A very, very special…read morelibrary The first Hopedale library started back in 1855 and it was just a few hundred books stuck in the back of a school until Joseph Bancroft built this library in 1898 in honor of his wife Sylvia. He stated he wanted something very, very special to be constructed in her memory and he definitely got his wish. I've seen a whole heap of libraries but this is one that that made my jaw drop. Just so many unusual and different things to look at, the books inside seem absolutely irrelevant. The first thing that catches your eye is the building itself, made of pink Milford granite and fashioned after an Oxford chapel, it is indeed stunning. Strange and mysterious, it looks like it was just plunked down from somewhere else. If you go over to the side you will notice a huge fountain. This was a gift from another local resident and was actually used as a for drinking until the board of health decided it probably wasn't a good idea to have people drinking from the same fountain as horses, dogs and pigeons. Once inside the library your eyes will immediately seek the ceiling. Exposed beams and intricate carvings will strain your neck and your sense of reality. How can this really be a library? The quiet and darkness just adds to the ambiance. Plenty of cool old pictures of cool old people long gone and strange antiques are everywhere and dark and spooky corners and rooms complete the bizarre and extraordinary landscape. The librarian was friendly and helpful but rather reserved, like she knew she worked in the coolest damn library in the whole state and there was no need to be obvious about it. I've seen a lot of libraries and it takes a very special library to really impressive me but the Bancroft Library certainly did the trick. Sylvia Bancroft did indeed get something, very, very special in her memory.

Great new space! I also requested a study space online to work remotely and it was a great…read moreexperience with privacy and wifi available

Churches town halls…read moreand libraries The Upton Library is indeed an impressive building. Huge, bulky and very imposing. It looks far more like a church than a library but that isn't exactly surprising since it was originally built as a church way back around 1870. I'm not sure why but for some reason the town hall moved in the building in 1884 and the other parts of the large building were used for various other things throughout the years. Finally in 1972 the town decided the building would be a good place for a library and all the books and other library stuff were moved in. The second floor houses a fine local museum and storage spaces. The library is a fun place to walk around both on the outside and in. Definitely a very cool building with lots of cool stuff inside. Lots of nice places to relax and read or do some serious work. The library also has all kinds of programs including, music, art and crafts and tons of children's activities. Plenty of room to do pretty much whatever you want. The museum part upstairs was closed when we went but the very kind, funny and spunky librarian got the key and let up go up there for a quick look. We didn't linger because we didn't want to become to intrusive. A very, cool library with a very, very cool librarian. This is the classic New England library that has history, charm, ambiance and one very cool librarian working there. A place worth visiting even if it didn't have any books.

Plants, books and…read moreweird sculpture The first Buckingham Library started back in 1894 when the town decided to buy one hundred dollars worth of books and stick them in the house of a generous volunteer.. This was the official library until 1905 when the growing number of books were place in a spare room at the local school. It became increasingly obvious over the years that this was not the ideal solution so in 1930 the first "real" library was built. Conveniently located on Main Street, this library served well until maintenance problems and size restraints made the town realize that it needed a new and more modern library. So a new building was constructed and in 1989 opened it's doors for business. The new Bellingham Library isn't one of the most stunning libraries from the outside. Rather plain and symmetrical and except from the bizarre sculpture of a kid standing on her head guarding the front of the library, the building isn't going to drop any jaws. However the inside is extremely well designed with a nice flow of lines and everything nicely organized and easy to find. One of the best things about the library is the abundance of plants inside. Large and creeping greenery greet you around every corner. A pleasant addition to all the books and computers. The librarians were cheerful, funny and helpful and suited the ambiance of the library perfectly. A very pleasant library that has a sense of peace and purpose. The aesthetics won't blow you away but the building will impress in a quiet and gentle way. Especially if you happen to enjoy statures of kids doing somersaults.

