Chronology: 1795 through 2022

The following is a chronology of how the BPL has evolved over time as detailed by Janet Varney (1963), a 1972 Town Report (provided by Ron St. Jean), and a Needs Assessment Report by a library consultant Patience Jackson (2006). Much of the history of the Library after 1973 was compiled in large measure by Susan Frankel, currently (2022) the Treasurer of the BPL Trustees. Much of Frankel’s information was derived from the town Annual Reports. The compilation, some editing, and additions were made by Roger Gingrich, President of the Library Foundation Board 2019 ff. §

November 2, 1795, at the home of Major Isaac Waldron, town residents met and decided to form a library association called the Barrington Social Library. Original records do not specify the library’s location, but it was likely in or near the Congregation Church, then located on Oak Hill.
1808 a vote was taken to incorporate, and in February 1809 the Reverend Benjamin A. Balch was sworn in as the first librarian and clerk, serving for 15 years.
1821 a vote was recorded to maintain the library at the home of Jeremiah Kingman.
In 1834 a warrant was posted to unite the Barrington Social Library and the Barrington Franklin Library (of which no further information was provided) which was done in January 1835.
From 1843 until November 1885 the library association was said to be dormant, likely in some measure due to a great deal of tumult within the country. In 1885 by-laws and procedures were updated.
1889 to 1920, again a period of unrest in the country and the world, library association records lapsed. The library was at this time located in the vestry of the Congregational Church and the librarian was Melvin Hall.
October 13, 1920, a meeting was held at Grange Hall and Elmer Wiggin was elected Library President, a position he held until 1951.
1938 the library association purchased the Oak Hill School for $100, and it became the town library in 1940.
1954 the library was moved to a room built for that purpose in the Barrington Elementary School.
1972 a prefabricated “Butler building” was constructed which currently houses the Recreation Department and the Barrington Public Library. The building was designed by the builder and built for $135,000 following a successful warrant vote 181-57. Initially the building was occupied by the Town Hall, Police, and the Library while the large lower level space was used by the school for recreation and the town as a meeting hall.
1973 – Library moves from school to the Town Hall Building, its current location at 105 Ramsdell Lane (formerly 39 Province Lane), but still serves a dual purpose as School/Public Library. Librarians are Phyllis Andrade and Ann Brooks. Ann Brooks is the School Librarian.
1974 – Phyllis Andrade retires after 10 years as Librarian.
1978 – Peggy Smart becomes the School Librarian.
1980 – Irene Saunders becomes the School Librarian and the Library adds an assistant, Nancy T. Callahan. Hours expand. Both Irene and Nancy leave in November. Jennifer Wilson becomes the Librarian.
1980 – The Friends of the Library group is started.
1980 – The Albert & Celia Wood Memorial Fund established with $1000 received from Charles Stratton on behalf of his late wife, Catherine Wood Stratton. Funds are for the purchase of books for the Public Library. The Fund is maintained by the Town Trustees of the Trust Funds.
1981 – State Library Cards are stopped and residents need local card to access materials.
1982 – School and Public Libraries split. School books moved into the Elementary or Middle School while the Public Library books remain in the Town Hall location.
1983 – Karen Littlefield becomes Public Librarian. Library is still a private association provided with funds from fees and dues, as well as augmented with town funds.
1984 Barrington town begins to provide funds for the BPL budget.
1985 – State Library’s list of holdings of NH libraries made available to any library with a computer.
1986 – Library Association approves funds to build an office for the librarian with adjoining circulation desk.
1987 – First Library Summer Reading Program. A new Friends of the Library group formed.
1988 – Library is officially made a town department funded by the Town rather than an association (Town Warrant Article 21) and Trustees become elected officials.
1989 – First Board of Trustees elected with seven members. Prior to 1989, the town voted for one Special Library Trustee every three years. Dorothy Berry held this position for many years. She also served on the first Board of Trustees.
1990 – The Library receives a $50,000 bequest from Gladys Steele Lund in memory of her mother Ada J. Steele. The money is to be used at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.
1990 – Library expands into the Old Community Room, doubling the floor space.
1991 – Voters pass Warrant Article 10 to permit the Library to retain funds from income generating equipment. (RSA: 202-A:11-b)
1992 – Warrant Article 32 passes to allow Trustees to apply, accept and expend monies from public and private sources subject to limitation of RSA 202-A:4c.
1993 – Warrant Article 14 passes to appropriate $3,000 to purchase basic reference material.
1994 – Library receives $2000 grant to convert the Library’s holdings from card format to computer format for circulation purposes. Warrant Article 39 passes to accept the new provisions of RSA 202- A:4c.
1995 – The Friends of the Library produce an oral history book called “Traditions & Transitions,” a compilation of interviews of Barrington residents.
1995 – 200th Anniversary of the Library.
1995 – New Librarian is hired, Laurie Lam.
1997 – New Librarian is hired, Amy (Richards) Inglis.
1997 – A public computer with Internet access is showcased and a new online card catalog is unveiled. The old card catalog is phased out. Online databases are added to services.
1997 – Voters pass Warrant Article 30 which allows Trustees to accept gifts of personal property, other than money, provided that the acceptance of the property does not bind the Library or require public funds for maintenance, repairs, or supplies. (RSA 202-A, 4d.)
1998 – Adult Book group begins and continues to run to this day.
1996 – 1998 – Annual Garden Tour sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
1999 – Annual Perennial Plant sale fundraiser begins sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
1999 – Warrant Article 12 establishes a Library Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of upgrading existing Library facilities and appropriates $30,000 to be placed in the fund.
