Vision
The vision of the library is to become a destination where people will find the resources to assist them in enlightening their lives, and creating a more vibrant community.

Library History

The Hartford Public Library was founded on August 25, 1904 through the efforts of the Hartford Free Library Association and was housed in two upstairs rooms in the old 1892 City Hall until 1914.

From 1914 to 1930, the Library relocated to the "new" Hartford High School - operating jointly as a public and educational library. On March 3, 1925, the City of Hartford assumed total control of the operations and funding at the request of the Free Library Association.

In 1931, with the construction of the current City Hall completed, the Library returned to Main Street and remained there until the new library opened in 2011. When City Hall was remodeled in 1985, the Library moved up to the third floor, 14,500 square foot location. In June of 1985, the Library's collection consisted of 51,000 books and other materials, serving the 7,500 residents of the City of Hartford and the surrounding rural areas.