Welcome to the Guilford Free Library

Our Mission

In a small, informal, user-friendly setting, the Guilford Free Library nurtures the life-long learning and reading interests of residents of Guilford, Vermont and surrounding rural towns. It is also a center of cultural life for Guilford.

Our History

The Guilford Free Library is one of the oldest continuously operating public libraries in Vermont. It was founded in 1890 as the result of a bequest from Cynthia King. The money she left to the town of Guilford, Vermont was for the purchase of books. The catch, the town would have to build or acquire a building. The current home of the library was built in 1891 on land owned by William Barney. The cost of the building was $300. The Guilford Free Library opened on July 2, 1892.There is information that, prior to this, the town of Guilford maintained a small public library from approximately 1790 to 1815. This certainly makes the town of Guilford one of the earliest supporters of literature in the nation.

Librarians

Cathrine Wilken, 802.254.6545
Leah Gessner

Hours

  • ​Tuesday 9:30 am – 6 pm
  • Wednesday 1pm – 8 pm
  • Thursday 3 pm – 6 pm
  • Saturday 9:30 am – 3 pm
  • We also have 24/7 WiFi access

Contact us: 802.257.4603, staff@guilfordfreelibraryvt.org

Services

The library houses books for casual reading. While most of the books are fiction, there are useful books in most areas of interest to town residents. We belong to the Catamount Library Network, which gives you access to the collections of our 12 sister libraries. And, if none of us has what you need, we can get it for you, through Inter-Library Loan or by purchasing it.​We house a special collection of books on Vermont and Vermont topics. This also includes material on the town (including a complete set of Town Reports) and genealogy material on several Guilford families.​A large number of books are available for use by children. Most of these books are located in bins that make them very accessible to small hands. The library encourages active and often enthusiastic use of these books. Children’s work, created at the library, is on display.​There is no charge for a library card. We need your name, your mailing address and your phone number in order to issue your card. You will be assigned a number, and then you may borrow books for three weeks and movies for two weeks. There is no limit on the number of books you may borrow.​The Guilford Free Library is located in the tiny hamlet of Guilford Center, and is surrounded by Guilford Center Meetinghouse, The Guilford Historical Society, and The Broad Brook Community Center.

Reserve a book

If you have a Guilford library card, you can request any book by Clicking Here or by calling 802.257.4603.

Resources

The following free services are available to all Guilford Free Library card holders. Follow the links below to access online content. Please contact the Library if you need account numbers or passwords.

Your password is written on your library card.

Programs

Each camp begins and ends at the library. There is no charge for any Guilford child, but a $50 charge will be made for an out of town child. Breakfast and a generous snack will be provided. Transportation will be provided by Library trustees for any child who needs it in order to attend. Call 802-257-4603 for more information. Here are our on going camps.

  • Bubble Exploration – Kindergarten through grade 3 – Mid July
  • Libraries Rock! – Grades 2-5 – Late July
  • Stage and Stream – Grades 5-8 – August
  • Trick or Treat – October 31st

Trick or Treat the library and our six neighbors in Guilford Center at 5 or 5:30 pm. At 6 we’ll march in costume to the Meetinghouse, where we’ll sing some creepy songs and tell a semi-spooky story.

Volunteer

Be involved at the Guilford Free Library!We have wonderful opportunities to for you meet new people and to help provide the meaningful services we offer to Guilford and the surrounding communities.

Volunteer Opportunities

  • storytime
  • staff the library
  • help with Halloween
  • help with summer camp
  • become a trustee
  • provide refreshments for concerts

Donate

Send your tax-deductible donation to
Guilford Free Library
4024 Guilford Center Road
Guilford, VT 05301

Thank you volunteers!

Becky Anderson
Annette Black
Shirley Clark
Sandra Cortes
Nancy Detra
Phyllis Erwin
Jean Garrecht
Pat Haine
Jody Hauser
Laura Lewis
Sandy Lynn
Larry Mizrahi
Karen Murphy
Cheryl Redmond
Laura Lawson Tucker

​Maintenance

Leah Moore

​Trustees

Each year Town Meeting appropriates money in support of the library and its building. Each year the Guilford Free Library trustees raise money to purchase new books and provide programs.

Laura Lawson Tucker, co-chair, 802.257.7024|
Judith Serkin, co-chair
Sandra Cortes
Nina Fotopulos
Carol Schnabel
John Shaw
Richard Wizansky

Link to minutes and agenda of the Board of Trustees Meetings.​