The Buckland Public Library has been a cornerstone of community life in Buckland since 1891. Its origins trace back to a bequest from LeBaron D. Ruddock in 1889, intended to help establish a Congregational church library. Inspired by this gift, Rev. Alpheus C. Hodges proposed creating a free public library and pledged $1,000 if the town could raise a matching amount. With strong local support, the funds were quickly secured.
The site chosen for the library had once been the location of a Methodist church; after the land was purchased, the church building was moved down the street, and is now the Buckland Public Hall. The new library consisted of a single reading room with a large fireplace, book-lined walls, and space for community use. When it opened, the library held around 2,000 volumes, thanks to generous donations from church and community members. Originally called the Free Public Church Library, it was dedicated on July 4, 1891.
For the first 20 years, the library was supported entirely by the Congregational Church. In 1912, an agreement was made with the Town of Buckland to take over daily operations and maintenance, while the church retained ownership. That arrangement continued until 2002, when the library, its building, land, and assets were officially transferred to a new nonprofit, The Buckland Public Library, Inc.
By the early 2000s, after more than a century of use, the library building was in need of repairs and modernization. In response, the community came together to raise funds for a restoration and expansion project that tripled the library’s size. The renovation, completed in 2010, made the library more accessible, added new shelving, and created a cozy community room with a small kitchen. Visit our Library Tour page to see how the space has changed!
Today, the Buckland Public Library continues to serve the town as a welcoming place for reading, learning, and gathering — a reflection of the same community spirit that built it over a century ago.
Sources
Kendrick, Fannie Shaw (1937). The History of Buckland 1779-1935, with Genealogies by Lucy Cutler Kellogg. Buckland, Mass. pg. 291-2.
The Buckland Public Library Memorial Book (2010). Buckland, Mass.