Hmm. I guess the fact that I'm the one adding this listing to Yelp says a lot about the current…read morestate of Lowell. Once the stomping grounds of such intellectuals as Kerouac, Whistler and even Poe, for a time, the library is now mostly a tomb and a shrine to days gone by.
This library is so spectacular though, it's part of the reason we moved here to begin with. The service is so-so by library standards (my mom was a librarian for 10 years, so I'm picky), and the computer search system is AWful, but you can just wander around in it like it's a giant old mansion and let the books find you.
There are HUGE historical paintings on the main floor of old revolutionary stuff, plus a few artifacts from the bygone era. The library is also a memorial to fallen soldiers, and their hallowed names grace the walls and halls of the buiding and stairwells, casting a ghostly reverence on passers-by.
Outside, it looks like some sort of gothic cathedral, complete with relief scuplture and some old cannons from our bloodied past. Inside, there are 5 floors of books, books and more books, plus the ghost of Jack Kerouac wandering around. Say hi if you see him.
As libraries go, the audiovisual section is rather poor, but they have a huge children's section. Great place to take your kid on any rainy afternoon and let them delve into the depths of their own imagination.
Here are some stats and info tidbits from their website:
From its first collection of 3,500 volumes, the Pollard Memorial Library today houses a collection of approximately 236,000 volumes, plus videos, CDs, DVDs, microfilm collections and museum passes. Membership in the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium gives Lowell residents direct access to the holdings of 35 libraries in the region. Circulation of materials amounts to almost 250,000 annually, with approximately one-third of this activity occurring in the children's collection.
Although the library as an institution was established in 1844, this building dates back to 1893, and it's still in great shape. The attention to detail regarding the interior (and exterior) ornamentation is breathtaking. Plus, they have on display the largest piece of porcelain to ever come out of Japan, in the form of a huge vase on the main stairwell.
Park downtown or in a garage and walk, though, since the parking situation is pretty non-existent. There's a bus stop right in front, but don't be put-off. The main entrance is around the side for nwo, since the front doors are closed off for some reason.
Also, they have weird hours, closing at 9 M-Th, but then at 5pm on Fri and Sat. See the website for more details on events, hours and library materials.
