Noah Webster Library

History of the West Hartford Public Library:

West Hartford Public Library began November 10, 1897 when the West Hartford Town Council voted to establish and fund a public library. However, the town’s public library was preceded by several private and community libraries that were associated with the First Church of Christ Congregational. In 1753 there was a subscription library, called the Book Society, and Deacon Noah Webster Senior was a member. In 1837, Noah Webster Junior, the lexicologist, turned over a collection of 78 books to the church for “use of any social or proprietor’s library”. From this gift evolved the West Hartford Library Association which lasted 32 years.

When the church congregation was considering plans for a new building in 1880, James Talcott offered to give $5,000 to the building campaign, if the church would provide a library that was open to the community. The offer was accepted. The new church was completed in 1882, and the Free Library of the West Hartford Congregational Church was opened in the vestry on January 3, 1883 with 800 books. The library proved to be quite popular. Its use grew, and as a result, funding became a problem for the congregation. Fortunately, the State of Connecticut enacted legislation in 1893 that provided encouragement and support for the establishment of local public libraries.

As a result of that legislation, on October 18, 1897, the Church voted to loan the library collection to the Town of West Hartford and a month later the town accepted the loan and established the West Hartford Public Library. The library continued to be located in the church vestry and the church retained ownership of its books. The West Hartford Public Library was funded by $250 annually from the town plus $200 the first year and $100 each succeeding year by the State. Miss Elizabeth Elmer was the first librarian and continued in that capacity until 1919. Miss Elmer was also the Church Librarian, the Church Clerk, and the Town Clerk.

Four years after the library was established, the Elmwood Literary Club requested that the library board of directors support a branch library in Elmwood. The board agreed to provide fifty volumes for the branch every month and the society agreed to provide quarters, management and staffing. For the next three decades the branch was housed wherever there was space, including the home of the librarian, Julia Faxon. A similar attempt was made at the time to establish a branch in the north end of town, but it was not successful.