BERWICK LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

In 1987, a committed group of Berwick residents banded together to form Berwick's first public library with books donated by the community. Needing more space, i n 1996, Richard W. Stillings bequeathed 1000 shares of General Electric stock to the Berwick Public Library for the sole purpose of building a permanent library in Berwick. In 2000, the Philbrick Family gave 3 acres of land to the Berwick Library Association. These generous donations prompted a major campaign to raise the capital needed to open a new library in Berwick. Residents, businesses, and foundations responded admirably. The new Berwick Public Library opened in summer 2005, having been built without Town, State, or Federal funding. Today, library operations are funded by the Town of Berwick and through fundraising events run by the non-profit organization the Berwick Library Association, which owns and maintains the building. Library cards are free to all Berwick residents, as is use of the library. The Berwick Public Library provides a vibrant and dynamic place where the community engages in personal enrichment.