| 1866, April | The town of Andover voted to raise a sum of $4500 for a soldiers' monument for Civil War veterans. |
| 1870, July | John Smith, head of Smith and Dove, a linen thread company in Andover, proposed to donate $25,000 providing the town would raise an equal amount to establish a library and reading room. The site suggested by Mr. Smith was the corner lot where Joseph Abbott's furniture shop stood which burned in 1866. |
| 1870 | Subscriptions from town fell short and the decision was made to use the $4500 put aside for a Civil War Memorial. An additional $3000 for the purchase of books was given by Mr. John Byers in memory of Peter Smith Byers, first principal of the Punchard Free School. |
| 1871, May | It was voted to employ J.F. Eaton as architect and the contract was awarded to Abbott and Jenkins for $27,750. Cornerstone laid Sept. 19, 1871 was a list of all the Andover men enrolled in the Army & Navy during the "War of the Rebellion" and of the 46 who gave their lives. |
| 1872 | Town meeting appointed first board of trustees. During the summer, the Trustees purchased 2700 books for the foundation of the library. |
| 1873, May | Mr. Ballard Holt, 2nd, was appointed librarian and janitor. He served until Sept. 1, 1906. |
| 1873, May 30 | Memorial Hall formally opened with a dinner, parade, and address by the orator Phillips Brooks. (See description in The Founding of the Memorial Hall by Mary Byers Smith. R027.4744 Andover Room) |
| 1906 | Edna A. Brown became head librarian and Mr. Holt continued as janitor. Miss Brown was the author of numerous children's books. |
| 1914 | A branch library was established in Ballardvale. |
| 1926/27 | The building was remodeled. The Victorian roof line was modified to a more Georgian design and a Children's Room was added. |
| 1939 | Miss Miriam Putnam was appointed Librarian director in 1939 and served until 1967. |
| 1961 | Children's Room was enlarged and the work area increased. Architects: Coolidge and Carlson. |
| 1966 | Reading room addition completed. |
| 1967 | Miriam Putnam retired. A.J. Anderson became director, 1967-69. Memorial Hall named the Eastern Massachusetts Regional Center, one of seven subregions in the state. (June 11, 1967) |
| 1969 | Fines eliminated 3/31/69 under A.J. Anderson. Frances Bold served as director, 1969-70. |
| 1971 | Harry Sagris became director, 1971-74. |
| 1974 | Nancy Jacobson was appointed director, 1974-1993. |
| 1975 | Town purchased the Theater building behind the Library for land & parking. |
| 1978 | Library received federal grant to start I&R program called ANSWERS. |
| 1981 | Computer system installed/ Libs 100 |
| 1982 | MHL became the central site for the new Merrimack Valley Library Consortium. (25 members/11 dial-ups) |
| 1984 | Old theater building torn down for new addition |
| 1985, May | Ground broken for new addition. Architects: Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson and Abbott. Contractor: Eastern Contractors, Inc.-Newton $5.2 million project |
| 1988, October 30 | Rededication of Memorial Hall Library included addition of rear wing and the renovation of the original building. Doubled the size to approx. 55,000 sq. ft. |
| 1989 | First "reference" computers added -- Infotrac and WilsonDisc CD-ROM magazine indexes |
| 1991 | Ballardvale branch library closed 6/91. Sunday hours saved, library closes Friday nights at 5:30. |
| 1992 | Videocassettes offered for public checkout. |
| 1993 | Nancy Jacobson retired, 5/93 CLCAT (menu-based computer upgrade) installed Historic Footprints project started to landscape front of building to 1910 look. Bricks sold with donors' names. Jim Sutton appointed Director, 9/93 |
| 1994 | Front foyer dedicated to Nancy Jacobson. Stenciling artist, Merilyn Markham Estenceler. EBSCO donated 10 computers with our purchase of subscriptions to their CD-ROM indexes. |
| 1995 | Library opens on Saturdays in the summer. Closed on Sunday July thru Labor day. Closed July 4th and Labor Day weekends. |
| 1996 | Web based Internet for the public offered. MHL new homepage and web address announced www.mhl.org. For the 350th Anniversary of Andover, Maribeth Edmonds produced a library video, The Life of the Library, with Jay Leno narrating. The staff created monthly historical displays and entered a float in the September parade. (Garden of Knowledge) |
| 1997 | Massachusetts Regional Library System created to encompass 6 regions. Andover became Reference and Research Center for the Northeast Region (NMRLS) and ILL Center along with NOBLE headquarters. CD-ROMs available for circulation. MHL received a federal grant to establish a collection and programs for the Chinese and Russian communities. Trustees purchase Pat Keck's sculpture Gargoyle. |
| 1998 | 12 new PCs installed in reference area with a menu front end. Entire building rewired to support 10/100 Base T networking. MediaOne internet access available in entire building. Worked with Senior Center to bring new computers with internet access to the Senior Drop-In Center. MVLC headquarters moved to a new location, 6/98 (123 Tewksbury St. Andover 01810) Preliminary planning begins for expansion of Children's Room and YA area. Trustees purchase David Sullivan's painting After Cezanne. |
| 1999 | Library web page has a major revision and expansion. Books to Go collection established to make extra copies of bestsellers available. Books on CD collection started to supplement books on tape. Fees on feature videos discontinued. Staff recognition awards instituted by the Trustees. |
| 2000 | DVD collection started. NetLibrary collection purchased. New epixtech library automation system implemented 12/00 |
