Vermont Department of Libraries

The Vermont Department of Libraries Is the official state library agency of Vermont located in Barre, Vermont. It is a department under Vermont's Agency of Administration.[1]

Vermont Department of Libraries
Agency overview
FormedMarch 31 1970
Preceding agencies
  • Vermont State Library
  • Free Public Library Service
JurisdictionState of Vermont
Headquarters60 Washington Street
Barre, VT 05642
Agency executive
  • Jason Broughton, State Librarian
Parent agencyAgency of Administration
Websitelibraries.vermont.gov

History

The State Library came into existence in 1825 when Robert Pierpoint a member of the Council of Censors introduced a resolution for the state to appoint a person to take care of the state's collection of books and public documents.[2] The library was originally only for public documents, legal books and publications for the Supreme Court and legislature. In 1854 the State Librarian received a $200 appropriation to buy books of his choosing.[2]

Until 1969 the state had two library agencies: the State Library, and the Free Public Library Service which ran a series of regional libraries and a bookmobile service. The two units were merged into the Department of Libraries on March 31,1970.[3] The State Librarian is appointed by the Governor.[4] The State Librarian is advised by a Board of Libraries, the seven members of which are also appointed by the Governor.[4]

Building

The State Library was originally housed inside the Vermont State House.[2] In 1857 the State House burned and the items remaining at the State Library were relocated to a private home before moving back in to the rebuilt State House, and then to its own building. The State Library building was built in 1918 and was located at 111 State St in Montpelier Vermont in a space it shared with the state Supreme Court. The 1927 Flood destroyed nearly 50,000 documents belonging to the State Library. The library later moved next door to 109 State Street (the Pavilion), and in 2018 relocated to Barre, Vermont at the site of the old Spaulding school building in a space it shares with the Vermont Historical Society.[5]

State Librarians
Year Name
2019–present Jason Broughton[6]
2017-2019 Scott Murphy[7]
2008-2017 Martha Reid[8]
1997-2008 Sybil McShane[9]
1977-1997 Patricia Klinck
1973-1977 John McCrossan[2]:20
1972-1973 Kathryn R. Nelson
1969-1972 James Igoe[10]
1967-1969 Marion Burns[3]
1954-1967 Lawrence Turgeon[11]
1925-1952 Harrison Conant[12]
1902-1925 George Wing[13]
1873-1902 Hiram Huse[14]
1858-1873 Charles Reed[15]
1856-1857 Harvey Webster
1855 Charles H. Joyce
1853-1854 Frederick Hovey
1849-1852 George Nichols
1848 Cornelius Carpenter
1845-1847 Gustavus Loomis
1842-1844 Asa Kenney
1840-1841 A.D. Arms
1839-1840 Jackson Vail
1835-1836 Herman Carpenter
1834-1835 Harrison Page
1832-1833 Ferrand Merrill
1825-1830 Calvin Keith (unsalaried) [2]

References
  1. "Office of the State Librarian". Department of Libraries. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  2. "Patricia Klinck Named to Number 2 Library Post". The Brattleboro Reformer (Vol.62 No. 45). April 22, 1974. p. 17. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  3. "Igoe Takes Oath to Head Unified Library Service". Burlington Free Press. October 11, 1969. p. 5. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  4. "Title 22: Libraries, History, And Information Technology Chapter 13: Department Of Libraries , Subchapter 1: General Provisions". Vermont Laws. Vermont General Assembly. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  5. "History Center & Leahy Library". Vermont Historical Society. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  6. Release, Press (2019-04-05). "Gov. Scott appoints state librarian". VTDigger. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  7. "VT hires new environmental officials, librarian". Burlington Free Press. 2017-05-30. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  8. Keays, Alan J. (2017-01-19). "State librarian won't be reappointed". VTDigger. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  9. Carbone, Jerry (2004-02-26). "Musings from Vermont: Vermont has new State Librarian". Musings from Vermont. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  10. "Library Head Quits". Rutland Herald. Vermont Press Bureau. May 4, 1972. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  11. "Acting State Librarian to be Miss Marion Burns". Rutland Herald. Associated Press. June 22, 1967. p. 24. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  12. "Lawrence J Turgeon Named to Fill State Librarian Post". Burlington Free Press. May 5, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  13. "Put Conant in Charge As State Librarian". Rutland Herald. April 16, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  14. Bellamy, Christopher Aladdin (May 1, 2004). The Capitol Complex: Change, Loss and Renewal A Report to the Curator of State Buildings (PDF) (3rd ed.). Montpelier VT: Vermont Historical Society. p. 47. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  15. "The State Library". Rutland Herald (Vol. 79 No. 13). March 27, 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
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