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Staff:
Sheila Parks, Director Chris Erb, Children's Librarian Ryan Grady Lee Appelbaum |
Volunteers:
Alice Spatz |
Trustees:
Sherri Wilson, Chairperson Katharine Westwood Elizabeth Drury, Secretary |
How the Library Came to Be
According to Fran Martin's 1965 history of our town, the Lanesborough Public Library began full operation in 1871, thanks to the efforts of Justus Tower, Mr. Dickie, Rev. William F. Avery, Josiah Royce and Verlorus Burlinghame. Prior to that, Justus Tower had appealed to the state legislature to direct the "dog tax" to the support of libraries throughout the Commonwealth.
In 1890 the government created a system for the running of public libraries. Management was delegated to three Trustees. Lanesborough's first Trustees were Rev. Charles Palmer, J.C. Pratt, and E. M. Whiting. Mr. Whiting served for 40 years in that role, and his daughter, Anne Whiting, served for another 30 years! Currently (2020) the wife of a descendant serves on the board.
The original library was housed in the stone building currently used by the Historical Commission, open one afternoon and evening each week. A branch library was established in Berkshire Village, but was discontinued a few years later. By 1894 annual circulation had increased to more than 4,000 items! Summer visitors donated many books, and held an annual entertainment to support that effort. They also provided subscriptions to the most important magazines of the day.
With completion of the Newton Memorial Town Hall, the library was relocated into the front room that currently is comprised of the Selectmen's, Secretary, Town Collector and Town Treasurer's offices. With the help of the State Division of Libraries, the entire collection was re-cataloged and a card catalog system was established. The library was open 20 hours per week.
By 1988 the Town Hall was getting crowded and office space was at a premium. It was decided to move the library into a large meeting room at the back of the building. Town meetings and others who used to meet there were moved to the elementary school. During remodeling, a small stage was discovered inside the walls, but had to be removed in order for the space to be usable.
Shortly thereafter, preschool storytimes and other programs were built into library services. A summer reading program drew dozens of children into the library for events and projects. Interlibrary loan was enhanced. In 1990 the first automated catalog and circulation system was created. Over the years it has been updated to the point that Lanesborough's library now is a full member of the Central and Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing (C/WMARS) system and is able to participate in numerous state programs for group purchasing, training, sharing ideas and more. The library is open 25 hours per week and has a part-time staff of four.
According to Fran Martin's 1965 history of our town, the Lanesborough Public Library began full operation in 1871, thanks to the efforts of Justus Tower, Mr. Dickie, Rev. William F. Avery, Josiah Royce and Verlorus Burlinghame. Prior to that, Justus Tower had appealed to the state legislature to direct the "dog tax" to the support of libraries throughout the Commonwealth.
In 1890 the government created a system for the running of public libraries. Management was delegated to three Trustees. Lanesborough's first Trustees were Rev. Charles Palmer, J.C. Pratt, and E. M. Whiting. Mr. Whiting served for 40 years in that role, and his daughter, Anne Whiting, served for another 30 years! Currently (2020) the wife of a descendant serves on the board.
The original library was housed in the stone building currently used by the Historical Commission, open one afternoon and evening each week. A branch library was established in Berkshire Village, but was discontinued a few years later. By 1894 annual circulation had increased to more than 4,000 items! Summer visitors donated many books, and held an annual entertainment to support that effort. They also provided subscriptions to the most important magazines of the day.
With completion of the Newton Memorial Town Hall, the library was relocated into the front room that currently is comprised of the Selectmen's, Secretary, Town Collector and Town Treasurer's offices. With the help of the State Division of Libraries, the entire collection was re-cataloged and a card catalog system was established. The library was open 20 hours per week.
By 1988 the Town Hall was getting crowded and office space was at a premium. It was decided to move the library into a large meeting room at the back of the building. Town meetings and others who used to meet there were moved to the elementary school. During remodeling, a small stage was discovered inside the walls, but had to be removed in order for the space to be usable.
Shortly thereafter, preschool storytimes and other programs were built into library services. A summer reading program drew dozens of children into the library for events and projects. Interlibrary loan was enhanced. In 1990 the first automated catalog and circulation system was created. Over the years it has been updated to the point that Lanesborough's library now is a full member of the Central and Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing (C/WMARS) system and is able to participate in numerous state programs for group purchasing, training, sharing ideas and more. The library is open 25 hours per week and has a part-time staff of four.
