The library is quite large, as one might expect for a city as big as Fall River. This structure…read moreopened as the public library in 1899 and was recently updated and restored. In addition to the usual stacks of books, the library has computers available to be used plus wifi access, digital media to be borrowed and lots of space for study. I found a quiet study room under the back stairs that was first-come first-served and spent about three hours there, working and having my work Zoom meetings. Plenty of power, no noise and I was not disturbed. I was even able to keep my sneaky water bottle with me and didn't mind since there wasn't anything I could possibly damage with spilled water. Great space and a fabulous resource. [Review 18641 overall - 1221 in Massachusetts - 2163 of 2022.]

As a newcomer to Fall River, I've found that the library's atmosphere is great, a lot of books to…read moreread, comfortable chairs and tables, friendly and helpful staff. I've been to this place a few times and I wish I could go again to do my readings.

Windows and parks…read more The Lawler Branch Library is one of the four libraries in the city of New Bedford. It was built in 1960 with money donated by Sylvia A.H.G. Wilkes and is located right next to Buttonwoods Park. The library is fairly large for a branch library and is basically one large room that has all the separate areas just delineated by a bit of space and some signs. The library has some cool windows and the whole building kind of reminds of me of an old fashion gymnasium with a pool or basketball courts inside. Definitely a unique but pleasant look for a library The inside is very clean and convenient with working wifi and everything you would except from a modern library, just not as much of it as in one of the larger libraries. There is even a meeting room for events and groups. Not a huge, historic or architecturally impressive library but a very nice branch library located in a very convenient location.

One librarian for two…read morelibraries Freetown, Ma isn't a very large place but it does have two cool libraries, one of each end of town. On the west side is the ancient Guilford Hathaway Library with no running water and crowded and spooky interior and on the east side is the "modern" James White Memorial Library. The James White Library was established in 1947 and still looks a lot like the original house. In fact if it wasn't for the small sign it would be impossible to tell that this was a library. Just kind of blends right in with the neighborhood. The inside is small, just basically one room, but they manage to get almost 25,000 volumes in here as well as the usual magazines and computers. It even has running water and real bathrooms. The library has the usual programs and events and even had a very cool therapy dog come in to assist in a kid's reading program. Both of Freetown's two libraries have the same librarian and she goes back and forth between the two. The libraries of course have different hours but it is still quite a chore for the librarian to keep up with things. Somehow she manages to remain very friendly and helpful in the small town library sort of way and even remembers what library she's in. Freetown has two interesting libraries and one very cool librarian.

Love the staff at this library - super friendly…read more It's a small library with not a huge selection in general but especially non-fiction but I don't fault them for that because I bet they would expand if they could. Special shout out to all the librarians there who select the children's books to put on display on the top of the shelves. They always make great selections and they are constantly getting new Children's book - nice work! They are also always hosting different events for the community. I don't want to knock other libraries but Westport has the friendliest librarians compared to neighboring towns. Anyway, people should read more.

Sleek and clean…read more The Westport Library was built in 1971 and was expanded and renovated a couple of years ago. It's a very clean, spacious and modern looking library that's extremely nicely organized and well thought out. A library that it's easy to feel right at home after only a few minutes. The first thing you notice as you walk toward the doors is the unusual sculpture near the front of the building. It really shines when the sun hits it and does go nicely with the design of the building. The inside of the library has a nice children department and community room with lots of events and programs going on. All the periodicals, best sellers, new books, computers and historic references are easy to access and logically placed. The Westport Library is a nice community library that offers a pleasant environment to study, read or just attend a lecture or program.

A library made of…read morestone Dighton Public Library is a rather small place but with a very cool exterior made of field stones. I tried to find out exactly where the stones came from but nobody know. I suspect they are local, possible taken from the river in the back. This library was built in 1910 and like a bezillion other libraries was a generous gift from the well known philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It shows signs of it's age and could use a bit of TLC, but is still an impressive little building. The main floor is rather crowded with all the usual library stuff and the downstairs is the children's room. When I was there they were preparing for a Halloween party and expected lots of the local kids to attend. Like many small town libraries it serves a place where people in the community can get together, socialize and learn. Both of the librarians I met were exceptionally friendly and pleasant, taking the time to give me all the information I wanted and showing me around. I also met several local people in the library that seemed happy to tell me about the history of the town and area. This is a small but very gregarious, homey and neighborly place to spend some time. It's definitely the type of library where everyone talks and nobody is going to hush you for making too much noise. A place to learn things that aren't in the books.

