How We Work

A productive public-private partnership since 1873 advances the Library's work.

Funding

The Library is supported by a combination of public and private funding.

The Town of Concord allocates municipal funding for the Library’s operating budget, including staff, utilities, as well as books and materials.

The nonprofit Concord Free Public Library Corporation owns and is responsible for the buildings, grounds, and Special Collections (which includes historical documents, books, and art). The maintenance of and improvements to the buildings and grounds as well as acquisitions for Special Collections are funded by the Library Corporation, either through fundraising or disbursements from the Library Corporation’s endowment. The Library Corporation also contributes to the Library’s book and media collections, provides equipment and materials for the Library’s Workshop makerspace, and sponsors select programming at the Library throughout the year. In addition, the Library Corporation provides funds for large capital projects through campaigns supported by the community. 

The nonprofit Friends of the Concord Free Public Library support Library programs, including the annual Concord Festival of Authors, museum passes, and some funding for books and materials. The Friends are funded by membership dues and book sale proceeds.

Governance

The governance of the Library is provided by the Library Committee of the Town of Concord and the Concord Free Public Library Corporation.

A diagram shows the relationship between the Concord Free Public Library and the Town of Concord (Books & Materials, Operations, Staff, Utilities funded by the Town), Library Corporation (Books & Materials, Buildings & Grounds, Special Collections funded by community giving), Library Committee (Long-Range Planning, Policies), and the Friends of the Library (Books & Materials, Museum Passes, Programs funded by membership dues and book sales)