The Maynard Public Library is an important component of the town of of Maynard. It was first opened on April 4,1881, by Joseph Reed and his wife Mary. They were able to get an appropriation of $1,000 from the town to purchase a supply of books. The library was located in a room in the Acton Street School, about where Jarmo's is now located. The Reeds cared for the library until 1884. Then in 1885 it was moved to the Riverside Cooperative building (now the home of the Knights of Columbus). Sarah Nyman was appointed Librarian and held that position for 41 years.
In July of 1918 the library was moved to the second floor of the Naylor building (on Nason Street), and in 1929 Mary Moynihan replaced Mrs. Nyman and continued in the position until 1942. In that year Olive Morgan took the job of librarian, assisted by Inez Lester. In 1953 the sudden death of Ms. Morgan left the Board of Trustees a difficult vacancy to fill. Edith H. Carbone resigned from the Board in order to place her name on a list of applicants, and was subsequently pleased to learn she had gotten the position. In 1960 a committee was established to plan the construction of a town municipal building; and in the same year at a Special Town Meeting, $329,000 was appropriated to construct a combined Town Building and Library.
