Resources: Library Information

Hours & Directions . Community Information . Policies . Calendar . Library Map

Library History

The Rutland Free Library was started in 1886. Originally housed in various storefronts and at the old Memorial Hall on West Street, the library has been located in the old courthouse and jail on Center Street since the 1930s. In 1965 an addition was built to expand the capacity. In 1990 a second addition was completed, making a total of 24,167 square feet available including meeting rooms, book stacks, reading rooms, administrative offices, and storage.

Seating for 86 is available in the main part of the library, with capacity for 200 in the two meeting rooms on the second floor. All facilities are impaired accessible. Parking is on-street.

Hours & Directions

The library is closed on the following holidays:

• New Years Day
• Martin Luther King Day [3rd Monday in January]
• Presidents Day [3rd Monday in February]
• Memorial Day [last Monday in May]
• Independence Day
• Labor Day [first Monday in September]
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Eve (library closes at 5:30 pm)
• Thanksgiving Day
• December 24th
• December 25th
• New Years Eve (library closes at 5:30 pm )

The library is located at 10 Court Street, at the intersection of Court and Center Streets, a few blocks up the hill from Downtown Rutland. We are a few blocks from the intersection of Route 4 and Route 7, next door to Grace Congregational Church. Here is a page that will give you a better map and access to driving directions.

Community Information

Rutland County historically was a transportation, commercial, and manufacturing center. After World War II, the marble industry declined, followed by a decline in the machine industries and the demolition of the railroad complex in 1964. Today, the biggest employers are General Electric, Rutland Regional Medical Center and Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, an electrical utility. The retail commercial sector and the service industry supporting the tourist trade are also significant parts of the economy. Rutland City has a full range of community facilities and each of the towns in Rutland County also provides some services and facilities. Briefly, Rutland City is home to a major medical center, ambulance and paramedic service, full-time police and fire personnel, Stafford Technical Center, Community College of Vermont, College of St. Joseph, and elementary and secondary private Catholic schools. Cultural and recreational opportunities are provided by Rutland City Recreation Department, Crossroads Arts Council, the senior citizens center, the Chaffee and other art galleries, and various clubs and organizations. There are four high schools in addition to Rutland High in the county and a total of eight institutions of higher learning in the region.

The Rutland Free Library is the largest public library in the area and serves a wide population including the residents of Rutland Town, Rutland City, Mendon, Ira and Tinmouth. Eight other communities in the area have libraries with wide variations in circulation, hours, and services: Proctor, Chittenden, Clarendon, Shrewsbury, Wallingford, West Rutland, Pittsford, and Killington.

Other libraries in the region include one at the Rutland Regional Medical Center, containing medical and health information; the Community College of Vermont houses a small collection and libraries are available at the College of St. Joseph in Rutland and Castleton State College, approximately thirteen miles from Rutland. Each of these institutions opens its doors to the public.

Our Outreach Librarian has done a community analysis of the Rutland Free Library Service Area, click here to download it [224k Word doc.]