Ashby Free Public Library
🏢 C/W MARS Consortium · Ashby, Massachusetts
Ashby Free Public Library
The Ashby Free Public Library on Main Street serves this small rural town in north-central Massachusetts with a welcoming reading room, a growing digital collection, and the community connections that have made it a local anchor for over a century.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–5pm |
| Thursday | 1pm–8pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 812 MAIN STREET, ASHBY, MA 01431
Phone: +1978-386-5377
Website: ashbylibrary.org
Plus Code: 87JCM5GJ+R6 (ASHBY, MA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Ashby Free Public Library
The Ashby Free Public Library at 812 Main Street sits at the heart of Ashby, a quiet Worcester County town near the New Hampshire border. A member of the C/W MARS library consortium, the library gives cardholders access to the shared regional catalog of hundreds of Central and Western Massachusetts libraries, as well as Libby/OverDrive eBooks, Kanopy streaming films, and statewide Massachusetts digital databases. The library's Ashby Oral History Project documents the town's living memory through filmed interviews with longtime residents — a unique local history resource unavailable anywhere else. Programs run year-round for children, tweens, and adults, from chess clubs and movie nights to community author events, and a Friends of the Library group supports expanded programming and acquisitions. The library publishes a community newsletter via Substack to keep residents connected to events and new arrivals.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Member of C/W MARS — your card searches hundreds of Central & Western Massachusetts libraries at once
- Ashby Oral History Project: filmed community interviews preserving the town's living history
- Evening hours on Thursdays (1–8pm) for working adults and after-school students
- Kanopy streaming: free films, documentaries, and Great Courses with your library card
- Active Friends of the Library group supporting programs, events, and new collections
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Ashby cardholders can read, stream, and research free through Massachusetts statewide and C/W MARS digital collections:
📚 Services
- Book lending & interlibrary loan (C/W MARS system)
- eBooks & audiobooks via Libby/OverDrive
- Kanopy streaming films
- Meeting room reservations
- Children's & youth services
- Commonwealth Catalog interlibrary loan
- Community newsletter (Substack)
🎸 Programs
- Chess club
- Movie nights
- Children's story programs
- Tween & teen events
- Community author events
- Ashby Oral History Project screenings
- Summer reading program
📍 Nearby Libraries in North-Central Massachusetts
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in ASHBY · Browse all Massachusetts libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who can get a free library card at the Ashby Free Public Library?
Ashby residents can get a free library card by visiting the library at 812 Main Street with a valid photo ID showing your current address. The card gives access to the full C/W MARS shared catalog, Libby eBooks, Kanopy streaming, and Massachusetts statewide databases.
What is the Ashby Oral History Project?
The Ashby Oral History Project is a unique community archive of filmed interviews with longtime Ashby residents, documenting the town's local history, traditions, and memories. The recordings are held by the library and are not available from any other source.
Can I request books from other Massachusetts libraries through Ashby?
Yes. Through the C/W MARS consortium and the Commonwealth Catalog, Ashby cardholders can request materials from hundreds of Central and Western Massachusetts libraries — and from libraries statewide — for free interlibrary loan pickup at the Ashby branch.
Does the Ashby library have evening or weekend hours?
Yes. The library is open Thursday afternoons and evenings from 1pm to 8pm, and on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. Tuesday and Wednesday hours are 10am to 5pm. The library is closed Monday, Friday, and Sunday.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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