About Us

The nonprofit Concord Free Public Library Corporation  is the private portion of the public-private partnership in place since the Concord Free Public Library’s founding in 1873. The roles and responsibilities of the Library Corporation and the Town of Concord are delineated in a formal agreement. The Library Corporation is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees who collaborate closely with the Library Director to ensure exceptional facilities and services are provided to the Concord community and beyond.

The Library Corporation owns and is responsible for maintaining the buildings, grounds, and William Munroe Special Collections (which includes historical documents, books, and art). Any improvements to the buildings and grounds or acquisitions for Special Collections are funded by the Library Corporation, either through fundraising or disbursements from the Library Corporation’s endowment. The Library Corporation also contributes to the Library’s book and media collections, provides equipment and materials for the Library’s Workshop makerspace, and sponsors select programming at the Library throughout the year. 

The work of the Library Corporation is supported by generous donors. Each year, the Library Corporation contributes over $1,300,000 for buildings and grounds, Special Collections exhibitions and acquisitions, insurance, security,books and materials, and scholarships. We thank our donors for their continuing support!

The Library Corporation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and gifts to the Library Corporation are tax deductible to the extent provided by law (EIN: 04-2121328). 

Library staffing, including the Library Director and Special Collections Curator, utilities, and some books and materials are funded directly by the Town of Concord through the annual Town budget, and are not in the purview of the Library Corporation. 

The Friends of the Concord Free Public Library is a separate nonprofit organization, independent of the Library Corporation, that raises funds mainly through its book sales and membership dues to support programs, museum passes, books and materials.