| 2001 | Epixtech patron empowerment features implemented -- patron placed reserves, renewals, online patron info, email notification Trustees purchase two paintings by Sarah Lane (Shane) Crabtree Library renovated to increase space for Children's and Young Adult activities Library purchased circulating ebook devices and content Library becomes first non-California public library to join 24/7 chat reference project Library Foundation established |
| 2002 | Library is first library in MA to circulate MP3 audio devices and content Library adds database functionality to web page Library enhances young adult services, checking out laptops and adding staff to serve teen users in the Teen-Z room |
| 2003 | iPac2 library catalog with enhanced content implemented. Library receives two grants from the Andover Home for the Aged to purchase audiobooks and to upgrade computers at the Senior Computer Center. Library launches the online Andover Forum. Library offers WiFi internet access. |
| 2004 | New standards-based web page introduced Quick Flicks browsing collections implemented |
| 2005 | Reference renamed Information Services; Circulation renamed Customer Services New Information Services and Customer Services desks installed New signage installed Slatwall panels installed on Fiction and Nonfiction shelving units |
| 2006 | Overdrive downloadable audiobooks added Andover Answers wiki started |
| 2007 | WiFi extended to the entire building Andover Room rebuilt with archival shelving and new HVAC system Self-checkout station added to Children's Room |
| 2008 | Polar Bear Sculpture installed in the front of the Library |
| 2009 | Energy efficient lighting installed all over library First "Andover Reads" program - The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan Teen Room "The Jim" dedicated to retiring Library Director, James E. Sutton Beth Mazin appointed Library Director 7/09 Facebook, Twitter, Text Reference services offered James Sutton inducted into the Massachusetts Library Association Hall of Fame |
| 2010 | Library's original slate roof replaced with a new slate roof in the same pattern as the original. NMRLS region disbands and MHL transitions to no longer being a regional provider of reference and interlibrary loan services. Library accelerates acquisition of downloadable e-content. |
| 2011 | MVLC migrated to Evergreen library automation system. Self check-out stations added to the Circulation Room. Patron self-pickup of holds implemented. Circulation Room renovated. Gas fireplace installed. Main Street entrance plaza area replanted. DVD rental fees eliminated. Pearson Street parking lot opened. Library served as refuge during the Halloween Storm. |
| 2012 | Ground Floor renovated. Patio created at the back entrance. Electronic bulletin boards installed as part of MA Community Innovation Challenge Grant. Second Andover Reads galaxy of programs (The Book Thief). |
| 2013 | Trustees purchased Paul Endres' painting St. Abigail's Day. Bee Hive makerspace started. Materials return moved to the parking lot. A/V presentation functionality upgraded in Memorial Hall and the Activity Room. Lower Level corridor and Level 2 patron area painted. Monumental Elm Tree banner installed on back exterior brick wall. |
| 2014 | Level 2 Quiet Study space and TPD staff space renovated Unique Andover history items digitized and included in the Digital Public Library of America. Essex Street side of Library landscaped. Open Summer Sundays for the first time. Memorial Hall wool carpeting replaced with identical Axminster design. Lincoln portrait stabilized and digitzed. |
| 2015 | Library designated a Personal Care Site in emergencies. Reference area and Trustees Room renovated. New Drupal based web page rolled out. |
| 2016 | Teen Room renovated Roof Deck patron area opened Andover Seed Library started Local newspapers from 1853-1925 digitized Children's Room renovated |
| 2017 | Memorial Hall windows and other 1926 windows replaced Lower Level restrooms renovated Migrated to SirsiDynix intergrated library system Flores metal sculpture Shawsheen, Shawshin installed on Roof Deck Bike rack and scooter/skateboard racks installed |
| 2018 |
Maker Space opened on Ground Level with 3D printer, vinyl cutter, poster maker, sewing machine, and other machines and tools |
| 2019 |
Beth Mazin retired as Library Director |
| 2020 | Staff help desk and third catalog look-up station installed on the ground level Lower level entrance renovated - paint, lighting, floor grate and a mobile commissioned by Mark Davis installed Full building generator installed newspapers from 1988-1995 digitized COVID-19 impacted library services:
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| 2021 | Level 1 restrooms renovated Reference work area renovated Indoor plants purchased by the Board of Trustees installed on all levels A diversity audit of print collections to determine gaps in representation in traditionally marginalized groups was conducted 200 white oak seedlings were distributed for Arbor Day newspapers from 1996-2006 digitized COVID-19 impacted library services:
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| 2022 |
The Andover Commission on Disability generously donated $4000 to the library to enhance the services we provide to the disability community. |
| 2023 | The Library celebrated its 150th anniversary. The Makerspace opened to the public. The Children's Room refreshed with a new circulation desk and soft seating. The Cupola fully restored. |
Hours
Mon-Thu
9am-9pm
Fri-Sat
9am-5pm
Sun
1-5pm
Holiday Hours
Address
2 North Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
Map & Directions
978-623-8400