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Today's Hours:
Mason: 10AM - 6PM
Sun Closed
Mon 10AM - 6PM
Tue 10AM - 6PM
Wed 10AM - 6PM
Thu 10AM - 6PM
Fri 10AM - 6PM
Sat 10AM - 3PM
Hours & Holidays
Ramsdell: Closed
Sun 1PM - 4PM
Mon 1PM - 6PM
Tue 1PM - 6PM
Wed 1PM - 6PM
Thu Closed
Fri Closed
Sat 10AM - 3PM
Hours & Holidays
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About Us

The two Great Barrington Libraries work together to bring the town and region access to a large collection of books, movies, and audiobooks. We offer extensive interlibrary loan, high speed internet, wireless internet, programs and more at both locations.

The mission of the Great Barrington Libraries is to serve all members of our evolving community in a welcoming manner.

We are dedicated to:

  • Providing and promoting responsive, free, and ready access to printed and electronic resources.
  • Developing collections and programming that include a broad spectrum of materials and services.
  • Encouraging everyone to experience the joy of reading and learning.

Related to our mission of supporting and fostering learning through the dissemination of knowledge, the Trustees of the Great Barrington Libraries have approved an Indigenous Land Acknowledgement.

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Front Desk About Us

Looking to donate books?

The Friends of the GB Libraries takes your generous used book donations and sells them at our ongoing book sale area. Read below for more information, or click here to access their Facebook page.

Donations and Gifts

Donations help us expand the collections, enrich programs, and remember or honor friends. Checks for gifts to the libraries should be made out to “The Great Barrington Libraries.” To arrange for other types of gifts, please see the library director.

The Great Barrington Libraries are made up of Mason Library in Great Barrington and Ramsdell Library in Housatonic.  The libraries share staff and resources.

Friends of the GB Libraries

Our Friends group takes your generous used book donations and sells them at our ongoing book sale area in Mason and at our July and December sales. We also have very popular book giveaways that generate donations.

Those revenues help support our projects including a monthly documentary series, free museum passes, seasonal decor, equipment purchases, and refreshments at various library events. We raise funds, provide help with projects, underwrite programs, and do outreach to the community.

We do not charge a membership fee and consider everyone on our mailing list a Friend.

If you would like to be added to the mailing list, donate, or volunteer, please go to our Facebook page or email us at FriendsGBL@gmail.com.

 

Mason Library

Mason Library was was designed by Blanchard & Barnes of New York. Mary A. Mason, widow of Captain Henry Hobart Mason, left $50,000 to build and furnish a new library, to replace one in a clapboard house previously on the site. Mrs. Mason summered in Great Barrington and is buried there. Dedicated July 24, 1913, the library was rededicated April 2007 after extensive renovations that doubled its size and made it handicapped accessible.

Ramsdell Library

Ramsdell Library, located in northeast corner of Great Barrington, in the village of Housatonic, was given to the town in the will of Theodore G. Ramsdell, owner of Monument Mountain Mills. The library, just over 100 years old, was opened to the public in 1908. The building is located on the site of the first house built in Housatonic in 1804.