Salisbury Public Library

1895
At the annual town meeting on March 29, 1895, a Board of Trustees was appointed to establish a town library. Frank Chapin, the postmaster, agreed to furnish a shelf at the post office and serve as the first librarian.

1900
In the Annual Report, the Board of Trustees reported that they grew from three to six members “by the election of three ladies”. Hannah B. Coffin was appointed the first female librarian.

1907-1955
In June 1907, the library was moved to Cushing Hall (presently Town Hall). In 1920, the library moved to the lower floor of the Cushing School and was called the Major Robert Pike Memorial Library. Later, in 1951, the library moved again to the former superintendent’s office on Park Street.

1956-1973
In 1956, the new library was built on Salisbury green. The original building is now the front reading room and the children’s room. By 1972, the town had outgrown the building and a large addition was built, adding the front desk area and the stacks.

1985
The trustees felt that the library had outgrown its space and began to plan a new addition. While blueprints were drawn up, the plan was never executed.

1995
The Salisbury Public Library became a full member of MVLC – the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium.

2005
In October 2005, the Trustees of the Salisbury Public Library appointed a Long-Range Plan committee with the task of studying the existing conditions of the library and determining future needs.

2008
On October 14, 2008, the Trustees approved a building plan for a proposed new library building.

2014
Groundbreaking took place for the new library, to be built on Salisbury Green at the site of the old library.

2015
The new Salisbury Public library had its soft opening on September 21, 2015. The Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place October 3, 2015