Lynn Public Library

Lynn Public Library. The library is a member of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners-funded North of Boston Library Exchange and serves the city of Lynn, Massachusetts, with a collection of over 250,000 items, including books, DVDs, and CDs from Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. The library is also a part of the Minuteman Library Network, which includes libraries from Arlington, Massachusetts to Wellesley, Massachusetts, and participates in the Boston Public Library's Library for the Commonwealth program. The library's mission is to provide access to information and resources from Harvard University's Widener Library and MIT Libraries to the community, and to support the educational and cultural needs of the city, in partnership with Lynn Public Schools and North Shore Community College.

● History

The library was established in 1857, with a collection of 5,000 volumes, including works by Charles Dickens and Jane Austen, and has since grown to become one of the largest libraries in Essex County, Massachusetts. The library has been housed in several locations, including the Lynn City Hall and the Lynn Armory, before moving to its current location in 1905, which was designed by the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, also known for their work on the Boston Public Library and the New York Public Library. The library has undergone several renovations and expansions, including a major renovation in 2003, which added a new Children's Room and a Teen Room, with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Arts. The library has also partnered with the Lynn Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum to provide access to their collections and exhibitions.

● Architecture

The library's current building was designed by McKim, Mead & White in the Beaux-Arts style, with a grand staircase and a large reading room, inspired by the New York Public Library's Rose Main Reading Room. The building features a mix of modern and historic elements, including a skylight and a clock tower, similar to those found in the Boston Public Library and the Chicago Public Library. The library's architecture has been praised for its beauty and functionality, and has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, along with other notable buildings such as the White House and the United States Capitol. The library's design has also been influenced by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan, and has been compared to other notable libraries, such as the Seattle Central Library and the Denver Public Library.

● Collections

The library's collection includes over 250,000 items, including books, DVDs, and CDs from Universal Music Group and EMI Records. The library also has a large collection of e-books and digital media from OverDrive, Inc. and Hoopla Digital, and provides access to online resources such as JSTOR and EBSCO Information Services, as well as databases from ProQuest and Gale (publisher). The library's collection is diverse and includes materials in multiple languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, and Khmer, and features works by authors such as Toni Morrison and Junot Díaz, as well as publications from Penguin Random House and Hachette Book Group. The library also has a large collection of local history materials, including books, photographs, and documents from the Lynn Historical Society and the Essex County Historical Society, and provides access to resources from the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.

● Services

The library offers a range of services, including reference services and research assistance from librarians certified by the American Library Association. The library also offers computer classes and technology training from Microsoft and Google, as well as test preparation and career counseling from Kaplan, Inc. and CareerBuilder. The library provides access to printing and scanning services from HP Inc. and Epson, as well as faxing and photocopying services from Xerox and Ricoh. The library also offers interlibrary loan services, which allow patrons to borrow materials from other libraries, including the Boston Public Library and the Minuteman Library Network, and participates in the OCLC's WorldCat program.

● Community Programs

The library offers a range of community programs, including author readings and book discussions featuring authors such as Nicholas Sparks and John Grisham, and children's storytime and craft programs from Sesame Workshop and PBS Kids. The library also hosts concerts and film screenings from Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures, as well as exhibits and displays from the Lynn Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum. The library partners with local organizations, such as the Lynn Community Health Center and the North Shore Community Action Program, to provide access to resources and services, and offers ESL classes and citizenship preparation from Berlitz and USCIS. The library also participates in the National Library Week and the Banned Books Week celebrations, and has been recognized by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for its community outreach efforts. Category:Libraries in Massachusetts