Our family LOVES the Dighton Public Library. Although small its heart is as big and as good as it…read moregets. You can truly get any book you desire by simply placing it on hold from another library and getting it sent quickly and efficiently to Dighton Public Library. The staff is very welcoming and loves to see us come in and we feel so welcomed. My children (ages 9, 7 and 6) have also become much better readers because of the Children's Librarian there. She has shown them titles that they'd never seen before and made them new and different and FUN to try to read. Some were a hit, some were not but she provided the kids with options of topics they truly uniquely enjoyed. My history buff found a series he fell in love with and he reads every night because of it. My youngest is reading above his grade level as she found him some fantastic funny books and he adores them and my gregarious middle child- my daughter who lives and breathes art- has been shown some of the best books she's ever read. We do not live in Dighton. We actually come from a neighboring town with a much newer building and a much larger space BUT the staff is not welcoming and the children are better "seen and not heard" there. It no longer became fun to go to the library so we'd heard such wonderful things about the Dighton Public Library we thought we'd check it out and now its OUR library of choice. Thank you for making going to the library fun again. We get there once a week or more. Fun events for kids, great staff and best of all we feel welcome to learn, read and be ourselves. THANK YOU to the Dighton Public Library for renewing our trust in libraries again!

Being the nerd that I am, I came here the day after my birthday. Since last year, I've been…read morechallenging myself to visit all public libraries in the state of Rhode Island. This was the 11th one I visited. My friend and I came on a Saturday morning. I don't think they have a parking lot, but we found street parking right by the entrance. It reminded me more of an admin building when I walked in. To the left is a book sale, and to the right are the stairs to the main floor. There were lots of happy kids in the children's section. Down the hall, they have the walls lined with lots of information, including subsidized tickets to different events and places including the bird sanctuary nearby. They also have an extensive and well diversified library of tools and equipment to loan for a week including sporting gear, home repair tools, yard tools, games, and even a telescope. I was impressed. On my way out, I also saw a an ad for a free account to Mango through the library, which is a language learning platform (perfect for my journey to learning French).

Parking is easy behind the building. Staff are always so kind and sweet. The children's area is…read morealways such a treat for my kiddos to go visit and enjoy a little play time with friends.

This is the library branch of the NB Whaling Museum, housing (I believe) all of their written…read morecollections - logbooks, historical documents, a lot of art, most of it sent over from the Kendall Whaling Museum when it was absorbed by the NB Museum. I can't imagine anyone comes here who isn't doing specific research on whaling, but appointments are pretty much required and there's also a $10 per hour fee if you're not a museum member. Both of the librarians here were extremely helpful and really passionate about the subject. The patron-accessible library is limited to mostly the reading room, which is spacious and quiet with lots of tables. Most of the delicate, rare-books stuff is in the back, so you'll need to specially request a librarian to get it for you, but I was just impressed with the general-knowledge books they had outside in the cases for anyone to browse, comprising a very in-depth overview of whaling worldwide in themselves. The library I believe also houses the Melville Archive, so 19th century literature nuts might also like to pay them a visit.

A cool card…read morecatalog The library was built in 1892 and it is one the the increasing rare and wonderful places that has never changed. Walk through those doors and you are back in 1892. Small, dark , cramped and with a wonderful odor of ocean air, books and old wood the building is intoxicating to all the senses. I believe the librarian told me that it holds almost 20,00 books. Considering only a few dozen people actually spend the year on the island, it must have the highest ratio of books to people anywhere. Of course the numerous large, stinky, but very friendly island dogs go in and out as they please, they are also part of the library's decor. What the library doesn't have is Internet access or computers. Again, this isn't a complaint, they say it with pride. God help the insensitive, self absorbed dolt that pulls out a cell phone. The sweet librarian will quickly insert the cell some place where it was never designed to go. If you actually find the library and choose to go in, you will find a sundry collection of tomes inside. Lots of very light reading paperbacks and the typical library reference stuff but also some great historical books on Cuttyhunk and the surrounding area. Great old pictures, maps and drawings are everywhere. They even sell some cool book bags and shirts. Hey, they have to make a few bucks to keep the place going. Even though the old, historic books are cool, the greatest resource is the librarian. She not only deals with the books and library but also serves as town historian, visitor center and very probably disseminator of local gossip. Anything you wish to know about the island she will tell you in a very kind, knowledgeable and very cool way. Just don't be stupid and try using a cell phone in her library. You might not survive the experience. Cuttyhunk Library. A very cool and enjoyable place to visit, look at some books, learn a few things, met and talk to some great people or just sit and absorb the great atmosphere. Ocean air, old wood, books, interesting people and big friendly dogs are a hard combination to beat. You might even get to use a card catalog.