Bacon Free Library

The mission of the Bacon Free Library is to provide popular materials and learning resources for the enjoyment and use of the public, with a special emphasis on supporting the educational needs of our children. In accordance with the wishes of the library’s benefactor Oliver Bacon, materials are selected to satisfy a broad range of interests and topics. A similar mission guides the programming and outreach goals of the Bacon Free Library: to provide information and experiences on a broad range of topics that will appeal to a variety of interests within the community. These goals drive the collection development, programming, outreach and reference services of the Bacon Free Library.

As a relatively small library, the Bacon Free Library staff tries to maximize its connections within the South Natick, larger Natick and Metrowest communities to provide unique programming and outreach opportunities. With these community connections both inside and outside of the library, the Bacon Free Library has seen an increase in circulation, even during the complexities of COVID responses.

Prior to COVID changes, the Bacon Free Library found that programming and outreach efforts support collection usage and vice versa. Programming and outreach are central to the library.

The Bacon Free Library is fortunate to have a passionate and involved staff, Friends group and Board of Trustees that are knowledgeable about the surrounding community. To this end, the staff is well equipped to meet the programming and collection goals of the library. Similarly, the Friends of the Bacon Free Library and the BFL Board of Trustees are adept the operating and capital needs associated with maintaining a community library in a historical building.

The trends over the past few years in program attendance and circulation have been favorable. The BFL seeks to drive those forward. Even with remote programming and curbside pickup, usage has remained solid, and grown in some areas.

As mentioned, the recently concluded Phase One of the Capital Campaign and the spending on a large window replacement project, which followed a roof replacement project, shows forward momentum at the library. 2021 promises more building and grounds improvements, and further programming developments.