I stopped at the Bellingham Public Library recently to print a few things out, and overall, while…read moreit's an older facility, it's organized (in terms of printing, computers, and books in general), clean, and worry-free. For the record, I don't go to my local library because there are always problems there. The Westwood Public Library and Norwood Public Library (both closest to my house) aren't ever reliable and don't have decent printers or even decent computers. Printing is expensive and not worth the aggravation when it doesn't work (over 50% of the time there is some sort of issue). So, whenever I need to visit a library, in order to go somewhere decent I have to take a trip about fifteen minutes away, when the point of a library is being local. This effects in myself having to stop at a library when I'm out and about and near one. I was in the Bellingham area and stopped here. First things first, kudos to whoever thought to place the library on Blackstone Street, not in the middle of everything and in a low traffic area, next to the Bellingham Middle School. Not that I would specifically bring my classes over, but at my middle school any field trip to the library is about a mile walk away, here you would just have to cross the parking lot. Convenient spot. It's sort of old, but has been kept up with care and is open, spacious and has more books than you would expect. Actually, from the outside it looks very small, but is actually quite large inside. There are lots of computers and a wonderful, working printing program that is easy, fast and compact. Copier and printer both work wonderfully and the staff at the front desk (especially Carol), are extremely helpful and friendly. I would come back if I were to be in the area again, would like this to be a local library for me! 5 stars for the Bellingham library.

I really wanted to be able to rate the Holliston Public Library better…read more The problem is that, even with great service and staff, if the computers don't WORK then there just is no point in myself coming back. Sure, a library is full of books... but people come to use the fax machine, look at reference material, do research, use the computers (to print.....), make photocopies, use the children's room, and so on and so on and so on. In life, I try to get away from the most boneheaded negotiations... and in my opinion: cars, cell phones and PRINTERS are three things that also cost more in the long run that ever expected. Now, I have a cell phone and a car, but because there is a library in every town and throughout both of the previous ones I've had they have never worked, I don't have a printer at home..... and aren't considering getting one. Whenever I need to print something or things I either do it at the school I work at, or at a library, and in this case, I was driving right by this library and decided to stop in. From the outside of the building, it's old and inside is even older.... in all ways. Not even somewhat new / decent computers and the printing system barely works and is horrible at that. When you print a document, half of the time the computer will print and other times it won't. If you are using Google Drive, you have to download every document, re align the margins and so forth, and then print it. Then, you'll have to go to the main desk, because the printer is behind the desk (so much for confidential documents..... then again, I really don't care if they see what I'm printing.....), and check if it printed. After fumbling around with the system for fifteen minutes I left. Even though they only charge 10 cents a page, the Milford Library has an automated system that is so fast and efficient and works properly. Downfall is that they charge $.20. Since I was making a lot of prints, that wasn't feasible. Anyway, my time spent here was honestly a waste. In general, the staff were trying to be very helpful and attentive, but the technology was the issue here. I cannot comment on the book variety or DVD section as I didn't check out any other sections of the library, but I can say that if you are going in here to use a computer (and especially if you are looking to print), you might want to drive ten to fifteen minutes to the Milford Library. 2 stars. Extremely disappointing.

I find the library and staff to be wonderful. Regarding the library looking old, it should as this…read moreis a small New England town with beautiful old architecture. I have always found the computers and I-pads functional. Things break down, that is life...The library hosts a wonderful variety of activities for adults and children; you can't beat that. Sorry the previous review had such a difficult time with the computer not working or the "oldness" of the library.

A wide selection of items, with an especially good crystal section. Definitely worth the trip!read more

