About

About

The Erving Public Library is located at 2 Care Drive, off Route 63 in Erving, Massachusetts. This 8,300 square foot facility was newly built in 2019 and includes a large collection of books for all ages, an extensive kids' room with play area, teen room with TV and Xbox, adult reading area, public computers, Makerspace (craft and STEAM room), community rooms, print/copy services, and free internet. We look forward to your visit.

The Erving Public Libraries (Center Library and Erving Library at Millers Falls) merged in 2003 to become the Erving Public Library under the direction of trustees: Elizabeth Bazler, Marcia Bernard, and Marion Overgaard. Current trustees are: Daniel Hammock (Chair), Kelly Loynd, and Patricia Semb.

Since 2003, circulation, visits to the Library, hours of operation, and services have grown. The new library building was completed in March 2020 and is located at 2 Care Drive next to the Erving Senior/Community Center off of Rt. 63 (Northfield Road). The former library building is located at 17 Moore Street.

Erving Public Library is a member of the Massachusetts Library System and CW MARS, which provide access to resource sharing with other member libraries in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Library is governed by an elected Board of Trustees. It is funded by the municipal budget and supported by the Friends of the Erving Public Library.

Posted Policies and Forms

Policies and forms are posted on the left side menu. Please ask a librarian for more information about any library policy or form. All policies are available via request, and not all policies may be posted on this website.

Library History

History of the Erving Public Libraries from Chapter 25 of The History of Erving Massachusetts, 1838-1988

In 1882, the citizens voted to accept books from the Library Association and to establish the main library at Erving Center, with a branch at Millers Falls. The books were to be divided equally between the two. No provision was made for a public place to keep the books. Albert Briggs was paid three dollars for his services as librarian and room rent, while at Millers Falls, S. Buckman received the same amount. Users paid a fee of .50 for residents, payable quarterly, but $1.00 a year in advance, for non-residents. This fee system continued until 1885, when it became the Free Public Library. A $50.00 appropriation for books stood for many years, 1883-1912. In 1889, 62 books were purchased for $50.00. In 1988, a similar number of books was purchased for $400.

In 1885, Mrs. Sarah Holton Ballou, a former resident then living in Detroit, Michigan, offered the town a gift of 250 volumes of current and classic literature, if the town would accept them with this condition, that it establish and maintain a free public library. The town accepted the gift, and rescinded the 1883 vote about fees. Mrs. Ballou suggested that the original committee should include the selectmen, the town clerk, and the Congregational minister.

The first committee in 1885 was made up of three leading citizens, but did not include the Congregational minister: Noah Rankin, Alphaeus B. Parker, and Henry Burnett.

History of the Erving Public Libraries from Chapter 25 of The History of Erving Massachusetts, 1838-1988.

Erving Public Library's Blog hosted on Wordpress.com is the work of former staff and is not currently active.

 

Staff Contacts

NameTitlePhoneEmail

Director

(413) 422-1617

Assistant Director

(413) 423-3348

Youth Services Librarian

(413) 423-3348