The Hartford Library, Inc. is located at 1587 Maple Street in Hartford Village, in a beautiful Victorian building constructed in 1893.

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In 1892 a group of prominent Hartford residents formed a corporation in order to provide a library for the benefit of the residents of the village of Hartford. Ephraim Morris, Samuel E. Pingree, Charles M. Cone, Edward W. Morris, and Horace C. Pease were appointed as the original Library Trustees.

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Land for the construction of the library was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Horace C. Pease. Mr. Ephraim Morris donated $5,000 to be used for the construction of the building. The new library building was dedicated on September 16, 1893.

Hartford VT Library the library building has maintained its original character through the dedicated care of its trustees and patrons. The original stained glass windows, fireplace, oak shelving, furniture, portraits, paintings, and many other distinct features remain intact. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

From the beginning, the Hartford Library, Inc. has been supported by what is now known as the Hartford Women’s Club. The first women’s group to hold meetings in the Hartford Library was the Ladies’ Reading Club, which was organized in 1893.

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In 2003, through funding from the Freeman Foundation, a new children’s area was added in the basement of the building. The addition of this bright, spacious room enabled us to expand our collection of books and materials for children of all ages. In 2008, through a Winnie Belle Learned Foundation Grant, we added a teen area to the room.

The Hartford Genealogy Resource Center, a collaborative effort between the Library and the Hartford Historical Society, is located on the second floor of the Library. To find out more about the Genealogy Resource Center go to www.hartfordhistory.org and click on genealogy. This large upstairs room is also available as a quiet space for study and laptop use as well as for rental for large group meetings. Hartford VT Library

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The Hartford Library now houses a collection of approximately 17,000 items and offers a wide variety of library services.

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Library services have expanded and changed throughout the years, but the goal of the Hartford Library, Inc. remains the same: to provide quality library services to the residents of the Town of Hartford and the Upper Valley.