Friends of the Melrose Public Library

Melrose, Massachusetts

Friends of the Melrose Public Library

An all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds for the furnishings, services, and events that make the library better for everyone.

Donate Today
The Melrose Public Library on West Emerson Street, with its black and gold sign out front

Who are the Friends?

The Friends of the Melrose Public Library, Inc. is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing our public library.

Through fundraising and community support, we help provide furnishings, programs, events, and other resources that enrich the library experience for everyone in Melrose.

More about us
A color postcard of the Melrose Public Library, with a green awning over the front entrance and a wide front lawn
The library on a postcard mailed in 1914.
Jan 14 Thursday

Next quarterly meeting

Quarterly Meeting

7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Everyone is welcome, member or not.

Join on Zoom

What we fund

The full list

  1. Programs & Events

    For adults, teens, and children.

    Library event calendar

  2. Museum Passes

    Free and reduced admission to area museums and attractions.

    See the museum passes

  3. Digital Resources

    E-books, audiobooks, and magazines.

    Library digital collection
Library shelves of hardcover novels under a sign: Friends of the Melrose Public Library Ongoing Book Sale, Hardcover Fiction, $2.00

Ongoing book sale

The book sale that never closes.

Hardcover fiction is just $2 on the Friends’ shelves inside the library, any day the library is open. Pay at the box by the check-out desk, with cash or by QR code.

  • Donating books: year-round directions coming soon
Book sale details

Love your library? Join us!

Membership is free, and everyone is welcome! Volunteer your time, come to events, or simply stay informed. Tell us what you’re interested in and a Friend will be in touch.

I’d like to get involved

About the Friends

Supporting and enhancing our public library

The Friends of the Melrose Public Library, Inc. is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Through fundraising and community support, we help provide furnishings, programs, events, and other resources that enrich the library experience for everyone in Melrose.

Meet the Friends

Join the board

The Friends are run entirely by volunteers. This is our executive committee.

  • Co-ChairsKatie WelchSarah Wilkie
  • Vice-ChairElizabeth Freymiller
  • SecretaryKelly DellaGrotte
  • TreasurerTheresa Pluskey

2026 so far

raised for the library
$XX,XXX
books sold at our book sales
X,XXX
new donors this year
XX

Placeholder figures. Final numbers will come from the treasurer’s report.

The library through the years

from the library’s archive
  1. A crowd gathered on scaffolding as the cornerstone of the library is laid 1903 Laying the cornerstone of the new library.
  2. A tinted postcard of the new library building seen from the corner 1908 A postcard of the new building.
  3. A color postcard of the library behind a hedge and a wide green lawn 1931 A color postcard, mailed that January.
  4. The ivy-covered library front in winter, with snow along West Emerson Street 1932 Winter on West Emerson Street.
  5. A sepia photograph of the library front and its original entrance ca. 1940 The original front entrance, before the 1963 addition.
  6. The library seen through bare trees from the corner of Lake Avenue 1961 From the corner of Lake Avenue. Photo: John Curtis.
  7. The library front on a sunny spring day, before the renovation 2020 April 2020, before the renovation. Photo: Shelley O’Brien.
  8. The renovated library with its black and gold sign and modern glass addition Today After the renovation and expansion.

Historic photos courtesy of the Melrose Public Library, from its collection on NOBLE Digital Heritage. Click a photo to see its archive record.

Join the next meeting

We meet quarterly on Zoom. Everyone is welcome, member or not.

Next: Thursday, January 14 · 7:00 p.m.

Join on Zoom

Our finances

We’re a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so gifts are tax-deductible. A summary of what we raise and spend is available on request.

Ways to give

What we fund

What your support pays for

The Friends provide full or partial funding for all of these at the Melrose Public Library.

  1. Programs & eventsEventsFor adults, teens, and children
  2. Digital resourcesServicesE-books, audiobooks, and magazines
  3. Laptop lending kioskServices
  4. Photocopier & suppliesServices
  5. Museum passesServicesFree and reduced admission to area museums and high-interest attractions
  6. FurnitureFurnishings

Help us make an impact.

Gifts to the Friends are tax-deductible.

Donate

Events & book sales

Book sales and meetings

Coming up

  1. Quarterly Meeting

    7:00 p.m. · On Zoom

    Hear what the Friends are working on and help plan what’s next. Everyone is welcome, member or not.

    Join on Zoom
  2. NextTBA

    The next big book sale

    Melrose Public Library

    Thousands of books, CDs, and DVDs in all genres, plus Friends t-shirts and travel mugs.

    Tell me when it’s scheduled

Book sales

The Friends’ ongoing book sale shelves inside the library

Ongoing Book Sale

Hardcover fiction, $2.00 each, on the Friends’ shelves inside the library. Pay at the box by the check-out desk, with cash or by QR code.

Open whenever the library is: Mon–Thu 10–9 · Fri–Sat 10–5 · Sun 2–5

Donating books

Directions for donating books year-round are coming soon: what we accept, where to drop off, and when.

Join the Friends

Help our library thrive.

MEMBERSHIP IS FREE • EVERYONE IS WELCOME • FREE to join

The Friends of the Melrose Public Library brings community members together to support and enrich our public library. Through fundraising and community support, we help make possible the programs, events, furnishings, and resources that make our library such a valuable community resource.

Membership is free, and everyone is welcome! By joining, you’ll receive updates about our activities, learn about opportunities to get involved, and discover ways to support your library.

Whether you’d like to volunteer your time, attend events, or simply stay informed, we’d love to have you as a Friend.

Join us today by completing the form below. We look forward to connecting with you!

Become a Friend

I’m interested in

We’ll only use this to get in touch about the Friends. We never share your information.

Donate

Give to the Friends

Your gift pays for the programs, museum passes, technology, and furnishings on our What We Fund list.

Online

Pay by card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay through Square.

Suggested gifts $25$50$100or any amount

Donate online

By check

Make it payable to “Friends of the Melrose Public Library” and mail or bring it to:

263 West Foster St
Melrose, MA 02176

Please include your email address on the check.

Friends of the Melrose Public Library is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your donation is tax-deductible.

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