A century after the Library Association was organized, the Library has outgrown the building donated by Morris K. Jesup in 1908 and moves to a new building overlooking Jesup Green, its current site. Prior to the start of construction, resident Amy Vanderbilt had held a tea party on the site to defend its selection. It once had been a landfill. The Library’s collection is 154,146 books, audio-visual and reference volumes. Circulation is 282,654 books and 107,292 audio-visual media. Library annual attendance is 332,255. Fourteen computer terminals and personal computers are used for cataloging, circulation and interlibrary loans. Westport’s population is 26,000.
Joan Turner succeeds Eleanor Street as Library Director.
Library Director Eleanor Street and author Peter DeVries greet early morning commuters with books at the railroad station in the Wake Up and Read program.
In July, the library expands into a new wing facing the Saugatuck River. In December, the Library accepts the pictorial research file of Albert Dorne, President of the Famous Artists School. The file consists of 500,000 clippings.
Eleanor Street succeeds Constance Collins as Library Director.
The Friends of the Westport Library organization is created, headed by the aptly-named Charme Speaks.
Constance Collins succeeds Edith Very Sherwood, who has been Head Librarian for 29 years.
The Library’s collection has grown to 23,000 volumes including 5,000 in the Children’s Department. Annual circulation reaches 45,000 volumes. Forty percent of Westport citizens hold library cards. They borrow an average of 10 books per year. The Library subscribes to 30 periodicals and the phonograph collection contains 50 records. The annual Library budget is $11,000, of which $8,000 is covered by Town of Westport appropriation. Fines, rentals and income from the Library’s growing $39,000 endowment cover the balance. Two-thirds of the annual budget goes to compensate the 3 full-time and 1 part-time Library employees. Westport’s population is 11,000.
Circulation is 47,648 books, a doubling since the end of World War I. The Library is open 11 hours per day, Monday through Saturday. The children’s department receives a gift of $1,000 from the Bedford Foundation to furnish an informal reading and discussion area.
Library marks its 30th anniversary as Mrs. Edith Very Sherwood becomes head librarian.
Mr. Morris K. Jesup offers to donate funds for a new library building that becomes the Westport Library. Located across the street from the original reading room, it is dedicated April 8. Thanks to his generosity and $15,000 in additional private contributions, the $6,000 building fund is redirected to an endowment and acquisition of new books for the Library’s growing collection.The Westport Reading Room and Library Association incorporates as The Westport Library Association and elects its first board. The Town of Westport initiates an annual appropriation of $1,000 to the Library and receives the power to elect three directors to the Library’s executive committee.
The building fund has grown to $6,000. Benefits organized by the Westport Dramatic Club, the Musical Society and the Chess Club raise funds to purchase more books for the collection.
