Scituate Public Library (See the Resources for Genealogists)

5 Branch St, Scituate, MA 02066
(781) 545-8727

Website: https://www.scituatema.gov/town-library

This six-year-old library replaced an older one on the same site. I visited this Library and the town of Scituate on March 16, 2024. The town was decked out with a lot of Irish flags and I learned this town of 29,000 is known as the most Irish town in America. The library is open every day, including Sunday, but it would have been closed on March 17 because of their parade and other Irish celebrations. Since I had never been to this town, we took a long ride, from one end to the other, and enjoyed seeing quite a few beaches.

I could hardly get the entire library in one shot. Usually, I begin photographing what I see as I enter, usually the counter for checking out and returning books. Because I was really interested in the genealogy section, I am showing that first. Information about their collection of local history and genealogy collection is below.

Map desk

I would love to do research in this room and take breaks out on the patio.

The photos below show the main desk, seating areas, the stairs taking you down to other areas as well as the children's room. The library is huge and airy. It almost feels like you brought the beach in with you.

Reference librarian area above.

We took a ride along the Scituate Beachs about a week after a major storm that did a lot of damage to homes.

Sand from the beach completely covered this road and others.

Local History & Genealogy Collection

The collection in the Local History Room consists of print, microfilm, and online sources. Materials in the Local History Room may only be used in the Library. Whenever possible duplicate titles are added to the Library's general circulating collection and are available for checkout. 

Print Collection

Our print collection consists of, but is not limited to:

• Cemetery Records
• Family Histories
• Military Information
• Histories of Massachusetts Counties, Cities and Towns
• Vertical File Materials
• Scituate Town Reports 1873 – present
• School Yearbooks 1924 – present
• New England Historical Register 1965 – present
• Local Authors

For more information about Scituate's history, visit the Scituate Historical Society or the Scituate Town Archives. 

Microfilm Collection

Scituate Herald: (incomplete holdings)
September 13, 1929 - December 1939 (gap September 1938 - August 1939)
January 1940 - October 1942 (gap April 18, 1941 - February 5, 1942)
January 1942 - December 1943 (incomplete)
January 1944 - February 16, 1967

South Shore Weekly Mirror: October 13, 1955 -  December 1955

South Shore Mirror: January 1957 - December 1979*
*note: January 1975 - December 1975 titled South of Boston Mirror

South of Boston Mirror: May 22, 1974 - December 1, 1974

Scituate Mariner: January 1979 - December 2018  

Scituate Mirror: January 1980 - December 1981

Digital Scituate - Digitized resources to view online:

• Chimes - Scituate High School Yearbooks beginning with 1924.
• Town Reports - Scituate's annual reports, searchable online. The years spanning 1848-1874 are contained in one digitized volume. 
• Newspapers 
  • Scituate Mariner (1979-2018)
  • Scituate Herald (1929-1967)
  • South Shore Weekly Mirror (1975-1977)
  • South Shore Mirror (1957-1979)   
  • South of Boston Mirror (1974-1975)
  • Scituate Mirror (1974-1981)
  • Mirror (1975-1977)