Good customer service has always been a priority at the Worcester Public Library as this mid-20th century pamphlet shows.

Bookplate featuring WPL’s iconic owls.  The original, made of cast iron, originally perched on the exterior of the Library’s first permanent home on Elm Street, before being moved inside at our current location in 1964.

This old-fashioned card catalog holds an index to the approximately 12,000-volume collection donated to the city of Worcester by our founder, Dr. John Green, between 1859 and his death in 1865.

A selection of books from the Dr. John Green collection, safely housed in archival quality book boxes purchased with funds provided by a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

A sampling of early 20th century Worcester city directories available in the Local History area on the 3rd floor of the Main Library.

These beautifully bound volumes from the Green collection have obviously fallen on hard times and await preservation.

Bookplate from the Green collection showing date of purchase.

1926 Yearbook from Worcester’s now defunct, Commerce High School.  One of many yearbooks from various schools located in our climate-controlled Worcester Room.

Worcester Public Library likes to have fun.  Here, patrons mingle with a balloon bearing representation of our library owl.

WPL has always mounted displays and exhibits.  Here, recruiters hope to lure suitable candidates to the worthy profession of librarianship.

A busy day in the children’s room at the library’s first permanent location on Elm Street, which was our home for over 100 years. 

Worcester’s first bookmobile, purchased in 1940, was very popular. During World War II, when male employees, went to war, women proudly drove the bus!

During World War II a group of children were evacuated from war-torn England to Worcester.  After they returned home their parents expressed their gratitude by donating a collection of books to the library.

This precious copy of “Casey at the Bat” was hand-written by its author, Worcester native Ernest Thayer, and presented to the library.

This display commemorates National Library Week at some point in the mid-20th century.  I can’t help but think that current staff would do a more enthusiastic job.

A conscientious librarian at work at the Elm Street location. Please note the sign asking patrons to keep their hats off.

An interior view of a portion of the library on Elm Street.  Please note the portrait of Dr. John Green front and center and the graceful spiral staircase.

Newly preserved items from the Dr. John Green collection on display.

Display of items relating to the life and times of Dr. John Green.

A portrait of Dr. John Green, founder of the Worcester Public Library.

A humorous cartoon from the Worcester Telegram detailing a day in the life of the Worcester Public Library. 

An advertisement for the Worcester Public Library, touting its welcoming nature to newcomers to the city. 

A flyer from the Worcester Lyceum, highlighting the notable speakers they hosted. Many of the Lyceum’s books were transferred to the city by Dr. Green as part of the creation of the Worcester Public Library. 

WPL’s head librarians have always played an active role in civic life. During the height of the Red Scare, a previous library director, Thurston Taylor was accused of Communist sympathies. The City Council investigated and found no truth to the rumors. 

A Worcester tabloid targeting the library during the height of the Red Scare.

Our current library was constructed after the previous building on Elm Street was found wanting.  This newspaper article gives some insight as to why.

A newspaper article highlighting the laying of the cornerstone of our current library building.

A stylized rendering of the current Worcester Public Library at the time of its construction in the early 1960s.

A picture of the Worcester Knitting Company building that stood where our library is currently located. The building was torn down and replaced by the library as part of a massive urban renewal project.

An invitation to the ceremony where the cornerstone of the Worcester Public Library was laid. 

An undated postcard showing the interior of the library.  The vivid color scheme and décor suggest 1960s when the building was constructed.

An undated postcard showing the interior of the library. The vivid color scheme and décor suggest 1960s when the building was constructed.

An undated postcard showing the exterior of the library, likely circa-1960s.

Look familiar? This is the design for the brass doors from the 1964 construction which are now hanging on the wall of the library, having been replaced by the glass doors created by artist Stephen Knapp. 

A playbill from a defunct Worcester theater. The library has a large collection of playbills and other cultural ephemera housed in Worcester Room. This playbill advertises a dramatization of the First World War. 

A young Samuel Swett Green. The nephew of library founder Dr. John Green, and our second library director. Samuel was well-known for his pioneering contributions to modern librarianship. 

An older Samuel Swett Green. 

The reading room and service desk at the Billings Square Library, one of several branch libraries that closed in the early 1990s. 

A lithograph of Dr. John Green, who donated his book collection to the city to found the Worcester Public Library.

The Worcester Bank Block, where the books of the Worcester Public Library were housed until we moved into our first permanent location on Elm Street.

Worcester Public Library branches have always been lively places.  This photograph depicts a best doll contest, probably held at the Quinsigamond Branch and judging by the clothing worn by the children, probably during the 1920s.

Once our current library was built, the book collection had to be ferried from the previous library on Elm Street.  This newspaper article shows how big of a job that was!