Cambridge Public Library

Cambridge Public Library at 449 Broadway is a Romanesque building with detailed stonework and a striking entrance that stands out on the street. The seven branch locations throughout the city hold extensive collections covering many subjects and serve different neighborhoods.

The main building was funded by Frederick Rindge in 1888 and designed by architect Henry Van Brunt following the transition from the Cambridge Athenaeum. The institution grew from that single location into a multi-branch system that serves the wider community today.

The library hosts author readings, workshops, and community events throughout the year that bring residents together from across the city. These gatherings create spaces where people naturally meet to share interests and discover things together.

The library offers delivery services for residents who cannot easily travel and provides digital resources available online. Visitors can access e-books and databases from anywhere when they have a local library account.

A 2009 expansion used double-skin curtainwall technology that was introduced to the United States for the first time in this project. This modernization greatly increased available space while showing how the historic structure could incorporate contemporary construction methods.

Location: Cambridge

Architects: Henry Van Brunt

Website: http://cambridgema.gov/cpl

GPS coordinates: 42.37417,-71.11056

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:59