Grove Hall Branch Library
41 Geneva Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02121
617-427-3337
Branch Librarian: Richard Kort

DISTINCTIVE ASPECTS OF THE COLLECTION
The Grove Hall collection has a strong component of African-American literature.

RECURRING PROGRAMMING OFFERED
Preschool story hours are offered weekly for children.

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING OFFERED
An annual musical program of jazz has been offered over the past several years, inspiring local interest in initiating a neighborhood jazz festival.

HISTORY
The first library in this section of Roxbury opened May 1, 1898 in the rear of Mr. Mowry's Drug Store at the corner of Warren Street and Haynes Park with one table, eight chairs, two shelves and 200 books. It was so well patronized that the Trustees of the BPL voted in 1905 to open a reading room. In 1919 the building on the corner of Warren and Savin Streets officially became the Warren Street Branch Library. In 1926, this branch moved into its new quarters in the New Roxbury Memorial High School and thus became the Memorial Branch Library. The Memorial Branch was replaced in December 1970 by the Grove Hall Branch Library located at the corner of Warren and Crawford Streets.

On April 4, 2009 the new branch library at 41 Geneva Avenue, Dorchester opened. Located in the newly-renovated Jeremiah E. Burke High School, the new library was designed by Schwartz/Silver Architects. It features a designated young adult room and young adult librarian, in keeping with its unique configuration, adjacent to the high school.

Library Trustees Chairman Jeffrey B. Rudman, Library
President Amy E. Ryan, and Mayor Thomas M. Menino
cut the ribbon to open the new Grove Hall branch.

Exterior of the new Grove Hall branch

A view from the Jazz Lounge

Little seats for little readers in the Children's Room