Hours
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
South Branch Library:
Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Library is closed on Saturday and Sunday during the months of June, July, and August
- Circulation
- Children's Room
- Reference
- Special Collections
- Technical Services
- Irish Collection
- MVLC
Getting a Library Card Application Solicitud
The library registers Lawrence residents above 7th grade with a picture ID (driver's license, or MA ID) and proof of address (utility bill, current month rent receipt, or currently postmarked mail). Borrowers kindergarten through 6th grade must have a parent or guardian's signature to obtain a library card.
Other Massachusetts residents with a card from their hometown belonging to the MVLC network are welcome to use our library. If you are a member of another network (NOBLE, Minuteman, MetroBoston, Clams, Old Colony, or CW/MARS) we can register your card in our network.
Out of state residents may obtain a library card for an annual fee of $10.00 for the use of the Lawrence collection only and for a $75.00 fee the borrower will have access to the entire MVLC network.
Loan Periods
Items |
Number of items |
Loan Period |
Books |
20 (adult card) |
3 weeks |
Books on Tape / CD |
4 |
3 weeks |
Kits |
2 |
3 weeks |
Magazines |
10 |
3 weeks |
Videos and DVD’s |
3 entertainment |
1 week |
Cassettes / CD’s |
4 |
3 weeks |
Most items can be renewed once in person, on the phone, or through our online catalog if there are no requests on the item.
A fine of $.10 a day will be charged for overdue books and magazines. A fine of a $.25 a day will be charged for overdue cassettes, kits, books on tape and books on CD. A fine of a $1.00 a day will be charged for overdue videos and DVDs.
Agency Cards
The library has developed a service that increases an organization's access to library materials. Agency cards encourage the staff and administrators of such programs to work closely with their residents/clients in the use and return of library materials. This approach is based on the organization accepting formal responsibility for the return of library materials charged out to its residents/clients.
The Lawrence Public Library issues cards to organizations as a whole and/or to an individual resident or client at the discretion of the organization. All agency cards are held at the library and the organization can directly regulate its use by supplying a list of staff, residents, or clients authorized to use the card.Please come to the circulation desk at the main library if you would like to arrange to get an agency card.
Homebound Patrons
The library has developed a service for patrons unable to get to our library. If you can not get to us we can get to you. With a valid Lawrence Public Library card we deliver materials to Lawrence residents who can not get to our library because of age, illness, or permanent disability which prevents them from getting to our library.
Please call the circulation desk at the main library (978-620-3600)if you would like to arrange to get book deliveries.
Welcome to the Children's Room
The Children's Room offers year-round programming for children from birth through the sixth grade. Check our Children's Room Calendar for our current month's programming.
Great Links for Kids
Click Here for great websites for kids to check out!
Reference Department
The Reference Department is the information center for the library. We make available a large number of written and online resources to help our customers find the answers they are looking for.
Our staff has a "hands on" approach to customer service and is always happy to help people navigate their way through what are often confusing information channels.
Through the library’s reference department, schools, civic groups and community organizations can arrange for tours and special classes.
The Lawrence Public Library is one of 32 member libraries of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium. This consortium was established in order for libraries to share resources. Our reference staff can help our customers take full advantage of this resource-sharing. Ours is an educated and multilingual staff ready to assist all of our customers with any needs and questions they may have.
As a member of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium and Information Network, the Lawrence Public Library provides its patrons access to online databases.
Check out the links on the right side of this page. 
Questions? Call (978-620-3619)
The reference department houses the main Library Computer Lab. The lab has twenty four public access computers with:.
For more information please come by or call the Computer Lab at the main library (978-620-3613).
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Special Collections
The Special Collections of the Lawrence Public Library is composed of manuscripts, archives, periodicals, newspapers, photographs, artifacts, and ephemera. The majority of the collections are housed in the 3rd floor History Room of the main library building at 51 Lawrence Street. Special Collections materials do not circulate. Microfilm readers are available on the 2nd and 3rd floor.
Research requests can be directed to Louise Sandberg, in person, by mail, email, or by calling 978-620-3606 . The minimum charge for research is $10 per hour with a $5 minimum.
