NEWBURY PUBLIC LIBRARY
  History 


 


 
The Early Days - 


 


    
The history of the Newbury public library is a
story of continuous growth now spanning three
centuries.

The story began in 1893 when the town of Newbury voted to 
appropriate the sum of $25.00 to support a town library.    
A gift of $25.00 was also given that year by Colonel
John Hay to buy books for the new town library.    The library opened 
later that year in a room above the Cilley store in
South Newbury, and it remained at that location until 
1910.



 In 1915 a second library was established in
King Daughters Hall (known today as Veterans Hall).
  Newbury was served by two libraries until 1962.
   In that year the town appropriated $15,000 to construct a
dedicated library building.   One year later the new building
was completed and the two  libraries serving the town were consolidated 
at a single location.   At that time the combined libraries
had a collection of about 3,000 volumes.











   

   

 







  

The Renovation -
 





    
  The latest growth step was launched in March 1998 when 
the town approved a project to renovate and expand the library
by adding 2100 square feet to the existing building.    By the time
that the warrant article was submitted to the town, about
$128,000 -- nearly one-third of the estimated $425,000 total
project cost -- had already been donated by the caring citizens of
Newbury.  

Groundbreaking for the expansion began on October 10,1998,
and seven months later the library re-opened for business on
May 29, 1999.  





 
Construction underway to add 2100 square feet
to the existing library building.






    
Information given here is based on research done by Meg Ames.  
Her complete study is available at the Newbury Public Library.