In 1827, Lexington’s Town Meeting voted to establish a Juvenile Library and to purchase books, establish rules, and oversee the library’s general management. This was followed by the creation of other organizations including The Social Library, a Farmer’s Club Library, a Sabbath School Library, and the establishment of libraries within each of Lexington’s public schools.

“Having a regard for her native place and being prompted by a desire to increase the opportunities for culture among its inhabitants…,” in 1868 Maria Hastings Cary offered the Town of Lexington $1,000 for books if a free public library were established. There were two stipulations: first, the town was to appropriate $1,000 plus $40 yearly for the purchase of books; second, it was to provide a building, maintain it properly, and keep it open without charge to all the inhabitants. In gratitude for her gift, the new library, located over a store on Main Street, was named in her honor.

The library would move into other buildings within Lexington, including the Town Hall, supported, in part, by donations from the Cary family. In 1887 a warrant was put forth to build a dedicated public library building and with support from Maria Hasting Cary’s foster daughter, Alice Butler Cary, the library building at the corner of Clarke Street and Massachusetts Avenue was constructed.

The Lexington Public Library has been remodeled and expanded on multiple occasions. Unique collections from local citizens, including Dr. Fred C. Piper’s Thoreau book collection, Mrs. Charles Goodwin’s music collection, and The Edwin B. Worthen Lexington book and memorabilia collection, have contributed greatly to the library. Active in three library networks, the Cary Memorial Library is one of the oldest and busiest public libraries in Massachusetts.

Photo courtesy of the Cary Library Foundation