Goodnow Public Library

SUDBURY, MA.

Today – as it was 150 years ago – Goodnow is a central destination for learning, pursuing interests, and meeting friends and neighbors. People come to see one another just as much as to learn from a program or enjoy a book.

While true to its founding mission, Goodnow is always evolving, according to the library’s director, Esme Green. Referencing Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan, the father of library science, she compares the library to a living organism, which is always evolving.

“Libraries are never static – they never have been and never will be – and Goodnow is no exception. We’re always collecting new materials and bringing in new people. And we’re evolving even faster than in the past because of rapidly changing technology. We’re embracing these advances and growing with the times to keep our constituents both informed and engaged.

For the past three years, the library has been doubling its budget for e-books, adding thousands of titles to its free and ever-growing collection of more than 300,000 circulating items.