History:  

The Hartland Free Library opens in December. According to the December 11, 1897 Hartland News: “The Hartland Free Library will be open for business today. It is in every sense a public library, and it is hoped the public will so use it. The books belong to the people. They are to be read, and the more they are used, the better the library will serve its purpose. The books are your friends and they are good ones. They will live in the lives of those who make friends of them. Use the books well, don’t abuse the; draw out their best thoughts and inspirations and then return them to be passed on. The News will endeavor to publish from time to time short and pithy reviews of some of the best books so that our readers will see good reason for reading them. It is to be noted that many of our best citizens are doing their best to make the library popular and profitable. Contributions of money and good books will always be in order.”