1859
Citizens of Fitchburg approve an article on the warrant requesting $1851 and quarters in the Town Hall for the first Fitchburg Public Library
1885
Rodney Wallace builds and furnishes the Wallace Library and Art Gallery at the corner of Main Street and Newton Place as a gift to the people of Fitchburg
1899
Library Service for children begins in one of the first Children's Rooms in the country
1950
The new Fitchburg Youth Library is opened
1953
Purchase of a bookmobile extends service to outlying areas
1962
The Fitchburg Public Library becomes the first regional library in the Massachusetts Regional Library System
1967
The new Wallace Library is dedicated. Named for George R. Wallace, Jr. and his wife Alice G. Wallace, who gave a magnificent gift for the library building. The federal Library Services and Construction Act and money from the City of Fitchburg also funded the project
The Helen E. Vickery Fund provides for a new bookmobile
1970
The Henry A. Willis Fund makes art prints available
1971
Sunday Library service is initiated
1972
Sunday Performing Art series begins
1980's
Circulation and then the Card Catalog are automated
1992
The CARL system, the present computer system for the Central & Western Massachusetts Regional Library Systems, is installed.
1993
New Bookmobile arrives
1996
The Internet comes to the library
2000
The Youth Library celebrates 50 years!
October--The Library Book Club begins
2002
The Library begins loaning DVDs
2007
We get wireless for our patrons with laptops
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Establish closer relations between the library and the people it serves, promote support of services, and ensure funding of several important services, such as the Sunday Performing Arts programs and the museum passes.
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