are also available in the computer lab on the main floor and in the Children's Room.
Free wireless access is available throughout the library. The Reference Room has laptop-friendly desks with built-in outlets to charge your computer.
Newspapers and Magazines
The Reference Room has copies of the Herald News, New Bedford Standard-Times, Providence Journal and Boston Globe, among others. There is also a large magazine collection! Ask at the reference desk.
Genealogy Resources
The Library holds a wealth of genealogical materials, such as Fall River vital
records from 1803 to 1889, the Federal Census
for Fall River, church records, local newspapers from the mid-19th century to the present and Fall River city directories from 1853 to the present. There are three
microfilm readers, with printers, available for public use.
For more genealogical resources, visit this page.
Obituaries and E-mail Requests
Copies of local newspaper obituaries may be requested by mail or e-mail. Requests
must include full name and date of death. A limited index is available for some years.
There is a charge of $2 per printed page to cover the
cost of research, printing and mailing. Payment is required before obituaries or other information can be mailed. Please limit requests to no more than three obituaries at one time.
Requests for obituaries, as well as
other reference requests, can be emailed to Kathryn Kulpa, Head of Reference. Requests can also be mailed to the Reference Dept., Fall River Public Library, 104 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720.
Lizzie Borden Collection
The Lizzie Borden Collection consists of biographies, nonfiction accounts of the murders and trial,
fictionalized retellings of the story, plays, bibliographies, newspaper articles and magazines dealing with Lizzie
Borden, her trial, and the Borden murders. The Fall River Historical Society has photographs
and artifacts relating to the murders. Images and information can also be found at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast and the Lizzie Andrew Borden Virtual Museum and Library.
The materials in this collection range from the rare 1893 account of the murders, The Fall River Tragedy by Edwin Porter, to a graphic novel version by cartoonist Rick Geary.
All special collections items must be used in the library. A photocopier and scanner are available.
Fall River Collection 
The Fall River Collection has materials relating to the people and history of Fall River. The collection includes vintage postcards, maps, vital records, city documents, church records, family histories
and books. Here you will find information on immigrant groups, businesses, mills, the Fall River Line,
schools, churches, historic buildings and the history of Fall River.
Microfilm copies
of the Herald News, as well as a number of earlier Fall River
newspapers, some dating back as far as 1842, are available for reading and
printing.
Early census records, vital records before 1889 and Fall River City Directories from 1853-1967 are available in microform. Later city directories are available in print.
Certified copies of Fall River birth and death certificates are available at the City Clerk's Office. Many local cemeteries also have burial records.
Estes Collection
The Estes Collection honors local authors, those who were either born in Fall River or spent part of their lives in the city. It consists of fiction, poetry and non-fiction books written
by Fall River authors, ranging from Victoria Lincoln (a contemporary of Lizzie Borden's) to TV chef Emeril Lagasse.
Many of these books are currently out of print and available only
at the Fall River Public Library.
Exam Proctoring
Students taking online courses or certification programs may take exams in the Reference Room at the library. Have your school or university contact the library to arrange exam proctoring.
Tax Forms
Both federal and Massachusetts state tax forms are available in the library. Forms are on display from late January through April. Some specialized forms must be photocopied or may only be available online. Our reference librarians can help you find forms, but we cannot provide tax advice.
New Online Resources
The library has two new online resources available for use by Fall River library patrons in the library or at home. Salem Press Health is a reference guide to psychology and mental health topics, while Salem History has two research databases: The Sixties in America and Notorious Lives. A library card is needed for home access.
Need More Help?
For specialized or more in-depth research resources, visit our Resources for Research page. If you need assistance, a reference librarian will be happy to help you.
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