Welcoming People of All Ages and Backgrounds

Dennis Public Library is a department of the Town of Dennis and part of the Dennis Library System, which includes four private village libraries: Dennis Memorial Library, Jacob Sears Memorial Library, South Dennis Free Library, and West Dennis Library. The Dennis Libraries welcome people of all ages and backgrounds into their inviting spaces to access a wide variety of library resources, to experience interactions that build community, and to discover the joy of lifelong learning.

When It Began

The history of Dennis Public Library, the youngest of the Dennis libraries, began in 1995. During that year the Dennis Library Board became operative to “make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen to provide all the residents of the Town of Dennis with modern, comprehensive, and readily accessible library and information services.” The eventual goal was to have all of the Dennis libraries participate in the regional Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing (CLAMS) system.

Dennis Library System Created

Towards this intention, the Town hired Margaret Hill as its first librarian in 1996. She worked with the four village libraries to create the Dennis Library System and to accomplish its set objectives. Her first headquarters were in the Town Plaza on Route 134. Residents started dropping off donations, and soon the facility loaned out Children’s books. The results were so successful that in 1997 the Town agreed to hire a part-time Children’s Librarian. That same year Ms. Hill applied for state certification. With state certification in place the Dennis libraries were now eligible to join the CLAMS system, which they did in 1999. Ms. Hill and books then moved to a storefront on Main Street in Dennis Port as the “Dennis Public Library.” In 2002 the Town voted to use Town property on Hall Street for a permanent library building. With the help of many dedicated supporters and library lovers, the new Dennis Public Library opened its doors to patrons in September 2005.