Jonathan Bourne Public Library (Massachusetts)

The Jonathan Bourne Public Library is a medium-sized, primarily publicly-funded library located 70 miles south of Boston. The library's primary role is the provision of popular materials in a variety of formats, including books, periodicals, CD-ROMs, computer files, databases, and video and audio recordings, to individuals of all ages. The library's secondary role is to provide reference information to patrons of all ages.

Reference emphasis is placed in two areas: formal and informal continuing education for adults and support for school assignments for elementary through high school students. The Jonathan Bourne Public Library serves the population of the town of Bourne by providing resources for recreational reading, continuing education, and general self-help information for adults; by supplementing school libraries for school aged students; by offering materials for developing reading interests and abilities for pre-school children and beginning readers; and by providing large print books and a deposit collection of talking books for senior citizens and the visually impaired.

Through the CLAMS (Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing) automated database, the library provides access to materials beyond the scope of the local collection. The library also makes extensive use of regional reference and interlibrary loan service. The library also serves as a distribution point for information and materials from other town organizations and departments. The Library serves as a Depository Library for materials from the Massachusetts Military Reservation. The Board of Trustees supports the American Library Association's Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read statement, The Free Access to Libraries for Minors interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, The Access for Children and Young People to Videotapes and Other Non-Print Formats statement and the Statement of Professional Ethics.