Notice: Scheduled Tech Upgrade – Beginning on Monday, July 28, our library will undergo a scheduled technology upgrade. During this time, some services may be slower or temporarily unavailable due to staff and public computer downtime. We appreciate your patience as we work to improve our systems. Our physical collection and inperson services will still be available. Please ask staff if you need help during this time. Thank you for your understanding!
Aviso: Actualización Tecnológica Programada – En la próxima semana, comenzando el lunes 28 de julio, nuestra biblioteca realizará una actualización tecnológica. Durante este periodo, algunos servicios pueden estar más lentos o temporalmente no disponibles debido a la interrupción en las computadoras del personal y el publico. Agradecemos su paciencia mientras trabajamos para mejorar nuestros sistemas. Nuestra colección física y la atención en persona estarán disponibles. No dude en pedir ayuda al personal si la necesita. ¡Gracias por su comprensión!
The Holyoke History Room is dedicated to preserving the history of Holyoke and supporting research into the city's past. History Room collections include maps, photographs, city directories, and Holyoke newspapers (on microfilm) from the 1850s to the 1990s. Biographical and subject files provide information on numerous Holyoke residents, landmarks, businesses, institutions, and organizations.The Reading Room is located off the third-level gallery in the new Holyoke Public Library.
CLOSED July 14 to approximately August 11, 2025
We're sorry for the inconvenience to our patrons! Part of the Library's HVAC system is in the attic above the History Room area and work on that system necessitates temporary closure of the room. In-person research will be temporarily suspended and parts of our collection will be inaccessible.
History Room staff will be available by email except during the period July 26-August 4 (a previously-scheduled vacation). However, our lack of access to parts of the collection may mean a signifcant delay in getting back to you with answers to questions.
We will post an update here as we learn more about the timetable of repairs.
Thank you for your understanding.
Our Genealogy Labs on July 23 & August 27 will take place as planned in the Computer Classroom!
Regular Reading Room Open Hours (when we return to normal hours in mid-to-late August)
Tuesdays: 10-2 and 3-6
Wednesdays: 10-4
Thursdays: 10-4
Closed Mondays and Fridays except by appointment.
If you think that the materials you need for research may be in the secure archive, or have materials to donate, or are coming from a distance, please call in advance to let us know you are coming. Due to limited staffing, research collections held in secure storage may not available to those without an appointment.
If you wish to bring a group to the History Room, please contact us in advance so that we can prepare an informative visit.
For more information on using History Room collections, click here.
We can also provide limited remote research assistance by telephone or email:
historyroom [at] holyokelibrary.org
/ 413 -/- 420 -/- 8107
Online Research: See our Digital Collections and our Collections pages for free online local history resources. See our Genealogy page for ways (including many free ones) to continue your research online. The Library also has many other online resources for general research availalble to Holyoke Public Library cardholders. If your card is from a different library, check that library's website for access to e-resources.
History Room YouTube Channel for video digitization projects and selected event recordings
Reference Librarian for Special Collections: Eileen Crosby, Ph.D., M.S.L.S.
Call us: /413 /-/ 420 /-/ 8107
Email us: historyroom@holyokelibrary.org
Telephone and email inquiries: For patrons unable to visit the Reading Room, our volunteer staff can conduct limited research. Please provide the details of your prior research (so that we do not duplicate it) along with your own name and contact information. Please allow 7-10 days for look-ups, longer for more complex requests.
Thank you to all our patrons for your patience during our move back to the Holyoke Public Library. We have enjoyed seeing so many familiar and new faces. We had many visitors the day of the Library's Grand Opening (below). In the second image, the library's portraits of Joseph Parsons (Parsons Paper) and Minnie and William Dwight (Holyoke Transcript-Telegram) are visible.
Stay in the loop: Sign up to receive news specifically about History Room events, activities, and programs:
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