A Brief History-- Or the first 100 years on Union Street

The reference desk, located in the rotunda

1891 – The Rockland Public Library Association formed to “found and maintain a free library”. 

1894 -95 - Two upstairs rooms leased in the Spofford block (today’s Grasshopper Shop) for use of the library.  Books and furnishings purchased for the sum of $200, and Miss Nancy Burbank hired as Rockland’s first librarian.  Miss Burbank remains with the library until 1919.  In ’95 the library opens to the public for the first time, and in the first six months, checks out over 17,000 vols.

1901 – Trustees apply to Andrew Carnegie for funds to erect a library building in Rockland.

1902 – Citizens of Rockland vote to accept Mr. Carnegie’s donation, and as required by Carnegie, to “provide the site and pledge annual spending for maintenance”.

1903 – Construction begins on the new Rockland Public Library, to be located on Union Street. 

1904 – The new library opens its doors on April 26.  Over 200 people attend the ceremony, and Mr. William Cobb, later governor of the state, presides over the opening.

1910 – President Taft visits Rockland, and speaks to an audience gathered on the library lawn.

1915 – The building is wired for electricity.

1922 – Special children’s room opened and the first children’s librarian appointed.

1979 – The library placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1991-1996 - The building has fallen into a sad state of disrepair.  The roof leaks and the basement floods.  The Friends of the Library begin to talk about ways to rejuvenate the library.  The Public Library

Endowment Association formed; their primary task is to fund a library renovation.

2000 – The $3 million renovation project breaks ground.  Both the Friends and the PLEA are instrumental in securing the needed funds from donations and fund-raising events.

2001 – The Grand Opening of the new addition occurs.  The PLEA takes on the task of building an endowment to help support the facility.

2004- The Rockland Public Library celebrates 100 years of service to the community.

2005 - Today, more than 150,000 people use our library annually.  They check out 181,000 books, magazines, and DVD’s.  They come to study, to meet their friends, and to use the computers.  They come to see a program.  Most importantly, they come to stretch their minds and their understanding.