The Concord Free Library is, both literally and figuratively, at the center of this town ethos. The library has been supplying information to its thoughtful, outspoken, and sometimes opinionated residents since its earliest beginnings in 1673.Now the library continues to support and nourish the town in myriad ways. Besides providing information on countless topics in a variety of forms, the library also takes as its mission “to provide the community with a sense of place.” The library sits proudly in the very center of town. It is a place where neighbors can meet, kids can play or hear stories, readers can join discussion groups, citizens can hold meetings, students can come for tutoring, learners can study English as a second language, and teens can volunteer or gather and just hang out. As part of its recent major renovation, the library both reinforced its commitment to its location in the town center, and made itself more central in a number of other ways. For example, buses now run from the middle and high schools to the library, and the library has new spaces specifically designed to fit the needs of its young adult patrons.

The library is supported through a combination of public funds (which support most ongoing programs), an endowment overseen by a nonprofit corporation, and private donations (which enable new undertakings such as new book collections, expanded databases, and new training services).

There are many ways to view the Concord Free Public Library. Its historical archives make it a scholar’s resource on a par with the best university libraries. Its programs and its friendly professional and volunteer staff make it a kind of community center. Perhaps most of all, its status as a FREE public library makes it possible for all town residents—both rich and poor—to share their love of books, of reading, and of knowledge.