On Wednesday, August 4th, 1909, the newly constructed Daland Memorial Library opened its’ doors for the first time to the community of Mont Vernon. Thanks to a generous gift from former resident Sophia G. Daland, donations from prominent Mont Vernon residents, and a vote of the townspeople, the library building was successfully constructed. Since that day, the library has proudly stood at the corner of Main Street and Grand Hill Road serving the community for 111 years.

At the dedication ceremony, held at the Mont Vernon Town Hall on August 19, 1909, Albert Pillsbury was invited to give the address and spoke words that still ring true today. Pillsbury opened his address by describing the library as “the most valuable possession of a town”. He reminded his audience that library use was “not a privilege but a right to be availed of with absolute freedom”. He concluded his speech in highest praise of the public library with this final thought…“Among all the collections of books, the free public library must now be held first in importance. Its influence takes in every member of the community, reaching farther than college, school, lecture or sermon. There is a liberal education init for every reader. It is the embodiment of true democracy, making common to the people that which was once the sole possession of scholars. It stands for equal rights and equal opportunity to all.”

For more about the history of the Daland Memorial Library, borrow a copy of “Persistence & Progress, A History of the Daland Memorial Library, 1892-1992” by Abby H Fuller. Available at the library.