Library History

A black and white photo of the Library from before the 2003 renovation.

We invite you to explore the history of the Wellesley Free Library

Until the 1850’s most libraries were private, subscription based, or library companies.  There were several of these scattered throughout  Wellesley including the Needham Farmers’ library of Alvin Fuller II and The West Needham Library in Waban Block as well as a Sewing Circle in the Fells which circulated books.

Scroll down to see everything from when the library was built to today and familiarize yourself with the history of your local library.

Fall 1883

Library Opened

a grand, Victorian-style stone building with castle-like features. The architecture is highly ornate, characterized by two prominent circular towers with steep, conical roofs topped by decorative finials.

The current Town Hall then known as the Wellesley Free Library was erected by Horatio Hollis Hunnewell and designed by architects Shaw and Hunnewell.

1885

Town Hall Added

Another old photo of Wellesley town hall.

In 1885 the Town Hall moved into the same building as the library.

1887

Our Benefactor

an elderly man with white hair and prominent sideburns, seated in a high-backed wooden chair. He is shown in a three-quarter profile, looking downward with a peaceful expression as he reads a newspaper held in his hands.

1899

The Public Library Joins the Town

Seal of Wellesley Massachusetts

The Wellesley Free Library becomes a town department. Under the Board of Trustees with an appropriation of $2,016.78 and an endowment of $21,000.

1904

The Turn of the Century

A vintage black-and-white photograph of a library interior. In the foreground, a large, light-colored world globe sits on a table or low shelf. Behind the globe, tall, dark wooden bookshelves are filled with numerous books of varying sizes.

Florence M. Osborne becomes Library Director. The Wellesley Free Library has 12,054 volumes.
1950’s Photo of the library section of the Town Hall and Library.

1913

The Hills Branch

Hills Branch

Isaac Sprague donates the Wellesley Hills Branch library to the care of the Woman’s Club. Elizabeth H Camp becomes Library Director.

1920s-1940s

New Director and 3 Branches

Vertical collage of three black-and-white photos of historic buildings: at the top, a small stone library (Hills) with a bell tower and arched entrance; in the middle, a modest one-room schoolhouse (Fells) with a gabled roof and front steps; at the bottom, a larger building (Fiske Elementary School) with a covered entrance and trees in the foreground. The Town accepts responsibility for 3 library branches The Hills, Fells and Cedar St. (In the Fiske School). Kathleen A. Kennedy becomes Library Director. </p srcset=

1950

New Director

high-contrast photograph showing a woman from the chest up, angled slightly to her right. She has short, wavy, light-colored hair and is smiling, though her facial features are somewhat obscured by the heavy shadows and low resolution of the image. She is wearing a dark, v-neck top or jacket.

Margaret Arnold becomes Library Director.

1951

Cedar St Branch

An old photo of Fiske School

The Cedar St library branch is closed for use by the Fiske school. The collection was merged with that of the main library.

1952

The Friends of the Wellesley Free Library

A logo featuring a bright red book standing upright, supported from below by two cupped, stylized hands outlined in black.

The Friends of the Wellesley Free Library is founded.

1959

A New Library

Operation Bookswitch. Many people carry stacks of books, crossing the street in front of the town hall building.

Carl Koch and Kirkland Construction build a new library for $365,000, which opens after “Operation Bookswitch” transfers the collection across the street.

1963

A Modern Library

A page from a magazine with two shots of the renovated library circa 1960. Text reads: A small public library. Designed by Carl Koch to house 80,000 books for the citizens of Wellesley, Massachusetts, this library has a good efficient plan, a rich and colorful exterior, and an interesting lighting scheme.

The Library is praised for its modern architecture by the American Library Association and American Institute of Architects.

1970

Close the Branches

A newspaper clipping. The title of the article is Library Trustees Firm On Closing Of Branches.

The Trustees announce the intent to close the Branches but change their minds after residents adamantly oppose the closings.

