History of our Library
The Hancock Library was established in 1887, originally located in a small room in the Town Hall. Upon her passing in 1916, Jane A. Taylor left a generous gift to build a new library. The town agreed to accept the money and the library was built in 1925 and dedicated as the Taylor Memorial Library. It was open on Friday afternoon and evening. For many years there was a bookmobile that came to town to lend books.
In 2015 the library celebrated by having a party/open house. The drummers from Hancock School played under the tutelage of Marjorie and Mel Feathers.
In 2017-2018 Olivia Johnson, director at the time, and a solid corps of volunteers went through the collection and added new books and items. The library hours also increased to 12 hours per week.
At the 2018 Annual Town Meeting, voters approved funds to install a well at the library as a first step toward the building project. The well was installed in 2020. We have the plans for an addition that will house a handicap accessible bathroom and a new handicap accessible entrance. Meanwhile the library does offer an ADA-accessible porta-potty.
During COVID in 2020 we provided curbside services to pick up books or other items. At this time we also put a hold on movie nights and other gatherings.
In 2020 we transitioned to CWMars so that we can provide more services to our community like Inter Library Loan. We are also a certified library which allows us to partner with the Massachusetts Library Commission.
There still is a Monday evening crafts and game night, free and open to all.
Three library Trustees are elected for rotating 3-year terms.
In 2015 the library celebrated by having a party/open house. The drummers from Hancock School played under the tutelage of Marjorie and Mel Feathers.
In 2017-2018 Olivia Johnson, director at the time, and a solid corps of volunteers went through the collection and added new books and items. The library hours also increased to 12 hours per week.
At the 2018 Annual Town Meeting, voters approved funds to install a well at the library as a first step toward the building project. The well was installed in 2020. We have the plans for an addition that will house a handicap accessible bathroom and a new handicap accessible entrance. Meanwhile the library does offer an ADA-accessible porta-potty.
During COVID in 2020 we provided curbside services to pick up books or other items. At this time we also put a hold on movie nights and other gatherings.
In 2020 we transitioned to CWMars so that we can provide more services to our community like Inter Library Loan. We are also a certified library which allows us to partner with the Massachusetts Library Commission.
There still is a Monday evening crafts and game night, free and open to all.
Three library Trustees are elected for rotating 3-year terms.
Present and Past Trustees
Present and Past Trustees
2018-2022: Connie Chase, Joan Burdick, Jane Roberts
2017-2018: Olivia Johnson, Marvel Monette, Joan Burdick
2016: Marvel Monette, Olivia Johnson, Amy Anderton
2015: Marvel Monette, Kathleen Gideon, Amy Anderton
2014: Marvel Monette, Kathleen Gideon
2012-13: Joan Burdick, Kathleen Gideon, Wendy Kipp
2011: Pat Herrick, Kathleen Gideon, Joan Burdick
2010: Pat Herrick, Wendy Kipp, Joan Burdick
2007-09: Pat Herrick, Wendy Kipp, Gail Spaulding
2006: Julie Bourassa, Wendy Kipp, Pat Herrick
2005: Julie Bourassaa, Wendy Kipp, Joan Burdick
2003-04: Julie Bourassa, Wendy Kipp, Elizabeth Maynard-Gaskill
2002: Julie Bourassa, Sandra Derby, Eugenie Daniels
2001: Joan Burdick, Julie Bourassa, Eugenie Daniels
1995-2000: Julie Bourassa, Joan Burdick, Linda Rash
1988-94: Priscilla Conklin, Joan Burdick, Linda Rash
1976-87: Priscilla Conklin, Joan Burdick, Marvel Monette
1975: Elizabeth Maston, Priscilla Conklin, Joan Burdick
1974: Catherine Mitchell, Elizabeth Maston, Priscilla Conklin
1973: Catherine Mitchell, Elizabeth Maston, Elizabeth Whitman, Marjorie Feathers
1964-72: Patricia Rash, Elizabeth Whitman, Catherine Mitchell
1961-63: Isabel Conklin, Elizabeth Whitman, Catherine Mitchell
1960: Isabel Conklin, Myrtle Sharp, Catherine Mitchell
