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 Libraries in Dunbarton

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.

History of the Dunbarton Public Library

The Dunbarton Free Public Library was founded in 1893 by vote of the Town.  The Town spent $100 to furnish a room in the Town Hall, and received 100 books "from the state" to start the collection.  The Library opened to the public in October, 1893.

On October 7, 1908, fire destroyed the Town Hall.  Reports indicate either 123 or 321 books were saved from the library, along with a lamp.  While the building was rebuilt, the library was housed at the home of the librarian.  The new Town Hall and Library was dedicated on October 15, 1909.  Charles Chase made a substantial donation towards the cost of erecting the new building, and a marble plaque in the front hall commemorates his generosity.

During the 1960s, much of the main floor was used for the 1st and 2nd grade classes.  In 1972, a new elementary school was opened on Robert Rogers Road.  Shortly thereafter, the library moved into one of the rooms of the old center school house.  The town offices followed within a few years, and the main floor of the town hall was used primarily for social functions and storage for the police.

In 1992, a building committee was formed to expand the library.  The decision was made to return the library to the town hall by renovating the entire first floor.  Actual construction began in the summer of 1994.  The library's last day of business in the old school house was October 31, 1994.  Many volunteers helped moved books and furniture into the new library during the month of November.  The Dunbarton Public Library reopened on January 16, 1995 (Civil Rights Day).  The renovations were primarily financed using funds left to the Library by Charles A. Little in the late 1960s.  His gift of approximately $25,000 had grown to slightly over $100,000 by 1993.

A dedication celebration was held on Sunday, September 10, 1995.  The following Wednesday, September 13, the tin ceiling on the second floor collapsed, closing the building for 10 days while the soundness of the structure was determined.  The exact cause of the ceiling collapse is unknown, but factors suspected include the additional insulation blown in during the library renovation, green wood used in the original construction drying out and allowing nails to loosen, and a possible leak in the roof.

The word "Free" in the library's name was officially dropped in 1994.  (We considered renaming the library after Charlie Little, but felt that moving into a bigger space and calling it the "Little Library" was too funny, and also felt that there was enough confusion with other libraries in the state that were named after people rather than the town.)

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

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