West Yarmouth Library: Historic Village Library Since 1891
Published: [10/1/2025] | Reading Time: 6 minutes
QUICK FACTS
📍 Location: 391 Main Street (Route 28), West Yarmouth, MA 02673
📞 Phone: (508) 775-5206
🎟️ Admission: FREE - open to the public
⏰ Hours: Check website for current schedule
🚗 Parking: FREE parking
📅 Established: 1891 - Over 130 years of community service
⭐ Must-See Rating: 4/5 - Historic tradition, community focus
♿ Accessibility: Accessible entrance and facilities
🌐 Website: yarmouthlibraries.org
WHAT MAKES WEST YARMOUTH LIBRARY SPECIAL
The West Yarmouth Library Association was incorporated February 4, 1891, to establish and maintain a library. Dues were fifty cents a year and the Library was to be opened every Saturday afternoon. This remarkable history demonstrates the community dedication that has sustained West Yarmouth Library for over 130 years.
Today, West Yarmouth Library continues serving its community as one of two Yarmouth Town Libraries, offering the same comprehensive services as South Yarmouth Library but in a more intimate, neighborhood setting convenient to Route 28 residents and visitors.
REMARKABLE HISTORY SINCE 1891
1891 - Library Association Founded: The West Yarmouth Library Association was incorporated February 4, 1891, by community members who recognized the importance of providing library access to their village. In an era before public library systems, library associations like this one represented grassroots community efforts to provide educational and cultural resources.
Original Operating Model:
- Membership Dues: Fifty cents per year funded library operations
- Limited Hours: Opened every Saturday afternoon initially
- Volunteer Operation: Community members staffed the library
- Subscription Library: Members borrowed books they collectively purchased
Evolution to Public Library: Over the decades, the library transitioned from a private membership association to a public library serving all Yarmouth residents, reflecting the broader American library movement that made library services available to everyone regardless of ability to pay.
Modern Friends Organization: The West Yarmouth Library Association (WYLA) is now a group of "Friends of the Library" whose mission is to raise funds to provide materials and programs beyond what the town budget supports. This continuation of the original 1891 association demonstrates remarkable organizational longevity and community commitment.
COMPREHENSIVE LIBRARY SERVICES
As Part of Yarmouth Town Libraries: West Yarmouth Library offers the same comprehensive services as South Yarmouth Library:
- Books: Fiction, non-fiction, all genres and ages
- DVDs & Music: Entertainment media collections
- Games & Magazines: Recreational and informational materials
- Digital Resources: E-books, audiobooks, online databases
- Free WiFi: Internet access throughout library
- Public Computers: Internet terminals for visitors
- Printing & Scanning: Document services
- Photocopying: Copy services available