1957-59: Isabel Conklin, Myrtle Sharp, Elizabeth Whitman
1956: Isabel Conklin, Myrtle Sharp, June Cook
1955: Isabel Conklin, Ruth G Whitman, Ardyce C. Rainforth
1954: Isabel Conklin, Ruth G. Whitman, Helena Christiansen
1951-53: Isabel Conklin, Ruth G. Whitman, Helena Christiansen
1950: Isabel Conklin, Ruth G. Whitman
1946-49: Nellie Cameron, Florence Wager, Isabel Conklin
1943-45: Nellie Cameron, Florence Wager, Mrs. William Cook
1941-42: Mrs. A.D. McSorley, Nellie Cameron, Mrs. Williams Cook
1935-40: Mrs. Fred Stuart, Mrs. A.D. McSorley, Nellie Cameron
1934: Mrs. Fred Stuart, Mrs. A.D. McSorley, Alice Alderman
1932-33: Mrs. W.K. Hadselle, Mrs. A.D. McSorley, Alice Alderman
1927-31: Doris Lovejoy, Mrs .A.D. McSorley, Mrs. Frank Snyder
1926: Mrs. A.D. McSorley, Mrs. Frank Snyder
1925: Jennie Whitman, Doris Lovejoy, W,K. Hadselle
Library in Town Hall
1924: Jennie Whitman, J.K. Chittenden, Doris Armstrong
1923: Mrs. W.K. Hadselle, Delos Whitman, Jennie Snyder
1919-22: Sarah Gardner, Jennie Snyder, Mrs. W.K. Hadselle
1916-18: Sarah Gardner, Mrs. W.K. Hadselle, Rev. J.D. Graham
1912-15: Sarah Gardner, Mrs. W.K. Hadselle, Mrs. George Hadselle
1911: Mrs. W.K. Hadselle, Sarah Gardner
1910: No mention
1909: Sarah Gardner, Annie Morey
1908: No mention
1904-07: Annie Morey, Sarah Gardner, D. Shepardson
1903: D. Shepardson, Annie Morey, Mary Lapham
1900-02: D. Shepardson, Mrs. D. Shepardson, Mary Lapham
1899: Danie Shepardson
1887-1898: [no mention]
2017-2018: Olivia Johnson, Marvel Monette, Joan Burdick
2016: Marvel Monette, Olivia Johnson, Amy Anderton
2015: Marvel Monette, Kathleen Gideon, Amy Anderton
2014: Marvel Monette, Kathleen Gideon
2012-13: Joan Burdick, Kathleen Gideon, Wendy Kipp
2011: Pat Herrick, Kathleen Gideon, Joan Burdick
2010: Pat Herrick, Wendy Kipp, Joan Burdick
2007-09: Pat Herrick, Wendy Kipp, Gail Spaulding
2006: Julie Bourassa, Wendy Kipp, Pat Herrick
2005: Julie Bourassaa, Wendy Kipp, Joan Burdick
2003-04: Julie Bourassa, Wendy Kipp, Elizabeth Maynard-Gaskill
2002: Julie Bourassa, Sandra Derby, Eugenie Daniels
2001: Joan Burdick, Julie Bourassa, Eugenie Daniels
1995-2000: Julie Bourassa, Joan Burdick, Linda Rash
1988-94: Priscilla Conklin, Joan Burdick, Linda Rash
1976-87: Priscilla Conklin, Joan Burdick, Marvel Monette
1975: Elizabeth Maston, Priscilla Conklin, Joan Burdick
1974: Catherine Mitchell, Elizabeth Maston, Priscilla Conklin
1973: Catherine Mitchell, Elizabeth Maston, Elizabeth Whitman, Marjorie Feathers
1964-72: Patricia Rash, Elizabeth Whitman, Catherine Mitchell
1961-63: Isabel Conklin, Elizabeth Whitman, Catherine Mitchell
1960: Isabel Conklin, Myrtle Sharp, Catherine Mitchell
1957-59: Isabel Conklin, Myrtle Sharp, Elizabeth Whitman
1956: Isabel Conklin, Myrtle Sharp, June Cook
1955: Isabel Conklin, Ruth G Whitman, Ardyce C. Rainforth
1954: Isabel Conklin, Ruth G. Whitman, Helena Christiansen
1951-53: Isabel Conklin, Ruth G. Whitman, Helena Christiansen
1950: Isabel Conklin, Ruth G. Whitman
1946-49: Nellie Cameron, Florence Wager, Isabel Conklin
1943-45: Nellie Cameron, Florence Wager, Mrs. William Cook
1941-42: Mrs. A.D. McSorley, Nellie Cameron, Mrs. Williams Cook
1935-40: Mrs. Fred Stuart, Mrs. A.D. McSorley, Nellie Cameron
1934: Mrs. Fred Stuart, Mrs. A.D. McSorley, Alice Alderman
1932-33: Mrs. W.K. Hadselle, Mrs. A.D. McSorley, Alice Alderman
1927-31: Doris Lovejoy, Mrs .A.D. McSorley, Mrs. Frank Snyder
1926: Mrs. A.D. McSorley, Mrs. Frank Snyder
1925: Jennie Whitman, Doris Lovejoy, W,K. Hadselle
Library in Town Hall
1924: Jennie Whitman, J.K. Chittenden, Doris Armstrong
1923: Mrs. W.K. Hadselle, Delos Whitman, Jennie Snyder
1919-22: Sarah Gardner, Jennie Snyder, Mrs. W.K. Hadselle
1916-18: Sarah Gardner, Mrs. W.K. Hadselle, Rev. J.D. Graham
1912-15: Sarah Gardner, Mrs. W.K. Hadselle, Mrs. George Hadselle
1911: Mrs. W.K. Hadselle, Sarah Gardner
1910: No mention
1909: Sarah Gardner, Annie Morey
1908: No mention
1904-07: Annie Morey, Sarah Gardner, D. Shepardson
1903: D. Shepardson, Annie Morey, Mary Lapham
1900-02: D. Shepardson, Mrs. D. Shepardson, Mary Lapham
1899: Danie Shepardson
1887-1898: [no mention]