1980

Library Addition

a modern, single-story building surrounded by leafless trees. The building features a prominent, wide-eaved white roof with five dark triangular dormer windows spaced evenly along its peak. To the left, a taller, blocky structure with a gridded texture (suggesting brick or tile) connects to the main building..

Architects Abrahamson and Anderson and Vappi & Company contractors built a 15,000 Square foot addition for 1.4 million dollars.

1981

New Director

A woman with short, curly, white-blonde hair, smiling gently at the camera. She wears glasses with amber-tinted lenses and a blue-and-white micro-checkered button-down shirt. A dark lanyard is visible around her neck, along with a small gold pendant.

Anne Reynolds becomes Library Director.

1983

Centennial Fund

A Centennial celebration pin and stylized drawing of the Library building.

Celebration of WFL 100th birthday and fund raising drive result in the creation of the Centennial Fund as a permanent resource.

1984

Card Catalog

vintage photograph showing several students in a library, likely from the 1970s. In the foreground, a student on the right wears a dark varsity jacket with a large white

The paper Card Catalog is replaced with a computerized catalog.

1997

New Director

Janice Coduri

Janice Coduri becomes Library Director.

1998

The Age of Modern Computers

A wide, interior photograph of a library's reference or computer section from the late 20th century. Several wooden desks are arranged in rows, each holding vintage beige computer monitors and keyboards. In the background, dark-colored bookshelves line the walls, and a red sign with white text hanging from the ceiling indicates the

Catalog terminals are replaced by PC’s with internet access.

2003

New Library Opens

Two prominent circular glass rotundas anchor the design: one on the far left and a larger, two-story section toward the right that serves as a main entrance. Large rectangular windows line the facade, all glowing with warm interior light against the deepening blue and purple of the twilight sky.

The 15 million dollar library includes room for community functions with a new auditorium, meeting rooms, and expanded underground parking.

2006

Branches Close

A collage of three related headlines over a photo of a family protesting with a sign that says Support your Libraries! vote YES! on Question 2.

Wellesley voters reject public funding which would allow the two branch libraries to remain open.

2008

WFL Foundation Founded

wfl icon

Branches reopen with limited hours thanks to a private fundraising effort. The WFL Foundation is created in order to enrich, not replace, municipal library funding.

2015

New Director

A medium close-up, outdoor photograph of a woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, smiling warmly at the camera. She has blue eyes and fair skin with light freckles. Her hair is slightly windblown, with some strands swept to the side.

Jamie Jurgensen becomes Library Director.

2016

Robots Arrive

A promotional photo of two humanoid robots- one red and one blue.

NAO robots Lava & Sky bring digital literacy to life! These high-tech ambassadors welcome everyone to explore the world of STEAM.

2018

Fells Branch Renovated

A vibrant, colorful children's room in a library. The walls are covered in a detailed mural of a nature scene featuring a fox, birds, and a

Fells Branch renovated with new cedar shake roof, fence, and exterior and interior painting. The November reopening focused on a new early learning library.

2018

Automated Materials Handler

A diagram of the Automated Materials Handler. There are conveyor belts that lead to large book bins.

Automated Materials Handler checks in material using radio frequency identification and sorts into appropriate category bins.

2020

Wellesley Fells Heroes Garden

The gate to the Fells's Heroes Garden. The garden has a fountain and seating areas.

The Heroes Garden honors Wellesley’s first-responders and frontline workers during the Covid-19 crisis.

2021

Wellesley Main Library Renovation

Dozens of large, decorative butterflies in pink, purple, and blue hang from the ceiling on thin chains, appearing to

Wellesley Main Library gets a beautiful interior renovation.

2023

Reach for Knowledge Sculpture

Reach for Knowledge schulpture In the foreground stands a bronze sculpture of two stylized figures; one figure is perched on a high pedestal, reaching down toward a second figure climbing a rocky base below.

Nancy Schön’s sculpture “Reach for Knowledge” welcomes patrons to the library.

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