Cuttyhunk Public Library

A
cool
card
catalog
The library was built in 1892 and it is one the the increasing rare and wonderful places that has never changed. Walk through those doors and you are back in 1892. Small, dark, cramped and with a wonderful odor of ocean air, books and old wood the building is intoxicating to all the senses. I believe the librarian told me that it holds almost 20,00 books. Considering only a few dozen people actually spend the year on the island, it must have the highest ratio of books to people anywhere. Of course the numerous large, stinky, but very friendly island dogs go in and out as they please, they are also part of the library’s décor.
What the library doesn’t have is Internet access or computers. Again, this isn’t a complaint, they say it with pride. God help the insensitive, self absorbed dolt that pulls out a cell phone. The sweet librarian will quickly insert the cell some place where it was never designed to go.
If you actually find the library and choose to go in, you will find a sundry collection of tomes inside. Lots of very light reading paperbacks and the typical library reference stuff but also some great historical books on Cuttyhunk and the surrounding area. Great old pictures, maps and drawings are everywhere. They even sell some cool book bags and shirts. Hey, they have to make a few bucks to keep the place going.
Even though the old, historic books are cool, the greatest resource is the librarian. She not only deals with the books and library but also serves as town historian, visitor center and very probably disseminator of local gossip. Anything you wish to know about the island she will tell you in a very kind, knowledgeable and very cool way. Just don’t be stupid and try using a cell phone in her library. You might not survive the experience.
Cuttyhunk Library. A very cool and enjoyable place to visit, look at some books, learn a few things, met and talk to some great people or just sit and absorb the great atmosphere. Ocean air, old wood, books, interesting people and big friendly dogs are a hard combination to beat.
You might even get to use a card catalog.