Canton
Connecticut
Canton Public Library
History:
The village of Collinsville had a circulating library as early as 1838. It was known as the Collinsville Library Association and was a mutual organization formed to buy books and to pass them around among the members. There were 94 names signed to the roll, and the first minutes of a meeting show that it was held February 11, 1838. The officers elected were: president, Reuben Hills; librarian, Chester Weed; committee to select books, Chester Weed, Samuel Weed, Giles Brainard and Thomas H. Welles. A committee on damage to books was named and the names were: David B. Hale, Benjamin T. Wingate and Simeon Woodruff. Members contributed one and two dollars each. It is not known where this library was located, but it is presumed to be in the first Collins Company office building which is now a residence at the corner of River and North Streets having been moved there to make way for the present office building. It was one of the first buildings built by Sam Collins after he started the Collins Company in 1826. After the official office building was built in 1867, it also housed a library, school rooms, a post office, as well as Collins Hall which was available to the public for church services, meetings and the like. At some point the Collinsville Library Association became the Canton Public Library Association, Inc.
Recent News
Canton Library Hosts Arts Council Display
Canton Library Hosts Arts Council Display Never fear, the days will be getting longer, though we still have some cold, dark afternoons and evenings to go this winter. We hope you come to visit the library during January and February, where…
Read More »2023 Teen Photo Contest Submissions Due October 26 At Canton Library
Enter the Sixth Annual Teen Photography Contest at the Canton Public Library! Inviting all aspiring middle and high school photographers to snap and submit potential award-winning photos. Submissions are due Thursday, October 26 by 5:00 p.m. During…
Read More »Halloween Parade Photo Display at the Library: Loan Us Yours!
The Collinsville Halloween Parade has been an amazing celebration of spookiness, creativity and fun over the years. Help Canton Library celebrate this community event by loaning us your Halloween Parade photos for display from any time during the…
Read More »Canton Library's Tiny Art Show Deadline Is Upon Us
Tiny Art’- Making for All at Canton Library This Summer All Submissions on Display in August’s Month-Long Tiny Art Show You may have already designed your tiny art creation to show off your artistic “voice” this summer at…
Read More »Canton Public Library : 'Tiny Art' for Canton Library This Summer Toward Big AugustExhibit
Show off your artistic “voice” this summer at Canton Public Library. The library invites everyone to pick up a four inch by four inch canvas square at the circulation desk beginning June 19 to make your own tiny masterpiece. Fill it with…
Read More »Irish Dance Performance at Canton Library on May 13, 2023
On Saturday, May 13, get caught up in the dance: The Shamrock School of Irish Dance will perform a recital of step dancing to Irish music in a free, 1:00 p.m. exhibition at Canton Public Library. Irish dance, whose modern form dates to the practice…
Read More »Meet Rob Penfield, Author of A Life of Obstruction at Canton Public Library
Meet Rob Penfield, Author of A Life of Obstruction at Canton Public Library His book examines the groundbreaking Granby field hockey state championship of 1973 and its role in equal support of sports at the dawn of Title IX. Come meet Rob Penfield…
Read More »Teen Photo Contest At Canton Library Accepting Submissions
2022 Teen Photo Contest Submissions Due October 26 at Canton Library Enter the Fifth Annual Teen Photography Contest at the Canton Public Library! Inviting all aspiring middle and high school photographers to snap and submit potential…
Read More »Canton Public Library Wanted: Teen Volunteers for Book Buddies at Canton Library
The Canton Public Library is looking for teen volunteers from Canton and surrounding towns to help run the 2022 Book Buddies program. Book Buddies at Canton Library is a 12-year tradition of library mentoring and fun, This summer in the library the…
Read More »A Million Pages Summer Reading 2022 At Canton Public Library
Have you ever tried to count to a million? It is a huge number! Yet at the Canton Public Library, where we try to encourage and inspire reading of every kind, it has become the goal of the Summer Reading Million Page Challenge. To reach our…
Read More »Canton Public Library - Watch Canton Library Hatch Chicks
On May 2nd, Canton Public Library welcomed seven Bantam chicken eggs delivered to us in a special, egg-rotating incubator about the size of a volleyball. We are "renting" them from the “Rent the Chicken” company for 6 weeks, so we will…
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