Nearly all the District or Township Libraries of Massachusetts have been formed in pursuance of legislative provisions connected with the State system of Common Schools, and are usually designated ‘School - District Libraries.’ Both in purpose and in practice, however, they are commonly the Libraries of the District; not merely the Libraries of the School. Their name therefore fails to indicate their full character.

District Libraries of Mussaehusetts

In March, 1842, a Resolve of the Legislature of Massachusetts provided for the maintenance of certain ‘School-District’ Libraries in various parts of the State. The enactment was extended, one year afterwards, over the entire State, and in the following terms: “That the provisions of the Resolve of the 3rd of March, 1842, be and the same are hereby extended to every City and Town in the Commonwealth not heretofore divided into School-Districts, …. provided evidence be adduced to the Treasurer [of the Commonwealth] on behalf of the said City or Town of its having raised or appropriated for the Establishment of Libraries a sum equal to that which, by the provisions of this Resolve, it is entitled to receive from the School Fund.”