These 15 Public Libraries in Massachusetts Will Make You Swear Off Amazon For Good

If you’re interested in finding a captivating read, be sure to explore these seven libraries in Massachusetts for a wide selection of books. From popular bestsellers to hidden gems just waiting to be discovered, each library offers an exciting range of literature options.

Ranking the 15 Best Public Libraries in Massachusetts

Cambridge Public Library

• Address: 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (283)
• Phone: +1 617-349-4040
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  My library the Cambridge Main Library is outstanding and filled with great wonderful Souls. Of course my very enzyme Librarians everyone’s individual there at the library we have snack machines yeah we also have the privilege pandemic permitting of bringing it out on food to munch on whether it’s from a pizza shop or I’m home we are most certainly welcome to enjoy something to eat in the right locations of the library. I am so thankful to the wonderful City management that we enjoy in the city of Cambridge particularly in our library

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Danny De Gug (2 months ago)

  Why work from a co-working space or cafe when this amazing space is available for free!
  P.S. This is still a library and not your personal workspace. Wish the few people who come here to take their work calls would respect the need for peace and quiet 🙃

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Rajat Narula (6 months ago)

  Beautiful library and awesome activities. Good for kids! Just be cautious about the parking you entered could be the one belongs to the school, if gate shut at night you won’t get your car parked in there.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Maria W (a month ago)

  Gorgeous library but it seems people have forgotten what the hell a library is supposed to w. Had one baby crying/screaming for 20 minutes, another woman talking the entire time she was there, people’s phones going off…I just need a quiet space to study and no where in this library has that. It seems everyone has forgotten their manners since COVID.

  ✭✭ By Hayley (2 months ago)

  Really great library system. I live in Boston, and borrow books from both Boston and Cambridge public libraries. Though BPL is presumably among the best in the world, about 1/3 of the time Cambridge library system will have an obscure older book that Boston won’t. Smaller suburban branches of Cambridge public library harbor amazing old stuff.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Asdf Jklc (5 months ago)

Shrewsbury Public Library

• Address: 609 Main St, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (92)
• Phone: +1 508-841-8609
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  The Library it’s amazing, clean, we’ll organized, with a good variety of items, and a lot of activities. They have fee book clubs, an English Conversational Class, and many activities for youth and children.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Ricardo TAPIA BASURTO (3 months ago)

  Excellent, Friendly staff ,like always. This was my 2nd time going to Shrewsbury public library since pre- covid-19 , The last time I went West sometime in February of 2020 I’ve never had a problem with Shrewsbury library. I’m so happy that Shrewsbury gas the Automatic Book return drop-off! So I waent for that reason Mostly and because I haven’t been there since last year with my aunt. Such a beautiful building! I wish it was a little closer to home. I love this place, I’ve been her a good amount of times with some people over the years. Still frees & looks good. Im so glad to see people use the library & You’d utilize their tools and stuff taking it for free by renting it from the libraries so great to see that people are actually going to the library still if the pandement rising the numbers up !

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By tyler wills (10 months ago)

  Best town library in Massachusetts. Always super nice and helpful. Borrowed some comics today. 👍

  ✭✭✭✭ By Bathory Bill (6 months ago)

  We love our town library. The kids area is amazing, and our kids can’t wait to go back. The selection of books and media is better than I’ve seen in larger cities. The services offered are great for the community too. Now, there’s a new, larger building; funded my the resident’s donations, because we love it.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By David (a year ago)

  My husband and I needed something notarized and the person st the research desk was great!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Maureen Donohue (2 months ago)

Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library

• Address: 111 High St, Medford, MA 02155, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (72)
• Phone: +1 781-395-7950
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: Closed
• Reviews:
  This is one of the best renovation libraries. It’s brand new, beautiful, and a great place to study. Free Parking. Downside: Restroom needs to maintain its cleanness. The time I went was bad, trash bin full, used paper towel were everywhere on the floor, sink and surface were dirty. I didn’t like using their toilet there. Other than that, it’s pretty good.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Xiangyun Wang (a month ago)

  Beautiful library in modern style. This is your must-have. It is a two-story building with two entrances. You can park your car both in the parking lot behind the library and on the street in front of the main entrance. There is a Tesla charger in the parking lot. The second floor is for children and teenagers. There are computers, separate study rooms, a toilet, and a vending machine with snacks and drinks. Books are just cosmic. I am very sorry that I did not have such books in my childhood 😭
  Enjoy!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Olga K. (11 months ago)

  It’s brand new that the renovation smell is still strong. But I like the new decorations. It’s like a children’s library. Everything is so cute. But I can’t stay too long because of the smell. Hope it will get better soon.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By L Q (5 months ago)

  Beautiful library. Not enough seating if you want to sit alone. I think that’s the point though. Tables are big enough to sit 4 comfortably with laptop + notepad.

