Samuel Pollard Memorial Library or Pollard Memorial Library is the main branch of the public library in Lowell, Massachusetts.
History
The Lowell Public Library was established on May 20, 1844 with between 3,000-3,500 volumes. It was originally named the City School Library. The state of Massachusetts provided $1,200 for the budget and the city provided $2,300. It was set up in the first floor of the Old City Hall, 226 Merrimack St and opened for the first time on February 11, 1845. The library was renamed the City Library of Lowell in 1860. In 1872, the expanding collection was relocated down the street to the Hosford Building at 134 Merrimack St. In 1890–1891. The City of Lowell hired local Architect Frederick W. Stickney to design the new Lowell City Library, also known as Memorial Hall, in honor of the city's men who lost their lives in the American Civil War. The building was in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The cornerstones of the building, along with those of City Hall next door, were laid on October 11, 1890 and it took three years to complete the building. The grand opening of Memorial Hall was on June 3, 1893.
In 1915 the second floor of the building was destroyed by a fire. The reported loss for the library was $67,627.20 worth of material as well as artifacts and relics. The building was rebuilt with Stickney and Harry Prescott Graves hired to plan the reconstruction. Military murals by French artist Paul Philippoteaux were installed on the second floor. In 1981, the library was renamed the Pollard Memorial Library in memory of the late Mayor Samuel S. Pollard. In 2000–2002 the building was remodeled for $10 million to modernize the building.
Jack Kerouac was a frequent visitor to the library as a teenager. He often skipped classes to read at the library. In February 2015 the library dedicated a spot in the library as the Kerouac Corner in honor of the author.
In early January 2018, pipes burst in the reference room of the library, causing extensive damage throughout the building. The alarm system failed to notify city officials, leaving the water pouring over the course of a weekend until it was discovered on Monday. The flood destroyed countless books and records, some of which were sent to archivists to be restored. The library underwent construction to repair the damaged rooms, remaining closed for several weeks until it reopened near the beginning of March.
Past library directors
Josiah Hubbard 1845–1860
Frederick A. Chase 1897
Hugh Downey 1943–1969
Mary Johnson-Lally 1995–2003
Currently
In the mid-2000s the century-old National Historic building underwent a major $8.5m renovation.[85] The city also, recently expanded the library system to include the Senior Center Branch, located in the City of Lowell Senior Center.
In fiscal year 2008, the city of Lowell spent 0.36% ($975,845) of its budget on its public libraries, which houses 236,000 volumes, and is a part of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium. Currently, circulation of materials averages around 250,000 annually, with approximately one-third deriving from the children's collection.[83][87] In fiscal year 2009, Lowell spent 0.35% ($885,377) of its budget on the library—some $8 per person. As of 2012, the Pollard Library arranges access for its patrons to databases owned by: EBSCO Industries; Gale, of Cengage Learning, Inc.; Heritage Archives, Inc.; New England Historic Genealogical Society; OverDrive, Inc.; ProQuest; and World Trade Press.
In 2012 the library unveiled a collection of art discovered in the library and restored by local resident Peter Kostoulakos. Items included Brook in the Snow by Rockport landscape painter Aldro T. Hibbard and a portrait of library architect Frederick Stickney.