Minuteman Library Network

{{Short description|Library consortium in eastern Massachusetts}} {{Infobox organization | name = Minuteman Library Network | image = | logo = Minutemanlibrarynetworklogo.png | caption = | map = | map_size =  | map_alt =  | map_caption = | map2 = | type = Nonprofit organization, Library consortium | tax_id =  | registration_id = | founded = {{Start date|1983|12|19}}<ref name="CauseIQ" /> | founder = | predecessor = | dissolved =  | merged_into = | successor = | location = 10 Strathmore Road, Natick, Massachusetts 01760<ref>https://public.tableau.com/views/FY22NetworkAnnualReport/NetworkAddressListDashboard?:language=en-US&:sid=&:redirect=auth&:display_count=n&:origin=viz_share_link</ref><ref name="CauseIQ" /> | addnl_location = | coordinates =  | origins = | key_people = | region_served = Counties of Middlesex (South), and portions of Norfolk. | products = | services = | focus = | mission = | method = | revenue = | disbursements = | expenses = | endowment = | num_volunteers = | num_employees = | num_members = | affiliations = | subsid = | languages = | owner = N/A | former_name = | website = {{URL|minlib.net}} | footnotes = Member of the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) }} The '''Minuteman Library Network''' ('''MLN''') is a library consortium of over 40 public or academic libraries.<ref name="CauseIQ">{{cite web |author=Staff writer |author-link1= |year=2024 |location= |title=Minuteman Library Network Incorporated (MLN) |script-title= |title-link= |url=https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/minuteman-library-network,222518058/ |department=CauseIQ |website=www.causeiq.com |publisher=Nonprofit Metrics LLC |publication-date=2024 |access-date=February 26, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Staff writer |author-link1= |year=2024 |title=Minuteman Library Network Incorporated |script-title= |title-link= |url=https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-information.web_search_portals_libraries_archives_and_other_information_services.us.massachusetts.natick.html |url-access= |trans-title= |website=www.dnb.com |publisher=Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. |publication-date=2024 |access-date=February 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=libraries.org: Minuteman Library Network|url=https://www.librarytechnology.org/library/42053|access-date=2023-09-30|website=librarytechnology.org}}</ref> The network consists of an aggregate collection of more than 5 million items and more than 690,000 cardholders, {{asof|2026|lc=y}}.<ref name="About">{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.minlib.net/about |website=Minuteman Library Network |access-date=2026-01-18}}</ref> Membership card eligibility is open to persons who either live, work, or study in Massachusetts; and can be used to borrow items from its member libraries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Services: Minuteman library card, Minuteman app |author= |website=Minuteman Library Network |date= |access-date=September 10, 2021 |url=https://www.minlib.net/services/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Staff writer |author-link1= |year=2024 |location= |title=Library Networks |script-title= |title-link= |url=https://mblc.state.ma.us/programs-and-support/library-networks/index.php |url-access= |trans-title= |website=mblc.state.ma.us |script-website= |trans-website= |publication-place= |publisher=Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners |publication-date=2024 |agency= |at= |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-format= |archive-date= |access-date=February 26, 2025 |via= |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}</ref>

Founded as a cooperative, the network operates through the pooling and sharing of resources, and offers local library patrons additional services along with access to a more expansive catalog.<ref name="about" /> For example, the network has a OverDrive e-book collection and allows users to sign in with their library card and borrow e-books and audio books from other consortium library networks in Massachusetts. However, since member libraries may individually offer further services even within the MLN, not all services are uniformly available at all member libraries.<ref name="about">{{Cite web |title=About |author= |website=Minuteman Library Network |date= |access-date=September 10, 2021 |url= https://www.minlib.net/about/}}</ref>

== Libraries == thumb|Framingham Public Library entrance The network largely spans the MetroWest area of eastern Massachusetts, in the Greater Boston Metropolitan area of the United States. The network encompasses the counties of Middlesex (South), and portions of Norfolk.

'''Public Libraries'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Libraries |author= |website=Minuteman Library Network|date= |access-date=September 10, 2021 |url=https://www.minlib.net/our-libraries}}</ref> {{Div col|colwidth=20em}} * Acton Memorial Library * Robbins Library, Arlington<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.robbinslibrary.org/|title=Home page|website=Robbins Library}}</ref> * Ashland Public Library * Bedford Free Public Library * Belmont Public Library * Public Library of Brookline * Cambridge Public Library * Concord Free Public Library * Dedham Public Library<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dedhamlibrary.org/|title=Home Page|website=Dedham Public Library}}</ref> * Dover Town Library * Framingham Public Library * Franklin Public Library * Holliston Public Library * Cary Memorial Library, Lexington * Lincoln Public Library * Maynard Public Library * Medfield Public Library <ref>{{Cite web |title=Home page |author= |website=Medfield Public Library |date= |access-date=December 11, 2025 |url=https://www.medfieldpubliclibrary.org/}}</ref> * Medford Public Library * Medway Public Library * Millis Public Library * Morse Institute Library, Natick * Bacon Free Library, Natick<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home page |author= |website=Bacon Free Library |date= |access-date=September 10, 2021 |url=https://www.baconfreelibrary.org/}}</ref> * Needham Free Public Library * Newton Free Library * Morrill Memorial Library, Norwood * Sherborn Public Library * Somerville Public Library (Central Library, East Branch, West Branch) * Randall Library, Stow * Goodnow Library, Sudbury * Waltham Public Library * Watertown Free Public Library * Wayland Free Public Library * Wellesley Free Library * Weston Public Library * Westwood Public Library * Winchester Public Library * Woburn Public Library, Woburn {{Div col end}}

'''Academic libraries''' {{Div col}} * Dean College, E. Ross Anderson Library, Franklin * Framingham State University, Henry Whittemore Library * Lasell College, Brennan Library, Newton * Olin College Library, Needham, Massachusetts * Regis College Library, Weston {{Div col end}}

'''Former members''' * Massachusetts Bay Community College, Perkins Library/Learning Resource Center, Wellesley & Framingham (moved to HELM) * Mount Ida College, Wadsworth Learning Resource Center, Newton (closed 2018)<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2018 |title=Mount Ida Closure |url=https://www.mass.edu/mountida/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208001815/https://www.mass.edu/mountida/ |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |access-date=February 10, 2023 |website=Massachusetts Department of Higher Education}}</ref> * Newbury College, Brookline, MA (closed 2019)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Colin |date=December 14, 2018 |title=Newbury College In Brookline Will Close At End Of 2019 Spring Semester |work=WBUR |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/12/14/newbury-college-closing |url-status=live |access-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118052420/https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/12/14/newbury-college-closing |archive-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref> * Pine Manor College, Annenberg Library, Chestnut Hill (Now part of Boston College as Messina College)

== See also == * Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing (CLAMS) * CW MARS (Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing) * Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) * North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) * Old Colony Library Network (OCLN) * SAILS Library Network

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.minlib.net The Minuteman Library Network] * [http://www.baconfreelibrary.org Bacon Free Library in South Natick]

Category:Library consortia in Massachusetts Category:1984 establishments in Massachusetts Category:Natick, Massachusetts

Minuteman Library Network

Connections

Linked from (25 total)

Links to (63 total)