  Quiet and great book selection!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Christopher Schrock (a month ago)

  A long-time-coming improvement from the old Medford Public Library. The new building is very nice, with large adult, kid, and teen sections. Comfortable chairs are placed in areas for good reading. The kids section has a small play space for young children. Study rooms are available in both the adult and teen sections. Outdoor return boxes allow you to return books without entering the building, and during days it’s closed. Bathrooms, water bubblers, and vending machines are available, with a small area to eat.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Sowansow912 (5 months ago)

Salem Library

• Address: 370 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (64)
• Phone: +1 978-744-0860
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  Lovely library!! I was in Salem for a day trip and needed to take an online exam, and it was the perfect place for a quick study session. The area nearby is nice, the library is big and quiet, the WiFi is fast, and the staff is incredible. Just make sure to check the hours before you go. If I lived in Salem, I’d be visiting this place every day, it’s great!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Piper Feese (9 months ago)

  I’m here visiting and the building caught my eye.. . its stunning. Being a lover of all things books.. I ventured in to look around. The staff was very willing to assist me find anything I may need and they were very attentive. If I lived here I would be in this library weekly.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By M J (2 months ago)

  beautiful library, very kind and helpful staff, nicely kempt up & tidy

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Rob Logan Jr (a month ago)

  This is my favorite public library people. They are a very kind and thoughtful staff.
  The architecture of the Salem Public Library will take your breath away.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Michael Rubin (10 months ago)

  Love this cute little library! Friendly staff, good place to study.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Bria Yazic (11 months ago)

Lawrence Public Library

• Address: 51 Lawrence St, Lawrence, MA 01841, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (63)
• Phone: +1 978-620-3600
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: 1:00 – 4:00 PM
• Reviews:
  I came to get some book on biology and astrology and let me tell you this library had absolutely nothing for me. What happened the book in this place.

  ✭ By Has Mand’alor (3 months ago)

  Friendly staff, great A.C on a hot day, good computer printer and photo copy machine access and cheap.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Haley Mcelmurray (Haley Mac) (5 months ago)

  Friendly and helpful staff, and the library itself is large, immaculate and always well organized.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Alex Dews (6 months ago)

  I went to use the computer just to print something out . No more than 15 minutes. I was there with my daughter who was out of school that day. She asked me, did she go to school today? I said no. She said well she cant be here during school hours.i said im her parent , she’s with me! She just walked away.mind you my kid is 9. Its not like its a high school kid skipping school! So am i not suppose to do my errands ? And wait till after school hours when the library only open till 5 and her school ends like at 330pm. Unbelievable.

  ✭ By Jayleen Cintron (JayJay) (a year ago)

  I attended an Adult program that offered many workshops for Adults.
  The laterest was a nutritional classes that it was very important and educational
  I want to thanks

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Leonor Sanchez (9 months ago)

Franklin Public Library

• Address: 118 Main St, Franklin, MA 02038, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (58)

Belmont Public Library

• Address: 336 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA 02478, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (51)

Reading Public Library

• Address: 64 Middlesex Ave, Reading, MA 01867, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (50)

Burlington Public Library

• Address: 22 Sears St, Burlington, MA 01803, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (45)

Chelsea Public Library

• Address: 569 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (44)

Westwood Public Library

• Address: 660 High St, Westwood, MA 02090, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.9 (36)

Bedford Free Public Library

• Address: 7 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA 01730, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (35)

Mansfield Public Library

• Address: 255 Hope St, Mansfield, MA 02048, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (35)

Lincoln Public Library

• Address: 3 Bedford Rd, Lincoln, MA 01773, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (31)

Ashland Public Library

• Address: 66 Front St, Ashland, MA 01721, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.9 (30)

Thank you for reading! If you have any additional information on the best public libraries in Massachusetts, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!