Belding Memorial Library
🏢 CW/MARS Consortium · Ashfield, Massachusetts
Belding Memorial Library
Built in 1913 with a gift from industrialist Milo Belding and set on ancestral Nipmuc, Mohican, and Pocumtuc lands, Belding Memorial Library has anchored community life in the hill-town of Ashfield for more than 110 years.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 2pm–8pm |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 2pm–8pm |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 344 Main Street, ASHFIELD, MA 01330
Phone: +1413-628-4414
Website: beldingmemoriallibrary.org
Plus Code: 87J9G6G4+H7 (ASHFIELD, MA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Belding Memorial Library
Milo Belding, whose family built a 19th-century silk and thread manufacturing empire, donated the library building to the town of Ashfield in 1913, giving this small Franklin County hill-town a gracious public reading room that endures today. The library is a proud member of the CW/MARS consortium (Central and Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing), a network of more than 160 libraries that lets Ashfield cardholders borrow from collections across the region on a single card. All programs are free and open to the public. The library also participates in the Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture program, connecting low-income cardholders to discounts at museums, cultural venues, and arts organizations throughout Massachusetts. A rotating art gallery on the premises showcases local and regional artists, and a Library of Things lending collection lets residents borrow tools and non-traditional items alongside books.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 1913 building donated by industrialist Milo Belding — over 110 years of continuous community service
- CW/MARS Consortium member — search and borrow from 160+ Central & Western Massachusetts libraries on one card
- Art gallery featuring local and regional artists, rotating throughout the year
- Library of Things collection for borrowing tools and non-traditional items
- Mass Cultural Council Card to Culture program — discounts at Massachusetts arts venues for cardholders
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your Belding Memorial Library card opens the Commonwealth eBook Collections and the statewide Massachusetts digital lending platform:
📚 Services
- Free library cards for Ashfield and Goshen residents
- Public computers and Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan through CW/MARS (160+ libraries)
- Library of Things — non-traditional item lending
- Art gallery space for local & regional artists
- Mass Cultural Council Card to Culture program
🎸 Programs
- Free community cultural programming
- Children's story times and reading programs
- Local art exhibitions and gallery events
- Summer Reading Program
📍 Nearby Libraries in Franklin County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in ASHFIELD · Browse all Massachusetts libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who donated the Belding Memorial Library building?
The library was donated to Ashfield in 1913 by Milo Belding, a member of the Belding family whose silk and thread manufacturing company was one of the largest in the United States during the 19th century. The gift gave this Franklin County hill-town a permanent public reading space that has served the community for more than 110 years.
Can I borrow books from other libraries in Western Massachusetts with my Ashfield card?
Yes. Belding Memorial Library is a member of CW/MARS (Central and Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing), a consortium of more than 160 libraries. Your Ashfield card lets you search a shared catalog and borrow physical items from any member library, typically delivered to your home branch within a few days.
What is the Library of Things collection?
The Library of Things is a lending collection of non-traditional items — such as tools, equipment, and other useful objects — that cardholders can borrow just like a book. It is part of the library's mission to make practical resources freely accessible to the Ashfield community.
Are Thursday hours available at Belding Memorial Library?
Thursday hours (10am–3pm) are available during the summer months of June, July, and August only. During the rest of the year the library is open Monday and Wednesday 2–8pm and Saturday 10am–3pm, and is closed Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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