Mission Statement

The Falmouth Public Library is a medium size public library serving a rapidly expanding Cape Cod community that has a substantial year round population and a large summer population.  The Library’s mission is to provide access to materials and services that promote and support independent learning, enlightenment, literacy, and personal cultural enrichment for people of all ages, backgrounds, and physical abilities.  Its principal roles are to deliver comprehensive reference services and materials, to provide children’s programs and materials designed to foster a life-long interest in reading, to provide a wide range of popular materials, and to support independent learning endeavors for all age groups.  Its basic services are provided without charge.  The Library endorses the American Library Association principles of intellectual freedom in a democratic society.

In order to meet the needs of Town residents, collection development focuses on reference and information sources in all formats, quality children’s materials of all types,  print and non-print popular materials of many genres, and materials and information pathways to continuing education and course work.  The Library, as part of its role as a reference resource, supports formal education activities through its services to students after school, and strives to provide current community information on an ongoing basis.  As the largest public library on Cape Cod and a regional services provider, the Library seeks to provide both a broad range of materials and in-depth information resources available to all area residents and member libraries of the Southeastern Massachusetts Library System (SEMLS).

Funding for basic library services to residents comes from the town of Falmouth.  In addition, funding through contracts is received from the SEMLS region to provide Interlibrary Loan and Reference services to member libraries and their patrons.

Voted 9/12/2000