This review has been a long time in coming…read more Over twenty years ago, I was friendly for several years with Rose, one of the owners, and her daughter Robin, who is still the resident "intuitive reader". I was introduced to them because I was going through a terrible time. Over a period of several years, as my life fell apart, I was repeatedly told by the people who congregated there that everything that was happening to me was due to one or more of the following: - it was something I'd agreed to before I came into this life; - we're here to "learn lessons" and I was failing to learn them; - I was "manifesting" everything that was happening to me, telling the universe it was what I wanted even if I wasn't consciously aware of it; - that God, Spirit or the universe (take your pick) was offering me what I needed, but I wasn't seeing it because I was focused only on what I wanted. In other words, my suffering was my own fault. It was standard New Age fare - puerile rationalizations and psychological counseling without training, qualifications or a license. Moreover, it was relentless, repetitive, went on for years, and I now regard it as a form of abuse. I should have walked away long before I did. When I knew them, the store was a gathering place for numerous psychics, channelers, Wiccans, card readers, energy healers, "shamanic practitioners" and other assorted people who believed they were inherently gifted or just went to a few weekend workshops and considered themselves qualified to do whatever it was they were doing. I tried various New Age healing and interventional modalities; nothing worked, not one piece of information I was given was accurate and not one prediction (from those who made them as part of their practice) came to pass. I was fed a great deal of nonsense while my life continued to spiral downward, despite everything I tried to do to help myself - and while it was spiraling, it always came back to the same thing: I was consistently told that it was all somehow my fault (although they tended to bristle at my use of the word). The people who gathered around that store epitomized the New Age ethos of blaming the victim. I complained about this on a number of occasions, and was at one point told, "It isn't an exact science; it's really like guessing." This was actually said. On another occasion, I was accused of shaking my fist at God. They practice theology the same way they practice therapy - with neither training nor qualifications, and with a belief in their ability to understand complex subjects that doesn't hold up in reality. On several occasions, I said to both Rose and Robin, "If we're here to learn lessons, and the same things keep happening to me repeatedly because I'm somehow not 'getting' those lessons, there has to be a problem with the presentation - because I'm simply not that stupid." This was invariably met with silence. I should also mention that at no point was there ever an apology. If something along the lines of, "We don't know what's going on in your life and we're sorry we can't help you" had been said, I would be much more forgiving. Instead, there was always either silence or a rationalization involving my culpability - again, it was always my fault. It was never that their foundational beliefs were wrong; that was unthinkable. I have to assume the people who post positive reviews here and on Facebook either go there solely for New Age paraphernalia and leave it at that, or if they go for some sort of "spiritual counseling" they're told what they want to hear. The only further contact occurred years after I'd ended the relationships, when I emailed one of them to express my frustration and resentment. Again, there was no apology. The reply was acrimonious, defensive, and of course, blamed me both for their failures and for my own discomfiture. As is typical within that subculture, she took no responsibility for misleading me while emphasizing *my* responsibility. I'm posting this because it's festered within me for two decades. I was given a lot of false hope at a time when I needed genuine answers, and I came out of it with a profound contempt for both the New Age belief system and the subculture that embraces it. If there is anyone else who walked away from that world disgruntled, perhaps they'll read this and realize they aren't alone. On their Facebook page, they describe their business as "a haven of nurturing and healing to those needing physical and spiritual restoration". It was anything but that for me. If you're looking for crystals, jewelry, New Age books (which I think contain nonsense but if that's what you want), Tarot cards, Native American flutes and carvings, etc. - as others have said, they have a very good selection. If you're thinking of going there for any sort of counseling or supernatural intervention (for lack of a better term) - my advice would be to steer clear. Everything these people believe is harmful and misleading inanity.

Too much of a wait time, they tell you not to be more than 15 minutes late yet you come on time and…read moreyour waiting more than an hour. people have a life and have full days I have to be at my doctors appt shortly and have to drive to Worcester to get there it is to get my meds every month and I need my meds well Milford RMV doesn't care about what people have to do in life they expect you to sit for hours. Never will come here again.

Genuinely curious if the RMV recruits people who are absolutely miserable? I dealt with one nice…read morelady, but the guy checking me in and the security guard just seemed to honestly hate their life. Maybe they just don't get paid enough.

I was admitted to Operation ABLE's Work/Study program a few years ago in my late Sixties. I was not…read morelooking to get a Full Time Job but I did know I wanted to either learn some Technical Computer Skills which I never thought I would ever learn at my age so that I could do some part time work somewhere or a Home Business which definitely would need Excel, Word, and make Presentations. I also learned while there they had a 'Medical Terminology Course', which would feed my previous Army Medical background and learn more up to date terms for work at a Hospital or similar area. The many weeks I was there; with the absolutely patient, understanding, and very loving and talented 'Friends' made there; I have made my life ; because of Operation ABLE's Staff much more enjoyable; and made money I never dreamed of. Let us all support this program as long as God keeps us here. They will always be part of my Heart's 'Family' and I wish them well........ A Check is on the way. Well Deserved. Frank Pignone Stoneham Mass. Age 72 and as active as 40.......due to this program.

From the owner: Since 1982, Operation ABLE, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, has provided job seekers with training…read moreprograms and employment services. Our mission and passion is to empower our community of job seekers, the underemployed, those in career transition, and military veterans who need job support services to re-enter the workforce. We offer a variety of services including occupational and computer skills training, workshops, job search training and support, coaching and counseling, and some training programs offer internships.