Adams Free Library
🏢 C/W MARS Library Network · Adams, Massachusetts
Adams Free Library
The Adams Free Library opened January 2, 1899 in a Beaux Arts buff-brick building whose cornerstone was laid by President William McKinley on September 25, 1897 — and its original Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall, still intact upstairs, remains one of the only Civil War veterans' halls in the Berkshires open for self-guided tours.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 92 PARK ST., ADAMS, MA 01220
Phone: (413) 743-8345
Website: adamslibraryma.org
Plus Code: 87J8JVFH+GV (ADAMS, MA)
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📖 About Adams Free Library
The Adams Free Library serves the mill town of Adams in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, from a historic Beaux Arts building at 92 Park Street. President William McKinley laid the cornerstone on September 25, 1897 during his first presidential visit to Adams, and the library opened to the public on January 2, 1899. The structure was built with a triple purpose: public library, Civil War memorial, and meeting hall for the Grand Army of the Republic George E. Sayles Post 126. The G.A.R. Memorial Hall on the upper floor remains in its original condition — the chairs once occupied by Civil War veterans are still there — and is open for self-guided tours. A 2014 renovation ensured full accessibility while preserving the building's architectural and historic integrity. As a member of the Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing (C/W MARS) network, an Adams card unlocks the collections of hundreds of Massachusetts libraries, plus statewide digital resources through Commonwealth eBook Collections and the Massachusetts Library System. The library holds a genealogical collection including Mayflower descendant records and Rhode Island vital records, and maintains microfilm newspapers dating to 1844.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Cornerstone laid by President William McKinley on September 25, 1897 — opened January 2, 1899
- Built as a triple-purpose structure: public library, Civil War memorial and G.A.R. veterans' hall
- Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall still intact upstairs, open for self-guided tours
- Genealogy collection with Mayflower descendant records, Rhode Island vital records and microfilm newspapers to 1844
- Museum passes for area cultural institutions — free with your Adams library card
- Member of C/W MARS — one card unlocks hundreds of Massachusetts library collections
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Adams cardholders can borrow eBooks, research databases and stream content free through Massachusetts statewide and C/W MARS digital collections:
📚 Services
- Museum passes for area cultural institutions
- Genealogical collection: Mayflower records, Rhode Island vital records, microfilm newspapers to 1844
- G.A.R. Memorial Hall — self-guided tours of the original Civil War veterans' hall
- Public computers, printing and free Wi-Fi
- eBooks and audiobooks via Libby/OverDrive and Commonwealth eBook Collections
- Ancestry Library Edition (in-library genealogy access)
- Interlibrary loan through C/W MARS and the Massachusetts Library System
- Summer and winter reading programs
🎸 Programs
- Preschool storytime and youth programming
- Summer reading program
- Book clubs and adult programming
- Special events in the historic G.A.R. Memorial Hall
- Friends of the Adams Free Library fundraisers and events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Berkshire County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in ADAMS · Browse all Massachusetts libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why did President McKinley lay the cornerstone of the Adams Free Library?
William McKinley visited Adams on September 25, 1897 during his first presidential trip to the town, and laid the cornerstone of the new library building. The structure opened to the public on January 2, 1899, and its Beaux Arts buff-brick design at McKinley Square commemorates that visit.
What is the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall at the library?
The G.A.R. Memorial Hall on the upper floor of the Adams Free Library was built as the meeting hall for the George E. Sayles Post 126 of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Civil War veterans' organization. The hall is still in its original condition — the chairs once occupied by Civil War veterans remain in place — and is open for self-guided tours.
Does the Adams Free Library have museum passes?
Yes. The library offers free or reduced-rate passes to area museums and cultural institutions. Check adamslibraryma.org or call (413) 743-8345 to see which passes are currently available and how to reserve them.
What genealogy resources are available at the Adams Free Library?
The library maintains a specialized genealogical collection that includes Mayflower descendant records and Rhode Island vital records, plus microfilm newspapers dating back to 1844. In-library access to Ancestry Library Edition is also available, supported by the Friends of the Library.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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