Visit our new Queen City Massachusetts "Catablog" for details about some of the interesting holdings in the Library's Special Collections.
Lawrence Textile Workers Strike of 1912 Bibliography
Postcard Collection
World War II Veterans
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, Y, Z
Pastoral Letter from Archbishop, William Cardinal O'Connell on "the conditions of the working man" dated November 23, 1912
Genealogical Resources
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City directories from 1847 to the present (1847-1960 on microfilm)
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Federal Census for Lawrence, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 (on microfilm)
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37 titles of newspapers (on microfilm)
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Several hundred published family histories
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Lawrence Street lists from 1886 - present
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Atlases 1875, 1895, 1896, 1906, 1926
- Index of Obituary and Biographical Scrapbooks (1880-1916) Lawrence, MA
Collections
| Books and serials encompassing these topics: | |
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| Library of the Pacific Mills | |
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| Posters of World War I and II | |
Local History Room |
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| World War II | ||
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| Grace Church | ||
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| Civil War | ||
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| Society of Natural History and Archaeology | ||
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| Badger & Nash Grocers | ||
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| Lawrence Public Library | ||
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| Lawrence Opera House, Lawrence City Hall, Entertainments | ||
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| Lawrence Churches | ||
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| John R. Rollins | ||
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| Lawrence Bridge Company | ||
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| Lawrence Public Schools | ||
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| Committee on the Lawrence Common | ||
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| Lawrence Police Department | ||
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| Textile Strike 1912 | ||
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| Lawrence City Mission | ||
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| Pemberton Mill Disaster | ||
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| Lawrence Treasurer Office | ||
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| United Textile Workers of America | ||
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| Lawrence Family | ||
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| Old Residents’ Association | ||
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| Robert Frost Collection | ||
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| Images | ||
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Technical Service
The Technical Services and Acquisition Department of the Lawrence Public Library is a major unit of the library itself. The Technical Service Department staff is responsible for:
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Managing an acquisitions budget in excess of 200,000 dollars (between City, State, and private funds)
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Acquiring materials for all areas of the library and its Branch
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Cataloging all or some material for both locations
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Checking-in periodicals and other material on subscription or standing order
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Processing of all materials
The Lawrence Public Library recognized its responsibility to have available a representative selection of materials on subjects of interest to its users. The library’s objective in selecting materials for its users is to make available a well-balanced collection that satisfies informational, recreational, and cultural needs from early childhood through adulthood.
The ultimate responsibility for the selection of materials rests with the Library Director operating within the framework of policies and objectives determined by the Board of Trustees, the Library’s Mission Statement, and other agencies. However, if a person would like to make a suggestion for a specific item that they would like the library to acquire, please call us at (978) 620-3608 or send an e-mail to Maureen Murphy and the Technical Service Department staff will relate your suggestion to the Library for consideration.
The Irish Collection
The AOH Div. 8 Irish collection is on permanent loan from the Lawrence chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians to the Lawrence Public Library. The collection is made up of several thousand titles of books, records, videos, and serials about Ireland and the Irish. The collection is housed in the
The David R. Burke Memorial Room
The room is named in honor of the late David R. Burke, our good friend and dedicated member of the Library's Board of Trustees. Located in the lower level of the South Branch Library, the room is home to the Ancient Order of Hibernian's Irish Collection.
The Merrimack Valley Library Consortium
The Merrimack Valley Library Consortium is a network of public libraries serving thirty-five communities throughout the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts. Nearly three million items are speedily available to you through MVLC.
Looking for the latest DVD or video release? Want to read the new bestseller all your friends are raving about? Hoping to learn a foreign language? If your local library doesn't have it, you can get that item from any other library in the consortium, often in 48 hours or less! If necessary, member libraries can even request items for you from libraries all over the country.
Visit our libraries to use their up-to-date reference collections. Be sure to call your local library with any questions you may have. From foreign exchange rates to e-mail addresses of your local legislators, our reference librarians are eager to assist you. In addition, you can access a variety of online reference databases through the MVLC Web site.
