Lincoln Public Library
🏢 Minuteman Library Network · Lincoln, Massachusetts
Lincoln Public Library
The Lincoln Public Library occupies a striking 1884 Queen Anne building of reddish Longmeadow freestone at the corner of Bedford and Trapelo Roads — a contributing property in the Lincoln Center Historic District and a Library Journal 5-Star Library as of 2022. It has served the town's roughly 6,400 residents since a public library formally opened here in 1871.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 1pm–8:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8:30pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 3 Bedford Road, Lincoln, MA 01773
Phone: (781) 259-8465
Website: lincolnpl.org
Plus Code: 87JCCMGW+CQ (Lincoln, MA)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Lincoln Public Library
Lincoln's library traces its roots to a private subscription library of 1798 and formally became a public institution in 1871, with 19-year-old Lydia Jane Chapin serving as first librarian on Saturday evenings. In 1884, businessman George Grosvenor Tarbell funded the current building, designed by William G. Preston in the Queen Anne style from distinctive reddish Longmeadow freestone, across Bedford Road from the First Parish Church. Significant expansions came in the 1950s and in 1986 (by architect Graham Gund). The library joined the Minuteman Library Network in 1984, introduced home delivery in 2005, eBooks in 2014, and earned a Library Journal 5-Star designation in 2022. Today it offers a Library of Things, museum passes, and a broad digital collection alongside its roughly 25,000-item physical collection.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 1884 Queen Anne building designed by William G. Preston in reddish Longmeadow freestone — a contributing property in the Lincoln Center Historic District
- Public library founded 1871; subscription library roots date to 1798, making it one of Middlesex County's longest-serving community libraries
- 1986 modern wing by architect Graham Gund complements the historic freestone original without disrupting its character
- Library Journal 5-Star Library designation in 2022 for exceptional service to a community of ~6,400 residents
- Library of Things lending (thermal cameras, hotspots, digital film scanners, projectors) plus museum passes to 20+ institutions
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Lincoln cardholders unlock a broad digital shelf through the Minuteman Network and Massachusetts statewide resources:
📚 Services
- Museum passes to 20+ Boston-area museums and cultural institutions (any Minuteman card welcome)
- Library of Things: thermal cameras, hotspots, digital film scanners, multiscanner, WiFi projectors
- Home delivery for patrons who cannot visit in person
- Public computers, printing, copying & free Wi-Fi
- Tax forms & assistance (seasonal)
- Interlibrary loan through the Minuteman Library Network
- Meeting room rental for community groups
- Accessible services for patrons with disabilities
🎸 Programs
- Book groups and reader's advisory
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Art gallery exhibitions in the library
- Reading challenges (adults & children)
- Summer reading programs
- Friends of the Lincoln Library events and fundraisers
📍 Nearby Libraries in Middlesex County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Lincoln · Browse all Massachusetts libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Lincoln Public Library building historically significant?
The 1884 building was designed by architect William G. Preston in the Queen Anne style, built from reddish Longmeadow freestone quarried in western Massachusetts. It stands at the corner of Bedford and Trapelo Roads across from the First Parish Church and is recognised as a contributing property in the Lincoln Center Historic District. A 1986 addition by architect Graham Gund expanded the space while respecting the historic character.
Can anyone use the Lincoln Public Library's museum passes, or only Lincoln residents?
The museum pass programme is open to anyone with a valid Minuteman Library Network card in good standing — not just Lincoln residents. Patrons may reserve up to two passes per library card per week. A late fee of $1.00 per day applies to passes returned after their due date.
What is the Library of Things, and what can I borrow?
The Library of Things is a collection of non-book items available for loan. At Lincoln it includes thermal imaging cameras, personal WiFi hotspots, digital film scanners, multiscanners, and WiFi projectors. These can be borrowed with a Minuteman Network card just like a book.
Is the library open on Sundays and Mondays?
Yes, with some variation. Monday hours are 1:00–8:30 pm (afternoon/evening only). Sunday hours of 1:00–5:00 pm run from mid-October through late April; the library is closed Sundays from May through mid-October. Tuesday through Friday the library opens at 9:00 am, and Saturday hours are 10:00 am–5:00 pm.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
🧰 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.
🖨 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.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
