Nantucket, Massachusetts
Community Organizations
A public library that is also a private association, a science centre named for an astronomer who grew up here, a hospital thirty miles from the mainland, and two newsrooms that cover your own town meetings. Every organization on this page takes volunteers, and several of them are how a resident with no title at all ends up in the room.
Community Organizations
| Organization | What they do & contact |
|---|---|
| Nantucket Atheneum | The island’s public library, at 1 India Street, 508-228-1110. It runs a children’s library, a catalogue shared with the CLAMS network and a full programme calendar, and its own site says it relies on donors for 75 percent of its operating budget. The Select Board met in its Great Hall in July 2026. |
| Nantucket Historical Association | Keeps and interprets the island’s historical record, and is the organisation the town’s own About Nantucket page sends readers to for island history. |
| Nantucket Conservation Foundation | Owns and manages conservation land across the island and runs its own science and stewardship programmes. It is one reason the town can say that over half of Nantucket is protected from future development. |
| Maria Mitchell Association | Nantucket’s science centre, running an aquarium, the Hinchman House natural science museum, two observatories, a research centre and the historic Mitchell House. Named for the astronomer who grew up on this island. |
| Nantucket Cottage Hospital | The island’s hospital, and the only one for thirty miles of open water in any direction. |
| Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce | The island’s business association, publishing a member directory and an events calendar. |
Who Covers Your Town Government
| Outlet | Notes |
|---|---|
| Nantucket Current | A daily island news site covering town government, the Select Board, the School Committee and every annual town election. |
| The Inquirer and Mirror | Nantucket’s newspaper, publishing island news and sports. |
| Nantucket Government TV | The town’s own channel for live and archived meetings of Nantucket’s boards and committees, which means you can watch a decision get made without leaving the house. |
Town Services You Can Use Today
| Service | Notes |
|---|---|
| Saltmarsh Senior Center | Programmes, meals and outreach for older residents, at 81 Washington Street. 508-228-4490. |
| Park & Recreation | Parks, fields, beaches and youth programmes. Park & Recreation Manager Charles Polachi. 508-228-7200 ext. 7522. |
| Veteran Services | Benefits, claims and services for Nantucket veterans and their families. Veteran’s Agent Patrick Nolan, 22 New S. Road. 508-325-5332. |
| Volunteer Talent Bank | The Select Board’s own register of residents willing to serve on a town board, committee or commission. Adding your name costs nothing but a form. |
For current hours and a fuller list, see the town’s own staff directory at nantucket-ma.gov.