About Us

A Brief History of Tewksbury

Located 21 miles north of Boston in Middlesex County, the community has a rich colonial heritage dating from the earliest years of English colonization.  Tewksbury was first settled in 1637 and was officially incorporated in 1734 from Billerica. If you want to sound like a native, pronounce the Town's name as "Tooks-bury"! For more information about the Town, please visit the Town of Tewksbury website. 

Tewksbury Library History

The Tewksbury Public Library is always filled with activity; it is a welcoming destination for the residents of Tewksbury and surrounding communities. Town meeting in November 1877 voted to authorize a public library to serve the citizens of Tewksbury.  For the first ninety years of its existence, the Tewksbury Public Library shared quarters with other town facilities.  In 1967, the public library moved from cramped quarters in the Town Hall to its own one-story brick structure.  This building was renamed the Harold J. Patten Public Library in honor of a library trustee.  The library experienced considerable growth in collections and library services during the following thirty years, and in 1999 moved into a new building on the grounds of the Tewksbury State Hospital one-quarter of a mile south of its previous town-center location.  At that time, the institution’s name reverted to Tewksbury Public Library. 

In 2024, the Tewksbury Public Library celebrated "25 Years @ 300 Chandler Street," a month-long celebration to mark the special occasion of the new library's grand opening. To learn more about how this project came to be, please follow the below links: 

• TPL Construction Timeline: A Road to a New Library
• TPL Construction Photos 

An elected Board of Library Trustees governs the public library, a department of the Town of Tewksbury.  The Board’s authority is derived from Chapter 78, Sections 10 and 11 of the Massachusetts General Laws.  The Board delegates to the Library Director responsibility for library management, collection development and provision of library services to the public.  The Director is a full-time municipal employee who is appointed by, and reports to, the Town Manager.

Tewksbury Public Library and the Arbor Day Foundation

Beginning in 2024, TPL partnered with the local volunteers from across various civic organizations in Town to plant native trees in the library's backyard as part of the town of Tewksbury's 2023 Tree City USA Status. Continuing in 2026, this partnership has now brought five native plantings to the library. To learn more about these important additions, click here to see a map of the backyard. With the addition of accessible pathways and a performance platform alongside the beautiful Community Garden, TPL's backyard is a thriving landscape for visitors. From pollinators to library patrons, there is something for everyone to enjoy during New England's warmer months. 

Mission Statement

The Tewksbury Public Library provides the Town’s residents with a wide variety of materials, resources, and services.  We provide free access to literacy and learning opportunities through our book, media and online collections, as well as a variety of classes and lectures for Tewksbury’s children, teens, and adults. These resources combine to offer each resident many opportunities to transform their life by using the Tewksbury Public Library.