We offer antiquarian and collectible books, posters, prints, and other interesting items for sale. While some of the items we offer have been deaccessioned from our collections and are in exlibrary condition, many are not. We take great care to describe our items accurately, and to put them in their proper historical context. We hope you'll find something of interest among our offerings.

All proceeds from the sale of our items benefit the Sturgis Library, and are used to preserve our historical collections and building, offer new programs and services, and support special projects.

Sturgis Library Yesterday & Today Constructed in 1644 for the Reverend John Lothrop, founder of Barnstable, the house which forms the original part of the Library is the oldest Library building in the United States. The building is also one of the oldest houses remaining on Cape Cod. Since Reverend Lothrop used the front room of the house for public worship, another distinction of the Sturgis Library is that it is the oldest structure still standing in America where religious services were regularly held. This room, now called "The Lothrop Room," with its beamed ceiling and pumpkin-colored wide-board floors, retains the quintessential early character of authentic Cape Cod houses.

On February 25, 1782, William Sturgis, a direct descendant of Reverend Lothrop, was born in this house. To help support the family after the death of his father, William went to sea at the age of 15. In 1810, he founded Bryant and Sturgis, clipper ship owners engaged in the Northwest and China Trades. In 1863, after a successful career, Captain Sturgis willed his former home, plus $15,000 in bonds, for the establishment of a village Library in the village of Barnstable. The Library opened in 1867 with 1,300 volumes, many of which came from Sturgis' private library.

Today, Sturgis Library is a national treasure. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Library is situated on the "Old King's Highway," recently named as "one of the ten most scenic byways in America." The Library Collections have grown to over 65,000 volumes, including the Special Collections. These include the Cape Cod History Collection of books, manuscripts, photographs and microfilm, the most important collection of its kind in the United States; the Kittredge Maritime Collection, one of the finest maritime collections on the East Coast, notable for its concentration on Cape Cod sea captains and vessels; and the Lothrop Genealogy Collection, which is used by genealogists from all over the United States in examining their connections to Cape Cod History.

Sturgis Library Mission Statement The Sturgis Library, a historic public library in the village of Barnstable, is dedicated to preserving and promoting Cape Cod history while providing services to meet the needs of a contemporary community.

We are located in Barnstable Village, one of the seven villages of the Town of Barnstable, on Cape Cod. You can contact us by , mail, phone, fax, or email.

• Sturgis Library 
• 3090 Main Street  PO Box 606
• Barnstable Village, MA 02630
• (508) 362-6636 or FAX (508) 362-5467
• info@sturgislibrary.org