The Ridgefield Public Library and Historical Association
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The Ridgefield Public Library and Historical Association maintain the Ridgefield Public Library. It was founded in 1795 and is currently located in the EW Morris building. When it was founded, it had a collection of 150 volumes. In 1845, Hiram K. Scott established a circulating library. Books were lent at as cheaply as possible, based on the cost of the book. Strangers left a deposit of the cost of the book. The Ridgefield Library and Historical Association was established on October 16, 1871. Twelve members paid a fee of three dollars. Dr. William S. Todd organized the group. Each year the members would pay three dollars, which would be spent on books. At the end of the year the old books would be sold, the three-dollar due collected and new books bought. It carried on in this manner for the first six years of its existence. In the seventh and eighth year of its history, the old books were kept. This formed the nucleus for the library. Mrs. Ebenezer Keeler saved them.
On December 3, 1880 the Ridgefield Public Library Association, a town organization was formed. It met twice a week in Town Hall. In 1882, the name was changed to The Ridgefield Library Inc. Phineas C. Lounsbury, an ex-governor, donated the original building. It was located on Bailey Avenue, where the first telegraph office was located. One of the first librarians was Ms. Jennie Smith. She was a librarian from 1899 to 1924. She helped catalogue the libraries 21956 volumes in the Dewy Decimal System with Ms. Mary Olcott. In 1900, the present property was purchased. The building was designed by Raleigh C. Gildersleeve for Mr. James W. Morris. Morris built the building in memory of his late wife, Elizabeth Morris. As of 1958, the library was a two floor establishment the original building. It was open from 10:00 Am to 6:00 PM. It was not opened on Sundays. There were two librarians in employ, one for the children and one for the adults. The library contained about 40,000 books at the time.
As of now, the library has been extensively remodeled. It currently contains tens of thousands of books and thousands of periodicals. There is large children’s section located on the second floor. The adult fiction section is also located on the second floor. Non fiction, periodicals, and the main circulation desk are all located on the first. The Ridgefield Public Library and Historical Association is located at 472 Main Street, Ridgefield CT. 06877. Its telephone number is 203-438-2282. The Ridgefield Library is a member of Biblomatic Incorporated, a computerized circulation database. The library has numerous librarians and assistants under its employ at this time.
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