The Levi Heywood Memorial Library Association was founded in 1884 as a non-profit corporation to provide library services to the City (then town) of Gardner, Massachusetts. The Levi Heywood Memorial Library provides public library service for the City of Gardner. Although the City funds salaries of the library staff and most of the operational costs, The Library Association owns the library building and provides building and grounds repair, maintenance, and covers any other shortfalls in the overall budget using MA State Grant money; donations; investments; and support from the Friends of the Library group. This hybrid system works well for both the Association and the City.
The Library Association consists of approximately 100 members and holds their annual meeting in October, when they elect the Board of Library Trustees.
