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Bacon Free Library in Natick, hours for winter 2023

Updates for winter 2023:

The Bacon Free Library in Natick will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Mon., Feb. 20, 2023 in observance of Presidents’ Day. Regular hours will be in effect for the rest of Jan., Feb., and Mar. 2023.

Bacon Free Library, Natick

Bacon Free Library location:

ADDRESS: 58 Eliot Street, Natick, MA 01760
PHONE: 508-653-6730

Bacon Free Library hours, winter 2023

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:30—5:30
Tuesday: 9:30—7:00
Saturday: 9:30—1:30
Sunday: closed



Natick, Massachusetts libraries

Natick, Massachusetts has two public libraries:

  1. The Morse Institute Library, located at 14 E. Central St.
    (508) 647-6520
  2. The Bacon Free Library, located at 58 Eliot St.
    (508) 653-6730

The Morse Institute Library—14 E. Central St.

Morse Institute Library

The Morse Institute Library opened in 1874 thanks to the largesse of Mary Ann Morse (1825-1862), who willed her estate to the town “for the purpose of creating a public library” to serve Natick’s population of about 10,000. The library’s collection started out with 7,300 books. Today the Morse Institute’s holdings include 200,000 books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks. The library also circulates games and puzzles, museum passes, a “Library of Things” that includes a selection of household tools, outdoor supplies, music, and tech items.

Natick’s population has increased to over 37,000 since The Morse Institute opened, as counted during the 2020 US Census. To accommodate the increased number of patrons, the library underwent a renovation that began in 1995 and was completed in 1997. The renovations preserved the 1873 building, while bringing a fresh, modern feel to the historic structure.

Public spaces of the library are on the first and second floors, as well as the basement, which holds the Children’s Room, a public multi-purpose space, and storage space.

The library is part of the Minuteman Library Network, a consortium of 43 libraries that provide services to members in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts.


The Bacon Free Library—58 Eliot St.

Bacon Free Library, Natick

The Bacon Free Library’s 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. Upon his death in 1878, and his will established a trust to build and operate a more substantial structure, which is the current library building.

Siting the Bacon Free Library building on its Eliot St. plot proved to be a controversial matter, which rankles local Native Americans to this day. The land is part of an Algonquian Indian burial ground. Some of their graves were destroyed during construction of the building, and again when the intersection of Eliot and Pleasant Streets was enlarged. The Natick Historical Society held some of the contents of these graves until the 1990s, when they were repatriated according to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.



Top 10 things to do in Natick, Mass. in 2023

January 4, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

We’ve updated our popular “Top 10 things to do in Natick” page to remind everyone of how much the town has to offer. From hiking and bird watching at Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, to catching some culture at The Center for Arts in Natick, or visiting the Natick History Museum (currently by appointment only) inside the Bacon Free Library, there’s plenty to do and see in Natick.

Have you experienced everything on our list?

TCAN

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Filed Under: Art, Bacon Free Library, Boston Marathon, Entertainment, Natick History Museum, Outdoors, Shopping, Theater

Town of Natick, holidays schedule 2022-23

December 20, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Town of Natick will follow an end-of-year schedule during which municipal buildings will be closed in observance of the holidays. Here’s the breakdown:

Natick Public Schools break

All school buildings will be closed for winter break on Mon., Dec. 26, 2022.

Classes resume on Tue., Jan. 3, 2023.

Natick municipal buildings and offices

Open on Fri., Dec. 23, 2022, 8am-12:30pm
Closed on Sat., Dec. 24 & Sun., Dec. 25, 2022 (normal weekend closure)
Closed on Mon., Dec. 26, 2022 for holiday observance
Regular hours resume on Tue., Dec. 26, 2022

Open on Fri., Dec. 30, 2022, 8am-12:30pm
Closed on Sat., Dec. 31, 2022 & Sun., Jan. 1, 2023 (normal weekend closure)
Closed on Mon., Jan. 2, 2023 for holiday observance
Regular hours resume on Tue., Jan. 3, 2023

Morse Institute & Bacon Free Library

Sat., Dec 24 – Mon, Dec. 26, 2022—both libraries closed all day

Sat., Dec. 31, 2022—Morse Institute is open 9am-1pm
Sat., Dec. 31, 2022—Bacon Free Library is closed all day

Sun., Jan 1 – Mon., Jan 2, 2023—both libraries closed all day

Regular hours resume on Tue., Jan. 3, 2023


Christmas tree pick up

Christmas trees (bare only, no bag) will be picked up the first two full weeks in January on your trash day. Yard waste (except for Christmas trees) must be in paper bags or marked rubbish barrels. Plastic bags will not be collected.

More information here on residential recycling and trash collection.


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Filed Under: Bacon Free Library, Government, Holidays, Schools, Vacation

Beloved Natick children’s librarian retires

September 19, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Bacon Free Librarian’s Fran Daneault was given a fond farewell as the beloved children’s librarian turned the page on the next chapter in her life. Fran retired on September 9 after many years of service. The Friends of the Bacon Free Library hosted a party in Fran’s honor that included refreshments, a book in which patrons entered their favorite Fran memories, and cake, of course.

Bacon Free Library, Fran

“The hardest part is leaving all these people I’ve had relationships with for fifteen years,” she said. “I’ve seen so many kids grow up. And I’ll miss doing story time.”

Amy Sadkin says that during the two years that she’s been the Bacon Free Director, it’s been at least a weekly occurrence for teens to come in and reminisce about Fran reading stories to them when they were little.

Fran’s only plans so far include “taking a whole week off.” Of course, being a librarian Fran’s a big believer in the power of information, gesturing to a pile of books she’s borrowed on shifting gears, retiring successfully, and how to manage her next act. The Natick resident says she’ll be around, but keeping a low profile. So if you see Fran out and about, greet her with a warm hello and congratulations.

MORE: Bacon Free Library fall hours

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Filed Under: Bacon Free Library, Books, Community

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