Attleboro, Franklin, Taunton, Wrentham
The genealogy room of the Attleboro Public Library is located on the second floor. The door is closed to protect the room environment for their special collection. Sign in the book to your immediate left as you enter the library. To protect their collection, the librarians will let you know which books can and which can't be xeroxed, based on their physical condition. A xerox which uses a convenient $5 card which can be purchased at the first floor desk is located against the windows to your left as you stand in the doorway of the special collections room looking into the main library. There are some Rules of the Road posted on the table that you should read. This is a very rich collection of family books, general and specific genealogy collections (such as DAR and NEHG Register) and Massachusetts town books.
The Franklin library is a beautiful building from a more classic time. The second floor reading room is decorated with a magnificent mural which is well worth the visit. Getting access to genealogical information, though, is awkward. Materials must be requested of the second floor librarians and they will go down to a lower floor to retrieve materials. Unfortunately, there is no list of the town books, and so there is an element of guesswork as to whether they have what you are requesting. There is also a limit to the number of books you are allowed to examine at any one time, and you must give up your drivers' license to have access to them at all.
The genealogy room of the Taunton Public Library is located on the second floor. It is kept locked and you'll have to ask the Special Collections librarian to let you in. The xerox machine is located in the general reading room near the librarians desk. Once inside, you'll find it filled with a huge collection of family books and town books for both Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The new Fisk Library was built in 1998. Thanks to the generosity of the Ross family, there is a separate genealogy room containing a large collection of town books. You'll also appreciate the Wrentham genealogical information which has been collected over many years by Joe McDougald. You'll need to sign in and sign out at the main desk and will be escorted to the genealogy room, which is kept locked for security.
P.O. Box 470, Wrentham, MA 02093 Copyright © 1998, Boston To Providence Genealogical Society |