A Brief History of the Dunbarton Public Library:
"The Dunbarton Free Public Library"

The Dunbarton Public Library was dedicated on September 10, 1995 in the newly remodeled first floor of the Town Hall.

History of the Dunbarton Library

The exact date of the first library is unknown. The earliest record for the "Dunbarton Social Library" covers the years 1794 through 1816. A social library would be a lending library where one paid a fee to become a member.

A prospective member paid $1.20 to join, and paid 20¢ for a right (right to use the library) for a year. Books were allowed to be out for 12 weeks. There was a 20¢ fine if not returned at that time and a 1¢ a day fine afterwards.  Peter Peterson, the librarian, was paid $5.14 for the year and a Forum Orator was paid $1.  Mr. Peterson had a store opposite his home and it's felt that the library was probably at the store. His house is located just north of the Center Cemetery.

The library moved in 1812 but the record does not show where.

The next written record with regard to the library is the article on the warrant for the 1893 town meeting:

"To see if the town will elect a board of library trustees and appropriate the money necessary to secure a gift of one hundred dollars worth of books from the state, said board to consist of three members to be elected by ballot, 1 for 1 year, 1 for 2 years, 1 for 3 years."
The motion passed was: "voted to raise the sum of $25 and elect a board of 3 trustees, etc." It was also voted that the selectmen be instructed to find a suitable place for the town library. This place was in the Old Town Hall. In the town report of 1893, the expense of setting up the library room was listed at $100.  The Dunbarton Free Public Library opened in October, 1893.

When the Town Hall burned in 1908, 321 books and a lamp were rescued from the flames.  The Library was housed by the librarian for a year while the new building was constructed.

In 1972, the Library moved into the old Center School, occupying the 1955 addition.  In 1994, the first floor of the Town Hall was renovated for the Library's use, and the Library reopened in the new space on Monday, January 16, 1995.  The space was dedicated on Sunday, September 10, 1995.

The present location of the Town Library is in the Town Hall in Dunbarton Center.

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