The first attempt to establish a library in West Springfield occurred in 1775 when First Congregational Church pastor, Reverend Joseph Lathrop, and forty subscribers purchased 56 books that were moved from place to place during the year to allow access to readers in various neighborhoods. Legend has it that the entire collection could be carried in two bushel baskets. This arrangement lasted more than three decades until interest waned and the volumes were divided among subscribers.
It was in 1810 that a second group revived the library idea. This time the collection was stored in a cupboard in the Town Hall. If two patrons wanted the same book at the same time, it went to the highest bidder. Once again, the collection was eventually sold among the subscribers.
In 1854, the town launched its first effort to form a municipal library when town meeting voted a $50 annual appropriation supplemented by dog license fees. For a fee of 50 cents a year, patrons could borrow books on the first and third Mondays of each month.
At the dawn of the 20th century, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who accumulated one of the world’s great fortunes by establishing the steel industry in Pittsburgh, created a charitable foundation offering grants to communities that promised to support a library. As a result, West Springfield received a grant of $25,000 and on October 25, 1916 built their Public Library on this corner. The library still displays a painting of Carnegie, whose foundation is credited with endowing 2,500 libraries around the world.
Expansion projects in 1957 and again in 1978 have added a Youth Department, an adult reading room, study and conference rooms and additional space for displays and exhibits.