|
Tilton Library was established in 1915 with
funds bequeathed by Chauncey B. Tilton, a local
grocer, and by municipal and private
contributions. In the late twentieth century,
Tilton Library merged with Old Deerfield’s
Dickinson Library to become the town of
Deerfield’s public library. |
|
Description and
History
In 1871 the
Village Library Association was established by a
group of South Deerfield citizens. Books, which
could be borrowed for an annual fee of one
dollar, were housed in a small room on the upper
floor of a private building. In 1876 the
collection was moved to a newly erected room in
the Congregational Chapel, which is now home of
Meeting House books. In 1893 voters elected to
use public money to support the library and the
name was changed to South Deerfield Village
Library. In 1906 the book collection was moved
to the ground floor of Tilton’s Grocery Store,
located between the church and the present
Tilton Library site. In May 1900, Mr. Tilton
died and left money to create a home for the
aged. After the needs of his family were met,
estate trustees appealed to the Supreme Court of
Massachusetts to change the purpose of the will.
The court ruled that money left for charitable
purposes could be used for literary or
educational purposes. Tilton Library was
dedicated on November 15, 1916. The upper floor
of the brick and white marble building served as
the town library and the lower level was used as
a town assembly room.
In 1982, with a
town appropriation and the labor and donations
of citizens, the lower level was converted to a
children’s library. In 1997, a handicapped
accessible entrance and library office were
added to the south side of the building. Public
Internet access became available in 1998 and in
July 2006, Tilton Library became a circulating
member of the Central/Western Massachusetts
Automated Resource Sharing (C/WMARS) consortium.
Today, in
addition to books, Tilton Library offers museum
passes for free admission to area museums, new
DVDs, magazines, local newspapers, free high
speed Internet access, wireless Internet spots,
borrowing privileges from more than 150 other
Central and Western Massachusetts libraries,
children’s story time; book discussion groups,
writing programs, a young adult collection,
large print materials, digital books, music CDs,
copier and fax machines, reference databases,
readers’ advisory services, quiet reading areas,
and summer and school year programs for all
ages.
|
Staff
Sara Woodbury –
Library Director
Julie Cavacco –
Children's and Youth Services
Deborah
McQuillan – Circulation and Interlibrary
Loan Services
Ann Kurt – Circulation and Technical Services
Brenda Lynch –
Circulation and Technical Services
Allen Fowler –
Circulation Assistant
Andy Cavacco –
Student Assistant
|
Board of Trustees
Nancy Maynard –
Chair
Daniel Carmody –
Vice Chair
Cynthia Pepyne –
Clerk
Mary Ann Barnes – Treasurer
Elsie Kolakoski
Pamela Oakes
Sharyn Paciorek
Elizabeth
Schmitt
Midori Tabery
|
Friends
The Friends
of Tilton Library is a non-profit organization
whose purpose is to encourage and promote the
enrichment and use of Tilton Library and to
foster support for the Library in the community.
The Friends of
Tilton recently supported our library with
contributions to the following:
-
Museum passes for community
members’ use
-
The Summer Reading Program
-
Monday Night Music
-
Deerfield Reads
-
Friends of Western Massachusetts
Regional Library System Legislative Breakfast
-
Initiated a free pass program for
admission to Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory
– available for Deerfield library patrons to
check-out.
Additionally, we
provided funds to purchase a bench for use
outside the Library’s door.
We are able to
carry out our mission through active
membership. Please join us in planning our next
event! Meetings are generally held on the 3rd
Monday of each month (excluding July & August)
at 7 PM at the Library.
Kind Regards,
Julie O’Connor,
President
Friends of Tilton Library
Join the Friends
Policies
|
Contact
Phone Numbers:
Phone:
413-665-4683
Fax: 413-665-9118
Email
tiltonlibrary@cwmars.org
Mailing Address:
Tilton Library
75 North Main Street
South Deerfield, MA 01373
 |
Directions
Interstate 91 (from the south)
map
1) take exit 24 to routes 5 and 10
2) turn right onto routes 5 and 10
3) continue straight through first set of lights
4) turn right at second lights onto Elm Street
5) turn left onto North Main Street at 4 way
intersection
6) library is the fifth building on the left
Interstate 91 (from the north)
map
1) take exit 25 to route 116
2) turn left on Conway Road/route 116
3) turn right at traffic lights/route 116 south
4) at next set of lights, turn right onto Elm
Street
5) turn left onto North Main Street at 4-way
intersection
6) library is the fifth building on the left
Route 116 (from the east)
map
1) take 116 north toward Sunderland
2) continue through the lights and cross the
Connecticut River
3) turn right at lights onto Sugarloaf Street
4) bear right at intersection
5) library is the fourth building on the left
|
|
