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COLLECTION OVERVIEW
Audio-visual
This library has a strong, eclectic collection of videos, DVDs, and books on tape/CD.
We are particularly proud of this collection, which ranges from classic movies to pop culture to non-fiction.
Currently, we are focusing on purchasing a broad range of classic and contemporary works in digital format.
Children's Collection
Our children's rooms - both at the main and Endicott - have diverse collections, ranging from classics to today's hottest novels.
We have a full time children's librarian and library assistant at the Main Library, and a librarian at Endicott with a special interest in the area.
Dedham Collection
The Dedham Historical Collection is a wide variety of books, manuscripts, and government documents relating to the history and people of Dedham.
It includes items such as the Dedham High School yearbooks; vital records; town records; town and county histories; historical registers; some family histories, and other books of interest.
The items are secured in the reference collection at the Main Library, but may be accessed any time the library is open by asking a staff member. You may not take items home, but may photocopy/scan as long as it does not damage the material.
Researching Your Ancestors
In response to the volume of patrons searching for ancestors, we are excited to announce the launch of two new genealogy databases - HeritageQuest Online and Ancestry.com, Library Edition (available in-library only).
Through Ancestry.com, Library Edition, you can search:
● US, UK, and Ireland Census information;
● Birth, marriage, and death records, including the Social Security Death Index;
● Massachusetts town vital records; military records; immigration collection lists from various cities;
● and more than 1.5 billion names in 4,000 databases.
Through HeritageQuest, you can search:
● US Federal Census records;
● Periodical Source Index (PERSI);
● Revolutionary War Era Pension Records;
● and Freedman's Bank Records.
Heritage Quest Online is available from computers outside the library when using a library card.
Fiction
Our fiction collection is intended to serve the public's interest in novels and short stories, whether new, popular, classic, or obscure.
We place special emphasis on genres of general fiction, mystery; new fiction, large print, mystery, and science fiction are shelved in separate areas for easy browsing.
Non-Fiction
Our adult non-fiction collection contains more than 50,000 items on a broad range of topics, with particular strengths in history and biography.
Reference
The reference collection, which is currently being dramatically weeded and revitalized, consists of more than 4,000 volumes. Of special interest is our Dedham Historical Collection, which includes high school yearbooks, archived municipal data, and rare material on the Sacco and Vanzetti murder trial, which took place in Dedham.
Young Adult Collection
Because we recognize the need for young adults to have their own space, the YA collection is currently in the downstairs history room, which is quiet and away from the children's room.
We are also working on revitalizing the YA areas of music and videos, and hope that these collections are soon as popular as the books!
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