Joseph Patch Library

Mission Statement:

To serve and enrich our community by providing resources for education, creativity, and cultural discovery.

A Brief History of the Library:

The Joseph Patch Library was incorporated in 1799 as the Warren and Wentworth Social Library and was not a public library at the time. Each Proprietor (member) of the library paid $5 for a membership that could be transferred or willed to another person.

In 1851, the Warren Ladies Library Association was established, and the Warren Public Library opened in 1893. Originally kept at private residences, the library collection would not have a permanent home until our building was opened in 1913.

The Robb S. Evans Reading Room was built in 1999 to accommodate our expanding collection, to provide a relaxed reading area and to add a meeting and program space.