2000 the Town Hall and Police moved out, providing nearly 3800 square feet for the library.
2000 – Library does a $100,000 renovation to take over the top floor of the building at 39 Province Lane after the police move into their new building. The Library now has 3,760 sq. feet of space, including space to hold meetings of up to 30 people.
2000 – The library receives a donation of $8,000 for a children’s materials trust fund from Thelma Swain. The Library also receives numerous donations to help furnish the upgraded building.
2000 – Warrant Article 15 passes to accept the provisions to RSA 202-A, 4-c to allow the Trustees to apply, accept and expend unanticipated funds from state, federal or private sources which become available during the fiscal year without further action by the town.
2002 – Warrant Article (17) to establish Capital Reserve Fund and raise $35,000 for the purposes of a new building does not pass.
2003 – The Library is named “Community Supporting Organization” of the year by UNH.
2003 – Grant received from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for extensive computer hardware and software.
2003 – Marie Harris named Trustee of the Year by New Hampshire Library Trustee Association (NHLTA).
2003 – Inter-Library book loan arrangements set up between the Library and Barrington schools. Books to get delivered and picked up at each location.
2004 – Library Board of Trustees supports a building needs assessment to be done by an independent consultant (Patience Jackson of Massachusetts).
2005 – Library Teen Advisory Board wins the NHLTA Special Library Service award for their fundraising and program help.
2005 – Warrant Article (15) introduced to establish Capital Reserve Fund and raise $150,000 for the purposes of a new building. Article does not pass.
2006 – Library Building Consultant Patience Jackson a professional library consultant from Maynard, MA was contracted to study the town library needs of Barrington. A 60+ page Needs Assessment Study of the BPL was submitted September 2006. Findings showed that the existing facility was/is too small for current collection, staff, and programming and cannot satisfactorily accommodate anticipated community growth. Report on file at the Library.
2007 – Library e-newsletter starts with signup on website.
2007 – 2011 – with the help of David Provan of Right Road Consulting, 5 committees were formed of Barrington citizens: Building, Feasibility, Design, Finance, and Communications. Green building specialists were consulted from the Jordan Institute. Ten building sites in Barrington were considered, thoroughly studied, and eventually one was chosen. Twenty-five town libraries from NH, ME & MA were chosen for intensive study including visits and interviews of staff, patrons, designers, and builders. In 2009 34 architectural firms were selected for review. SMP was chosen and has remained with BPL throughout.
2008 – Voters approve Warrant Article 6 to discontinue the Library Facility Upgrade Capital Reserve Funds established in 1999. All funds had been withdrawn.
2008 – Over 4000 active Library card users, which is nearly half of Barrington population.
2009 – Amy Inglis is named NH Librarian of the Year by the NH Library Trustees Association (NHLTA). Roundy Law Offices donate new outdoor book drop.
2010 – Warrant Article 15 establishes Capital Reserve Fund appropriating $5,000 for purpose of technology improvements. Upon further discussion the sum is increased to $15,000 and the Article passes.
2011 – A new online card catalog is purchased; Atriuum is web based and allows online renewals, reserves, and a host of other capabilities.
2011 – Voters pass Warrant Article 20 to appropriate $3,000 to be added to the Library Technology Fund. As of 2021 voters continue to appropriate $3000 for the Library Technology Fund.
2011 – Friends of the Library establishes a Museum Pass program and sets aside $500.00 annually.
2012 – The Library remains in the renovated space. Circulation has risen to over 100,000 items per year and the Library is full, with over 36,000 items. Plans for a new library and community center are being developed by the Library Trustees. Significant energy and direction come from Marie Harris, Dan Cappiello, Kris Pavlik, Sam Boduch, Kim Nicols, Traci Bisson, and Trudi Googins.
2013 – Warrant Article (25) introduced to establish a Library Replacement Capital Reserve Fund and raise $50,000 for the purposes of replacing the current Library. Article does not pass.
2014 – New Library logo unveiled.
2016 – Barrington Library Foundation established to raise capital funds for new Library building and promote public awareness of what the town library offers the community. Library wins the statewide new library card signup challenge.
January – April 2017 Sandi Mitchell (Fund-raising consultant, York, ME) conducted a feasibility study by survey and interview (37 individuals).
2017 – Library wins for the second year the statewide new library card signup challenge. 2018 – New Librarian hired, Melissa Huette.
2019 – Warrant Article 3 requests a bond appropriation of $3,992,641 for the purpose of constructing a new Library building. Article requires 60% vote and does not pass with a vote of 53.4% (yes – 1170, no – 1022; turnout ~30%).
2019 – Implementation of a new state-wide interlibrary loan (ILL) system.
2020 – Barrington Library Foundation raises just over $500,000 in cash, pledges, and gifts-in-kind with the help of fund-raising consultant Sandi Mitchell, York, ME (2017-2019).
2020 – Warrant Article 3 requests a bond appropriation of $3,998,877 for the purpose of constructing a new Library and community center. Article requires 60% vote and does not pass with a vote of 49.5% (yes – 1144, no – 1164; voter turnout 31.73%).
2020 – Global pandemic curtails Library operations. Curbside services are offered in spring and then the building closes from March through mid-June. Curbside services start up again mid-June and the building opens to the public in mid-August with limited capacity.
2021 – Warrant Article 8 establishes a Library and Community Center Capital Reserve Fund with the sum of $25,000 for the construction of a Library and community center; (yes – 573, no – 390; 59.5% support with 12.58% voter turnout).
2022 – Warrant Article adds $20,000 to Library and Community Center Capital Reserve Fund; (yes ~70% with ~24% voter turnout).

§ Should diligent and / or knowledgeable readers of this history discover errors or are in possession of additional historical information about our library, please contact us to share your information. Thanks, RG.