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History of the Flint Public Library
Middleton Historical Society : A Profile
Profile of the Flint Public Library
Middleton has always been interested in maintaining a library for its citizens. As early as 1772, a social
library was founded by the Reverend Elias Smith. In 1838, another library association was established by Dr. E.S.
Phelps with 46 members and 84 volumes, but it was short-lived. The present Flint Library originated as an association
formed in 1865 with John M. Peabody as President. This association flourished and was turned over to the town in
1879 after the Honorable Charles L. Flint, the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, wrote a letter
to the Selectmen of Middleton suggesting that notice be taken of the 150th anniversary of incorporation of the
Town by establishing a Public Town Library, free to all. Mr. Flint offered $1,000.00 to help start a library provided
the Town would appropriate $400.00 for necessary expenses.
In 1891, $10,000 was bequeathed to the town under the will of the Honorable Charles L. Flint for the purposes of
erecting a permanent building for use as a free public library. Located in Middleton Square, so that it could be
centrally sited, the library was built of brick with Nova Scotia sandstone trimmings and a slate roof. The interior
finish is of cypress, with birch floors and furniture of highly polished oak. The entire book collection amounted
to 5,000 volumes, representing accumulations from earlier private library associations and the personal library
and writings of Charles L. Flint.
Over the years, the library has remained architecturally unchanged, with a 1978 renovation of its basement for
a Children's Department. Presently, the library contains more than
40,000 books, 1300 videotapes, 1100 audiotapes,
passes to Boston's major museums and activities in the Boston area, and subscriptions to more than 185 periodicals.
Seven computers are available to
the public for Internet searching and MS Office products. Annually,
the library hosts more than 150 programs dedicated to cultural, recreational or educational
subjects. For children, story hour sessions and after-school programs are offered on a weekly basis as the library is committed
to promoting reading and literacy to the community's youth. Maintaining a cooperative relationship
with Middleton's educational institutions, the Flint Public Library hosts school classes visiting the library on
a weekly basis for materials to support research and leisure reading.
Adults are taking part in the Flint's new roster of programs for
them, including the popular Book Discussion Series. The library also
is committed to delivering library material to the elderly and
homebound via the Outreach Program.
The library boasts healthy circulation and attendance statistics with
more than half of its nearly 8,000 residents owning
library cards. The library participates in a regional consortium wherein books at other libraries, both public
and academic, can be located and borrowed by Middleton residents at no cost. The Flint Public Library makes its
resources available to the community 51 hours per week.
The library is supported through the Town of Middleton and overseen by an elected Board of five Library
Trustees, elected for three-year terms and responsible for overseeing policy decisions. The day-to-day operation
of the library is entrusted to the Library Director, who supervises four full-time employees and five part-time
employees.
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Middleton Historical Society : A Profile
The Middleton Historical Society is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1954 to preserve, research, and
communicate the cultural and political history of the Town of Middleton. The Middleton Historical Society is situated
in the Lura Woodside Watkins Museum, which houses an extensive collection of 18th, 19th and 20th century artifacts.
The Middleton Historical Society owns, maintains, and operates the Lura Woodside Watkins Museum offering lectures,
cultural events and special programs for its members and community members. Presently, the Museum manages more
than 2000 photographs, 100 rare books, 250 letters, 115 diaries, 100 newspaper clippings, Vital Records, and 1000
artifacts unique to Middleton from the early 1700s and later. Collection realia includes 18th and 19th century
ceramics and glass; household items such as cooking equipment, pewter goods, early fireplace equipment; furniture;
Civil War relics from battlefields; textiles and clothing; tools and industrial items; Indian artifacts; toys and
personal items.
The Society often assists scholars, genealogists, and avocational historians find published and non-published information
about family history and local historical points of interest.
The Society meets monthly to plan special events and to prepare for educational programs offered to local schools.
The Society presents programs for Middleton students and interested citizens from Middleton and the surrounding
communities covering the history of Middleton and aspects of the pre-electrical age, home and farm life. Members
re-enact history by dressing in "period costume" and re-enacting various home arts and industries during
the Colonial to pre-World War I years. The Society has conducted historic home tours of the town and supports monthly
guest speakers from state historical associations, archivists, and museum curators.
The organization of the Middleton Historical Society consists of the following offices: President, Vice President,
Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Educational Program Chairman, Museum Curator. All officers,
with the exception of the Curator, are elected annually. The Curator serves at the will of the Officers.
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