Library Corner: Home delivery service makes Weston Public Library accessible to all

You might not be surprised to be asked, “is your order for delivery or pick up” when you call a restaurant, but did you know that delivery service is also available from libraries? It’s actually a 20^th century idea. In 1935 a program was established to bring books and magazines to rural areas of Kentucky. It was called the Pack Horse Library Project, and according to AppalachianHistory.net, in order to fulfill their mission, pack horse librarians delivered reading materials over treacherous terrain using horses or mules, sometimes relying on their own two feet and in a rare case, a row boat.*

Back in 2025, it’s Wednesday and appreciative local Weston patrons can anticipate a visit from reference librarian Mary, a dedicated and trusted emissary, who will deliver requested materials to their front door. Residents who are unable to travel to the library on their own due to short or long term disability are eligible for this service. Mary receives requests via phone, email or even hand-written notes from patrons seeking all manner of books, audiovisual media and even jigsaw puzzles.

Halfway through her morning shift Mary readies herself for the trip across town which typically takes just under an hour. She sorts and bundles items together, loads them into a utility cart on wheels and she’s good to go. For 11 years Mary has been dedicated to providing this valued service, annually making 150 stops at Campion Center, Maplewood, Merriam Village and at private residences. In addition to making deliveries to Merriam Village, Mary coordinates a deposit collection, a temporary collection of materials that the library provides to serve patrons in a different setting for use on the honor system. These materials are on display near the business office of the common area known as Harnish House.

Any interested Weston resident having a valid library card who is unable to visit the library due to short or long term disability may request the library’s free home delivery service. Eligibility will be established when a librarian conducts a phone interview with the interested patron.

To request this service, please call 781-786-6165 or send an email to the Reference Department at [email protected] What materials are available? Books (including large print), DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs, magazines, items in the Library of Things and puzzles. The maximum number of items that may be checked out at one time is six, three of which may be new. Librarians are happy to make selections for patrons if they wish, by simply indicating their areas of interest. Some suggested genres include: mysteries, cooking, classics, history, popular fiction, gentle reads and more. “The Giver of Stars” by Jojo Moyes is a fantastic historical fiction account of the delivery by horseback service. These days we are thankful we can rely on horsepower.

*Retrieved on October 17, 2025 from: https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2018/01/pack-horse-librarians.html

This column was co-authored by librarians Tatanya Flannery and Mary Marder.