Established in 1793 through the sale of shares at two dollars apiece, Ashburnham’s first library lasted until 1833, when it disbanded and distributed its contents among its members. In 1850, “the [private] Ladies’ Library Association was organized and a collection of books of approved character was continued by renewals until 1884.”

Ashburnham Town Meeting established a public library in 1882. Housed in the post office and then the Selectmen’s office, it offered limited hours (Saturdays only) so as not to disrupt the Selectmen’s work. In 1887 Ashburnham’s former Town Clerk, George Stevens, passed away bequeathing $10,000 for the construction of a library on the corner of Main and Water Streets. The Stevens Memorial Library opened to the public on January 9, 1891.

Ashburnham immediately embraced its library, providing limited but regular financial support, and the library’s number of users increased each year. Over the years the library has emphasized finding innovative ways of engaging the community.

Today, Stevens Memorial Library is housed in the former Dolly Whitney Adams School building and the Frederick Collection of Historic Pianos occupies the original Stevens Memorial Library building.