Our Mission

Ledyard Library provides valuable resources, friendly, knowledgeable service, and free access to a diversity of ideas, information, and experiences.  We strive to enhance the quality of life in our community and encourage the love of reading, critical thinking, and lifelong learning.

Our History

Ledyard Public Library consists of two facilities which serve the community of Ledyard.

Bill Library in Ledyard Center, the larger of the two, was established in 1867 and was maintained by the Bill Library Association. In 1893, Henry Bill donated funds for the original Bill Library Building. That building has been expanded twice, once in 1971 and again in 1982.

The Gales Ferry Library first began in 1917 with a collection of donated books set up on a shelf in the Gales Ferry Country Club as a lending library. In 1921, the Gales Ferry Free Library Association opened the first Gales Ferry Library on Hurlbutt Road.

It moved to a larger building in 1975 and was expanded twice, in 1991 and 2017.

The Library Today

In 1970, the Town of Ledyard established the Ledyard Library Commission, and the libraries became a municipal department. A Library Director was hired to oversee both buildings, and an operating budget was approved by the town. Since that time, the town has provided over 90% of the operating costs.

The library is part of a consortium – Libraries Online (LION) – consisting of public, school, academic, and special libraries. The libraries provide online access to their collections, as well as the collections in the other LION libraries. Ledyard Public Library also participates in the Connecticut State Library’s BorrowIT program, allowing residents to borrow materials from any public library in the state. The library is proud to collaborate with our regional partners to expand access to resources and materials.