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Title
The Central branch of the Somerville (MA) Public Library is located at 79 Highland Ave., with the 88 and 90 bus routes stopping right in front of the branch. It is located in the same block as City Hall and Somerville High School. The primary phone number is 617-623-5000. The library is part of the Minuteman Library Network.

History
In January of 1914, the Italian Renaissance-style building at 79 Highland Avenue opened for patrons after its dedication on Dec. 17, 1913. Famed library architect Edward Lippincott Tilton designed the new building. According to the Somerville Journal in an article dated Dec. 12, 1913, the library was constructed at a cost of $125,000 (which is $2,993,333 in today’s dollars). Great library supporter and steel magnate Andrew Carnegie donated $80,000. The furniture and bookcases were made of oak. The book capacity was 200,000 volumes.

Other notable events:

- In 1928, the second floor of the central branch – Wellington Hall – was dedicated to library trustee J. Frank Wellington, who at that time had served for 35 years in that capacity.

- The 1975-’76 renovation: $1.7 million was spent on the facelift, which is $7.5 million in today’s dollars. Of that total, $1.5 million came from a bond issue. Staff members recall many books being kept in trailers near City Hall, while staff and some resources were relocated to City Hall’s basement while renovations were taking place.

- In 1976, after renovations were complete, the Children’s Room was dedicated to late Somerville citizen []Marguerite “Missy” Alice LeHand, President Franklin Roosevelt’s longtime secretary and confidante. James Roosevelt, grandson of the late president, also attended the dedication.

- In 1981, the library was picked by the Massachusetts Library Association as the Library of the Year. Can you recognize the difference from today's entrance?

- In 1989, the branch was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

- In 2007, the library was awarded a $40,000 Planning and Design Grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

- In 2012, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners added Somerville to its waiting list for an $18 million construction grant to build a new library in Union Square. In order to receive the grant, Somerville must come up with a solid plan for funding the whole project, which is projected to cost $45 million. Plans are still developing.

Departments
Reference

Audio/Visual

Children's

Teen

The library has two other branches, the East branch at 115 Broadway and the West branch at 40 College Ave. in Davis Square.