BERLIN - PECK MEMORIAL LIBRARY - 01

The History of the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library 1829-2006

 

In November 1829, the Kensington Library Society was organized with

the purchase of 40 books. The Secretary's book begins: "We the

subscribers sensible of the benefits resulting to the community from

the establishment of a public library have associated ourselves for

the accomplishment of this object and adopted the following

constitution." The Kensington Congregational Church housed the

library, sometimes in a cupboard under the stairs and at other times

in a church pew. Among the subscribers were the Peck and Moore

families. In 1874, the Kensington Library Society paid $3.50 for the

use of Hart's Hall to house the library. Three years later, in 1877,

the library moved to a room in the Berlin Savings Bank. In 1890,

the collection was moved back to the Kensington Congregational Church.

 

In 1900, Susan A. Peck was prominent and untiring among those who

worked for the construction of a new library building. Through her

efforts, she convinced her cousin Henry Hart Peck to donate the funds

for a new building if a suitable location could be found. On May 3,

1901, the Kensington Library Society incorporated in order to receive

land donated from Miss Harriet Hotchkiss and Mrs. Fannie Hotchkiss

Jones. The land was tucked between the Hotchkiss and Moore family

homes on Main Street. On November 5, 1902, the Peck Memorial Library

building was dedicated with a building approximately 1680 square feet

and a collection of 1,120 books.

 

In 1963, Lyman Hall breathed new life into the library. Through his

efforts, an addition was made to the library building with funding

from the Marjorie Moore Charitable Foundation. Marjorie Moore had

been one of the incorporators of the library in 1901 and for over 50

years she was the secretary to the Kensington Library Society. Upon

her death, she left a trust fund to Kensington. Lyman Hall hired the

first professional librarian as Library Director and helped transform

the library into a modern facility. For the first time, story times,

travelogues, and summer reading clubs were offered. The expanded

building had 3,520 square feet and a collection of approximately 7,000 books.

 

In a short time, the library outgrew both the addition and original

building. In 1986, Blanche Johnson Delaney led the negotiations so

that the Town of Berlin took over the private library. For the first

time, the Town of Berlin had a truly public library. Blanche Johnson

Delaney and David Borthwick oversaw the building of a new facility

near the Town Hall. On October 2, 1989, the new Berlin-Peck Memorial

Library was opened and dedicated. The new building has 21,655 square

feet on the main floor with a full basement for expansion in the

future. The library collection had 58,669 items with a circulation

of 108,041.

 

Today, in 2006, the library is outgrowing the building and there are

plans for expansion to the basement. The library has over 106,162

items with a circulation of 215,187.

 

THE HISTORY IS USED WITH PERMISSION.

COPYRIGHT BY THE BERLIN-PECK MEMORIAL LIBRARY.

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