About

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.

The Bacon Free Library was established as a non-profit organization in 1880 and continues to provide the community with library services and programs today. The library provides its users with a charming blend of today’s best-sellers, old fashioned friendliness, and modern technology in an historic neighborhood setting. Our riverside location offers the perfect spot to relax with a book or laptop computer.

Through the Bacon Free Library, patrons have access to over five million items from the 40+ public & academic libraries of the Minuteman Library Network. The library also provides access to regional electronic databases and the internet. Ask us about obtaining any information or materials that you need.

The Bacon Free Library offers a variety of adult, child, and seasonal programs. Many of our library programs and collections are made possible by the generous support of the Friends of the Bacon Free Library. The building also houses the Natick Historical Society Museum in the lower level, which offers a rich collection of artifacts and memorabilia of local significance. Visit the museum website for hours.

The library first began in the parlor of Mrs. Sarah Griffin Bacon’s home in the 1800s as the Ladies Social Circle Library. After she passed away, her husband, Oliver Bacon, obtained the land where the library is sited and first built a small library. He then passed away in 1878, and his will established a trust to build and operate a more substantial structure, which is our current library building. In 1908, the Massachusetts legislature passed a statute forming the library as a charitable corporation, and it has operated in that form for well over one hundred years.

The library is a non-profit corporation. The Town of Natick has provided financial support for the library services since 1951, and currently funds the salaries of our library director and staff, and also provides financial support for the collection, as well as miscellaneous items such as most of the utility expenses. Operating costs, and maintenance and upkeep of the library building are the responsibility of the non-profit corporation.

The library relies on generous donors and volunteers to operate. For instance, charitable contributions and our endowment fund the library programming as well as building maintenance and improvements, while volunteers (through the Friends group and separately) help with programs and special events.

The library is a section 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, and contributions made are tax deductible by you depending on your circumstances.

In January of 2023, the BFL was awarded the GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency for the fourth year in a row.  This recognition shows commitment to transparency. By providing up-to-date information, nonprofits allow potential donors and funders to make educated decisions.

 

GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency