LANESBOROUGH, MA.
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 Burlingame. 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.
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