Since 1853, the Chicopee Public Library has taken pride in bringing the best services and information to the residents of the City of Chicopee. In addition to the Emily L. Partyka Main Library at 449 Front Street, the library has a branch in Fairview at 402 Britton Street and a Bookmobile that makes weekly stops around the city. For more information about the Library and Library services, please stop by or contact us!

The Library is a smoke free property per the Chicopee Board of Health. For the well being of all patrons please refrain from using tobacco products while on library property. Thank you for your cooperation.

History of the Library

In 1853, Cabot Institute donated its collection of nine hundred books to form a public library. The town voted on March 11, 1853 to support a public library from tax dollars, making the Chicopee Public Library the first library funded by public funds in Western Massachusetts. In 1907, Mrs. Spaulding donated $20,000 towards a new library building and on May 13, 1913, the Chicopee Library opened its first building built solely for the purpose of being a library.

In 2004, the Library expanded again, thanks to the large donation of $500,000 by the Partyka family and fundraising efforts by the Friends of the Library through their “Raise the Roof” campaign. The library’s current location on 449 Front Street includes a 34,000-square-foot, handicap accessible, two-level facility with a local history room, computer lab, teen space, conference and community rooms. It is named in honor of Emily L. Partyka whose family’s generosity to the Chicopee community made the library possible.

In 2015, the Polish National Credit Union made a substantial donation of $75,000 to purchase the bookmobile. Lovingly known as “Booker”, it travels around the city daily to provide outreach services to the community.

Library Mission Statement        

The Chicopee Public Library embraces the spirit of Chicopee by providing all community members with compassionate service; free access to materials, information, and instruction; and opportunities for learning, leisure, and cultural enrichment.

Vision Statement

As a trusted community partner, the library strives to collaborate with city departments, library consortia, and community agencies to provide engaging programming and resources that satisfy curiosity, provide enjoyment, and expand knowledge.

Values Statement

Everyone is welcome at the Chicopee Public Library.

• We provide access to information. We help people get the information they seek by actively removing barriers to our services, and we do so without judgment or commentary. We provide current and relevant information in our physical and virtual spaces and regularly evaluate our resources and update them as needed.
• We are inclusive. We respect people for who they are and we help them get what they need. We recognize that each individual has different needs and we meet patrons where they are.
• We appreciate and cultivate diversity. We engage differences with humility and curiosity and include diverse representations in our collections and programs. We strive to create a library community that does not simply present information or programs to patrons; we partner with community leaders, patrons, and organizations so that people of all backgrounds see themselves reflected in our services, programs, and our physical and electronic materials.
• We foster lifelong learning. We champion the learning of all our patrons: from the littlest ones, who are beginning to acquire language, through all ages and levels of education. We believe learning is never complete, and we provide opportunities for all to continue gaining knowledge.
• We are compassionate. Compassion moves us to understand that everyone faces challenges, visible and invisible, known and unknown. We cultivate a friendly, equitable environment that fosters kindness, and we treat each other and our patrons with empathy and respect.

We are here for you.

Download the 2022-2027 Chicopee Public Library Strategic Plan

Library Trustees

• Normand Girouard Term through 2024
• Barbara Pronovost Term through 2025
• Karen Kamienski Term through 2025